The Threshing Floor Of Araunah

Portion For Reading 2 Sam 22-24

Msg 2 Sam 24:18-25

And Gad came that day to David, and said to him, ”Go up, rear an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.“ So David went up at Gad’s word, as the Lord commanded. And when Araunah looked down, he saw the king and his servants coming on toward him; and Araunah went forth, and did obeisance to the king with his face to the ground. And Araunah said, ”Why has my lord the king come to his servant?“ David said, ”To buy the threshing floor of you, in order to build an altar to the Lord, that the plague may be averted from the people.“

Then Araunah said to David, ”Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him; here are the oxen for the burnt offering, and the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. All this, O king, Araunah gives to the king.“ And Araunah said to the king, ”The Lord your God accept you.“ But the king said to Araunah, ”No, but I will buy it of you for a price; I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.“ So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord heeded supplications for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel.

Temple Mount

When King Solomon constructed his first Temple in Jerusalem the hillside on which he did so became the most Important cultic site of the monotheistic world, and is still reverenced by Jews and Muslims today. Solomon (960 - 900BCE) built the temple that built the temple that David was not allowed to using Phoenician craftsmen from the neighbouring kingdom of Tyre (See the lengthy account of the process in 1 Kings). He also built a circular platform around the edge of the hill to hold the courtyards that encircled the cedarwood and bronze building, and the whole edifice was to have been the focus of Jewish worship for ever. However, after his reign the Northern Kingdom declared autonomy, after which time the Temple was used by the tribes of Judea and Benjamin only.

In 586BCE the Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians as Israelites continued to be trapped between warlike Southern and Northern empires. The inhabitants of Judea were killed or taken into exile (excepting the farmers). It was only after fifty years and the auspicious intervention of Persia, the new inheritors of imperial power, that they had the opportunity to return and rebuild the Temple, the thought of returning having sustained many of them during their exile (See Ezra and Nehemiah).

This hastily constructed Temple stood until the Hasmonaeans shored it up in 186BCE, but was pulled down by Herod the Great in 20BCE who began a brand new building that was only finished sixty years after his death. He also constructed a much larger square platform around the hill to allow the Gentiles to go there without profaning the sacred areas towards the temple itself, and it is this platform that is the ""Temple Mount"" to this day.

This temple was destroyed by the Romans during the Jewish revolt in AD70, just six years after its completion. The platform was, however, allowed to remain andiIt became the basis for a temple to Jupiter in the new Hadrianic city of Aelia Capitolina, surviving until the Byzantine period when the area was turned into a rubbish dump, proving visibly to the recently pagan that God had turned his favour from Jew to Gentile Christian. Such was the state when Omar the first caliph marched triumphant into the city and, having forced the Christian Patriarch to crawl on his hands and kness from the Holy Sepulchre to the Mount as penance for desecrating it, built the Dome of the Rock where the temple had stood six hundred years previously.

Source: Goisrael.com

A Wise Woman From The City Of Abel

Portion For Reading 2 Sam 19-21
Msg 2 Sam 20:15-22
Then they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maachah; and they cast up a siege mound against the city, and it stood by the rampart. And all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down. Then a wise woman cried out from the city, "Hear, Hear! Please say to Joab, 'Come nearby, that I may speak with you.'" When he had come near to her, the woman said, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Hear the words of your maidservant." And he answered, "I am listening." So she spoke, saying, "They used to talk in former times, saying, 'They shall surely seek guidance at Abel,' and so they would end disputes. I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?"

And Joab answered and said, "Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy! That is not so. But a man from the mountains of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city." So the woman said to Joab, "Watch, his head will be thrown to you over the wall." Then the woman in her wisdom went to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. Then he blew a trumpet, and they withdrew from the city, every man to his tent. So Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.

a. A wise woman cried out from the city: When Sheba took refuge in the city of Abel, Joab set a siege against the city. Siege warfare was a terrible ordeal of the citizens of the besieged city, and this wise woman was smart enough to seek a speedy end to the struggle.

b. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city: Joab was a practical man. He had nothing against the city of Abel, only against Sheba. If the people of Abel would help him get Sheba it was all the better.

c. They cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab: Sheba probably thought he was safe within the walls of that city, but no one is safe when they run against God's will. There isn't a wall high enough or strong enough to protect against God and His will.

i. We can make a spiritual analogy out of Sheba, his rebellion, and his refuge in the city of Abel. "Every man's breast is a city enclosed. Every sin is a traitor that lurketh within those walls. God calleth for Sheba's head, neither hath he any quarrel to us for our person, but for our sin. If we love the head of our traitor above the life of our soul, we shall justly perish in the vengeance." (Trapp)

ii. "It were happy if all such traitors might hop headless." (Trapp)

iii. So ended the rebellion of Sheba. Yet the division between Judah and the other eleven tribes of Israel remained. After the death of Solomon there was a civil war that permanently divided the united kingdom into two nations: the southern Kingdom of Judah and the northern Kingdom of Israel.

