Day #138

Sermon - Audio
2 Samuel 16-18 - Daily Audio
2 Sameul 16-18 - Daily Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Chapter 16

The Bible reports on many of David's heroics and calls him a man after God's own heart, but this did not mean that he was perfect or that he never had any problems. Like many of us David's worst wounds were the self-inflicted kind that can be the most painful and dangerous. We can't always control our ups and downs, but we can put our trust in the Lord as we seek to live for Him one day at a time.

5-14) Shimei kept up a tirade against David, which seems bit insane and filled with hate. His curses really had no justification because David had had no part in Saul's death. This moment of weakness is an opportunity for people with unfair resentments to take advantage of David. David and the people with him did not fight back, but tolerated the verbal abuse and cursing. Trying to maintain our composure in the midst of an unjustified attack can be very difficult. Our first impulse is to lash out, but the better thing is to ignore it. God always knows what his people have to endure and he will vindicate the righteous.

2 Sam. 16:8 Shimei was probably blaming David for the deaths of Abner (3:26-30) and Ish-bosheth (ch. 4), and possibly for the deaths of Saul's sons and grandsons (21:1-9) or even that of Saul himself, though he is not necessarily accusing David of actual complicity in the deaths. Since the writer of Samuel goes to great lengths to absolve David from complicity, one can surmise that some people harbored ill will toward David because of the house of Saul, even at the time 1-2 Samuel was written (RSV Study Bible)

21-22) Nathan predicted another man would sleep with David's wives because of the sin he committed in killing Uriah and taking Bathsheba as his wife.

2 Sam. 16:21-22 Following Ahithophel's advice, Absalom publicly had sexual relations with several of David's concubines who had been left behind to "keep the house" (15:16). Such an outrageous action would indeed have strengthened . . . the hands of Absalom's followers, as he made it clear that he was claiming the throne. Nathan had prophesied such an event (cf.in the sight of all Israel with "in the sight of this sun," 12:11), and the rooftop of 16:22 may have been the very rooftop from which David had seen Bathsheba (11:2). (RSV Study Bible)

23) Ahithophel was an advisor to Absalom. Most kings had advisors to help them make difficult leadership decisions. It is important for leaders to receive conflicting advice so that all perspectives are considered. This advisor was considered the very best, and David was concerned about his wisdom. As we see in modern politics a leader often reflects the opinions of the people around herself.

Chapter 17

11) Flattery will get you everywhere. Hushai appealed to Absalom's ego and vanity which would prove to be his undoing. Hushai predicted great glory for Absalom if he would lead the army against David. Ego is often the undoing of many people, and our pride can keep from getting the kind of help we really need in times of trouble.

Hushai gives a vivid, time-consuming speech full of similes, making a proposal that is flattering to Absalom as leader of all Israel (v. 11), but that will let David regroup and choose his own time and place of battle with his experienced, trained force. Hushai apparently then withdraws while the council considers the proposals. Hushai knows that if Ahithophel's advice is accepted, there will be no time to lose, so even before he hears the results of the deliberations he sends word to David that he should at least cross the Jordan River (vv. 15-16). (RSV Study Bible)

25) Joab and Amasa were David's nephews and Absalom's cousins. Because Joab had left Jerusalem with David, Amasa took his place as commander for Israel's troops.

Chapter 18

1) David took command of his troops like he did in earlier days. In recent years his life had been characterized by indecisive leadership, terrible parenting, and moral failure. At this time he began to take charge and carry out leadership like God expected. It often takes a crisis for us to be reminded of what God has called to be doing in the first place.

12-14) It is understandable that Joab killed Absalom as David seemed unable to do the right thing in bringing any of his sons to justice. The soldier in this story does seem to catch Joab in his hypocrisy. He knew Joab would have turned on him for killing the man if the king had found out about it. Joab could not answer, but only dismissed him. It is always important for us to consider the ethics of what we about to do in times of crises. Often striking out in anger and hurting others is too easily justified by revenge instead of what is best.

2 Sam. 18:25 A man running alone would be a messenger; a group would probably be men fleeing. (RSV Study Bible)