James 5
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James 5:13-16, Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much.
James closes out his letter with a strong command to pray. If you are suffering, then pray. If you are cheerful, then pray. If you are ill (physically or spiritually), then be sure to pray and have people pray over you. For prayer is powerful and the prayers of righteous people make a big impact!
Do you believe that your prayers make a big impact? Do you believe that the prayers of the faithful people around you can accomplish big things in God’s Kingdom? I have witnessed firsthand the power of prayer. I should mention that God often doesn’t answer prayer the way we want it answered but God always answers. Prayer makes a difference – for the person or situation we are praying for AND in our own hearts. When we pray, God changes us!
Who do you need to pray for today?
Lord Jesus, Hear our prayers.
Note: Starting Monday, April 18, there will be some changes for the Daily SOAP. I will be writing/reading the SOAP every Monday through Thursday. We will have a guest writer on Friday and we will take Saturday and Sunday off. This will give you the opportunity to reread Scriptures from the week, catch up if needed, and spend some extra time in prayer. Please let me know if you have any questions OR if you feel God calling you to be a guest writer on one of the upcoming Fridays. Blessings, Pastor Vicki
James 4
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James 4:1-3, What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Apparently, James is writing to a group of people who have had some pretty nasty conflicts, even possibly violent ones. As with the previous few chapters, James is warning against community strife. In chapter 3, James spoke of the damage that careless words can cause. These careless words, the misuse of the tongue, can then lead to disputes and heated arguments. We don’t know what the specific disputes were about in James’ day, but we do know and understand the damage that ugly words and violent disputes can cause in the Christian community. It happened 2000 years ago and it still happens today.
Isn’t it ironic that people who profess a faith that so fundamentally involves loving one another, being peaceful, gentle, and joyful, can then treat each other with such malice and carelessness? I’ve been on a church staff for 15 years now and I’ve seen people who call themselves Christ-followers be downright hateful and mean toward one another. And oh the ugly things I’ve seen people carelessly post on Facebook! Most of the time, these disagreements were over miscommunications or relatively insignificant things. But they have the potential to cause true damage to our Christian fellowship. Friends, they must stop.
That being said, there are times in which we must stand up for what is right and speak truth. But even then, we can speak the truth in love.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
Starting Monday, April 18, there will be some changes to the Daily SOAP. I will be writing/reading the SOAP on Monday-Thursday and we will have various guest writers on Friday. Saturday and Sunday will be off days. You can use the weekend to reread some of the week’s chapters, catch up as needed, and spend extra time in prayer. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Blessings to all of you, Pastor Vicki.
James 3
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James 3:3-6, When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Such a small part of the body can do so much damage. Think of the times in your life in which the careless words of another person hurt you to the core. I’m sure each of us have faced the consequences of a reckless tongue and have inflicted pain with our own wagging tongue. I’ve worked with people who can still hear the mean words of a parent from thirty or forty years prior. The old rhyme, “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me” is such a lie. Words can hurt. Ugly, careless tongues can create wounds that last a lifetime.
But words can also heal. The kind, encouraging word of a friend can change our whole outlook on life. The words “I’m sorry” can change a relationship. The words “You are loved” can ensure that someone knows they are valuable and worthy. Sharing the words of Jesus can be life-changing for someone.
How will you choose to use your tongue?
Let’s pray…Lord, Oh, how we need you. Help me tame my tongue. May my words bring life and your love to others. In Your Name, Amen.
James 2
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James 2:18-20, But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
Faith without works is dead. We’ve probably all heard this more than a few times. But what does it mean?
James is very concerned that those around him view faith merely as a verbal confession. He considers this faith to be useless. Rather, true faith always leads us to some kind of actions that are a reflection of that faith. Let’s be clear; James is not saying that people are saved by their works. Absolutely not! We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Only our faith in Jesus Christ saves. But, if we truly are Jesus-followers, then there should be some substance to our belief. That should lead to some behavior change, that should inform how we treat people and how we live our lives. We must walk the walk as well as talk the talk.
