All’s Well That Ends Well – Oh Well

August 1, 2025 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

⁵Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. ⁶His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom. ⁷He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they followed Adonijah and helped him. ⁸But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and David’s mighty men were not with Adonijah.

⁹Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent’s Stone, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, ¹⁰but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the mighty men or Solomon his brother. – 1 Kings 1:5-10 ESV

The author of 1st Kings has established that David is old and nearing the end of his life. And, because he is king, his imminent death sets the stage for the selection of his successor to the throne of Israel. Under normal circumstances, the line of succession would fall to the eldest son. But in David’s case, things were a bit more complex because of the number of sons who had been born by his many wives. David’s home life was less than simple and further muddied by his far-from-ideal parenting style.

His oldest son had been Amnon, but he had been murdered by his half-brother, Absalom, for raping Absalom’s sister, Tamar. When David failed to punish Amnon for his crime, Absalom took matters into his own hands. Daniel was the second son of David, but he likely died early because, other than the record of his birth in 2 Samuel 3:3, he is never mentioned again. That leaves Absalom and Adonijah as the next two in line for the throne. But Absalom was also dead. After launching what appeared to be a successful coup for his father’s throne, Absalom was killed in battle against David’s forces (2 Samuel 18). This left Adonijah as next in line for ascension to the throne.

But God had other plans, and had been David clear instructions regarding his heir, and it was not going to be Adonijah. Even before Solomon had been born, God visited David and gave him a message concerning the identity of the son who would continue the Davidic dynasty.

“Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.” – 1 Chronicles 22:9-10 ESV

In a sense, Solomon had been a gift from God after David suffered the loss of the son born through his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). That child had been the byproduct of David’s immoral affair with a married woman. To complicate matters further, when David had discovered that Bathsheba was pregnant, he tried to cover up his indiscretion. When that failed, he ordered Bathsheba’s husband’s death and then took his widow to be one of his wives.

Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and David named him Solomon. The LORD loved the child and sent word through Nathan the prophet that they should name him Jedidiah (which means “beloved of the LORD”), as the LORD had commanded. – 2 Samuel 12:24-25 NLT

And this complicated and confusing background sets the stage for what happens in the opening chapter of 1st Kings. As the next-oldest living son, Adonijah assumed that he was the rightful heir to the throne, and he began to prepare for the transition of power.

Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. – 1 Kings 1:5 ESV

It seems that Adonijah had taken notes right out of his older brother Absalom’s playbook . This arrogant display of pomp and circumstance was exactly what Absalom had done as part of his successful strategy to usurp David’s throne.

After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him. – 2 Samuel 15:1

Adonijah believed he was entitled to be the next king of Israel, and it seems that he was used to getting his way. The author reveals that Adonijah had been spoiled by his father.

Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” – 1 Kings 1:6 NLT

It is unclear whether Adonijah knew of God’s plan for Solomon to be David’s successor. But it is readily apparent that Adonijah was determined to do whatever was necessary to be the next king. He began by building a network of important relationships with individuals of power and influence.

Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king. – 1 Kings 1:7 NLT

This ambitious young man was building strategic alliances that he hoped would prove helpful in his quest for Israel’s throne. But he faced significant opposition. There were those who remained loyal to David and who would see to it that the wishes of the king were fulfilled. It is likely that they were already aware of God’s plan for Solomon to be the next king.

All of this is painfully reminiscent of Absalom’s actions when he began his carefully orchestrated coup to supplant his father as king. Adonijah was not willing to wait for David’s death. He was going to take the throne by force if necessary. But to ensure that he had all the support he would need, Adonijah planned a banquet in the nearby city of En-rogel. He had a carefully crafted invitation list that included all of his brothers and half-brothers, except for Solomon. He also extended invitations to all the royal officials of the land of Judah. At this feast, Adonijah made a covenant commitment with his guests, sealing their agreement to assist him in his coup d’état with blood sacrifices.

