171st Week, II Samuel Chapters 21-24 (Click on title for Video Introduction)

 

Click on Title for Video Intro

Monday, II Samuel Chapter 21

II Samuel 2l

Verse 1

Mindy Strayer

Verse 1:  During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood—stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.”

THOUGHT   

There are two parts that I found interesting in this verse.  First we see the importance of keeping your word. Numbers 30:1-2 says, Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel, “This is what the Lord

commands. When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.”

According to the Bible commentary there were no written contracts in ancient times. A person’s word was like a binding signature. To make a vow was even more binding because an offering was given with it. Breaking a vow meant that one had broken trust and broken a relationship not only to the person you made the contract with but also to God Himself.

There was an oath made to the Gibeonites by Joshua and Israel.  King Saul knew about it, but he chose not to keep this oath.  He had tried to kill off the Gibeonites. When God told David that the famine was occurring because Saul broke this vow, David asked the Gibeonites how he could make amends. David needed to restore the vow that Israel had made with these Gibeonite people. He needed to right the wrong. As soon as he restored the vow and the trust, God began to answer the prayers of Israel again.

The following two things came from this: l. We should not make promises that we cannot keep.  2. We cannot expect God to turn His head when we break His commands. We must ask for forgiveness, and we must combine this with action to correct the sin.

Secondly it is interesting that the Bible states that David sought the face of the Lord. It does not say that David sought out the work of God’s hands.  He did not go to God and simply ask God to solve the problem, to fix things by stopping the famine. David wanted to meet God personally. He wanted to see His face.

How many times in our lives do we just want God to change our situation, to fix our problem? Could it be that the problem exists because of our sin, and God is allowing it to exist until we humble ourselves, get down on our knees, and pray for forgiveness? Maybe the problem exists because God is calling us to a deeper intimacy with Him where it is not enough for God to just be our problem solver. To search for God’s face is to search for God Himself, the person of God. It is a search that requires us to humble ourselves and pray for God to meet us.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, please help us see the sin in our lives and give us the strength to rid ourselves of it. Help us to be keepers of our word so that people know that we can be trusted and counted on.  May each Salt Shaker seek Your face today, so that You would meet them there in that very moment. AMEN 

Tuesday, II Samuel Chapter 22

II Samuel 22

Mindy Strayer

THOUGHT

This chapter made me look at King David differently than the last chapters we have been reading about him.  The Bible says that he was a skilled musician who wrote many songs to the Lord. This chapter made me imagine David sitting down writing, playing and singing music. I wonder what his songs sounded like. His lyrics are awesome! Can you imagine the sound of the music being played with them? How beautiful they must have sounded.

Once again we are reminded of how much David lived for the Lord and how well he knew the Lord. David describes God’s character and reveals the truth of God in his song. The Lord was many things to David. What is He to you?

This is a great chapter to simply read and reflect on who God is to you.

PRAYER

Lord God, we love You. I pray that daily You would reveal to us more of who You are, Your character and Your ways. I pray that we would grow strong in our faith and knowledge of who You are. Help us Lord to be obedient to Your teachings, to stay in prayer always, to stay in Your Word daily, to serve others with a joyful heart and to bring glory to You in everything that we do. We love You, Lord Jesus.  AMEN

Wednesday, II Samuel Chapter 23

II Samuel 23

Verses 3-4

Mindy Strayer

Verses 3-4:  The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.’

THOUGHT

Chapter 23 speaks of David’s Mighty Men and their heroin stories. Amazing soldiers, warriors and military leaders these men were. Our Bible commentary says that some of these men were relatives of David, others outlaws of society, and many were in trouble with the law. David met a great many of these men while running from King Saul, while hiding in the cave of Adullam, way back in I Samuel chapter 22.  All were deeply devoted to David. Why? Simple answer is written in the Bible in I Samuel chapter 22 where it says all those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. The commentary mentions that these men were outcasts themselves, and could only improve their lot by helping David become king. But it has to be more than that because these men risked their lives, facing seemingly impossible odds of a successful battle/victory many times over. 

The answer lies in the verse chosen for today. It was because David led them with righteousness, with the fear of God. To these men David was a rejuvenating spirit bringing hope and a future, like that vision of a sunrise on a cloudless morning and the brightness after rain. These men saw in David a man worthy of being loyal to.

God’s heart is that ALL would come to Him. When we follow God’s leadership, whether or not we are intentionally leading people or not, we are a vessel used by God to showcase his heart and his purpose for his people here on earth. David feared the Lord. His men would have seen that. 

I would imagine that some of these mighty men came to know God because of King David’s leadership in their lives.  Our relationship with God affects everyone around us. We may be designated a leader of a specific group, or we may be not knowing we are leading just by people noticing our behavior, actions, and words. We can as Christians, having an eternal viewpoint of life, bring a refreshing and rejuvenating spirit to people. God is a master strategist, and He will place us in leadership positions to further His kingdom. We must be humble and call on God for guidance.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, we thank You for ruling with righteousness! We pray that our own leadership qualities and abilities mirror Yours. We thank You, Lord, that You came for us ALL.  Lord, You are worthy of our devotion!!! Help us to be Your ‘Mighty Men’ here on earth! Use us to showcase Your heart and bring hope to those who need it. We love You, Jesus!  AMEN

Thursday, II Samuel Chapter 24

II Samuel 24

Verse 14

Mindy Strayer

Verse 14:  David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”

THOUGHT

I will share some thoughts from the Bible Commentary. David is convicted of the sin he committed against God. He admits to God that what he did was wrong. He asks God for forgiveness. God gives David forgiveness, but there had to be a punishment. Sin comes with consequences that we must face

and go through. Naturally David is distressed about God’s punishment but he knows that God is merciful and will love him through it; so he wisely chooses the punishment that comes most directly from God. 

We can be confident falling into God’s hands after sinning, trusting that He will catch us. Choosing anything but God’s hands to fall into is a risky choice to make because we cannot be sure of the outcome. Nothing and no one cares for us as God our father does. If you truly believe that God’s ways are always good, then let Him do with you what He will, trusting that He is molding you into His image. Remember that because we have Jesus as our Savior, the outcome is victory over sin, and eternal life with God!

PRAYER

Praise be to Jesus for taking on the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross. We fall into Your hands, Lord Jesus, and we ask You not to let go.  AMEN

Friday, II Samuel Summary - Taken from Life Application bible

The book of II Samuel describes  David's reign.  Since the Israelites first entered the promised land under Joshua, they had been struggling to unite the nation and drive out the wicked inhabitants. Now, after more than 400 years. Israel was finally at peace.  David had accomplished what no leader before him, judge or king, had done.  His administration was run on the principle of dedication to God and to the well-being of the people. Yet David also sinned.  Despite his sins, however, the Bible calls David a man after God's own heart because when he sinned he recognized it and confessed his sins to God. David committed his life to God and remained loyal to him throughout his life time,  Psalms gives an even deeper insight into David's love for God.  We will be reading some of them in the next few weeks. 

If the story of David shows us anything, it's God's faithfulness.  God's faithfulness to David - to forgive him of sin and bless his reign.  God's faithfulness to His people - to provide them with a faithful king and to protect and bless them through him.  Praise God today for His faithfulness to His people, then and now.  Thank Him that you follow the great line of David, Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of all God's promises to His people.