2 Samuel 4:1-6:23, John 13:31-14:14, Psalm 119:17-32, Proverbs 15:31-32
Today is the 24th day of May welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I am Brian it is great to be here with you every day, every day it’s great to be here around this Global Campfire with you. Everyday there’s something new, another step out in front of us. And so, let’s dive into that, take that next step forward which…which will lead us back into the book of 2 Samuel where we are observing David. And, we’ll talk about this a little bit at the end but David and Saul, like we’ve had 1 Samuel to compare Saul and 2 Samuel to take a look at David and their very different people and have very different character. So, let’s continue with the story of David; 2 Samuel 4, 5 and 6 today.
Commentary:
Okay, we have a few things to talk about and catch up on. If we…if we first start in the book of 2 Samuel, David is now the king of all Israel so this is now Israel’s second king David and that’s how it will be from this point forward. But as we watched the whole story unfold this is interesting how we can know David is a kind of Israel maybe we know he’s the second king of Israel but we think Saul dies and David becomes king. As we can see that’s not exactly how…I mean this is a new nation and so they have ways of doing things. And so, we had Ishbosheth, we had 2 kings basically. We had Ishbosheth the son of Saul, king of Israel, except for Judah. Judah had already voiced anointed David to be the king of the tribe. And then eventually the rest of the tribes come and…and enter into a covenant with David to be their king. They’re watching David, like, that’s in the narrative so it’s not like we’re speculating here, they’re watching David. It’s very, very interesting because it wouldn’t have been a secret that Saul was hunting for David. And it wouldn’t had been a particularly a…a top national secret that David had eventually defected and become a Philistine to keep him…to stay alive. So, when Saul dies then it’s not gonna be just well David by default is the next king. He…he has defected to the Philistines, he’s in Ziklag and there would need to be consideration about did David have any involvements in Saul’s death because Saul certainly wanted David dead. So, did David finally get a chance at like…is David involved, like what’s going on here? And what we see is David in every way be honorable and very, very much protect the office, like the office of the king. We might call this like protecting the reputation of the crown or something like that in this day-and-age. So, I mean this started with the announcement that Saul was dead, right, when David found out Saul was dead and he had inquiries of this man who had come all the way from the battle lines down to Ziklag to inform David that he had killed King Saul. King Saul had asked to be killed and he did it. Everybody’s watching this and David’s like how dare you touch the Lord’s anointed in that person lost their life. There were a couple of other high-profile incidents like that, that the people really were looking at David’s character and he…he, he probably didn’t know that he was being tested he just did what he thought was right but it pleased the people. So, there was this man named Abner. Abner was like, the leader of Saul’s armies. So, he’s like the chief in command of the military. David had a similar counterpart, his name was Joab, and they all knew each other. They had all served together right? David was in Saul’s army and he had led the Army. These people all knew each other. And I think it was in yesterday’s reading right, we had this meeting of the armies. It was like gonna be twelve people against twelve people but all twenty-four people died instantly in that battle and so a real battle ensued. So, there’s a brother of Joab of David’s military general whose chasing down Abner whose Saul’s military general. He’s chasing him down and they know each other so even as they’re like even as Abner’s fleeing, he’s talking to Asahel who is chasing him like, go after somebody else, don’t chase me, don’t make me strike you down, this is, I don’t want to hurt you. But Asahel wouldn’t…wouldn’t listen and he, Abner killed him. He had to kill him. Well now, Joab has lost a brother in battle and so he’s got a blood vendetta against Abner and when the opportunity arises and it ironically arises when Abner comes to see David and tells him I can deliver the rest of the tribes under your kingship. So…so Joab finds out about this and calls Abner and kills Abner. Everybody’s watching David, did David kill Abner? Now the king’s dead, now this general, this powerful military general whose backing Ishbosheth as king now he’s dead. Did David have anything to do with it? But David didn’t have anything to do with any of these things and so the way he mourns, the way he brings justice, the way he grieves, the way he writes his songs, the people are watching all this and they realize, nope, this is not a long running conspiracy. Because they would have had these conspiracy theories from Saul. And so, they would have wondered what David was up to but they keep watching systematically David behaving ethically and they’re realizing there never was a conspiracy against the king. And they put their trust in David. And then Ishbosheth who’s the other king, he gets assassinated today, right. Baanah and Rechab, these Benjaminites, they come and they bring Ishbosheth’s head to David. And David, once again, the people are watching and he’s like, you think this is good news? It’s not good news to bring me the severed head of a king. That was the Lord’s, like, who are you to make these life and death decisions? And those men lost their lives. David is showing that the office of the king is the anointed of God and that matters no matter who’s in that seat. And since he’s in that seat he’s going to honor it and act honorable toward it and the people that he’s being put in charge of that he is to become the shepherd over. So, all these little things, so different, such different leadership styles, such different character, then what we observed when we were observing Saul. And as we continue to watch David we’ll continue to learn things about ourselves just like we did with Saul.
