Samuel-2.docx

Samuel 2 Old Testament Series, MNPalomo 2 Samuel 1- David honours Saul DAVID returns from battling AMALEKITES, mourns SAUL’s death, curses Gilboa where he died David was extremely gracious regarding Saul. Rather than recount Saul’s shortcomings, David chose to honor him in this song. In spite of all that Saul had done to harm David, he did not hold these things against him following his death. (Ps 103:12). Ch 2- David anointed King over Judah; war between House of David (Judea) and House of Saul (Israel). David’s men overpowered Saul’s men. Ch 2-5 David’s security, as king over Israel, proved to be in question throughout this book. In the natural order of things, it would not be uncommon for the son of the deceased king to ascend to the throne. However, that was not God’s plan. David’s kingdom was guaranteed and never in question from the perspective of God’s sovereign oversight of his life. Ch 3- David grew stronger; Saul’s house weaker. Here is a drama of revenge, of betrayals, of weeping involving ABNER and JOAB (men of Saul and David’s kingdoms, respectively). As Saul’s chief military leader and head of his protection unit, Abner had no doubt made David’s life miserable, seeking to kill him as Saul directed and desired. YET David forgave Abner and formed a constructive alliance with him. In contrast, Joab hated Abner because Abner had killed his brother. As a result, Joab killed Abner. While Joab’s desire to avenge his brother’s death might be understandable, David too had reason to seek revenge. But he didn’t. Instead he wept because of Abner’s death. David, in a sign of mourning, put on sackcloth and wept at Abner’s grave (vv. 31–32). 1 KINGS 2 / 2 SAMUEL 3 5 “Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. 6 Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace. Ch 4 ISH-BOSHETH (Saul’s son) assassinated by his own men (Baanah and Rekab) who turned to David but was punished by death by David. The deaths of Saul, Abner and Ish-Bosheth removed major obstacles from David’s path to be king over Israel. David secured power in both the northern and southern territories as a result of Rimmon’s two merciless sons, BAANAH and REKAB. After murdering Ish-Bosheth, these men expected a reward because they believed themselves to be agents acting on David’s behalf and the Lord. But they misread the situation, revealing that they did not know David’s values as king and were mistaken concerning the judgment and purposes of God. Ultimately, David understood that men like Baanah and Rekab could not grasp that the Lord redeems life and brings judgment on the wrongdoer. Ch 5 King David conquers JERUSALEM/ZION, called the CITY OF DAVID. Hiram king of Tyre sent gifts to David and built him a palace. Men of Saul/Ish-bosheth now turned to David and anointed him king of Israel (north). In one of his first acts as king over all the tribes of Israel, David assailed the Jebusites in Jerusalem, taking the city as his royal seat. He was able to do these things not by his own might but rather by the power of almighty God (v. 10). David and his army were mocked as weak (v.6), but God enabled them to overpower the Jebusite warriors and gain control of the city. God established David’s city as a physical manifestation of his goodness to his people. For years to come, it was described in Scripture with the utmost regard: the city of God (Ps 87: 1–3), the place where God put his Name (2Ki 21: 4), a place of salvation (Isa 46: 13), “The Throne of the LORD” (Jer 3: 17) and the holy city (Isa 52: 1). This city, however, fell from prominence as the people of God faced hardships and exile at the hands of neighboring nations in the days to come. Many years later, Jerusalem would again become central to the redemptive story of God. It was outside of this city where Jesus’ sacrifice took place, establishing the promise of a future forever in the presence of God for those who repent of their sins while believing and calling on the name of Jesus for forgiveness. The promise of salvation from God was established through David at a physical location, and that location became the central place in which Jesus expanded God’s kingdom through another victory—a victory over death. And here JESUS will return to rule as King of kings. The PHILISTINES hunted David, but David inquired of God and followed His instructions. The Philistines were defeated. Ch 6 For Israel, the ark represented God’s awe-inspiring presence, and it unified the twelve tribes as one people. For this pilgrimage David had men set the ark on a new cart pulled by oxen. They celebrated with all their might before the Lord. BUT the oxen stumbled and Uzzah committed an irreverent act by reaching out to stabilize it. Immediately, the anger of the Lord burned against him and he died. The Lord had given strict instructions concerning the transportation of the ark. It was only to be Levites. When these commands were violated, the Lord defended his holiness by striking the violator dead. This zeal frightened David. All in the procession were reminded that when the fear of the Lord fades, the