This opening chapter of the book lays the foundation for all that is to come. David is dying. He is weak and incapable of caring for himself. God has established a plan for his succession. But the nation is already showing signs of discord and dissension. Sadly, another one of David’s sons is leading an open rebellion against his own father and creating a potentially deadly situation that could end in bloodshed and division. You can almost feel the sense of foreboding coming off the pages as the author sets the stage for all that is to follow.

The Israelite nation is about to enter a new era, one that will be marked by a slow and steady spiral toward unfaithfulness and spiritual infidelity. With the death of the man after God’s own heart, the people of Israel will find themselves suffering under a succession of shepherds whose spiritual integrity will slowly decline, leaving the nation in a progressively weakened state.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Patiently, Expectantly Waiting

April 27, 2025April 27, 2025 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

¹For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
²He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

³How long will all of you attack a man
    to batter him,
    like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
⁴They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
    They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
    but inwardly they curse. Selah

⁵For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
    for my hope is from him.
⁶He only is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
⁷On God rests my salvation and my glory;
    my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

⁸Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah

⁹Those of low estate are but a breath;
    those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
    they are together lighter than a breath.
¹⁰Put no trust in extortion;
    set no vain hopes on robbery;
    if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

¹¹Once God has spoken;
    twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
¹²    and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
    according to his work. – Psalm 62:1-12 ESV

In this psalm, David repeatedly refers to God as his fortress, rock, refuge, and salvation. As a man well acquainted with the fugitive lifestyle, David uses terms that evoke his days on the run from King Saul. During those difficult years of his life, David sought safety by hiding in caves located in the difficult-to-access terrain of the rugged Judean wilderness. Those inaccessible geographic locales had provided him with a sense of security and rest from Saul’s relentless campaign to have him killed.

But in this psalm, David describes God as his ultimate source of solitude, solace, and security. The short descriptor that opens Psalm 62 provides no context to explain what happened in David’s life that caused him to pen its words. Some have speculated that it was written after David abandoned Jerusalem after his son Absalom conducted a successful coup to replace him as king.

A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”

“Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.”

“We are with you,” his advisers replied. “Do what you think is best.”

So the king and all his household set out at once. He left no one behind except ten of his concubines to look after the palace. The king and all his people set out on foot, pausing at the last house to let all the king’s men move past to lead the way. There were 600 men from Gath who had come with David, along with the king’s bodyguard. – 2 Samuel 15:13-18 NLT

When Absalom entered Jerusalem and established himself as the new king, one of the first things he did was sexually violate the ten concubines David had left behind. He committed this heinous act under the advisement of Ahithophel, David’s former counselor, who had taken part in the coup.

Ahithophel told him, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you.” So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines. – 2 Samuel 15:21-22 NLT

It is unclear whether this event prompted David to write Psalm 62, but it illustrates the perfect-storm conditions that would have led David to turn to God for help and hope. Even as David abandoned his capital, he was confronted by a relative of King Saul who decided to kick him while he was down. Shimei was still angry that David had supplanted Saul as the king of Israel and stolen the crown from the tribe of Benjamin.

“Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. “The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!” – 2 Samuel 16:7-8 NLT

When one of David’s men offered to silence Shimei by cutting off his head, David expressed his consternation and confusion over the situation. Still, he refused to take matters into his own hands.

“My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it. And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.” So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David.

The king and all who were with him grew weary along the way, so they rested when they reached the Jordan River. – 2 Samuel 16:11-14 NLT

That last line is important because it states that David “rested” when he reached the Jordan. He and his entourage had walked the 21 miles from Jerusalem to the eastern border of Israel. But when they arrived, they found rest. The opening lines of this psalm reflect that this was likely far more than a physical form of restoration.

I wait quietly before God,
for my victory comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will never be shaken. – Psalm 62:1-2 NLT

David had time to reflect on his circumstances and remind himself that God had seen him through far worse conditions in the past, and He could do so again. David was not underestimating the severity of his problem. He knew he was in trouble and refused to downplay the dire nature of his circumstance.

