Month: January 2020

2Samuel 20, Betrayed by a kiss!

2Sa 20:4, And the king said to Amasa, “Assemble the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself.” 

There was a rebellion in Israel lead by Sheba. Amasa, the new commander of David’s army, was sent to go after Sheba!

2Sa 20:9-10, THEN JOAB SAID TO AMASA, “Are you in health, my brother?” And JOAB TOOK AMASA BY THE BEARD WITH HIS RIGHT HAND TO KISS HIM. …AND HE STRUCK HIM WITH IT IN THE STOMACH, AND HIS ENTRAILS POURED OUT ON THE GROUND; AND HE DID NOT STRIKE HIM AGAIN. THUS HE DIED.

This is the 2nd commander that Joab had killed! Joab killed Abner, Saul’s commander and now Amasa. He killed Abner by asking if he can speak to him privately 2Sa 3:37. He killed Amasa also by deceiving him WITH A KISS!

Luk 22:48, BUT JESUS SAID TO HIM, “JUDAS, ARE YOU BETRAYING THE SON OF MAN WITH A KISS?” 

JESUS IS THE COMMANDER OF THE LORD’S ARMY, WHO WAS ALSO BETREYED WITH A KISS!

Pro 27:6, Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 

1Ki 2:32, So the LORD will return his blood on his head, because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword—Abner the son of Ner, the commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, …

JOAB LIVED BY THE SWORD AND DIED BY THE SWORD. OUR SINS ARE NEVER HIDDEN FROM THE LORD! Psalms 69:5

2Samuel 19, Bring back the KING!

2Sa 19:14-15, So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah … SO THAT THEY SENT THIS WORD TO THE KING: “RETURN, YOU AND ALL YOUR SERVANTS!” THEN THE KING RETURNED AND CAME TO THE JORDAN…

GOD WILL NEVER FORCE HIS REIGN ON US, BUT WE MUST WELCOME HIS REIGN! OUR HEARTS MUST BE SWAYED BY THE WORD OF GOD AND THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

2Sa 19:18-20, …NOW SHIMEI THE SON OF GERA FELL DOWN BEFORE THE KING… DO NOT LET MY LORD IMPUTE INIQUITY TO ME, OR REMEMBER WHAT WRONG YOUR SERVANT DID ON THE DAY THAT MY LORD THE KING LEFT JERUSALEM, THAT THE KING SHOULD TAKE IT TO HEART…FOR I, YOUR SERVANT, KNOW THAT I HAVE SINNED 

This is a picture of us; for with our lifestyles we have curse God and went our own way. But when we come to the knowledge of the truth and understand that our way leads to death, then we must humble ourselves before the KING of kings JESUS!

2Sa 19:21, But Abishai said …, “SHALL NOT SHIMEI BE PUT TO DEATH FOR THIS, BECAUSE HE CURSED THE LORD’S ANOINTED?” 

Eze 18:21-23, “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; …Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord GOD, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?

2Samuel 18, The death of a son!

2Sa 18:7-8, The people of Israel were overthrown there BEFORE THE SERVANTS OF DAVID, AND A GREAT SLAUGHTER OF TWENTY THOUSAND TOOK PLACE THERE THAT DAY… AND THE WOODS DEVOURED MORE PEOPLE THAT DAY THAN THE SWORD DEVOURED.

Absalom started a civil war against his own father David, but the LORD was on the side of David. More men were killed by the woods; Implies that GOD WAS ALSO HELPING DAVID!

2Sa 18:9, …ABSALOM RODE ON A MULE. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; SO HE WAS LEFT HANGING BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH.

Deu 21:23, … FOR HE WHO IS HANGED IS ACCURSED OF GOD

ABSALOM RODE ON A MULE AND WAS CAUGHT ON A TREE BY HIS HAIR LEAVING HIM HANGING! JESUS ALSO RODE ON A MULE AND WAS HUNG ON A TREE BUT, ABSALOM DIED FOR HIS SINS WHEREAS JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS!

2Sa 18:33, … “O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—IF ONLY I HAD DIED IN YOUR PLACE! O ABSALOM MY SON, MY SON!” 

IN DAVID’S CRY WE CAN SEE THE CRY OF THE FATHER CRYING FOR HIS LOST SONS. IF ONLY I HAD DIED IN YOUR PLACE!  WHERE DAVID COULD NOT DO, GOD DID! HE DIED FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD.

Rom 5:8, BUT GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. 

1Samuel 17, the power of prayer!

2Sa 17:1-2, Moreover AHITHOPHEL SAID TO ABSALOM, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. I WILL COME UPON HIM WHILE HE IS WEARY AND WEAK, AND MAKE HIM AFRAID. ..

Wise council from Ahithophel for David and his people were weary and weak for lack of food! Now Absalom asked Hushai for advice! 2Sa 17:29, … “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.” 

2Sa 17:11, THEREFORE I ADVISE THAT ALL ISRAEL BE FULLY GATHERED TO YOU, FROM DAN TO BEERSHEBA, like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, AND THAT YOU GO TO BATTLE IN PERSON. 

