Archive for September 2016

There are a number of issues concerning the record of this chapter on multiple levels, which we’ll attempt to respond to. As a foundation, remember that every word of God is inspired and serves as a guide, lamp and light for our lives.  God’s Word is Truth!  This refers to Jesus the Living Word, as…

With David returning back to Jerusalem, Sheba, a relative of Saul, gathered the ten tribes apart from Judah to separate themselves from David and follow him.  He must have had great influence to accomplish this feat.  The realized that what Sheba had in mind would have more severe consequences for Israel and himself, that what…

Parental love is a powerful force, which I believe God has placed in our DNA; as it is definitely one of the Lord’s characteristics for His sons and daughters.  Few of us will find ourselves in a similar scenario as David was on this stage of intended overthrow of his reign by Absalom.  When leaders…

During the exodus from Jerusalem, David had men come to his aid to war against Absalom, although they weren’t with him before and during the crossing of Jordan.  The number of men “who were with him” is unknown.  There are those who say it was four thousand; while others it was ten thousand, based on…

Continuing to be the sage with advice for Absalom, Ahithophel counsels his friend to take twelve thousand troops to pursue David; which had the counsel been heeded, would have destroyed the small band that surrounded the king and we would not have had the reign of Solomon’s forty year reign of relative peace and prosperity…

When pressure builds and seems to increase, there is often a lapse of judgment and wisdom.  So we observe with David in his meeting of Ziba and Shimei.  Ziba, as we read, misrepresented Mephibosheth and manipulated David with his contrived allegation against Jonathan’s son; which David swallowed.  Was it the donkeys, cakes of bread, clusters…

With little doubt, this is one of the saddest commentaries on the life of David.  This man had been anointed as a “man after God’s own heart”; yet failed morally and paid the price to the last prophetic declaration by Nathan the prophet.  A leader of men and a nation, a worshipper, a prophet, poet,…

This chapter is one of the disconcerting records of David, Absalom, Joab and the widow; who plays the part of the motivation for David to return Absalom to Jerusalem.  This genuine widow truly plays the role Joab casts for her.  Part of the role cast was that she was in fact a widow; yet lived…

The word of the Lord through Nathan, continues to be fulfilled. The diabolic plot by Amnon to rape his half-sister Tamar is the topic of many soap operas.  Amnon, along with his cousin Jonadab, connive the plot where by it could take place and no one would be witness to it.  Amnon’s feigned illness to…

David illustrates for us how he responded to the sin with Bathsheba; His Confrontation, His Confession, His Contrition and His Consolation. Sin must be confronted, most often for people to repent or confess behavior or their lives as being sinful.  Nathan the prophet was the instrument God chose to use in confronting the king with…