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2 Samuel 21-24
David's
Swan Song
Psalm 49:1-15 Wealth Doesn't Redeem From Death, God Does
1.“Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,2.both low and high, rich and poor together.3.My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.4.I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.5.Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?6.Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches7.none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him.8.For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,9.that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.10.For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.11.Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.12.But man, despite his riches, doesn't endure. He is like the animals that perish.13.This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. Selah.14.They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion.15.But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me. Selah.
Observation
49:1-15.The Psalmist ponders the prosperity of the wicked, exposing their foolish attempts to live beyond the grave by means of their wealth. All die, and face decay, just like the animals. Only God can redeem or “buy back” from Sheol (the grave), and He does redeem/save the upright from the grave, and gives them dominion and life over the foolish rich. The introductory verse 5 serves as a summary: there is no need for the wise and upright to fear death, a future awaits them, rather than the fate of the foolish rich.
Application
Work on being wise and upright, and you'll have nothing to fear.
Prayer
My Redeemer and Shepherd, thanks that Your wisdom not only benefits us in this life, but also in the next, so I have nothing to fear. Amen.
Proverbs 13:14-15 Spring of Life or Snare of Death
14.The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.15.Good understanding wins favor; but the way of the unfaithful is hard.“Observation
13:14-15.Having just established in verse 13 that despising God's instruction results in destruction while fearing (being really really concerned about doing what is right in His sight, i.e., obeying) results in reward, the author elaborates with a couple of metaphors. The teaching of the wise (folks who've mastered Proverbs and God's ways and thus choose the right objectives in life) gives life like a spring. Those who have a good understanding of God's word (and follow it) experience favor. Those who don't understand, don't obey it, are unfaithful, and experience difficulties.
Application
How has God's word turned you from sin?
Prayer
Lord, help me understand and faithfully follow Your wisdom and avoid the snares of death. Amen.
2Samuel 21-24 David's Swan Song
The final four chapters of the book contain a pair of punishments for disloyalty (first and last chapters), arranged around a pair of listings of David's loyal men, which sandwich a pair of psalms in the middle (chiastic structure). When an author uses this structure, he wants to emphasize the content in the middle, David's trust in the Lord, and God's exaltation of him in response to that trust.
2 Samuel 21 Covenantal Curse Removed
1.There was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, "It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites."2.The king called the Gibeonites, and said to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn to them: and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah);3.and David said to the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of Yahweh?" 4.The Gibeonites said to him, "It is no matter of silver or gold between us and Saul, or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel." He said, "Whatever you say, that will I do for you."5.They said to the king, "The man who consumed us, and who devised against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel, 6.let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to Yahweh in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of Yahweh." The king said, "I will give them."7.But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Yahweh’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8.But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.9.He delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the mountain before Yahweh, and all seven of them fell together. They were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest.10.Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water was poured on them from the sky. She allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day, nor the animals of the field by night. 11.It was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 12.David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, in the day that the Philistines killed Saul in Gilboa; 13.and he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son: and they gathered the bones of those who were hanged.14.They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. After that God was entreated for the land.15.The Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. David grew faint;16.and Ishbibenob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being armed with a new sword, thought to have slain David. 17.But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, "You shall go no more out with us to battle, that you don’t quench the lamp of Israel."18.It came to pass after this, that there was again war with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was of the sons of the giant.19.There was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite’s brother, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20.There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21.When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, killed him. 22.These four were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.Observations
21:1-14.The Gibeonites had tricked Israel into making a treaty with them during the conquest under Joshua (Josh 9). Apparently Saul had violated it, although the Scriptures don't record the specific account. Sometime in David's reign a famine ensued as the curse for Saul breaking the covenant (lack of fertility). The author of 2Samuel sometimes records events topically rather than chronologically, so it's difficult to pinpoint when this event happened. Three years into the famine David asks God why, and finds out the cause. The Gibeonites gruesomely demand the death of seven of Saul's descendents. David complies, sparing Mephibosheth, out of hesed to Jonathan, and the curse ends with the blessing of rain. David notes the loyalty of Rizpah to her sons, and he takes care of the bones of Saul and Jonathan, demonstrating again his hesed to Jonathan.