community is at risk. When sinful man encroaches upon the holiness of God, a price must be paid. David feared the Ark. He took it to the house of OBED-EDOM; and for 3 months, the Lord blessed the entire household because of the Ark. So, David got back the Ark, danced without his kingly garments and was despised by his wife, Michal, who then became barren. Ch 7 God promised David greatness, prosperity, peace. Through his son, SOLOMON, God will establish an eternal kingdom. From David’s childhood, he was tasked to guard the livestock from predators and thieves alike. Taking David from his humble beginnings as a lowly shepherd, God gave him the responsibility to rule over his chosen nation. The skills David learned during his early years translated into his oversight of God’s people as he led and protected them throughout his time as king. The Lord established David’s kingdom, using him to band together God’s people to form the strongest military power in the Middle East at that time. It was through David that God settled his people as a nation among the Middle Eastern nations, spreading the Israelites’ territory from Egypt to the Euphrates River. Eventually God gave David rest from his military conquests (2Sa7: 1), affording the war-hardened king the opportunity to look to the future. David’s desire was to build a temple for the Lord,yet this was not God’s plan (vv. 2–7). Rather than implementing David’s good intentions, God made it clear to Nathan that his desire was much larger. He had positioned his people, through David’s leadership, to be established forever. God’s vision was to establish and fulfill promises that he had made to his people as they came out of Egypt through a covenant with David’s heir (vv. 8–17). David’s son, Solomon, would solidify the Jewish nation forever, as well as build a house for God’s Name (v. 13). David’s prayer in verses 18–29 concludes by showing his response to the Lord. David expressed his humble response to God’s promises to David—which ultimately unfolded fully in the New Testament through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. These promises revealed God’s larger acts of redemption as recounted by David (vv. 22–24). It was here that David realized his significant contribution to the Lord’s grander scheme. God had used David’s life and work as a piece of a much larger puzzle which is revealed over the course of the entirety of Scripture: God’s story of redemption. God enabled David to see his glorious plan to establish a kingdom for himself that, through David’s heirs, would be unending. Those promises were fulfilled initially during Jesus’ earthly ministry and established finally when Jesus was crucified and defeated death (Lk 2: 4; 20: 41; Rev 3: 7; 5: 5; 22: 16). Jesus was called the Son of the Most High, given the throne of his forefather David and promised a kingdom with no end (Lk 1: 32–33). Clearly, Jesus was the One through whom God finalized his covenant promises to David. Whereas other heirs of David sinned, failed and eventually died, Jesus proved to be the ultimate Heir—living a perfect life and defeating sin and death. Ch 8 David defeated and subdued the Philistines, Moabites, Arameans, Edomites. He established his Officials. David is described as doing what was “just” and “right”. By executing justice and doing righteousness, one could expect to continue in the covenant promises and blessings between God and his people. As king, David’s godly leadership brought blessing upon the land and people. His administration enforced and fostered authentic worship, and he led military campaigns according to the word of the Lord. He kept records and commands with such competency that future generations could remember all the wonders that the Lord had done. Ch 9 David shows kindness to JONATHAN’s son, MEPHIBOSHETH to honor Jonathan. Mephibosheth had a justified reason to fear King David. Typically when founding a new dynasty, kings in the Middle East killed all surviving heirs of a deposed monarch to keep them from trying to regain power. David’s response to Mephibosheth is a picture of God’s work in Christ: no longer considering people his enemies, but considering them his friends. Ch 10- David/Joab defeats the Ammonites and the Arameans. After David had established Israel’s supremacy in the region, he was determined to demonstrate covenant faithfulness, or “kindness,” to one inside the covenant nation- Mephibosheth (2Sa 9: 7) and to one outside the covenantal people of God- HANUN (2Sa 10: 2). David was a king willing to put self-interest at risk in order to uphold justice and righteousness with friend and rival alike. He sent a delegation to the new Ammonite king, Hanun, in order to offer condolences on the death of his father. Rather than receive the men graciously, Hanun shaved off half their beards and cut off their garments to utterly humiliate David’s messengers. Ch 11 David and BATHSHEBA- the greatest sin of David so displeasing to the Lord. David decided to stay at home versus going off to war with his men. His idle mind became the “devil’s workshop”. Committing adultery with Bathsheba clearly violated God’s command. David tried to hide his actions through the murder of Bathsheba’s husband, URIAH, one of David’s “mighty warriors” and a purely innocent victim of David’s horrible choices. David betrayed Uriah, an act that led to the death of his faithful comrade, Ch 12 The Lord sent NATHAN to David to rebuke him for his sin. David was cursed. His son with Bathsheba died. 13Then 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. 