2Sa 17:14, … “THE ADVICE OF HUSHAI THE ARCHITE IS BETTER THAN THE ADVICE OF AHITHOPHEL.” FOR THE LORD HAD PURPOSED TO DEFEAT THE GOOD ADVICE OF AHITHOPHEL, TO THE INTENT THAT THE LORD MIGHT BRING DISASTER ON ABSALOM. 

Because of David’s simple prayer the LORD turned a wise mans council into foolishness in the eyes of Absalom! We don’t need to use big words to pray to the LORD, because he wants to hear what’s in your heart ‘HELP ME LORD’, ‘HAVE MERCY ON ME LORD’!

2Sa 15:31, … And David said, “O LORD, I PRAY, TURN THE COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL INTO FOOLISHNESS!” 

Psa 145:18-19, The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.

2Samuel 16, 1, EARS OF THE WISE!

2Sa 16:5-7, … there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was SHIMEI … HE CAME OUT, CURSING CONTINUOUSLY AS HE CAME. AND HE THREW STONES AT DAVID … Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “COME OUT! COME OUT! YOU BLOODTHIRSTY MAN, YOU ROGUE!

2Sa 16:9-10, Then Abishai …said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!” But the king said, … SO LET HIM CURSE, BECAUSE THE LORD HAS SAID TO HIM, ‘CURSE DAVID.’ WHO THEN SHALL SAY, ‘WHY HAVE YOU DONE SO?’

Even in the cursing of Shimei DAVID WAS LISTENING TO THE WORDS OF HIM TO SEE IF IT’S FROM THE LORD!

Pro 18:15, The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, AND THE EAR OF THE WISE SEEKS KNOWLEDGE.

2Sa 16:12, It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day.” 

WHILE SHIMEI FOOLISH MOUTH ALMOST GOT HIM KILLED BY ABISHAI; DAVID WAS LISTENING CAREFULLY TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY WORD OF THE LORD EVEN BY THE MOUTH OF A FOOL!

Pro 10:14, WISE PEOPLE STORE UP KNOWLEDGE, BUT THE MOUTH OF THE FOOLISH IS NEAR DESTRUCTION. 

2Samuel 15, Absalom’s Conspiracy!

2Sa 15:12, THEN ABSALOM SENT FOR AHITHOPHEL THE GILONITE, DAVID’S COUNSELOR, … AND THE CONSPIRACY GREW STRONG, FOR THE PEOPLE WITH ABSALOM Continually Increased In Number. 

Ahithophel, David’s counselor was also the grand father of Bathsheba! His advice was as if it were an oracle of God (2Sa 16:23)!

2Sa 15:31, Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, I PRAY, TURN THE COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL INTO FOOLISHNESS!” 

Psa 41:9, EVEN MY OWN FAMILIAR FRIEND IN WHOM I TRUSTED, WHO ATE MY BREAD, HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.

David was betrayed by Ahithophel as JESUS was betrayed by Judas, But the difference here is that DAVID SUFFERED FOR HIS OWN SINS WHERE AS THE CHRIST SUFFERED FOR OUR SINS! YET, AFTER ALL THIS DAVID PLACED HIS TRUST IN THE LORD!

2Sa 15:26, BUT IF HE SAYS THUS: ‘I HAVE NO DELIGHT IN YOU,’ HERE I AM, LET HIM DO TO ME AS SEEMS GOOD TO HIM.” 

SEEK HIM IN THE GOOD TIMES AND IN THE BAD. SEEK HIM AND HIS WORD, FOR HE IS OUR STRENGTH IN TIMES OF TROUBLE!

Pro 28:1, The wicked flee when no one pursues, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS ARE BOLD AS A LION. 

2Samuel 14, Absalom Returns!

2Sa 14:1-2, So Joab …PERCEIVED THAT THE KING’S HEART WAS CONCERNED ABOUT ABSALOM. And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman, and said to her, “PLEASE PRETEND TO BE A MOURNER, AND PUT ON MOURNING APPAREL; …BUT ACT LIKE A WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN MOURNING A LONG TIME FOR THE DEAD.

Joab wanted to bring back Absalom because it was affecting David, the king!

2Sa 14:14, FOR WE WILL SURELY DIE AND BECOME LIKE WATER SPILLED ON THE GROUND, which cannot be gathered up again. YET GOD DOES NOT TAKE AWAY A LIFE; BUT HE DEVISES MEANS, SO THAT HIS BANISHED ONES ARE NOT EXPELLED FROM HIM. 

The wise woman told David “WE ALL DIE THEN THE OPPORTUNITY OF RECONCILIATION IS GONE! DO IT NOW! GOD DEVISES MEANS TO BRING BACK A BANISHED PERSON BACK TO HIMSELF! A PICTURE OF JESUS WHO HUNG ON THE CROSS TO BRING US BACK TO THE FATHER

2Co 5:18, Now all things are of God, WHO HAS RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, AND HAS GIVEN US THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION, 

TIME IS SHORT, FORGIVE AND MOVE ON! WE HAVE WORK TO DO FOR HIS KINGDOM!