Source: David Guzik

The Death of Absalom

Portion For Reading 2 Sam 16-18
DAVID had to suffer many trials as punishment for his sins. His greatest trial was the revolt of his son Absalom. Now in all the country there was no one so handsome as the king's son Absalom. But Absalom wished to have his father's kingdom. With promises of rich reward he stole away the hearts of many people, and at last he raised an army against the king.

To avoid a battle with his son in Jerusalem, David left the city, and went barefoot and weeping up Mount Olivet. And all those who were with him wept as they went along. David became a wanderer in his old age. In the woods of Ephraim the soldiers of Absalom fought against the soldiers of the king. David's last words to his men were, "Spare my boy Absalom!" Absalom fled on his mule through the forest. As he was riding, he went under a great oak tree, and Absalom's thick hair caught in the branches; and while the mule dashed away, the rider was left hanging between earth and sky.

A. His head caught in the terbinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth: Absalom was noted for his good looks and his luxurious hair (2 Samuel 14:25-26).

What was his glory was now his curse - Absalom is literally caught by his own hair in the thick trees of the forest.

i. Adam Clarke is careful to point out that the text does not say that Absalom was caught by his hair - we assume that. It may be that he was caught by his neck. Nevertheless, the image remains of Absalom hanging in the tree: "So he hung between heaven and earth, as rejected of both." (Trapp)

ii. "Absalom's end was beset with terrors. When he was caught in the branches of the oak-tree, he was about to sever his hair with a sword stroke, but suddenly he saw hell yawning beneath him, and he preferred to hang in the tree to throwing himself into the abyss alive. Absalom's crime was, indeed, of a nature to deserve the supreme torture, for which reason he is one of the few Jews who have no portion in the world to come." (Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews)

There the king's soldiers found him and killed him.

A man came running with news of the battle. He called to the king, "All is well." And the king asked, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" When he learned that his son was dead, the king covered his face and cried aloud in bitter grief, "My son Absalom, would to God I had died for you. 0 Absalom, my son!" Then the men of Judah brought David back again to Jerusalem. And in his faith he found comfort. God rewarded David for his faithful service.

During the closing years of David's life, peace had come to the kingdom. David gave more time to the services at the Tabernacle where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. In this way he showed his gratitude and devotion to God. After forty years as king of Israel, David died.

Source: Cartage.org & Enduringword.com

Woman of Tekoa

Portion For Reading 2 Sam 13-15

In these circumstances Joab resorted to a not uncommon Eastern device. At Tekoah, about two hours south of Bethlehem, lived "a wise woman," specially capable of aiding Joab in a work which, as we judge, also commanded her sympathy. Arrayed in mourning, she appeared before the king to claim his interference and protection. Her two sons - so she said - had quarreled; and as no one was present to interpose, the one had killed the other. And now the whole family sought to slay the murderer!

True, he was guilty - but what mattered the "avenging of blood" to her, when thereby she would lose her only remaining son, and so her family become extinct? Would the death of the one bring back the life of the other - "gather up the water that was spilt"? Was it needful that she should be deprived of both her sons? Thus urged, the king promised his interference on her behalf. But this was only the introduction to what the woman really wished to say.

First, she pleaded, that if it were wrong thus to arrest the avenging of blood, she would readily take the guilt upon herself (ver. 9). Following up this plea, she next sought and obtained the king's assurance upon oath, that there should be no further "destroying" merely for the sake of avenging blood (ver.11). Evidently the king had now yielded in principle what Joab had so long sought. It only remained to make clever application of the king's concession.