Ultimately, God knows our hearts. How is it with your soul today? Are you walking the walk as well as talking the talk?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Help us reflect you in all we say and do. Help us be genuine disciples of Jesus. More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
James 1
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James 1:19-21, My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
The author of this letter is James, the brother of Jesus, who was a leader in the early church in Jerusalem. He addresses it to the twelve tribes dispersed among the nations, so this would include the Jewish community who are now dispersed in the nations around Palestine. Gentile Christians may also be included but this isn’t clear. James doesn’t appear to have a specific progression to his letter; he does hop from topic to topic, covering a lot of ground, mostly concerned with matters that will affect the strength and integrity of the listeners’ faith.
Now, let’s turn to our focus verses. “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…” The power of the tongue is a dangerous thing. Haven’t we seen this over and over again? We find commands to control the tongue throughout wisdom literature. In fact, lack of control over our speech almost always leads to issues. There is a definite connection between looseness of speech and anger. Maybe unresolved anger is the root of gossip and angry speech. But let’s be clear, a wagging tongue is almost never a good thing.
The verses continue, “…human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” In this case, we might think of righteousness as that which meets God’s approval or even the way of doing life for which God approves. Basically, anger leads to the kinds of things which displease God. Period.
But there’s more. Because of all that stuff we just talked about, “get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” Get rid of your old way of doing life that is so rampant in the world and put on your new life like a new set of clothes, your new life in Christ.
My mind immediately goes to 2 Cor. 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” When we say yes to Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes and makes a home within us and we literally become new people. We are transformed from the inside out. James seems to be saying that with these new lives, we have to be so careful and aware of the words that come out of our mouths. We don’t want to displease God. I might also add, nor do we want to damage the Kingdom. How much damage has been done, how many people have been turned off, because a Christ-follower said an ugly word, gossiped about someone, or demonstrated anger in an unhealthy way? Too much damage, my dear friends, way too much damage. Let’s all say “enough is enough” and commit to restraining our tongues.
Let’s pray…Jesus Christ, We need your help. Help us tame our tongues. Help us calm our nerves and our anger. Help us be better ambassadors for you. More of you, Jesus, and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Samuel 24
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2 Samuel 24:1-4, Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”
So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.”
But Joab replied to the king, “May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?” The king’s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.
If you haven’t done so already, please read through the whole chapter. I’ve only highlighted the first four verses here but the entire chapter is important. We read that the Lord is angry with Israel so he incites David against them. We don’t know why God is angry, but it is most likely due to a violation of the Torah. Thus, David becomes angry with his people and demands that a census be taken of the fighting men.
Joab, his commander, protests. Why was a census a big deal? After all, we do a census in the U.S. every ten years. At that time, numbering the people would have been some kind of metric of the Lord’s favor. It had the potential to lead to pride and self-aggrandizement. But there was more. In the Old Testament Scriptures, you generally only counted what belonged to you. By David counting the people, it would have been a statement of sorts that the people belonged to David rather than God.
David overrules Joab and the men of fighting age are counted. There were 800,000 in Israel and 500,000 in Judah, quite impressive numbers. But the census greatly displeased God. Maybe God saw it as David overstepping his authority or David became too prideful. We really don’t know. What we do know is that God is angered and wanting to punish the nation of Israel.
David is repentant and builds an altar to the Lord. However, that doesn’t mean that the consequences would be reversed.
This made me reflect on our own sin. How often have we been repentant for things we’ve done and cried out to God? We know that God forgives us but that does not reverse the consequences of our sin. Sin always has consequences. Over and over and over again humanity has to learn this lesson.
I hope you have found our time in 2 Samuel meaningful. Tomorrow, we switch gears a bit with the book of James.