So many enemies against one man—
    all of them trying to kill me.
To them I’m just a broken-down wall
    or a tottering fence.
They plan to topple me from my high position.
    They delight in telling lies about me.
They praise me to my face
    but curse me in their hearts. – Psalm 62:3-4 NLT

Yet, despite his doubts and fears, David decided to trust God for the outcome.

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him. – Psalm 62:5 NLT

He placed his confidence in God and encouraged his discouraged followers to do the same.

O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge. – Psalm 62:6 NLT

This psalm was written in the heat of the moment, when all felt lost and the future was uncertain. David had no way of knowing the outcome of his circumstances, but he was willing to trust in God’s sovereignty and wait for God to do what only He could do.

For most of us, waiting on God is viewed as some kind of punishment or penance we must pay for our bad behavior. We view it as if God is somehow holding out on us, making us sweat and suffer as He delays in giving us what we want to teach us a lesson. But that perspective is based on a faulty view of God. He is not some petty deity using His power maliciously or malevolently to force us to do His bidding. He is a loving, patient, and merciful God whose actions are always driven by His care and concern for us.

If God were withholding what we needed to punish us or teach us a lesson, what kind of God would He be? Jesus pointed this out when He said, “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:9-11 NLT).

Does that mean we always get what we ask for, and does it come exactly when we expect it? Of course not. God is still God. He is all-knowing and aware of things that are beyond our ability to comprehend. He has a “big picture view” of things we don’t possess. He is not bound by space and time and knows the past, present, and future equally well. He is not limited by our decisions or bad choices but is in control at all times. At no point is God up in heaven wringing His hands in disbelief because He was somehow caught off guard by the events or circumstances surrounding our lives.

So David says, “I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from Him” (Psalm 62:1 NLT). I love how The Message paraphrases that verse: “God, the one and only – I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I need comes from him, so why not?”

I’ll wait as long as he says. Why? Because He knows best and He has my best in mind. He is my hope and salvation. He is my help and source of healing. He has a plan for my life that is perfect and complete. So David reminds us, “O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge” (Psalm 62:8 NLT). Trust in him at all times. Not just in the good times, but at all times. Even when things seem to be going poorly. Even when it appears as if He is nowhere to be found. Even when everything goes against you and everyone seems to be deserting you.

Wait quietly and trust Him. It is in those moments of waiting and trusting that we truly come to know who He really is. As we quietly, patiently wait, He reminds us of His love and then rewards us with His perfect answer at the ideal time. What we need is NOT the answer we’re hoping for, but the God who provides the answer. We need to know Him better. We need to trust Him more. We need to patiently wait and eagerly anticipate an answer because we understand the character of our God. His love never fails.

Father, thank You for the moments of waiting that come into my life on a regular basis. Thank You for teaching me to rely on You and not the world around me. May I continue to learn to wait patiently and expectantly on You because I believe You have my best in mind, in spite of what I see happening around me. Amen

Run to the Lord

April 20, 2025 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.

¹Give ear to my prayer, O God,
    and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!
²Attend to me, and answer me;
    I am restless in my complaint and I moan,
³because of the noise of the enemy,
    because of the oppression of the wicked.
For they drop trouble upon me,
    and in anger they bear a grudge against me.

⁴My heart is in anguish within me;
    the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
⁵Fear and trembling come upon me,
    and horror overwhelms me.
⁶And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
    I would fly away and be at rest;
⁷yes, I would wander far away;
    I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah
⁸I would hurry to find a shelter
    from the raging wind and tempest.”

⁹Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues;
    for I see violence and strife in the city.
¹⁰Day and night they go around it
    on its walls,
and iniquity and trouble are within it;
¹¹    ruin is in its midst;
oppression and fraud
    do not depart from its marketplace.

¹²For it is not an enemy who taunts me—
    then I could bear it;
it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—
    then I could hide from him.
¹³But it is you, a man, my equal,
    my companion, my familiar friend.
¹⁴We used to take sweet counsel together;
    within God’s house we walked in the throng.
¹⁵Let death steal over them;
    let them go down to Sheol alive;
    for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.