This the woman did; and, while still holding by the figment of her story (vers. 16, 17), she plied the king with such considerations, as that he was always acting in a public capacity; that lost life could not be restored; that pardon was God like, since He "does not take away a soul, but deviseth thoughts not to drive away one driven away;"* and, lastly, that, to her and to all, the king was like the Angel of the Covenant, whose "word" was ever "for rest."

* This is the correct rendering of the latter clauses of 2 Samuel 14:14.

David could have no further difficulty in understanding the real meaning of the woman's mission. Accordingly, Joab obtained permission to bring back Absalom, but with this condition, that he was not to appear in the royal presence. We regard it as evidence of the prince's continued disfavor, that Joab afterwards twice refused to come to him, or to take a message to the king.

It was a grave mistake to leave such a proud, violent spirit to brood for two years over supposed wrongs. Absalom now acted towards Joab like one wholly reckless - and the message which Joab finally undertook to deliver was in the same spirit. At last a reconciliation took place between the king and his son - but only outwardly, not really, for already Absalom had other schemes in view.

But He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him: The woman of Tekoa means, "Find a way to do it, David. God finds a way to bring us back to Himself." It is true that God finds a way - but not at the expense of justice. God reconciles us by satisfying justice, not by ignoring justice.

i. This is one of the best gospel texts in the Old Testament. If we are under the chastening of God, we may feel like banished ones. Yet we can put our place of being His banished ones, belonging to Him and trusting Him to bring us back to Him.

ii. God has devised a way to bring the banished back to Him, that they might not be expelled from Him. The way is through the person and work of Jesus, and how He stood in the place of guilty sinners as He hung on the cross and received the punishment that we deserved.

Source:enduringword.com

David's Repentance

Portion for Reading 2 Sam 9-12

David's Repentance

It was springtime—a time for war. King David had sent the entire Israelite army off to battle against the Ammonites. All the able men had gone and left their women at home.
Instead of going off with the rest of the men, David stayed behind in his palace. It so happened that one fateful evening, as he was strolling on the roof of the palace, he saw a woman bathing.

And she was breathtaking—a lovely vision. Taken by her beauty, he asked about her and found out that she was the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite. Bathsheba was her name. David sent for her and took her into his bed.

If Hollywood was to remake the story of David and Bathsheba, how wonderfully romantic it would be. Two beautiful people falling in love on a warm spring evening. Imagine that. Throw in an exotic place like the Middle East, and it would probably be a box office hit, too.

But this wasn’t a movie, and God’s wrath was real. Human standards do not reflect the standards of God. And God was angry.

David’s Weakness

Everyone struggles with his or her own weaknesses, and David’s weakness was women. Handsome and charming, it is not hard to see why women loved him. Being the king of God’s chosen people, David could have anything he wanted. Anything.

That night, catching a glimpse of Bathsheba, he wanted to have her for himself. So much that when he found out she had conceived, David sent word to Joab, his commanding officer at war, to put Uriah in the frontlines so that he would fall at the hands of the enemies.

Giving in to the lust of his eyes, David coveted another man’s wife. He committed adultery to satisfy the lust of his flesh. Taking advantage of his authority and power, he sentenced a good man to his death.

In a whirlwind of sins, David broke three of the Ten Commandments and stirred up the wrath of God. He did not even realize that he had done such an evil thing. Not until the Lord sent Nathan, a prophet, to rebuke him.

Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel. (2 Sam 12:10, 12)

God’s punishment of David was fierce and quick, and His wrath cost David the life of his baby son. No matter how much David mourned and fasted in front of the Lord, God’s rod was unrelenting. No more Hollywood ending for this love story.

Blinded to His Own Sins

When Nathan told David the story of the rich man who took the little ewe lamb belonging to the poor man instead of offering one of his own, David was furious. He immediately judged the rich man harshly for his mistake (2 Sam 12:1-4).

The reason David did not realize that he had sinned against God was because he thought his decision to send Uriah to his death was the best way to solve his own problem.

We take matters into our own hands because we are impatient to wait for God’s timing. And for some of us, we probably learn this lesson the hard way, just like David.

Our transgressions always carry consequences, and even when it seems we’ve “gotten away with murder,” God remembers and will hold us accountable.

The problem with getting away with murder is that we think we are clever enough to pull it off. It is also an indication that we have misplaced God in our lives and forgotten that we can hide nothing from Him.

And in the process of pulling it off, we probably will hurt others. There is always a high price to pay in self-protection because selfishness comes to the fore.