Let’s pray…Dear Lord Jesus, Thank you for your mercy and forgiveness. On our own, we mess up over and over again. We need you desperately. More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
New Hope Daily SOAP: James 1
Pastor Vicki Harrison
To read this text, go to: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1&version=NIV
James 1:19-21, My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
The author of this letter is James, the brother of Jesus, who was a leader in the early church in Jerusalem. He addresses it to the twelve tribes dispersed among the nations, so this would include the Jewish community who are now dispersed in the nations around Palestine. Gentile Christians may also be included but this isn’t clear. James doesn’t appear to have a specific progression to his letter; he does hop from topic to topic, covering a lot of ground, mostly concerned with matters that will affect the strength and integrity of the listeners’ faith.
Now, let’s turn to our focus verses. “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…” The power of the tongue is a dangerous thing. Haven’t we seen this over and over again? We find commands to control the tongue throughout wisdom literature. In fact, lack of control over our speech almost always leads to issues. There is a definite connection between looseness of speech and anger. Maybe unresolved anger is the root of gossip and angry speech. But let’s be clear, a wagging tongue is almost never a good thing.
The verses continue, “…human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” In this case, we might think of righteousness as that which meets God’s approval or even the way of doing life for which God approves. Basically, anger leads to the kinds of things which displease God. Period.
But there’s more. Because of all that stuff we just talked about, “get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” Get rid of your old way of doing life that is so rampant in the world and put on your new life like a new set of clothes, your new life in Christ.
My mind immediately goes to 2 Cor. 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” When we say yes to Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes and makes a home within us and we literally become new people. We are transformed from the inside out. James seems to be saying that with these new lives, we have to be so careful and aware of the words that come out of our mouths. We don’t want to displease God. I might also add, nor do we want to damage the Kingdom. How much damage has been done, how many people have been turned off, because a Christ-follower said an ugly word, gossiped about someone or demonstrated anger in an unhealthy way? Too much damage, my dear friends, way too much damage. Let’s all say “enough is enough” and commit to restraining our tongues.
Let’s pray…Jesus Christ, We need your help. Help us tame our tongues. Help us calm our nerves and our anger. Help us be better ambassadors for you. More of you, Jesus, and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Samuel 23
New Hope Daily SOAP: 2 Samuel 23
Pastor Vicki Harrison
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2 Samuel 23:24-39,
Among the Thirty were:
Asahel the brother of Joab,
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
Shammah the Harodite,
Elika the Harodite,
Helez the Paltite,
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,
Abiezer from Anathoth,
Sibbekai the Hushathite,
Zalmon the Ahohite,
Maharai the Netophathite,
Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,
Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,
Benaiah the Pirathonite,
Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash,
Abi-Albon the Arbathite,
Azmaveth the Barhumite,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
the sons of Jashen,
Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite,
Ahiam son of Sharar[ the Hararite,
Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite,
Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
Hezro the Carmelite,
Paarai the Arbite,
Igal son of Nathan from Zobah,
the son of Hagri,
Zelek the Ammonite,
Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite
and Uriah the Hittite.
There were thirty-seven in all.
The first seven verses of this chapter comprise David’s prophetic oracle. It is intended to commemorate a faithful king whose life is guided by the faithful God Almighty. Clearly, David is the most Godly of the kings and this poem highlights this. But it also has some messianic prophecy. David is not just speaking of himself. There is something deeper, more eternal about the oracle. Reread the first seven verses and see which stand out to you as speaking to the coming Messiah.
The second part of the chapter details the men who supported David, those who were his brave and mighty warriors. God was on David’s side clearly but there had to also be human men who caught the vision that God had for King David. Over and over again through 2 Samuel, we have seen David’s men make huge sacrifices and often save him from stupid, short-sighted decisions.
Each of these men were real people who stood alongside David and said yes to their calling from God. Thus, let’s pay attention to their names and think about the legacy that each left.
Think about the people who have stood by you. If you are a leader at the church or another organization, you know the value of having a team of people to support you, guide you, and protect you from stupid or rash decisions! Name those people in your own life and give thanks for them.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Thank you for the people who stand with me, support me, and encourage me. I am a better, stronger leader because of them. Most of all, thank you for the guidance of your Holy Spirit. More of you and less of me. Amen.
2 Samuel 22
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2 Samuel 22:47-50,
“The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!