14But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the LORD, the son born to you will die.” David humbly accepted God’s refusal to answer his prayer for his son. Soon after, Bathsheba had a son, Solomon whom the Lord loved. Meanwhile, Joab captured the Ammonites’ water supply, He now sends for David and he finished the war against the Ammonites. Ch 13 AMNON, David’s son, raped his half sister Tamar. Tamar’s brother Absalom had Amnon killed. vs 36 The king’s sons came in, wailing loudly. The king, too, and all his attendants wept very bitterly. vs 38 After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years. 39 And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning Amnon’s death. CH 14-15 Ch 14- Through Joab’s interventions, Absalom returned to David but it was only after 2 years before David allowed him to see him again. Ch 15 - Absalom stole the hearts of the Israelites away from his father, King David. He had himself crowned in Hebron. David fled Jerusalem via the Mount of Olives. It was David’s chosen path away from his son. The Mount of Olives was a well-known place of worship for the people of God; perhaps David worshipped there. Ch 16- Ziba served David and was rewarded. Those who attacked him were punished. ZIBA was given an “inheritance.” Because of Absalom’s rebellion, David fled Jerusalem for his life. He was met by SHIMEI who stoned and cursed him... thinking, like everyone else, that David was reaping what he had sown by replacing Saul. Instead of correcting their wrong thinking, David did not attack Shimei nor ask God to interfere; but rather he waited on God’s timing for justice. 1 KINGS 2/ 2 Sam 16 8 “And remember, you have with you Shimei...who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ 9 But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.” Ch 16- Absalom asks advice from Ahithophel versus David 2 Sam 16:22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. (To establish to the people Absalom’s complete separation from David). Absalom’s behavior fulfilled God’s curse when David slept with Bathsheba —2 Samuel 12:11 This is what the LORD says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. 12You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ Ch 17- Absalom inquired from 2 men (not from the Lord)  AHITHOPHEL’s advice HUSHAI’s advice *followed by Absalom. Attack David tonight while they are weary. Kill David only and spare all the people. Because His advice wasn’t followed, he hanged himself. Lead all Israel to war and kill David and spare no one. BUT, Hushai had David warned about Ahithophel’s advice. David and men escaped and was fed by BARZILLAI. 1 KINGS 2 7 “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom. Absalom listened to Hushai’s “wrong” advice. Hushai betrayed Absalom and sent David a warning. As Absalom was plotting to kill David, counterforces were already coming into place to block his progress. God used the “advice” of Hushai to give David and his men an advantage. Although Absalom thought he was in control of the situation, God was already working against him to fulfill his promises to David and to his descendants. Ch 18- Joab disobeys David and kills Absalom, David’s enemy and beloved son 5 The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.” BUT Joab killed Absalom. David mourned. 33 “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!” Ch 19- David rebuked for mourning his enemy and son, Absalom Joab rebuked King David because he mourned Absalom who fought and killed his men. So David rose and encouraged his soldiers. He finally received homage as king over all Israel. Who honored David upon returning to Jerusalem? 14 He won over the hearts of the men of Judah. They paid him homage, particularly Shimei who once cursed him said: 19 “May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. Who honored David upon returning to Jerusalem? 24 MEPHIBOSHETH, Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king.... 36Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? 37Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant KIMHAM. