Today's Reading:

2 Samuel 19
2 Samuel 20
2 Samuel 21
Psalm 5
Psalm 38
Psalm 42

When David returned to Jerusalem, Shimei begged for mercy after cursing him and throwing rocks at him. Abishai immediately demanded, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for cursing the Lord’s anointed?” David roughly replied: “What have I to do with you… Shall anyone be put to death in Israel today?” (2 Samuel 19:22).

David then swore an oath: Shimei would not die. In that moment, David chose grace over justice. While Abishai pushed for judgment, David extended undeserved mercy. It is a great reminder that we are not the judge; only God is. Lord, help us to resist the quick judgment of Abishai and choose grace like David. David showed grace to the man who cursed him. Have you ever been more like Abishai and quick to demand justice when someone has hurt you? How does this point us to the grace Jesus showed when He was betrayed and cursed?

 

In this section of reading, is where we have to remember that “Israel” is the name for the entire nation of people: the Israelites. As the kingdoms will eventually split, the northern kingdom is referred to as “Israel” (or “Joseph”), while the southern kingdom is referred to as “Judah” (or “David’s kingdom”). Again, I will keep a (N) for the northern tribes and an (S) for Judah/southern tribes to make the distinction clear.

David mourned for his son Absalom. Joab, David’s commander, had little remorse, went to King David, and said his mourning was disgraceful to the army and the people. They had risked their lives to save David, yet he grieved for Absalom, who in rebellion tried to kill him. David picked himself up and went to his seat at the gateway.

The Israelites who had fought with Absalom and had fled returned home. They recounted all that David had done for them. However, the tribe of Judah (S), who David was from, was having a harder time than the rest of Israel (N). David sent the high priests, Zadok and Abiathar, to the people of Judah and asked why they were the last to bring the king back, when all Israel wanted him to rule again. He urged them to help restore unity.

David replaced Joab, his own army commander, with Amasa, who had been Absalom’s commander. Although Joab deserved to be tried for treason, David wanted to unite the two sides of the kingdom. David and his men were returning to Jerusalem and stopped at the other side of the Jordan River near Gilgal (the first place of settlement). Shimei (the one who threw stones at David when he was fleeing Jerusalem) and the men of Judah went out to meet the king.

Mephibosheth, the lame grandson of Saul, came to see David. It was unclear whether he or Ziba was lying about the account of what happened in the past. So, David had them split Saul’s land. Barzillai, a wealthy and loyal supporter of the king, was 80 years old; he also went to cross the river with David, showing his support. Israel (N) claimed to have “10 shares” of David, meaning they were ten of the tribes of Israel, where David and Simeon were only two tribes (Simeon was a small tribe within the land of Judah). This had created a new division again.

Israel was jealous of the move of the royal house of Saul to David’s (Judah). They were suspicious that David would favor his own tribe, Judah, over Israel. Eventually, the northern tribes appointed Sheba as their new leader and rebelled.

David had finally traveled back to his palace in Jerusalem, and the concubines who had slept with Absalom were put under house arrest. David told Amasa, his newly appointed commander from Israel, to gather the men for war in three days. Amasa was a no-show, so David went to Abishai (Joab’s brother). He said that Sheba would be worse than Absalom was and must be stopped. Note that David had now passed up Joab, his old commander, for the second time. Sheba called for rebellion by blowing the trumpet. Joab caught up with Amasa and killed him with a knife in cold blood. (like he had killed Abner before). Joab then took over as commander again, though he was very loyal to David; he was ruthless! Joab, leading the army, told the men they needed to follow him if they too were loyal to David.

Joab followed Sheba to the northern fortified city called Abel Beth Maakah and asked for Sheba. The town wanted peace and agreed to hand over Sheba to spare the city. They cut off Sheba’s head and tossed it over the wall to Joab. The rebellion ended, and Joab returned to Jerusalem.

Psalm 5
David is the king, but knows God is the Ultimate King. He created a morning routine to pray to God. He then reminded God of His character and how He would not tolerate evil, rejected the arrogant, and hated those who do wickedness. David asked God to judge the wicked who were rebelling against him and to protect and give joy to those who trust in Him. God blesses and shields the righteous.

Psalm 38
This psalm was about deep pain due to sin. David prayed, confessing his sin and pleading for relief from suffering. David knew he had sinned, and God’s anger and wrath felt like piercing arrows. His sins were overwhelming him, both physically and emotionally painful. He was physically bent over in grief. God saw every desire, but his friends and family avoided him because of his condition. David remained silent and did not defend himself, in hopes that God would respond. Trusting that God sees the enemy's gloating. He gave an honest confession and repentance, even though his enemies still attacked him for doing good and repaid his good with evil.

Psalm 42
This was another lament from the Sons of Korah (Levite musicians). The psalmist thirsts for God like a deer pants for water. He longed to be in God’s presence and to worship him again. He cried out, desperate for God. The psalmist remembered happier times of joyful worship with others at the temple, while commanding his soul to hope in God. He was overwhelmed with trouble, which was like waves crashing over him and he was feeling forgotten. All the while, others taunted him about where his God was. He repeated the following phrase twice in this psalm and once in the next: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalm 42:5, 11; 43:5). This was a refrain of hope in the psalms to show how deeply we are to trust in Him even when we feel discouraged.

Today's Discussion question: 

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