He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me,
who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes;
from a violent man you rescued me. Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing the praises of your name…”
While this poem of David is found later in the book of 2 Samuel, chronologically it actually should be much earlier. It was written after David had been king a few years and been delivered from the hands of Saul. The whole poem is very similar to Psalm 18, the main difference being that Psalm 18 was structured for use in worship and this poem was strategically placed here in 2 Samuel to demonstrate the religious foundation of the king of Israel. I find it interesting that it was placed so far into 2 Samuel, as the religious fervor of the king seems to actually be fading. As we’ve seen over the last few chapters, David rarely inquires of the Lord and his life and nation are beginning to spiral. And yet, whoever put this book together found it important to add this poem here, maybe as a reminder of what was or what should be.
The poem itself states the main point of the Law/Torah – obedience to God will lead to blessing. More specifically, David’s point was that his obedience to God meant he was rewarded and delivered from his enemies. This God is worthy of praise.
I’m grateful that we live on the other side of the cross, under the New Covenant. The whole system of blessings and curses has been put aside for something so much better – the grace of Jesus Christ. And I say, yes, this God is worthy of praise.
Let’s pray…Lord, you are a God worthy of praise. We thank you for your love, your grace, and your forgiveness. In Jesus’ Powerful Name, Amen.
2 Samuel 21
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2 Samuel 21:4-6, The Gibeonites answered him, “We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” David asked.
They answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and their bodies exposed before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord’s chosen one.”
So the king said, “I will give them to you.”
I’m struggling with this chapter. Let me say that from the start. There is famine in the land, three years worth, and King David is concerned. Thus, he inquires of the Lord what is causing the issue. One year of drought and poor food production would not be unusual for that part of the world but three years is unusual. David obviously suspects that this was a curse for something the nation of Israel had done. Remember, the law given to Moses and Israel included 613 laws, both blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.
God confirms that this famine was a result of something Saul did during his reign, when he slaughtered all the Gibeonites. Who were the Gibeonites? They were descendants of the Amorites, a group of people from Canaan who deceived the people of Israel. Read through Joshua 9 to get the full story but essentially the Amorites pretended to be people from a distant land to get the Israelites to make a treaty with them; the treaty ensured that the Amorites would not be harmed. Remember, this was at the time that God’s people were conquering one group after another in order to claim the promised land. When it turns out the Amorites were simply part of the people of Canaan, there was not much the Israelites could do. An oath had been made. Thus, the Amorites were spared but became subject to the people of Israel.
Saul, in his “zest” for Israel, decides to slaughter the Amorites’ descendants, the Gibeonites. This means that Saul broke the oath, something which very much displeased God. Thus, the curse of the famine was God’s response. As a way to atone for the deaths of the many Gibeonites who were killed, David promises to kill seven descendants of Saul. The men chosen were sons of one of Saul’s concubines and sons of one of Saul’s daughters.
In the eyes of Torah-believing Jews, this was fair. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. These men sacrificed their lives so that things could be made right. And I struggle with this. I struggle with reading about one of the mothers, Rizpah, mourning her boys. I struggle with why God would allow this.
And then I think about Jesus Christ. God himself gave his life as a sacrifice for us. In doing so, this system of blessings and curses could be done away with forever. We can rest in the forgiveness and grace of Jesus. I think I have to simply rest in that.
Let’s pray…Jesus, Thank you for the new covenant. Thank you for your sacrifice, for your grace, for your love. There is much we don’t understand, so much that we struggle with, but help us simply rest in you. We give you all the glory and praise. Amen.
2 Samuel 20
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2 Samuel 20:22, Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.
There are times when I read these texts and they sound way too similar to our modern-day television dramas – murder, violence, betrayal, and sex. And this is Scripture! The Word of God certainly doesn’t gloss over all the sin and mess that humanity creates. I was reminded of this once again as I read today’s chapter.