Mat 18:21-22, Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I DO NOT SAY TO YOU, UP TO SEVEN TIMES, BUT UP TO SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN.

2Samuel 13, Amnon lusted for his sister!

2Sa 13:6, Then Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “PLEASE LET TAMAR MY SISTER COME AND MAKE A COUPLE OF CAKES FOR ME IN MY SIGHT, THAT I MAY EAT FROM HER HAND.” 

Amnon believed he loved his sister Yet, it wasn’t love but lust!

2Sa 13:11, Now when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “COME, LIE WITH ME, MY SISTER.” 

2Sa 13:12-14, …”No, my brother, DO NOT FORCE ME, … DO NOT DO THIS DISGRACEFUL THING! And I, where could I take MY SHAME? And as for you, you would be LIKE ONE OF THE FOOLS in Israel. … HE WOULD NOT HEED HER VOICE; AND BEING STRONGER THAN SHE, HE FORCED HER AND LAY WITH HER.

Lev 18:11, …BEGOTTEN BY YOUR FATHER—SHE IS YOUR SISTER—YOU SHALL NOT UNCOVER HER NAKEDNESS. 

2Sa 13:15, THEN AMNON HATED HER EXCEEDINGLY, …”ARISE, BE GONE!” 

THE LOVE HE HAD WAS REPLACED BY HATE BECAUSE SHE WAS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF HIS SIN! PEOPLE OFTEN MISTAKE LUST FOR LOVE, BUT THIS IS NOT FROM THE FATHER BUT OF THE WORLD! 1John 2:16.

Rom 8:6, FOR TO BE CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH, BUT TO BE SPIRITUALLY MINDED IS LIFE AND PEACE. 

2Samuel 12, David’s sin revealed!

2Sa 12:7-8, THEN NATHAN SAID TO DAVID, “YOU ARE THE MAN! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I ANOINTED YOU king over Israel, and I DELIVERED YOU from the hand of Saul. I GAVE YOU your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, AND GAVE YOU the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I ALSO WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU MUCH MORE!

God told David that his sin was ingratitude. GOD GAVE HIM, ANOINTED HIM, PROTECTED HIM AND WOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM MORE BUT, HE LUSTED AND TOOK THE WIFE OF URIAH!

2Sa 12:9-10, WHY HAVE YOU DESPISED THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD, TO DO EVIL IN HIS SIGHT? YOU HAVE KILLED URIAH the Hittite with the sword; YOU HAVE TAKEN HIS WIFE to be your wife, and HAVE KILLED HIM WITH THE SWORD OF THE PEOPLE OF AMMON. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, BECAUSE YOU HAVE DESPISED ME, AND HAVE TAKEN THE WIFE OF URIAH THE HITTITE TO BE YOUR WIFE.’

THIS IS DAVID, A SINNER, A MURDERER, AN ADULTERER AND A THIEF WHO BEING RICH COVETED THE WIFE OF A POOR MAN! GOD GAVE HIM EVERYTHING GOOD YET HE WANTED MORE! ELIPHAZ TOLD JOB, THAT MAN DRINKS INIQUITY LIKE WATER, WE SIN AS IF OUR LIVES DEPENDANT ON IT TO SURVIVE (Job 15:16). THIS UGLY PART OF DAVID’S LIFE IS ALSO A REFLECTION OF WHAT’S IN OUR HEART. LIKE A MIRROR STRAIGHT INTO OUR SOUL WE SEE THE REAL US!

Rom 7:24, O WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM! WHO WILL DELIVER ME FROM THIS BODY OF DEATH? 

2Samuel 11, David’s transgression!

2Sa 11:2-3, … And from the roof he saw A WOMAN BATHING, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. …. And someone said, “IS THIS NOT BATHSHEBA, THE DAUGHTER OF ELIAM, THE WIFE OF URIAH THE HITTITE?”

While David, was told that she was the daughter of Eliam, one of David’s mighty men (2Sa 23:34). He knew that her grandfather was Ahithophel, one of David’s chief counselors (2Sa 15:12). And, that she was married to honorable Uriah! THIS WAS HIS ESCAPE, YET BECAUSE OF HIS LUST HE IGNORED THEM!

1Co 10:13, NO TEMPTATION HAS OVERTAKEN YOU EXCEPT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, BUT WITH THE TEMPTATION WILL ALSO MAKE THE WAY OF ESCAPE, that you may be able to bear it. 

David ended up killing Honorable Uriah and believed that no one would find out!

2Sa 11:27, … BUT THE THING THAT DAVID HAD DONE DISPLEASED THE LORD. 

Pro 15:3, THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE IN EVERY PLACE, KEEPING WATCH ON THE EVIL AND THE GOOD. 

WE CAN’T HIDE OUR SINS FROM HIM AND HE WILL ALWAYS GIVE US A WAY OUT.  DAVID ELECTED TO IGNORE GOD AND HIS WARNINGS; WHICH CAUSE PROBLEMS IN HIS OWN HOME! HIS EYES ARE ALWAYS UPON US FOR HE LOVES US AND WANTS THE BEST FOR US!