21:15-22.
This account of the death of four giants underscore the loyalty of David's “servants” in protecting the “lamp” of Israel.
Application
Disloyalty to covenant obligations results in cursing/death; loyalty to covenant obligations results in blessing/life.
Prayer
Lord, help me be loyal to my obligations to obey and serve You, so You can bless rather than discipline me. Amen.2 Samuel 22 Does God Delight in You?
1.David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:2. and he said, "Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine;3.God, my rock, in him I will take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My savior, you save me from violence.4.I will call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from my enemies.5.For the waves of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.6.The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death caught me.7.In my distress I called on Yahweh. Yes, I called to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry came into his ears. 8.Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.14.Yahweh thundered from heaven. The Most High uttered his voice. 15.He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and confused them.16.Then the channels of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare by the rebuke of Yahweh, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils.17.He sent from on high and he took me. He drew me out of many waters. 18.He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.19.They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support.20.He also brought me out into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21.Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness. He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands.22.For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23.For all his ordinances were before me. As for his statutes, I did not depart from them.24.I was also perfect toward him. I kept myself from my iniquity.25.Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight.26.With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect.27.With the pure you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. 28.You will save the afflicted people, But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down.29.For you are my lamp, Yahweh. Yahweh will light up my darkness.30.For by you, I run against a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall. 31.As for God, his way is perfect. The word of Yahweh is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. 32.For who is God, besides Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God?33.God is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect.34.He makes his feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on my high places. 35.He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of brass.36.You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your gentle favor has made me great. 37.You have enlarged my steps under me. My feet have not slipped. 38.I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them. I didn’t turn again until they were consumed.39.I have consumed them, and struck them through, so that they can’t arise. Yes, they have fallen under my feet.40.For you have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.41.You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me. 42.They looked, but there was none to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them.43.Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth. I crushed them as the mire of the streets, and spread them abroad.44.You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people. You have kept me to be the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known will serve me. 45.The foreigners will submit themselves to me. As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me.46.The foreigners will fade away, and will come trembling out of their close places. 47.Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,48.even the God who executes vengeance for me, who brings down peoples under me,49.who brings me away from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man. 50.Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations. Will sing praises to your name. 51.He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows hesed/loyal love to his anointed, to David and to his seed, forevermore."Observations
22:1-19.This is basically the same text as Psalm 18. It is the largest repeated text in the Bible (Deuteronomy being a summary of the law, not an exact repeat). It's probably worth ingraining its principles in our thinking. The salvation referred to is not the forgiveness of sins/justification (which is based upon believing in God's revelation about His gracious provision for our sins, which in the OT was belief/participation in the Day of Atonement, and in the NT, belief in Christ's atoning sacrifice on our behalf), but rather, the ongoing life of faith that trusts God for daily help and experiences His blessing/deliverance. David wrote it after being delivered from Saul and before Bathsheba, probably around the time of the Davidic Covenant (2Sam 7). David praises God because when he called, God answered, mightily.
22:20-25.
The secret of how to get God to answer mightily and bless, is to have God delight in you. Quick Question: Does God delight in you? (Why or why not?) The reason why God would delight in one of His people is because of the personal experiential righteousness and faithfulness of the person. Contrast this with how God felt about Saul. This is an obvious point for those who read the Scriptures, but totally missed in the oral tradition of our day. As a result many people don't live to please God. God rewards us for the effort and work we've put into being righteous in His sight. If you don't totally buy that last sentence, study these six verses (and David's life) and see if they teach anything else.
22:26-28.
The truth of these verses is almost as absent from the modern oral tradition as the section above, to which they are a corollary. God responds to people based upon their free-will choices, which would include decisions to believe, be faithful, obey, expend effort to do His will, do good works, etc. God changes how He responds, again based upon what we chose, to either repent or rebel, believe, or persist in unbelief. I don't like jumping ahead, but Romans 11 summarizes this concept neatly. If you want to stay in the OT, God blesses or curses based upon our actions (Dt 29-30). God has sovereignly attached the consequences to our possible choices; now we need to daily choose the right consequences.