A man named Sheba who opposed David decided to rise up in rebellion. David commanded Abishai, Amasa’s cousin, to pursue Sheba. The troops head into Benjamite territory and are greeted by Amasa himself. You may recall that Amasa was a supporter of Absalom but David decided to make him commander of his troops in an effort to build a bridge. This would have deposed Joab, the current commander who had faithfully stood by David through the whole sordid mess. Thus, Joab takes this opportunity to gruesomely stab and kill Amasa.
But the story continues. Amasa is swiftly moved to the side of the road and they continue to pursue Sheba and those in rebellion against the king. They begin to besiege the town of Abel, where they believe that people are hiding Sheba. A wise woman decides to intervene, explaining to Joab why he should not destroy the city. She arranges to give him Sheba’s severed head if he leaves them alone. And that’s exactly what she does; she literally throws Sheba’s head over the Joab and the troops left the city.
Oh my. Thank goodness for the wise woman who stopped the bloodshed of an entire village. I’m not sure what I think about the severed head but the war was stopped.
What is it about humans throughout history that we continue to mistreat each other? We continue to foster division and conflict. Again, there is no mention of inquiring of the Lord. It’s become a free for all. Has David forgotten to whom he belongs?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We belong to you. Help us remember that. Everything we do represents your Kingdom. Keep us mindful of that. May we be faithful ambassadors. Help us see others through your eyes. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Samuel 19
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2 Samuel 19:9-10, Throughout the tribes of Israel, all the people were arguing among themselves, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country to escape from Absalom; and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?”
Once Absalom’s troops go back to their clans, there is much talk throughout Israel about what would happen next. Would David be welcomed back as king? After all, they needed a king. The people reminisced about the times in which David took care of Israel and rescued them from the hands of their enemies. Here we begin to see a greater divide between Israel and Judah. The people of Israel pretty quickly decide to recommit themselves to David. The people of Judah are another story. For some reason, Judah had overwhelmingly lent their support to Absalom. David decides to take some very specific steps to win back their commitment to him.
His first step is to ask Zadok and Abiathar, two popular priests, to lobby for his support among the elders of Judah. Second, he asked the priests to request the services of Amasa, David’s nephew who had a high position in Absalom’s regime. He promises to make Amasa commander over all his troops, both building a bridge between the disenfranchised group of Absalom supporters and punishing Joab (be sure to read the first part of this chapter, while Joab probably saved David’s kingship, David still sought to punish Joab.)
David’s plan proves successful and he is invited back to Jerusalem. There is quite the welcoming party waiting for him. People who previously opposed him (or he thought opposed him) met him at the Jordan and walked with him into the city as a sign of support and solidarity. But when they arrive, it’s obvious the people of Israel are enraged at the tribe of Judah. They accuse them of all kinds of offenses. The rumblings of division are strong. Nathan’s prophetic words of judgment (after David’s rape/murder incident in 2 Samuel 12) are coming to fruition. David’s family is a mess and now his nation is beginning to crack as well.
All of this is happening and the Scripture never mentions David inquiring of the Lord.
Let’s pray…Lord, How easy it is to drift away from you. We get distracted and self-consumed. Help us to stay firmly connected to you in all we do. You are Lord of our whole life. We belong to you. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Samuel 18
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2 Samuel 18:32-33, The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”
The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man.”
The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”
Even though Absalom had overthrown the throne and he sought to kill David, David still asked his commanders to spare his life. Maybe you’ve noticed over these last few chapters - David was a better king than he was a father. Yet, in the end, David loved his son. When David hears that Absalom has been killed, he is heartbroken. He grieves and cries out, “If only I had died instead of you.”
By this point, David’s had a lot of time to reflect on his parenting mistakes. He’s had a number of children die. His family is a total mess. I’m guessing he is dealing with guilt, regret, and lots of grief. But he finally steps up as a dad. He would have gladly given his life to save Absalom.
If you are a parent, then you can probably relate. No matter what our children do, we love them and we would gladly give our lives to save theirs.
I’m guessing that’s how God felt as well. That’s why he sent Jesus.