¹⁶But I call to God,
    and the LORD will save me.
¹⁷Evening and morning and at noon
    I utter my complaint and moan,
    and he hears my voice.
¹⁸He redeems my soul in safety
    from the battle that I wage,
    for many are arrayed against me.
¹⁹God will give ear and humble them,
    he who is enthroned from of old, Selah
because they do not change
    and do not fear God.

²⁰My companion stretched out his hand against his friends;
    he violated his covenant.
²¹His speech was smooth as butter,
    yet war was in his heart;
his words were softer than oil,
    yet they were drawn swords.

²²Cast your burden on the LORD,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.

²³But you, O God, will cast them down
into the pit of destruction;
men of blood and treachery
shall not live out half their days.
But I will trust in you. – Psalm 55:1-23 ESV

David had been betrayed by a close friend, and this psalm reflects his struggle with anger, frustration, and the desire for revenge. David does not disclose the identity of this individual but simply refers to him as “my equal, my companion and close friend” (Psalm 55:13 NLT). David had his fair share of enemies, like King Saul, Doeg the Edomite, and the entire Tishite clan, but this failed relationship with a former friend was different altogether.

This friend turned foe had shaken David to the core. It was one thing to suffer the scorn of a sworn enemy, but to have a close associate become the source of such pain and suffering was difficult to bear. David provides an almost clinical description of the physical symptoms he suffered as a result of this unexpected conflict.

My heart pounds in my chest.
The terror of death assaults me.
Fear and trembling overwhelm me,
and I can’t stop shaking. – Psalm 55:4-5 NLT

David was in a state of desperation and despair, and longed to escape the relentless pressure he felt.

Oh, that I had wings like a dove;
    then I would fly away and rest!
I would fly far away
    to the quiet of the wilderness. Interlude
How quickly I would escape—
    far from this wild storm of hatred. – Psalm 55:6-8 NLT

My wife has a phrase she tends to use when things are not going well. When faced with an unpleasant situation or circumstance, she says, “I wish we could go to an island.” When those words come out of her mouth, she is expressing the same thing David did when he said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!” (Psalm 55:6 NLT). Like David, my wife occasionally finds herself in situations that cause her to want to run away and hide. She pictures a secluded island, far from the cares and troubles that confront her. For David, it was the wilderness of Judea, outside the walls of Jerusalem. I find his choice interesting because the wilderness was where David spent so many years hiding from the paid assassins of King Saul. You would think that the wilderness would be the last place David would want to go, but those barren, rocky hills had become a place of refuge, peace, and protection for him. It was in the wilderness that he found rest, safety, and a sense of well-being.

Life as the king living within the crowded walls of Jerusalem was anything but easy. There was intrigue, infighting, money issues, family quarrels, government concerns, and the constant threat of war because of all of Israel’s enemies. In the opening verses of this psalm, David cries out to God and paints a rather bleak picture of his current state of affairs.

    I am overwhelmed by my troubles.
My enemies shout at me,
    making loud and wicked threats.
They bring trouble on me
    and angrily hunt me down. – Psalm 55:2-3 NLT

Serving as the king and shepherding the people of God was a high-pressure job. It was virtually impossible to keep everybody happy. As king, David had plenty of enemies whose sole goal in life was to bring his reign to an abrupt end. These adversaries came from within and without, posing a constant threat to his reign and placing David was under a tremendous amount of pressure. In this instance, things had taken a more difficult twist because one of his closest friends had turned on him. David states, “It is not an enemy who taunts me – I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me – I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you – my equal, my companion and close friend” (Psalm 55:12-13 NLT).

David doesn’t disclose the details of his friend’s transgression, but it was bad enough to make David want to run away and hide. This was not a one-time reaction for David. He had a habit of running away from difficult relationships. The Book of 2 Samuel records when David’s son Absalom staged a coup to take over the kingdom. When David received word of his son’s actions, he chose to abdicate the throne and abandon the royal city.