David Confessed His Sin
As soon as David recognized his sin, he was not afraid of what people might think. Immediately, in front of Nathan, David said, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Sam 12:13).

Almost as immediately as David pleaded for forgiveness did the Lord blot out David’s iniquities, because he held steadfastly onto the Lord and sought Him first. For to David, to lose God was to lose everything.

David faithfully held onto the love and mercy of God because he knew that life would be meaningless without Him. For that, God loved and blessed him. Just as immediately as God’s anger came upon David, His forgiveness and mercy followed.

When we confess our sins before the Lord, there must be a sense of urgency. No one seeks to dwell under the wrath of God because this is much too unbearable.

Recognizing our sins helps us understand that we are weak individuals who need the guidance and mercy of the Lord. It is a form of self-examination and humility that we must often exercise, so that we do not stray too far from the true path of God.

The closer we are to God, the more we are attuned to His presence in our lives. We are aware that following His commands please Him, and we know that the transgressions we commit prompt His rebuke.

Confessing sins is an important practice for a Christian. By asking for forgiveness, we take the time to reflect upon our mistakes and to purify ourselves in front of God. In doing so, we are also taking refuge in Him.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise. (Ps 51:17)

David meekly reflected upon himself, and his repentance has touched many of our hearts through the fifty-first Psalm. So sincere and honest was his confession that many of us turn to his words in our own repentance.

As ageless as David’s sin with Bathsheba was, so was his intimate and beautiful relationship with the Lord.

Source: True Jesus Church

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem.

DAVID lived in a grand and spacious palace in Jerusalem; for not being content with Michal, Abigail, and Ahinoam, the new king had many other wives, and was the father of many children, who all dwelt under his roof.

The king was soon obliged to leave his new capital, to go forth and fight his old foes, the Philistines. When he had conquered these enemies, he felt that it was time to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, and to build a Temple where it might take up its abode for good. With an escort of thirty thousand men, he therefore set out.

The Ark was placed on a new cart, and this procession slowly wended its way towards Jerusalem. Now it was unlawful for any but the priests to carry the Ark; and a man, who was not a Levite, once stretched out his hand to steady the Ark when the oxen stumbled. But no sooner had he touched it than he fell down dead.

Awed by this accident, the king ordered the journey stopped, and the Ark was placed in a house near by, where it remained for three months. Then, seeing that it brought great blessings to that house, the people again became anxious to have it in Jerusalem; and as soon as a new tent was erected for it (for the Tabernacle of Moses was at Gibeon), they sent the Levites to bring it thither (1045 BC). In his joy at the return of the Ark, David went ahead of it on foot, in simple garb, and not in his royal raiment; and, dancing and playing upon his harp, he led the way to Mount Zi´on, as Jerusalem is often called in poetry, where the Ark was to remain.
David also gave alms to all the poor, and offered up costly sacrifices. His joy was marred, however, when his wife Michal despised him for dancing and singing before the Lord and his people; and because of this, she remained childless until her death.

Although David had thus brought the sacred Ark to Jerusalem, he did not consider a tent a sufficiently handsome abode for it, and wished to build a fine Temple instead. But when he consulted the prophet Na´than, the Lord told him that it was not for David to build a house for God, but that God would build a house for David, and that his sons would rule after him. Moreover, the Lord confirmed to David that through him the Promised Seed would be born, whose throne would be established forever.

David replied, “Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house, that You have done all this for me? For it is for Your word’s sake, and for Your greatness—for there is none like You—that You have done these things. Therefore let Your name be magnified forever, and bless Your servant according to all that You have promised.” This blessing was the probable source of David’s joyful Mes-si-an´ic psalms.

As David did not dare to undertake the building of the Temple after Nathan’s words, he made use of his time in completing the defeat of the Philistines. These enemies were finally subdued, and paid tribute to Israel.

Now David continued to grow in greatness and in renown, and the nations around about, becoming alarmed, joined in league against him. David and his captains defeated them all, and they paid him tribute: Phil-is´tia, Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Syria to the Euphrates River. Thus it was that under David, God’s promise to Abraham came true, for Abraham was promised the land from Egypt to the Euphrates (Gen 15:18), and all these were tributary to David (1036 BC).
David was now so firmly placed upon the throne that he no longer feared the family of Saul. He even received Saul’s last descendants in his palace, where he made them welcome and treated them like his own sons, out of love for Jonathan.