Let’s pray…Thank you, God, for sending Jesus so that we could walk hand in hand with you. Your love is amazing. Help us show even but a small amount of that kind of self-sacrificing love toward our own children but also all of your children. On our own, we can’t do this. We need you, we need you, we need you. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Samuel 17
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2 Samuel 17:14-16, Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do such and such, but I have advised them to do so and so. Now send a message at once and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the wilderness; cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’”
And the drama continues. Hushai, a trusted advisor of King David, has convinced Absalom that he has switched camps. He is essentially a spy for David. Ahithophel has already offered advice to Absalom but Hushai intervenes and offers his own strategy. Absalom decides to go with Hushai’s plan of action for attacking David and his troops. This allows Hushai time to get word to David so they will be prepared for what is to come.
From who do you get your advice and guidance? Obviously, we want to seek guidance first from the Lord. But then, it is often helpful to have people who we trust to advise us in times of struggle or when a big decision needs to be made. And my suggestion would be to choose these people wisely! As we have witnessed in these texts, anyone can offer advice but only a few offer wise counsel. Think about it. Who do you go to for wise counsel? Why have you chosen them? If you don’t have those people in your life, pray about who God might have put in your life for just that purpose.
Friends, we need one another.
Let’s pray…Almighty God, I thank you for those people in my life who offer wise, Godly counsel. Help me remember to not rush into decisions but spend time with you first and then others who can help guide my decisions. Lord, I need you. Help guide me every step of the way. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Samuel 16
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2 Samuel 16:20-23, Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”
Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.
David is fleeing Jerusalem with his entire household. He encounters both help and support (Ziba offers donkeys and large quantities of food) and he faces violence and opposition (from Shimel, a Saulite). Please be sure to read through the whole text for the specifics. One can only imagine how arduous the travel would be. It’s interesting though. There is still nothing in the Scripture about David asking the Lord for direction or help.
David is leaving Jerusalem while his son Absalom is arriving in the palace. Absalom, who has just successfully carried out a bloodless coup, decides to ask advice from Ahithophel how to ensure his grip on the throne and the palace. Keep in mind that at one time Ahithophel was one of King David’s most trusted advisors but he turned against David. Ahithophel felt betrayed by King David, as Bathsheba was his granddaughter; David brought shame to his family. Nevertheless, he gives Absalom some pretty bad advice, telling him to sleep with his father’s concubines on the roof of the palace for all of Israel to see. Maybe Ahithophel thought this was retribution, an eye for an eye. But it also violated God’s law. Anger and bitterness have a way of making people make terrible decisions and give horrible advice.
I’m wondering if there is something in your life right now, a lingering anger or bitterness, that needs to be given to God. You see, without us even realizing it, these feelings of rage and resentment can eat at us and create a wedge between us and God. They can color our view of the world. What do you need to give to God today?
Let’s pray…Lord of All, You are a good and merciful God. Forgive us for the things we allow to seep into our hearts and lives. Help us give these things to you and trust you with them. More of you and less of me, Jesus. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Samuel 15
2 Samuel 15:1-4, In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.” And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.”
Absalom is positioning himself to take over as king. Having his own chariot and horses was certainly a sign of prominence and royalty. He also enlists fifty men to be with him wherever he went; this would have made quite an impression. Absalom begins to act like a king, although he wasn’t one, by administering “divine justice” for the citizens. By getting up early and standing by the city gate, Absalom would basically intercept anyone heading to David’s court and offer his own advice and wisdom. He was pretty shady – he wanted the people to think that he cared for them more than David and attempted to alienate the common people from the king. And it worked.
We don’t know whether David was aware of Absalom’s actions but most indications are that he didn’t know or didn’t take it seriously. Later in the chapter, David is informed by a messenger that Absalom was planning a coup and that the hearts of the people of Israel were with Absalom, not David. It’s only then that David acts by telling his people to flee. David, the fierce military leader, is going to flee the city and is encouraging his followers to do the same.