A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”

Rather than face his son and protect his throne, David ran away. In Psalm 55, David is faced with another situation where he must choose either to flee or fight. Running is always an attractive option. Some of us literally run away from problems, while others of us do it figuratively. We may escape through busyness, drowning our problems in preoccupation with something else. We may turn to drugs or alcohol, attempting to cloud our perception that the problem even exists. We may run to some form of entertainment, hoping to distract our minds from the issue at hand. Or we may run from our problems by attempting to ignore them altogether. Whatever tactic we take, running from our problems rarely works, and it never makes them go away. David knew that.

So, instead of running away, David turned to God. He called on God and asked Him to do what only God can—provide rescue and relief.

But I will call on God,
    and the Lord will rescue me.
Morning, noon, and night
    I cry out in my distress,
    and the Lord hears my voice.
He ransoms me and keeps me safe
    from the battle waged against me,
    though many still oppose me.
God, who has ruled forever,
    will hear me and humble them. – Psalm 55:16-19 NLT

David knew from experience that his best option was to trust God. Running never solved anything. As bad as things might have been, David knew that God could handle his problems, his enemies, his clash with his former friend, and anything else that came up in his life. His advice? “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall” (Psalm 55:22 NLT).

David’s enemies were real. His situation was difficult and further complicated by his friend’s disingenuous words and deceitful actions. But David knew that running away might provide temporary relief from his problems, but it would never bring resolution. Only God could do that.

We can confidently face whatever comes our way by taking it to the Lord and trusting Him with the outcome. Don’t run away. Run to Him. He is where we will find peace, safety, rescue, and resolution to our problems.

The group Selah recorded the following song, and its lyrics provide a fitting summation of David’s words.

You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart
With the songs of deliverance
When ever i’m afraid
I will trust in you
I will trust in you
Let the weak say
I am strong,
With the strength of the lord
You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart
With the songs of deliverance
When ever i’m afraid
I will trust in you
I will trust in you
Let the weak say
I am strong,
With the strength of the lord

Father, I am not sure why I don’t run to You more often and more readily. You have never failed me or let me down in the past, but I still find myself running away rather than turning to You. When faced with problems, I long for escape, when what I should long for is You. You alone can help me. You alone can rescue me. You alone are the answer to every problem that confronts me. Amen

If God Is For Us

February 28, 2025February 28, 2025 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

¹Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

²O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
³But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.

⁴Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
⁵Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.

⁶There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
⁷You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.

⁸In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. – Psalm 4:1-8 ESV

This Psalm bears striking similarities with Psalm 3, causing some scholars to speculate that it was written by David at about the same time. David found himself in an unexpected dilemma, having fled the capital city of Jerusalem because of a coup led by his son Absalom. Deposed from his throne, David is hiding somewhere in the wilderness outside Jerusalem.

This predicament was preceded by Absalom’s four-year-long character assassination strategy. David’s son had conducted an aggressive PR campaign designed to build up his own reputation by questioning his father’s judgment and leadership skills.

Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him. He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe. Then Absalom would say, “You’ve really got a strong case here! It’s too bad the king doesn’t have anyone to hear it. I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!”

When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them. Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel. – 1 Samuel 15:1-6 NLT

While living as a fugitive, David had to deal with the fact that his own son had ruined his reputation by defaming his character. These were difficult days for David. He was facing one of the most challenging moments of his life. He had been placed on the throne by God, but now he was a deposed and discredited former king living like a convicted criminal somewhere in the outskirts of his former capital.

But rather than launch a vindictive slander campaign against his conniving son, David took the matter to God. This Psalm opens with a prayer.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! – Psalm 4:1 ESV

He refers to God as “my righteousness” (Psalm 4:1 ESV). With all the false accusations leveled against him, David was willing to leave his guilt or innocence up to God. David didn’t fully understand his circumstances and must have had a thousand questions for God. But rather than demanding answers, he simply asks God to hear his prayer and deliver him from his predicament. This was not the first time David found himself in a difficult situation, and he knew from personal experience that God could be trusted to always do what is right and just.