Okay, then we turn into the New Testament and into the book of John and it’s a…a super pivotal what’s going on in the book of John. We’re at the Last Supper for the last time of this year. Like, we’ve been kind of talking about as we’ve moved here, we’re…we’re getting to the end of the gospels. And in this Last Supper Jesus…Jesus does something that kings don’t do, ever. Jesus got down on His knees in front of His friends and He didn’t just get down on His knees, He got down on His knees and He washed their feet, their filthy, stinking feet. And this was like a live, living example, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Commander of Heaven’s Armies on His knees before His friends, washing them clean. This is one of the last acts that Jesus does of His own accord. Like, He’s free right now. So, He’s down on His knees washing His friends’ feet instead of running for His life into the night. He’s doing this willingly. This would have been indelible. How do you ever forget something like that? The more you thought of it the more meaningful it would be, especially after everything that happened afterward. And Jesus says, and can we listen to this, like we’re not, we’re not gonna really be hearing this again. A new commandment I give you; love one another just as I have loved you. So also, you are to love one another by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. It’s self-explanatory, I don’t know what I can say, like I can’t make that make more sense. I also just can’t figure out why it’s so hard to see this in practice among God’s people. Like, why are we so committed to fighting each other over doctrine and dogma? Why are we so willing to say such hateful things to each other whether on the internet or in person? Why are we even willing to participate in anything even near that? A new commandment I give you; a commandment. Love one another, you are commanded, I am commanded. If we’re going to follow Jesus we must obey His commandments. And we are commanded to love one another. Not just love one another, love each other like Jesus loved us. That’s the way we’re to love one another. Because everyone will know that we’re the disciples of the Savior if we have love for one another. So, I wonder, you know, is the reverse then true; don’t love one another and everyone will know that you are not my disciples, if you don’t have love for one another? If we could at least give that some thought today as we observe the things that we’re saying and doing.
Prayer:
And so, Jesus, Jesus come into this. It…It’s a struggle. I mean we can put on a facade and go into the world and fake it but to really love one another like You loved us, that’s not something that can be faked. That’s something that’s gotta be cultivated and grown. That only happens through our own surrender of our own rights and our own wrongs. So, help us Jesus to walk Your paths; surrender our rights and wrongs to You. That we might be known by our love. We ask this in Your precious name. Amen.
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And that’s it for today I’m Brian, I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here, tomorrow.
Prayers and Encouragement:
Hi there, my name is Chris, I’m calling from Alberta, Canada. I just wanted to pray for the lady I heard on the May 20 Daily Audio Bible Reading. She called in for prayer because she was doing her risk assessments for the kids that she works with for COVID and she just felt overwhelmed and I just wanted to pray that Shannon you’re not alone. I used to be a worker on a crisis line so I can imagine what it’s been like in what you’re going through and I heard and that kind of thing and I just pray Lord that Lord you would just wrap your arms around her and give her strength and wisdom. And that those who are struggling right now Lord they would reach out to a crisis line or to a doctor, to the people they…that around them that care about them and that they would be able to have strength to call the right people for that person that assistance in loving care thank you. Jesus name, have a good day guys.
Hi everybody this is Salvation is Mine in San Angelo, California. I know it’s been a while since I’ve been on the Prayer Line and I want to say that I hope everyone is doing well. 2020 was a very hard year and 2021 we’re still in the throes of it but God will see us through. I wanted to request prayers for my family and my extended family as well. My mom went home this morning which is May 20, 2021. She went in her sleep. She was just a few days shy of her 102nd birthday. But God decided to call her home and I know she’s in a better place than being down here in pain and in suffering. So, I wanted to send that request out and also pray for everyone else that’s going through a death, any kind of loss at the moment that we continue to lift them all up in prayer because we never know what kind of pain and suffering they may be going through. Anyways thank you DAB family, take care, God bless and I’ll …
Good morning family this is Benjamin the Sewer calling. It is May 21st but I’ve just been listening to the…the May 12th podcast and man oh man wow just listening to the prayers that came through I felt like my heart was yeah, just being…being ripped open in the best way possible. It is just amazing how the Holy Spirit uses these prayers and this community just to yeah, soften our hearts towards each other. Father I thank You so much for… for Big Hearted Ben. Yeah, I just having…having the same name as him it…and just hearing him call and pray in faith just over people and yeah, and just starting that at such a young age it’s so cool. So, yeah welcome buddy great to hear from ya, just keep calling in. Yeah, there’s a woman, I think it’s Bonnie from Virginia called. Wow, thank you Bonnie so much for sharing some of your story. I think you…you kind of back-tracked and talked about 16 years ago and up until now and to see your faith and just your resilience, you’re trusting in God through everything you’ve gone through with your kids and with your husband, your former husband. It is incredible and you’re just a strong woman. There was also a woman who called in from Texas, just a grandmother. I just want you to know that I am praying for you and for your 15-year-old grandson. I just had a thought that came to mind, I don’t know if he has right now any kind of mentors outside of just his…his parents that are just praying for him and love him but I know for myself just other, ya know, older guys or close Christian friends really did it for me.
Hi family this is Amy from Denmark. Today, I call in asking ya’ll to join me in prayer over my good friend Daniel. As of yesterday, his oldest son was taken into custody by police. It is a young man who has had a troubled life and who is not living a life of Christ and so just please join me as we pray Heavenly Father thank You Lord Jesus that we can come before You. Thank You that You see what is going on in this family right now. Thank You that You see all the brokenness and all the hurt and all the questions and all of the sadness. And thank You that you hear all of these prayers that are being prayed for this young man and his family. God thank You that You’re a God who always shows up when we call on You. You don’t just show up at church when we’re dressed in our Sunday finest. You show up when we’re in the pit, when we’re in the hole, in the darkest of dark places, that’s when you show up. And thank You that even though we seem to be running in the complete opposite direction of You, not wanting anything to do with You, You never cease calling our name. And thank You Lord that You can take a human disaster and turn it into divine beauty. Thank You that You can use this dark place where this young man is, You can use it as part of Your plan to make him surrender his life to You. That is my deepest prayer Jesus that You will make a way and open the ears and heart of this young man. Protect him where he is now and surrender his family with all that they need, all that they need, Jesus. In Your name I pray, Your Holy name Jesus. Amen.