How could David have been so clueless as to what was going on right outside the palace? Was he that disconnected from his people that he didn’t see a shift in allegiances? Maybe he had grown too comfortable in the palace or grown complacent in his position, taking for granted God’s protection. Being king meant power, prestige, tremendous creature comforts, and also a certain amount of isolation and not a lot of accountability. Was he walking with God? To be continued tomorrow.
Let’s pray…Lord, Help us walk closely with you. Help us be aware of what’s going on around us, paying attention to the people you put into our lives, but help us also stay keenly focused on what’s going on within us. Create in us a clean heart…Amen.
2 Samuel 14
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2 Samuel 14: 32-33, Absalom said to Joab, “Look, I sent word to you and said, ‘Come here so I can send you to the king to ask, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there!”’ Now then, I want to see the king’s face, and if I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death.” So Joab went to the king and told him this. Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.
Joab, David’s nephew, friend, and commander, knew David well enough to sense that he was grieving. David was desperately missing Absalom but he wouldn’t admit it. Joab devises a somewhat manipulative scheme to get David to admit his desire for Absalom to return to Jerusalem. It works and David allows his son to return.
But while Absalom returns, that doesn’t mean they were all one big happy family. In fact, David refuses to see Absalom. Absalom is not invited to the royal dining table. In fact, the lack of relationship with the palace certainly puts his succession to the throne in question. Thus, Absalom insists upon seeing the king and Joab refuses to even consider the request. Today’s focus verses are in response. Why did he bother to pick up his life and move to Jerusalem if the king won’t even look him in the face? Absalom insists - either the king would restore him as a son or he would be put to death. He was willing to take the risk.
At last, David consents to see his estranged son. And when they see each other, David kisses him. This is a sign that David has fully accepted him back into the family. David has reconciled with his son and Absalom has been forgiven.
Let’s pray…Lord, we are grateful for your amazing love. Despite our many sins and the ways we pull away from you, you continually welcome us back. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your mercy. Amen.
2 Samuel 13
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2 Samuel 13:12-14, “No, my brother!” she said to him. “Don’t force me! Such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don’t do this wicked thing. What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you.” But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.
This was an ugly chapter filled with family dysfunction, sexual assault, murder, and more sin. It really marks a critical juncture in the book of 2 Samuel. The first ten chapters describe David’s victories and faithfulness. In the next half of the book, we begin to see David’s downfall and the beginning of a divided Israel.
Amnon was David’s oldest son and the heir-apparent. He lusted after his half-sister, Tamar, and despite knowing it was wrong and despite her own pleas, he rapes her and then abandons her. There are significant parallels between Amnon’s sin and the sin of his father, King David. Both committed sexual assault within the privacy and safety of the palace, both of the women experienced extraordinary grief because of the men’s actions, and both of their sins resulted in death for David’s sons.
While we could probably make many reflections on this text, what stands out to me is that the sins of one generation imprint the next generation. Each sin leads to more sin and seems to set a precedent for others to follow. Generational patterns of sin are all too common: sexual abuse, physical abuse, alcoholism and substance use, among other things. The only one who can break this pattern of bondage and sin is Jesus.
Let’s pray…Lord, Forgive us for the ways we contribute to generational sin. We submit our lives to you. Break all the chains that keep us entrenched in sin. We need you and the freedom that you provide. Whatever is dark, may you bring it to light. More of you and less of me, Jesus. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Samuel 12
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2 Samuel 12:13-16, Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”
Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.”
After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. On the seventh day the child died…
It is the job of the prophet to speak truth to power. In this situation, the prophet Nathan gets the fun job of telling David that he sinned against God. Some men may have gotten angry or defensive but David accepts the truth. He experiences conviction and is repentant. God’s response is that while David won’t die, his child with Bathsheba will.
I have always struggled with this text. Why did the baby have to die? After all, it was David who sinned against the Lord. Yet, he gets to live and the innocent one dies. And then it hit me – our sin always has ugly consequences. Look at the entire Biblical narrative – sin is destructive and it is harmful to the people around us and our communities. It is harmful to the Kingdom. We might not like to think about it but our sin always has consequences. Our sin hurts others, often hurting those who are innocent and vulnerable. I’ll just stop there for today.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Forgive us for the ways we harm others. Forgive us for our sinful nature, for the things we do which have consequences far beyond ourselves. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Samuel 11
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2 Samuel 11:26-27, When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.