22:29-51.
These verses describe how God empowers and equips those who believe in Him so they can serve Him. They also combine human effort/responsibility in service and the life of faith. If you have time, go back over the verses and note what David does and what God does (and why each does what they do).
Application
If we want God to delight in us, deliver and bless us, then we need to do what is pleasing in His sight, there is no other option (22:20-25).
Prayer
God, I praise You because You make possible a life that is beyond the natural course of events and expectations; may I know, love, and serve You all of my days, as You desire. Amen.
2 Samuel 23 David's Swan Song
1.Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse says, the man who was raised on high says, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel:2. "The Spirit of Yahweh spoke by me. His word was on my tongue.3.The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘One who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God, 4. shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through clear shining after rain.’ 5.“If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part; surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire. (NIV) 6.But all of the ungodly shall be as thorns to be thrust away, because they can’t be taken with the hand, 7.But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear. They shall be utterly burned with fire in their place."8.These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb..against eight hundred slain at one time. 9.After him was Eleazar the son of Dodai, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines who were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away. 10.He arose, and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to the sword; and Yahweh worked a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take spoil.11.After him was Shammah. The Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.12.But he stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh worked a great victory. 15.David longed, and said, "Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!"16.The three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but he would not drink of it, but poured it out to Yahweh.17.He said, "Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this! Isn’t it the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.18.Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.19.Wasn’t he most honorable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: however he didn’t attain to the three. 20.Benaiah the son of Jehoiada...who had done mighty deeds, he killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab: he went down also and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow. 21.He killed an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.23.He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three. David set him over his guard. 24.Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; 26.Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite 29.Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin 39.Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.Observations
23:1-8.David's swan song reflects on how God had raised him up and blessed him beyond his dreams, even revealing His words and will through David. When one rules righteously in the fear of God, life is good. Otherwise it's bad (See Let's Play Civilization in the sidebar).
23:5-5.
This verse is correctly translated in harmony with the immediately preceding and following context, as well as chapter 22, and the record of David's life and his psalms by the NIV, NASB, ESV, HCSB, NET, etc. The WEB, following the KJV and NKJV totally misses the point and translates it in direct contradiction to the main point David is making. It is because of David's righteousness that God has blessed him, and made the Davidic Covenant with him, ensuring an permanent legacy (which was a big deal in OT times). The grammar could go either way, so the translation needs to be made according to the flow of thought in the context (a skill which is sadly lacking in some translators).
23:15-18.
The loyalty of the mighty men to David, God's anointed, is shown by risking their lives to get him a drink from the well at Bethlehem. David pours it out as an offering to God.
23:19-39.
The diverse group that came together to accomplish God's purposes in preserving and promoting David is a good illustration of the principle that unity is found, not in the lowest common denominator, but in all striving for the greatest good, irrespective of personal background, practices, and preferences. This is applicable to marriages, corporations and churches.
Application
God will exalt and fulfill the desires of those who fear Him and are rightly related to Him.
Prayer
God, You are clearly the one who raises up and puts down people based upon how they obey You. May I value obedience more than any deceptive passing pleasure. Amen.