The Lord is good and does what is right;
    he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
He leads the humble in doing right,
    teaching them his way.
The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
    all who keep his covenant and obey his demands. – Psalm 25:8-10 NLT

Despire the circumstances, David knew that God was still on his side. While it appeared that everyone else had turned their back on him, David was confident of God’s abiding presence and sovereign control over his life. As if addressing his detractors, David confidently asserts, “You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him” (Psalm 4:3 NLT).

The Hebrew word translated “set apart” is pālâ, which means “to separate,” “to distinguish,” or “to show special favor.” David knew that he had been set apart by God to serve as the king of Israel. He could recall the moment when Samuel, the prophet of God, appeared at his home in Bethlehem. David had been summoned from caring for his father’s sheep and stood before his family as Samuel anointed him with oil.

So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. – 1 Samuel 16:13 NLT

That fateful day had begun a long and circuitous path to the throne, including another period of isolation in the wilderness as King Saul sought to take David’s life. As a young man, David had been anointed the next king of Israel, but Saul would not relinquish the throne without a fight. During those difficult days, David learned to trust God for the future. It was during that time that David wrote another Psalm expressing his dependence upon the Lord.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
    I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
    until the danger passes by.
I cry out to God Most High,
    to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
He will send help from heaven to rescue me,
    disgracing those who hound me. Interlude
My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness. – Psalm 57:1-3 NLT

David had been here before. He was well acquainted with caves and more than familiar with adversity. Experience had taught him to judge his circumstances through the faithfulness of God and not the other way around. David knew God would deal with him differently because he belonged to God. He even refers to himself as “godly.” That word simply means “faithful one.” David was declaring his faithfulness to God. He wasn’t claiming perfection or sinlessness, but only that he had not abandoned God. He continued to trust in and rely upon God. He belonged to God, so he knew God would hear him when he called.

The people who accompanied David when he fled Jerusalem were asking, “Who will show us better times?” (Psalm 4:6 NLT). They were distraught and wondering what the future held. They wanted to know what plans David had to rectify the situation. He was their leader and they depended on him to solve their problem. But David knew that God was the key to their hope. He knew through experience that God was the source of joy. God had provided David with more joy than any amount of success or affluence could bring.

You have given me greater joy
than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. – Psalm 4:7 NLT

David knew that God alone could hear him when he called, declare him innocent, free him from his troubles, show him mercy, and keep him safe even in his sleep. No matter what was going on around him and to him, David knew that his God could be trusted to do the just and right thing. His fate was in God’s hands, not Absalom’s. That confident assurance had been forged in the fires of his earlier adversities.

My heart is confident in you, O God;
    my heart is confident.
    No wonder I can sing your praises!
Wake up, my heart!
    Wake up, O lyre and harp!
    I will wake the dawn with my song.
I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
    I will sing your praises among the nations.
For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
    Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. – Psalm 57:7-10 NLT

God had proven Himself faithful to David time and time again. He had a stellar track record for reliability. In another one of his earlier predicaments, David had written: “This I know: God is on my side! I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 56:9-11 NLT). David’s words reflect his familiarity with another anonymous Psalm.

In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
    and the Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
    What can mere people do to me?
Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.
    I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in people.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes. – Psalm 118:5-9 NLT

But David’s confidence in God doesn’t mean he had no questions. Psalm 4 reflects his confusion over the circumstances surrounding his son’s actions, but he doesn’t direct his uncertainties to God. He addresses his adversaries with a string of disquieted queries that demand an explanation for their actions.

How long will you people ruin my reputation?
How long will you make groundless accusations?
How long will you continue your lies? – Psalm 4:2 NLT

But rather than wait for an answer, David turns his attention to God.

You can be sure of this:
The Lord set apart the godly for himself.
The Lord will answer when I call to him. – Psalm 4:3 NLT

Their continued attacks would prove powerless before God, and David was willing to allow the Almighty to defend and avenge him. He didn’t fully comprehend the nature of his fall or the timing of his rescue, but David was willing to trust God with the outcome. So much so, that he encouraged his disgruntled companions, “Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the Lord” (Psalm 4:4-5 NLT).