This is a story that most of us know too well. David messes up bigtime. But I think it’s important that we realize this didn’t just happen. There were certain circumstances that led David down this dark path.
Let’s look at the beginning of the chapter. In the very first verse, it says that it was springtime when the kings go off to war. David sent his commander, Joab, but he stays in Jerusalem. David is a warrior. That’s his giftedness. But rather than go to war with his men, he decides to lounge around Jerusalem.
We all need downtime but there is a difference between downtime and idleness. For whatever reason, David decides not to do what he is called to do and to simply waste time in the palace. When we don’t feel purposeful, when we have too much time on our hands, when we’re not actively engaging in our faith, then that’s usually when things go awry. And boy did things go wrong for David.
You know the story. He sees Bathsheba bathing (hmmm…why was this Godly king hanging on the roof watching the women bathe?), finds her beautiful, and decides he must have her. I want you to think about this. He is the king of Israel. She is the wife of a soldier. My guess is she doesn’t have a lot of choice in the situation. There is something we call that in today’s language – rape. This man, who has always been so dedicated to God, going to great lengths to follow God’s will, has now raped a woman.
But it gets worse. She becomes pregnant. To cover-up this issue, he sends Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, into battle on the front lines, where he will surely be killed. Now, David has added murder to his list of offenses. After Bathsheba mourns her husband, David brings her into his home to be his wife. But the Lord was displeased.
So we have to ask – what in the world happened to David? From chapter 10 and the battle with the Ammonites to today’s chapter, what went on in David’s heart and mind? To say he drifted from God would kind of be an understatement. The idleness probably didn’t help but there had to be more, much more. He became like the kings in the nations around him. He forgot who he was and to whom he belonged. He totally lost his way.
As I reflected on this chapter and passed some pretty significant judgment on David, God really hit me over the head. Friends, we all have the potential to lose our way. We all have the potential to be David and I think it behooves us to recognize that.
What’s the answer then? I don’t exactly know except that we have to be very, very intentional to walk close to Jesus every single day, every single second. On our own, we drift and we lose our way. We allow all kinds of sin to creep into our hearts and lives. We need Jesus. You need Jesus. I need Jesus. Not a little Jesus every now and then. But all of Jesus all the time.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We need you all the time – when we wake-up, as we go about our day, as we close our eyes at night. We need you. Help us remember who and whose we are. We belong to you. More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Samuel 10
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2 Samuel 10:17-19, When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan and went to Helam. The Arameans formed their battle lines to meet David and fought against him. But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers.[a] He also struck down Shobak the commander of their army, and he died there. When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with the Israelites and became subject to them.
In an attempt to show kindness and build alliances, David sends a delegation to the new king of the Ammonites. David had a good relationship with the king’s father and wanted to continue that relationship with the king. But the new king was not so wise. His advisors tell him that this delegation from Israel may actually be spies, sizing up the area for a conquest. The king takes their advice to heart, or possibly wants to exert his independence from the more powerful Israel, so he humiliates the men in the delegation by sending them home with half a beard and half-naked. In those days, this was basically a declaration of war.
The Ammonites expected Israel to respond militarily so they hire mercenaries, the Arameans, to help them fight. But neither group is a match for the army of Israel, led by Joab. Joab is strategic and brave, leading the men to victory despite formidable odds. In the end, the Ammonites plan backfired. Israel becomes the strongest nation in the area, politically, militarily, and economically. With God on their side, they cannot be stopped.
Let’s pray…God of the Ages, You are almighty and powerful. Help us remember that you have acted throughout history, involving yourself in the lives of your people, protecting them, guiding them, and directing their paths. We pray that you do the same for us. Lord, we need you. Give us your wisdom and the courage to follow your ways. We pray all of this in the name of Jesus, Amen.