2 Samuel 24 Pick Your Plague
1.Again the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, "Go, number Israel and Judah."2.The king said to Joab the captain of the army, who was with him, "Now go back and forth through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the sum of the people."3.Joab said to the king, "Now may Yahweh your God add to the people, however many they may be, one hundred times; and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king delight in this thing?"4.Notwithstanding, the king’s word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the army. Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.8.So when they had gone back and forth through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.9.Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. 10.David’s heart struck him after that he had numbered the people. David said to Yahweh, "I have sinned greatly in that which I have done. But now, Yahweh, put away, I beg you, the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly."11.When David rose up in the morning, the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying,12."Go and speak to David, ‘Thus says Yahweh," I offer you three things. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you."’" 13.So Gad came to David, and told him, and said to him, "Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? Now answer, and consider what answer I shall return to him who sent me." 14.David said to Gad, "I am in distress. Let us fall now into the hand of Yahweh; for his mercies are great. Let me not fall into the hand of man."15.So Yahweh sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning even to the appointed time; and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.16.When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Yahweh relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who destroyed the people, "It is enough. Now stay your hand." The angel of Yahweh was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.17.David spoke to Yahweh when he saw the angel who struck the people, and said, "Behold, I have sinned, and I have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me, and against my father’s house."18.Gad came that day to David, and said to him, "Go up, build an altar to Yahweh on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." 19.David went up according to the saying of Gad, as Yahweh commanded. 20.Araunah looked out, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. Then Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.21.Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" David said, "To buy your threshing floor, to build an altar to Yahweh, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people."22.Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Behold, the cattle for the burnt offering, and the threshing instruments and the yokes of the oxen for the wood: 23.all this, king, does Araunah give to the king." Araunah said to the king, "May Yahweh your God accept you." 24.The king said to Araunah, "No; but I will most certainly buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to Yahweh my God which cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25.David built an altar to Yahweh there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So Yahweh was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.Observations
24:1-10.God's anger against Israel's sin results in Him prompting David to number the people over the objections of Joab and the captains. When a leader doesn't listen to wise counsel everyone suffers. Numbering the people was usually a prelude to military action, possibly due to an external threat. It looks like David was trusting in his military might rather than the Lord in the numbering. 1Chronicles 21 state that Satan (which can also be translated “adversary”) provoked David to number the people. So perhaps the chain of events is that Israel's sin, results in God's desire to discipline them, using Satan's scheming (or an adversary) and David's desire for power or security to bring about the calamity. David's heart tells him he sinned, and he asks God to put away/forgive his iniquity.
24:11-17.
Nevertheless, God sends a prophet, Gad, with three options for punishment: famine, fleeing, or pestilence, and tells him to choose one. David reasons that falling into the hand of a merciful God is a less painful option than being chased by enemies. So God sends a plague. After 70,000 were killed (approximately three times those who died in Absalom's rebellion), God stops the destroying angel at Jerusalem. David repents again and asks that the punishment be upon him and his house.
24:18-25.
God sends Gad again, with a message to build an altar and offer a sacrifice where the plague stopped. David hastens to obey, and refuses Araunah's offer of the animal and wood, saying that he would not offer God something which cost him nothing. The very nature of sacrifice is that it should cost us.
Application
Both sin, and service are costly, but God is worth everything we could possibly give Him.
Prayer
God, thanks that you forgive and relent when we repent; spare me from the folly of relying on my own strength or choosing foolish objectives for my life. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God takes covenants seriously, both those made with Him, and those made in His presence. He punishes covenant breakers with curses, deprivation and death. He blesses those who keep covenantal promises of loyalty (hesed), with fruitfulness and fulfillment of their heart's desire (the better choice). He gives people freedom to choose to be loyal or not, and sovereignly attaches consequences to their choices. He forgives and pardons, but doesn't immediately relent from punishment when we repent. He moves forces in both heaven and earth, as well as angels and men, to fulfill what He has promised. He raises up individuals to accomplish His purposes in blessing those loyal to Him.
As David said in 22:21 “Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness. He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands. 26 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect. 27 With the pure you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. 28 You will save the afflicted people, But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down. 29 For you are my lamp, Yahweh. Yahweh will light up my darkness.”
Us in a nutshell: We have the opportunity to give God grief or glory. Delighting Him requires loyal effort, but yields the best life we could desire. Disloyalty and covenant breaking results in pain and death. We cannot escape the consequences of our actions. Being rightly related to God and equipped by Him still requires dependent trust in His protection and empowerment.
As David said in 22:22 “For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 For all his ordinances were before me. As for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24 I was also perfect toward him. I kept myself from my iniquity. 25 Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight.”