The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 20 (day seven)

Galatians 5 provides a good standard of measurement: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;against such things there is no law. (Gal 5:19-23)

This week we see more of that first list in Joab: stabbing an unsuspecting man in the belly (v.10), wreaking destruction in Abel Beth-maacah (v.15, 19) while we see more of the second list in the woman of Abel Beth-maacah: wise (v.16, 22), peaceable and faithful (v.19).

If you find yourself entertaining any of those on the first list your flesh is stealing you away from God, but when you find those characteristics listed second appearing in your life the Spirit is molding you into something holy.  May we be filled with the Holy Spirit bearing abundant fruit to bless all those around us.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 20 (day six)

The wise woman of Abel weighed the costs. Her city harbored the rebel leader Sheba, while Joab and his army besieged the city. She determined the costs were too high. Death and destruction were literally at Abel’s door (or gate), not to mention the impact its destructive would have on neighboring towns. The wise woman convinces others in Abel that harboring the rebellious fugitive will only lead to death, so they do what needs to be done, they put Sheba to death and show the evidence to Joab, and the city is saved.

What I appreciate most about the wise women is her willingness weigh the costs and take immediate action. Reminds me of Jesus when he said, “If your eye causes you to sin, gauge it out!”

Whatever it takes.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 20 (day five)

How did David do it?  He kept leading and serving in the midst of betrayal, attacks, rebellions, danger, difficulty, death of loved ones, and consequences from his own sin and disobedience.   In the midst of all these conditions and circumstances, David was still doing “kingly things”.  The temptation for us is to give up and check out. But not David. In the midst of all the pain, suffering, disappointment, and tension, there is  courage and contentment that keep David engaged with God and in leading the kingdom. I believe David’s perspective and persistence are a byproduct of being in covenant with God (remember 2 Samuel 7).  Peace is evidence (fruit) of being in a covenant relationship with God. It is not simply a feeling of inner tranquility, but rather something deeper and stronger. We see this explained in the New Testament (Galatians 5:22, Philippians 4:7) and demonstrated many times in David’s life.

“God’s Peace brings us two things: power to face and live with our own badness and failings, and also contentment under ‘the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’.” – J. I. Packer

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 20 (day four)

The dust has hardly settled from Absalom’s revolt and another upstart tries to do the same.  Sheba tries to take advantage of the rebellious spirit of the nation and leads a revolt against David’s throne.  Evil is never satisfied…there will always be a challenge to God’s authority…always be a new twist to an old challenge.

We see it in today’s news…no defeat of evil is enough to deter the insatiable desire for just a small victory over good.  In the second book of his Space Trilogy, Perelandra, C.S. Lewis wrote of the insidiousness of evil…anything to tarnish the pure.  Small victory or great, evil chips away at the good.  Satan will eventually meet the same end as Sheba…there will be no more evil.  Revelation 22:3-7 gives us this promise.  Until that day, we must be diligent to obey and serve God with all of our hearts.  Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 20 (day three)

“We have no share in David.”

For every instance of soldiers’ and priests’ loyalty to the crown, murder and treachery from the top down poisoned the monarchy. For every battle won in the field, a skirmish on the home front caused paroxysms of family suffering. For every season of righteous ruling, rebels hostile to Judah threatened to fracture the kingdom. That’s some golden age. Turns out hindsight does not guarantee clear vision. We want to celebrate David as the ideal king. The real King David is far less worthy of laud and honor. What we’re left with as a legacy worth pursuing is not his exploits, but his question arising from the tattered remains of every disaster in his lifetime: Where is God?

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 20 (day two) 

“We have no portion in David,
Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse;
Every man to his tents, O Israel!” vs. 1b

When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 7:12-13

Even the best of us fail. Sometimes, we who follow, put so much faith into leaders of all kinds that when we see their fallen nature surface we become extremely disillusioned and forget the greater call to follow God alone. We will be disappointed if all our trust is placed in human leadership. Preachers, teachers, bosses, politicians (no additional commentary necessary), and even family are subject to our broken nature. We must not lose sight of our call to follow a greater design given to us by God. To put it in a literary context: Camelot was always greater than Arthur. Jesus is and was the only one who never deviated, never doubted, and never broke that covenant with God. Where is your trust? If someone you believe in disappoints you, will you run out and burn the kingdom or trust the larger call to seek the welfare of the city?

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 18 (day seven)

There are two unexpected moments of David in our text for today.  1) David tells his military commanders to be “gentle” (v.5) on his son Absalom even though Absalom is the enemy.  2) When David hears that his enemy has been slain he weeps over the loss of his treasonous son (v.33).  In these moments David seems to care more about his villainous son than his own kingdom.

David was in a no win situation facing untold guilt in either outcome.  In those days, when there is no where else to turn, turn to God:  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.  (James 4:8-10)

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 18 (day six)

Whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake, will find it. -Jesus, Matthew 16:25

He’s been there all along, but we often look past him with David taking up most of our attention. In some ways, this story is as much about Joab as it is David and Absalom. Joab is David’s nephew. Rising among the ranks, he eventually became David’s right hand general and political advisor. Joab also knew how to play the game, with his own political future being the most important objective. He is impulsive, often taking matters in his own hands. Joab, is not a man to be messed with.

While mostly loyal to David, we find him, in this account, disregarding a clear request from David, “spare my son’s life.” Years later, Joab would eventually die by the sword (Solomon’s order, and David’s final request) as a traitor and murderer.

Joab was stagnant; he never moved (towards God). He lived by the sword and died by the sword. He died like he lived, looking out for himself.