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever you wish.” 38The king said, “Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever you wish. And anything you desire from me I will do for you.” Ch 20- Joab ends all rebellion against David Sheba rebels against David and was beheaded. Joab squashed all rebellion. In the midst of difficult times, loyalty is at a premium. Those who are loyal to a leader, despite the current circumstances or potential outcomes, are worth their weight in gold. The majority of David’s reign over the Hebrews required great loyalty from his followers. The king interacts with men who have been disloyal (Sheba) and those who stayed faithful (Joab). The ones who remained faithful did so in spite of the overarching uncertainty of the situation. Ch 21- Atonement: Death is required Famine occurred because God held it against the Israelites when Saul killed the Gibeonites. (Joshua had sworn to protect them although they were non-Jews but Saul killed them). So David allowed the Gibeonites to kill Saul’s descendants as revenge (except for Mephibosheth), and God stopped the famine. They also won 4 battles against the Philistines. Ch 22-23- David’s Last Words Ch 22- David’s song of praise to the Lord. Ch 23- David’s last words- he gave honor to those who helped his cause. Psalm 18 David wrote this song of praise as he reflected on how God had delivered him from his enemies. After years of hardship at the hands of various enemies—whether it was the unjust envy of Saul (1Sa 18: 8–9) or the warring Philistines—David now experienced peace and authored this song, having seen the evidence that God was his rock, fortress and deliverer. This song was included in the book of Psalms (Ps 18). Also noteworthy are the parts of this song that speak of David as the “head of nations” (2Sa 22: 44; Ps 18: 43). Ch 23- Covenants David’s final poetic words revealed the supreme trust he had in God’s faithfulness to fulfill his promises. He reaffirmed the “everlasting covenant” God made with David long ago (v. 5). These promises, first made in 2 Samuel 7: 12–16, were a firm foundation for David’s trust, even in the face of his impending death. God’s covenant pledged that someone from David’s lineage would reign as God’s anointed king. In the short term, this promise was fulfilled in David’s son, Solomon, who built the temple and established the worship of God among the people. But this would not be the end of God’s covenant promises. David reminded Solomon that if he walked faithfully before God, he would not lack a successor on the throne of Israel (1Ki 2: 4). Solomon knew the promise of God’s anointed king was still to come. Neither David nor Solomon could fully understand or comprehend the person of Jesus Christ, but their hope was clearly set on Ch 23- Covenants a coming king who would, unlike them, be able to usher in the rule and reign of God over his people. The prophet Isaiah looked forward to this day when he wrote: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this” (Isa 9: 6–7). God would fulfill his promises, just as David believed. Though the people would continue to turn from God, God would not abandon his people. The zeal of God and not the faithfulness of humanity would establish the throne of David. And this throne, unlike David’s, will have no end. Ch 24- David sinned, repented David took the census of his men despite Joab’s warnings not to. But he was convicted and repented but still suffered the consequences of his sin. 10 David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.” The Need for Atonement 12“ Go and tell David, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am giving you 3 options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’ ” 13So Gad went to David and said to him, “Shall there come on you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.” 15...the LORD sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy-thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. 16 When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel told David: “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19 So David went up, as the LORD had commanded through Gad. 23Your Majesty, Araunah gives all this to the king.” Araunah also said to him, “May the LORD your God accept you.” 24But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing. David oFFers sin sacrifice and was forgiven ”So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. 25David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship Offerings. Then the LORD answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped. SUMMARY There are consequences for sin. This has been the overarching story in the life of David. David’s saga entails acts of disobedience and then moments of repentance and reconciliation with God. However, the impact of his sin was evident. In this episode, the result of David’s sin was that over seventy thousand people lost their lives in a plague (24: 15). Again, the consequences of sin are real! Ultimately, David found atonement for his sin by God’s grace and mercy. Out of this tragic scene comes the site for the future temple of Solomon, which became a central location for the future of the Jewish people (1Ch 21: 28–22: 1). God is able to take the ugliness of a person’s disobedience and turn it into a beautiful picture of His redeeming grace. Jesus is the final temple where atonement was accomplished once for all believers. The atonement for sin required a perfect sacrifice. Jesus was that sacrifice. He is the atonement. He is the temple. He is what David needed as well as what we need: the “once-for-all” offering for sins.