April 29 - 2 Samuel 17:15-29 | Psalm 3 | Psalm 63 | 2 Samuel 18:1-19:30

Good morning everyone,

When we left off reading yesterday Ahithophel, the grandfather to Bathsheba, once counselor to David, now counselor to Absalom, and Hushai, a spy for David, also acting as counselor to Absalom, have each given Absalom advise on how he should proceed with his plans to overthrow King David. Absalom chooses to go with the council of Hushai and as we begin reading today, Hushai is covertly passing along this information to David via the priests while Ahithophel will saddle his donkey, head back to his hometown where he will hang himself. 

David escapes through the wilderness and arrives at Mahanaim, on the east side of the Jordan, where he and all his people were warmly greeted and provided with plenty of food and comfy sleeping mats. It is here where David is believed to have penned Psalms 3 and 63. David felt as though he were a minority, he was on the run, his son and his once friends, were seeking him out to kill him, to capture his crown and claim the throne. We can see in these psalms that David puts his faith and trust in God and that he was prepared to accept God’s will, whatever it was for his life, praising him through it.

In chapter eighteen we read that David has all of his men assembled and ready to receive their marching orders. I think it is cool that, Ittai the Gittite was put in command of a troop. You remember him, right? He was the one who when they were fleeing the city, David said to him, “hey you just got here, you don’t have to go with me.” But Ittai said back, “Yea … but you’re the king and where you go I will go.” I love his devotion. That should be our mantra for our God all of the time, “Where you lead, I will follow”. Anyway, after establishing that David would not go into battle with his men, he stands at the gate and bids the troops goodbye, making it abundantly clear to everyone he did not want Absalom dead. 

Joab had other plans though, and when Absalom was seen hanging, helplessly from a tree, he went to him and killed him. When David finds out his son is dead, instead of a victory celebration for winning the war, he mourns the loss of Absalom, openly weeping. Joab will go to David and essentially tell him, “get over it, you are making your devoted people feel like schmucks for saving your life.” David realizes that, though crass , there was wisdom in the council and took his seat in the gateway where all his people came before him.

So the war is over, David is going to head back to Jerusalem, but there is a little bit of apprehension, maybe embarrassment because the people who were already at the palace had chose the side of Absalom. In an effort to show that there were no hard feelings David appoints Amasa, who was the general of Absalom’s army, to be the new general, commander, head honcho, of his army which, what?? oh yes, is Joab’s job. We’ll have to wait for another day to see how well that works out. 

On the way back to Jerusalem, David, once again, runs into Shimei. You remember him, right? He was the dirt kicker, rock thrower, mean mouther David chose to ignore when he was leaving Jerusalem. He’s singing a different tune now. A little more humble. King David, though, very secure in who he is, simply says “leave the guy alone, we don’t want to kill him.” 

Also, Mephibosheth, (he so needs a shorter name) Saul’s crippled grandson, who Ziba said had rebelled against David, had changed allegiance, comes out to meet David and David asks him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?” Mephibosheth declares he was betrayed by his servant Ziba. Two different sides of the story here and not really knowing the truth David says to him, “Whatever. You and Ziba just divide the land.” But Mephibosheth says, “Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home safely.” Great move by the king, and I’m guessing Solomon was close by and saw the wisdom in that then used it years later, we’ll see, when two women both claim to be the mother of a single baby. 

This begs the question … do we say to our King, to our Jesus, “I don’t, care about the gifts; the fancy cars, the big houses, the wardrobes of clothes, the six figure savings account, the anything that comes from the world, I just want You?” We should, because He loved us first. Ephesians 5:4-6 “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” Amen …

Have a great day, to God be the glory.