For David, difficult circumstances were not an indication of God’s absence or anger; they were an invitation to see Him work. His son’s opposition was actually a divinely–ordained opportunity to display God’s glory and goodness. That is why David was able to say, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe” (Psalm 4:8 NLT).

Father, I want to trust You more. I want to have the came degree of confidence in You that David expressed. He had found You to be faithful in the past, so he could confidently trust You for the future. He didn’t let the conditions around him determine His faith in You. He trusted in Your character, not his circumstances. He recalled all the wonderful things You had done for him and realized that You had set him apart for Yourself. David belonged to You, so he knew he could trust You. And I want to trust you, too. Amen

When Things Look Down, Look Up

February 27, 2025 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

¹O Lord, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
²many are saying of my soul,
“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah

³But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
⁴I cried aloud to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

⁵I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
⁶I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.

⁷Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.

⁸Salvation belongs to the Lord;
your blessing be on your people! Selah – Psalm 3:1-8 ESV

While Psalm 2 addressed the issue of foreign adversaries standing opposed to God’s anointed king, this Psalm portrays a more intimate and internal threat. David has had to abandon Jerusalem and his throne because his son, Absalom, has taken over his kingdom. The details of this tragic event are recorded in the Book of 2 Samuel.

Absalom had recently returned from Geshur, where he had been living in exile after having killed his half-brother, Amnon. The sordid details of this story paint a less-than-pleasant picture of David’s homelife and parenting skills. He had a large and rapidly growing family because of his many wives. These marriages were in direct violation of God’s command.

“The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the Lord.” – Deuteronomy 17:17 NLT

While David had managed to remain faithful to Yahweh, his large blended family was anything but a picture of domestic bliss. His violation of God’s command produced a series of unfortunate events that ultimately led to the events recorded in Psalm 3. Chapter 13 of 2 Samuel 13 records Amnon’s lust-fueled rape of his half-sister Tamar. This violent act went unpunished by David, leaving Tamar in a state of mourning over the loss of her virginity. She was damaged goods and, in that culture, would likely remain unmarried the rest of her life. When her brother Absalom saw that their father was not going to deal with Amnon’s crime, he took matters into his own hands and arranged for Amnon’s death. This crime also went unpunished by David. Rather than stepping up and meting out justice, David remained silent and allowed Absalom to escape to Geshur.

In time, David allowed his exiled son to return, but refused to restore their relationship. In time, Absalom became embittered by his father’s passive-aggressive behavior. David’s avoidance of his son only fueled Absalom’s disrespect and resentment for him. Eventually, Absalom devised a plan to steal the throne from his father. Through a series of clever ploys, Absalom managed to win the hearts of the people and pull off a bloodless coup that forced David to abandon Jerusalem and concede the kingdom to his son.

Psalm 3 was written as all this was going on. So, David was going through some significantly trying circumstances. He had lost everything, including his kingdom, the love of his own son, and the respect of his people. His world had been turned upside down. To make matters worse, his enemies used this collapse of David’s fortunes to torment him. They accused God of having abandoned His anointed kind.

“God will never rescue him!” – Psalm 3:2 NLT

Even as David fled the capital, he was confronted by a man named Shimei, who took the opportunity to berate the fallen king and accuse him of getting what he so richly deserved.

As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family. He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him. “Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. “The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!” – 2 Samuel 16:5-8 NLT

These were dark days for David, but this Psalm reveals his understanding of God’s faithfulness. Despite all that had transpired, David maintained a confidence in God that came from personal experience. He knew his God was a shield about him – a form of protection from attack. No matter how bad things got, David knew God would preserve and protect him.

