Day 123-11

VIII - The Reign of David - 1025-985 B.C. ~ cont.

B. David's sin and its consequences ~ cont.

2. Absalom's rebellion ~ cont.

i. David betrayed, Hushai consulted - 2 Samuel 15:31-37

j. Ziba, the deceptive servant - 2 Samuel 16:1-4

k. Shimei curses David - 2 Samuel 16:5-14

l. Absalom enters Jerusalem - 2 Samuel 16:15-23

m. Ahithophel and Hushai advise Absalom - 2 Samuel 17:1-24; Psalm 4:1-8

n. David pursued to Gilead - 2 Samuel 17:25-26

{pages 542 - 545}

Hushai a double spy?

But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.  (2 Samuel 15:34)

I was pondering the amount of lying that is going on in the passages for today.  Our pastor had covered what a lie is and is not.  The midwives in Egypt were not punished for 'lying' nor was Rahab the harlot.  They were considered to have not lied based upon the fact that they were protecting innocent life.  I thought of Michal who lied to the messengers of Saul that David was 'ill' and in bed.  Interesting thoughts to ponder upon while reading and analyzing the text.  Was Hushai breaking the 9th commandment?  What about the woman who hid the messengers in the well?

Then we have Ziba...

And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.  (2 Samuel 16:3)

How do I know he is lying about Mephibosheth?

And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.  (2 Samuel 19:27)

God's prophecy against David fulfilled:

So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.  (2 Samuel 16:22)

Which prophecy?

Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.  For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.  (2 Samuel 12:10-11)

Interestingly David is suffering the consequences (as well as his family - heads up to all the decision makers) of his sin, and still Father is protecting him.

And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.  (2 Samuel 17:14)

Against the counsel of Ahithophel and Absalom.  Thank God for His graciousness.  Ahithophel's conclusion?

And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.  (2 Samuel 17:23)

I was searching for some information on Ahithophel...slight recap, his son was Eliam, his granddaughter was Bathsheba.  The article alludes to passages where David laments over his own familiar friend raising his heel against him.  I had always attributed those passages to be about Absalom, but rather it very well may be Ahithophel to whom he is referring.

I liked the admonishment about forgiveness.  Holding a grudge against someone only harms oneself.  We, as Christians, are to forgive because we have been forgiven much.  Let us show forth our love for one another as fellow heirs by forgiving those who have sinned against us.  Our sin against a Holy, Sovereign God is far worse than anything someone could (or has done) to us.

Day 122-11

VIII - The Reign of David - 1025-985 B.C. ~ cont.

B. David's sin and its consequences ~ cont.

2. Absalom's rebellion ~ cont.

e. David flees from Absalom - 2 Samuel 15:13-16; Psalm 63:1-11

f. Ittai's loyalty - 2 Samuel 15:17-23

g. Priests care of Ark - 2 Samuel 15:24:28; Psalm 61:1-8

h. Ark goes to Jerusalem; David goes to Mount - 2 Samuel 15:29-30; Psalm 3:1-8; 22:1-31; 14:1-7; 53:1-6

{pages 538-542}

And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.  (2 Samuel 15:21)

Note...was or is this similar to what Ruth spoke to Naomi?

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.  (Ruth 1:16-17)

Henry's commentary on Ittai:  2. Ittai bravely resolved not to leave him, 2Sa_15:21. Where David is, whether in life or death, safe or in peril, there will this faithful friend of his be; and he confirms this resolution with an oath, that he might not be tempted to break it. Such a value has he for David, not for the sake of his wealth and greatness (for then he would have deserted him now that he saw him thus reduced), but for the sake of his wisdom and goodness, which were still the same, that, whatever comes of it, he will never leave him. Note, That is a friend indeed who loves at all times, and will adhere to us in adversity. Thus should we cleave to the Son of David with full purpose of heart that neither life nor death shall separate us from his love.

Which puts me in mind of the passage in Romans:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8:35-39)

And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.  (2 Samuel 15:30)

Olivet, same as our Lord?  head covered, barefoot?  What does that mean?

E-Sword gave several instances for Mount of Olives in the NT.  I used Bible Atlas to get additional information.  Enjoy.

head - H7218 - From an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literally or figuratively (in many applications, of place, time, rank, etc.).

covered - H2645 - A primitive root (compare H2644, H2653); to cover; by implication to veil, to incase, protect.  Used 12 times in 10 verses.  Used first in the passage above.  Also translated, cieled, overlaid, of Haman having his head covered.

barefoot - H3182 - From an unused root meaning to take off the shoes; unsandalled.  Used 5 times in 5 verses.  First usage in the passage above.  Isaiah went barefoot for 3 years as a sign; Jeremiah mentions being withholding thy (?) foot from being unshod.

Browsing the commentaries, head covered a sign of mourning.  Barefoot, those who were captured or enslaved were without footwear.  This site has several translations of the passage as well as a variety of commentaries.

The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  (Psalm 14:2-3)

Echoed in the New Testament:

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  (Romans 3:10-12)

David repeated it again in Psalms:

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.  God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  (Psalm 53:1-3)

A slight variation on none good:

For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. (Jeremiah 4:22)

The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.  (Micah 7:2)

How can man want or choose God?  In and of himself (male or female) we would never choose God.  Though having knowledge of Him, we do not seek Him in our natural, rebellious state.  O Father, open the eyes of Your people, raise up those who will speak the Word with truth and clarity.  Open deaf ears to hear You.  O Lord, You have instructed us to pray for laborers into Your harvest, make it so Father, make it so.

Day 121-11

VIII - The Reign of David - 1025-985 B.C. ~ cont.

B. David's sin and its consequences ~ cont.

2. Absalom's rebellion ~ cont.

b. Troubles of Amnon, David's son ~ cont.

(3) Joab persuades Absalom to return - 2 Samuel 14:1-33

c. Absalom wins Israelites affection - 2 Samuel 15:1-6; Psalm 62:1-12

d. Outbreak of Absalom's rebellion - 2 Samuel 15:7-12; Psalm 41:1-13

{pages 535-538}

In 2 Samuel 14 - I thought it interesting that the woman who brought her 'story' to King David had only 2 sons, one *killing* the other and then the remaining son to be killed for murder.  Trying to use the scenario to justify bringing Absalom home.  I made a note...David had many other sons (including Soloman) that would have produced offspring.  Why was this woman's *tale* somehow applicable?  She pets David's ego by telling him he speaks like an angel?  Beware those who speak with gilded tongue!

But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.  (2 Samuel 14:25)

Vanity of vanities...wonder if Solomon reflected on Absalom for his vanity passage?

And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.  (2 Samuel 15:7)

Forty years...after his return? Absalom's age? Note in the Chronological Bible states: "Apx 40 years since David's anointing." Well...Gill, Henry, JFB and K&D all concur that it can not be 40 years, nor even 40 years of David's reign as he only reigned 40 years total.

JFB commentary:  after forty years — It is generally admitted that an error has here crept into the text, and that instead of “forty,” we should read with the Syriac and Arabic versions, and Josephus, “four years” - that is, after Absalom’s return to Jerusalem, and his beginning to practice the base arts of gaining popularity.

All the commentaries were an interesting read, please be encouraged to dig.

I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.  (Psalm 41:4)

Amen...God forgive me, correct me when I am wrong. Help me Father to desire to NOT sin against thee. Thank you Lord, that when I do sin, I have an advocate with the Father.

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  (1 John 2:1-3)