Category: 2 Samuel

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 13:1-33 (day two) 

Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; 12:11

But Absalom did not speak to Amnon either good or bad; for Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar. 13:22

Don’t ever let yourself become convinced that your “secret” sin will only impact your life, and that you and you alone will carry the consequences if you are ever found out. The truth of the matter is that our lives are so intricately woven with our families, our friends, even those who associate with us. They all notice our choices, actions, and often suffer with us. We cannot walk in sin and extricate our lives from those who are watching. We may not walk the same road as David, but his life should serve as a cautionary tale to all of us who harbor “secret” sin. It is always less secret than we realize, and the consequences are almost always more public than we could have ever imagined.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 12:1-23 (day seven)

However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme… (2 Samuel 12:14)

Often, I forget the ever-expanding reach of sin.  Sometimes I can imagine how choices may impact me, or maybe, if I’m generous, I can see how those choices might affect those around me.  However, in this verse we are reminded that ripples emanate out of our sin that touch countless people.

Others began to use David’s sin to discredit God and use David’s sin as permission to do whatever they wanted.  May our lives never be so.  May our actions bring people into God’s presence rather than push them away.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 12:1-23 (day six)

Once conviction sets in, David quickly confesses, “I have sinned against the Lord.” In Psalm 51 David writes, “Against you only have I sinned.” Why not Bathsheba, or Uriah? If we are honest, it bothers us that David fails to mention those who received the brunt of his sin. I’m sure there were moments, not recorded for us, that David expressed the particulars of his guilt, but maybe God has a different agenda in these verses.

Maybe God intends for us to know there are a priority of offenses, and the greatest offense when we sin is against the Lord. Perhaps though, God intends to teach us something else too. What if he wants us to connect the dots of our sin, that to sin against the Lord leads to the harm of others? The two great commandments, love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself are deeply connected. To fail to love God, and thus not obeying His Word, will always lead to a failure to love your neighbor. I think David knew this all too well; to confess to the one (his sin against the Lord alone), was to confess to the other.

Here’s another truth that follows: a failure to love God, will always impact the people around you.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 12:1-23 (day five) vs 16 David therefore inquired of God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground.

What would cause David to think that he could ask God to help and save his dying son?  Why would David even pray asking God to change directions?  I think it’s because David had confessed and repented from his sins, and  had his fellowship with the Lord restored. I don’t believe he was trying to manipulate  God with prayer and fasting into getting his own way. Rather, I think David (maybe more than ever) believed in the power and strength of God and trusted God’s sovereignty. Only a clean and pure heart can believe and trust like this.   Completely different approach and perspective from the previous chapter.  His heart was restored. Could this be a similar prayer to the prayer Jesus prayed in the garden.  Wanna believe and trust like that?  Confess and Repent. 

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 12:1-23 (day four) 

It was a thinly veiled story…but David took it hook, line, and sinker!  He never recognized the point of the story until Nathan sprang the trap…”You are the man!”  David had been quick to condemn the rich man in Nathan’s story, but he had completely glossed over his own guilt with Uriah and Bathsheba.  Everyone recognized David’s guilt but himself.

Aren’t we like that, often?  It is easy for us to condemn others for their jealousy, or their hypocrisy, or their lack of compassion, but we fail to see our own iniquity and sin.  Our sinful hearts can so quickly absolve our own motives and actions, while at the same time condemning others for their actions.  Christ taught us in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:1-5, Luke 6:41-42) to deal with the log in our own eye before we try to remove the speck in our brother’s eye.  Good instruction!  Hard to do, but profitable to practice.

Re: Verse reading—2 Samuel 12:1-23 (day three)

“By doing this you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt.”

The enemies of Israel—who were also the enemies of the Lord as he worked in, and in behalf of, the nation—already held Israel in disdain. There was also always a possibility, though, that these enemies would come to see and fear and obey God. The larger vision of the Old Testament often gives voice to this hope. Now with David’s actions, the future just got that much less hopeful. Of all people, David stood in position to open doors, but he could just as easily shut them. He did exactly that, and this grieved God, much like it grieved Jesus centuries later to witness the Pharisees’ continual shutting of the door of the kingdom in men’s faces. Slamming doors rouse God’s anger.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 12:1-23 (day two) 

…and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! vs. 8b

It is not uncommon to want what we don’t have. Sometimes it’s money, power, prestige. Other times it can be more practical wants like spouse, family, career. It’s the what happens next that defines our where our heart and devotion truly are. Do we act impulsively? Do we assume that we are supposed to have it and then try secretly to get it (ie David)? Do we lay it before the Lord who gives all gifts? I don’t think the Lord would have honored David’s request for another man’s wife, but it would have brought to light the desire which could have been dealt with properly. But there are times when God says yes, the issue is getting in front of God. How often is this a theme in scripture? It happened to David’s predecessor, Saul. He was impatient and acted impulsively, and it cost him dearly. We would do well to be mindful of all desires that come before us. Regardless of God’s answer, talking with him before acting is always the best course of action.

 

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 11 (day seven)

Studying 2 Samuel 11 this week I found myself going to 1 Corinthians 10:13 often:

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

This is a verse you should have memorized and use as your lifeboat in the raging sea of temptation. Two truths are revealed here that keep us steady and safe though the world is tossed to and fro.  1. All temptation is common.  No matter what you face many before you have endured the same struggle, and God is never surprised by the situation you find yourself in.  2. There is a way of escape at the hand of God.  You can say “no”, you can make it out, you can overcome, but only by the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.