But because Saul had murdered the Gibeonites, some years earlier, a great famine came over the land which caused much suffering. David, hoping to end this famine, finally gave up to the Gibeonites seven of the former king’s family. These were duly executed, and the famine ceased its ravages (1018 BC).

Riz´pah, the mother of two of the dead, wished to protect their bodies from the beaks and claws of the birds of prey, so she took up her position at the foot of the gallows. There she mightily strove to drive away the birds by day and the wild beasts by night, until David, touched by her devotion, had the bodies taken down and buried.


Source: Nothingnewpress.com

The Sooner It Is Done The Better

Portion For Reading 2 Samuel 1-4
Msg 2 Sam 3:6-21
When Ish-Bosheth falsely accuses Abner of sleeping with one of the royal concubines, Abner defects to David’s court. David welcomes Abner’s support. Abner convinces the other tribes to recognize David’s claim to the throne. Joab, however, seeks revenge for his brother’s earlier death at Abner’s hands, and he stabs Abner in secret. David’s public censure of Joab and mourning for Abner wins Israel’s respect, and two of Ish-Bosheth’s men betray their ruler by presenting David with the severed head of the northern king. David is horrified that they have killed an innocent man, and he publicly executes these men. The united tribes declare David king of Israel.

A. Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul: It seems that Abner supported a weak man like Ishbosheth in power so he could be the power behind the throne. As time went on he increased in strength and influence on the house of Saul.

B. Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine? Ishbosheth accused Abner of a serious crime. This was regarded not only as sexual immorality but also as high treason.

i. “To take the wife or concubine of the late monarch was to appropriate his property and to make a bid for the throne.” (Baldwin)

ii. This might seems strange that there was a controversy over the concubine of Saul, especially because Saul was dead. In their thinking, the king’s bride belonged to him and him alone, even if he was absent. This principle is even more true for Jesus and His bride - the church belongs to no one but Jesus, and it is treason to “take” the bride of Christ as if it were our own possession.

Then Abner became very angry: We aren’t specifically told, but Abner’s response leads us to believe that the accusation was false. It is possible that as he was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul he took the concubine as an expression of his power and dominance. It is more likely that because of Abner’s increasing power Ishbosheth felt it necessary to invent this accusation as grounds for getting rid of Abner.

C. If do not do for David as the Lord has sworn to him: Abner told Ishbosheth that he would now support David and help David fulfill what the Lord promised - to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David.

i. If Abner knew that David was God’s choice for king, why did he fight against him before this? Abner is a good example of those of us who are know things to be true but we don’t live as if they were true.

ii. Abner did the right thing in joining David’s side but he did it for the wrong reason. Instead of joining David because Ishbosheth offended him personally, he should have joined David because he knew that David was God’s choice to be king.

D. Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel: It is significant that this word came from Abner regarding David instead of from David himself. Though he was the rightful king, David would not reign over Israel until they submitted to him freely. He never moved an inch without an invitation.

i. This is an illustration of Jesus’ lordship in our life. He is in fact King of Kings of Lord of Lords. But He chooses (for the most part) to exercise His sovereignty only at our invitation.

· Some do not invite Jesus to rule over anything
· Some invite Jesus to reign over a small area - like “Hebron”
· Some give Jesus reign over everything He has authority over - which is everything

ii. Abner is a good example of someone who eventually surrendered to God’s king. Now he wants to influence others to surrender to God’s king.

E. Now then, do it! Because of the word the Lord spoke of David, and because it was so right to do, this was something that should be done now. In this sense, it is very much like our commitment to follow Jesus - we should be told, “Now then, do it!”

i. Charles Spurgeon has a wonderful sermon on this text titled, “Now Then, Do It.” In this sermon he shows how the same principles of Israel’s embrace of David as king apply to our relationship with Jesus. “The Israelites might talk about making David king, but that would not crown him. They might meet together and say they wished it were so, but that would not do it. It might be generally admitted that he ought to be monarch, and it might even be earnestly hoped that one day he would be so, but that would not do it; something more decided must be done.” (Spurgeon)

ii. “The sooner it is done the better. Until the deed is done, remember you are undone; till Christ is accepted by you as king, till sin is hated and Jesus is trusted, you are under another king. Whatever you may think of it, the devil is your master.”

Source: David Guzik