A Study of David, A Man After God’s Own Heart, Part 4
By Lawna Blankenship
Pam opened us in pray and we dove into 2 Samuel Chapter 21 where we see a lightbulb go off in David's head. After 3 successive years of famine, David finally decided to seek the Lord's face about the cause. We can surmise he accepted that weather cycles, climate change (read global warming) may be at fault. The Lord revealed the cause to be Saul's act of vengeance against the Gibeonites, making him guilty of their blood making the land unclean. We have learned it is fatal to break a vow, which consequences fell upon the sons and family and other innocents. Even though the covenant with the Gibeonites was struck under deceptive circumstances 349 years earlier, it was still to be upheld, according to Jewish law.
To end this cycle of famine, David proactively reached out to the Gibeonites and asked what reparations would make atonement that would bless the inheritance of the Lord. They were not interested in silver, gold, or war with Israel. They looked to the law, which spelled out that atonement can only be made by the blood of the ones who shed the blood that pollutes the land (see Numbers 35:33-34).
They decided that hanging 7 sons of Saul would do the job, which was approved by David. Of course, David was operating under his covenant with Jonathan, meaning Mephibosheth would not be included in the unlucky 7. Sin permeates the world, and God takes care of issues in his timing. The Bible Babe's hearts went out to the mothers Rizphah (2 sons) and Merab (5 sons). Rizpah, in her mourning in sackcloth laid across a rock from beginning of harvest until it rained, protecting the bodies from being feasted upon by the birds and beasts of the field. David showed compassion and took their bones and the ones of Jonathan and Saul and buried them in the grave of Kish, Saul's father in Zela, the country of Benjamin. God was moved by David's solemn prayer for the land.
The pesky Philistines and their giant descendants of Goliath were out to kill David in revenge, and they did not prevail. This was David's last war, as his mighty men forced old and weary David into retirement, and he hung up his sword, to assure he remained the lamp of Israel.
David was a skilled musician and in Chapter 22, we find David focused on song writing and playing the harp, composing this royal hymn of thanksgiving almost identical to Psalm 18. He touted God for helping him overcome his enemies and rescued him from his foes. By this time, he always called upon the LORD for help, and his cries were heard. He rescued David because he delighted in him, just as he delights in each of us!
Jackie was shocked by verses 20-25, as it sounded as though David forgot his sins of adultery and murder. Pam led us to understand David was not denying his sin, as Psalm 51 shows his great anguish over his sin against Uriah and Bathsheba. David understood God's faithfulness and made him clean, and whiter than snow, which is the great motive for deliverance. Pam read a commentary by Spurgeon which confirmed these verses were not Messianic prophesy. Taking responsibility for our sin, shame and guilt and making amends with our LORD is necessary to continue to fulfill our purpose. David was, and we are, made righteous by our faith. God replaces our sin with purity, and he no longer sees our sin. We should let it go, too. This is God's grace and the Good News message of salvation.
God gave David the shield of salvation, as he was anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit, all of which empowered David to his victories over his enemies. David ends with giving thanks to You, O LORD the tower of his deliverance and the lovingkindness shown to David and his descendants forever.
Maureen noted it did not seem to be in God's plan for the Jews to be able to trace their genealogy all the way back to Abraham. Maybe the 2nd Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, so as not to enable future generations from glorifying their tribe. Read Wikipedia's version of the Siege of Jerusalem: Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE) - Wikipedia.
The destruction of Jerusalem temple 70 AD was a historical event that occurred when the Roman general Titus burned and sacked the second temple in Jerusalem, following a Jewish revolt against Roman rule. It was a devastating blow for the Jewish people, who lost their sacred place of worship and their national identity.
2 Samuel Chapter 23 is booked as The Last Words of David, in which he reveals many truths about God in his song of praise, enabled by his supernatural indwelling of The Holy Spirit. In the style of a prophet, David spoke of a just and righteous ruler, which is fulfilled in Jesus Christ when he returns to rule. David takes a walk down memory lane of his exploits and victories with his mighty men. He recounts the names of The Three, the most elite group, and The Thirty, actually 37 given replacements, such as for Uriah.
Missing from the lists was cold-hearted Joab, the commander of David's army, who was a thorn in David's side. We think he did so because he did not heed David's plea to deal with Absalom with kid gloves, and instead thrust the 3 arrows in his heart while hanging by his hair, and had his men finish him off. He also murdered Abner and Amasa and took part in Uriah's murder. Even though he was a brilliant planner and strategist racking up many accomplishments, being loyal only to himself would prove his being left off David's Hall of Fame, and his eventual downfall.
David's men were motivated to greatness by the personal qualities of their leader David and would go to the ends of the earth to follow and to please him. When David had a craving for water from the well of Bethlehem, three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew the water, and took it to David. He poured it out (read, an offering to God) in respect of the lives of the soldiers who jeopardized their lives for him.
Just when we thought he had learned his lesson, in Chapter 24, we find David listening to the prompting of Satan to order a census of Israel and Judah (according to 1 Chronicles 21:1), so he could glorify in the size of his kingdom--a sin of pride and ambition. Even Joab advised against this foolish act. So, pissed off, they went through the whole land, which took them 9 months and 20 days, and reported back a total of 800,000 in Israel and 300,000 in Judah.
David's conscious caused him to realize his sin, and, yet again, asked the LORD for forgiveness. His prophet Gad had a message from the LORD as well, which had him deliver three options for punishment to David. So as not to fall into the hand of men, David chose the 3 days of pestilence in the land, resulting in 70,000 men dying. And, just as an angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, David cried out to the LORD it was his at fault, and not his innocent sheep/people, and the LORD relented when the angel was at the location of the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Gad told him to erect an altar to the LORD on the site Araunah's (a Jebusite, the original occupiers of Jerusalem) threshing floor. Araunah and his four sons saw the Angel (according to 1 Chronicles 21:20) and bowed down to David when he approaches to buy the property. He wanted to donate the property and the oxen for the burnt offering, the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood; but David insisted on paying full price, 600 shekels of gold (abt. 15 pound in Chronicles), or 50 shekels of silver (about 1.25 pounds in Samuel). David's prayer was answered, and the plague was held back from Israel.
Again, we see how God uses sinner's sin for a greater purpose, as we learn grey haired David designates this property as the future site of the temple Solomon will build. All David accomplished created a clean slate for the reign of King Solomon, a king of peace.
Rose made interesting observations about David and the long-term impact of being held in low esteem by his father and brothers. He did not measure up as a macho, manly man, and rather was a musician, songwriter, and one who preferred the solitary life of a shepherd. That level of rejection by one's parent is not easily overcome, and David's insecurities and heartache reared their ugly head in his well-documented sin of ego, pride, and self-centeredness.
Yet, he was chosen by God for greater purposes. He helped him as a warrior king, and, thanks to his natural gifts and talents, he authored 75 of the 150 Psalms. See which ones are David's: How many psalms did David write? | GotQuestions.org