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy mountain. – Psalm 3:3-4 NLT

As a warrior, David used his familiarity with the tools of his trade to describe the faithfulness of God. Yahweh was as reliable as the shield a soldier used in battle to protect himself from certain death. David viewed God as his greatest defense because he knew that his life existed for God’s glory. He had been called and commissioned by God. His reign had been God’s idea and only He could give David honor in the sight of others. David may have lost his throne, but he knew he was in God’s hands. Others may have lost their respect for David, but he knew that ultimately any honor he received was from God and not from his position or possessions. God gave David’s life “weight.” In other words, it was David’s relationship with God that gave his life value – not his job, title, or resume. That is why David could sleep well at night, even when his world seemed to be falling apart.

I lay down and slept,
    yet I woke up in safety,
    for the Lord was watching over me.
I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
    who surround me on every side. – Psalm 3:5-6 NLT

Despite his losses, David maintained his confidence in God. He knew that God cared for him and was fully capable of rescuing him. His circumstances did not alter his understanding of God. Yes, he had run away from his own son. He had abandoned his throne and was hiding in the wilderness. But David knew that God was the lifter of heads. The Almighty could revive David’s fortunes and even restore him to the throne – if that was His will. That is why David expressed his confidence in God even as he abandoned the city to his son.

“If the Lord sees fit, he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.” – 2 Samuel 15:25 NLT

David knew his God. He had faith in his God. He could rest in his God. He had confidence in his God. So, he cried out to his God. Then he waited. David was not going to let circumstances determine His view of God. A bad day would not alter his understanding of the goodness of God. Unexpected and unwelcome events should never cause the believer to doubt the power or presence of God. Instead, life’s adversities should cause us to turn to Him for help, hope, and healing. Cry out. He answers.

Victory comes from you, O Lord.
May you bless your people. – Psalm 3:8 NLT

Father, give me the confidence of David. Give me a view of you that is not determined by my circumstances. Help me to see Your faithfulness in the midst of difficulty. Help me to trust You even when things seem out of control, unfair, and difficult to understand. You are my shield, glory, and the lifter of my head. Amen

No Stone Left Unturned

September 16, 2024 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

¹When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

²David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites. ³The Levites, thirty years old and upward, were numbered, and the total was 38,000 men. ⁴“Twenty-four thousand of these,” David said, “shall have charge of the work in the house of the Lord, 6,000 shall be officers and judges, ⁵4,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 shall offer praises to the Lord with the instruments that I have made for praise.” ⁶And David organized them in divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

⁷The sons of Gershon were Ladan and Shimei. ⁸The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three. ⁹The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers’ houses of Ladan. ¹⁰And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. ¹¹Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, therefore they became counted as a single father’s house.

¹²The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. ¹³The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to dedicate the most holy things, that he and his sons forever should make offerings before the Lord and minister to him and pronounce blessings in his name forever. ¹⁴But the sons of Moses the man of God were named among the tribe of Levi. ¹⁵The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. ¹⁶The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief. ¹⁷The sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. ¹⁸The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. ¹⁹The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. ²⁰The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief and Isshiah the second.

²¹The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. ²²Eleazar died having no sons, but only daughters; their kinsmen, the sons of Kish, married them. ²³The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

²⁴These were the sons of Levi by their fathers’ houses, the heads of fathers’ houses as they were listed according to the number of the names of the individuals from twenty years old and upward who were to do the work for the service of the house of the Lord. ²⁵For David said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. ²⁶And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service.” ²⁷For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward. ²⁸For their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, having the care of the courts and the chambers, the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the house of God. ²⁹Their duty was also to assist with the showbread, the flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baked offering, the offering mixed with oil, and all measures of quantity or size. ³⁰And they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the Lord, and likewise at evening, ³¹and whenever burnt offerings were offered to the Lord on Sabbaths, new moons, and feast days, according to the number required of them, regularly before the Lord. ³²Thus they were to keep charge of the tent of meeting and the sanctuary, and to attend the sons of Aaron, their brothers, for the service of the house of the Lord. – 1 Chronicles 23:1-32 ESV

This chapter continues to record David’s preparations for Solomon’s ascension to the throne as well as the future construction and care of the Temple his son would build. David has grown old and knows that his days are numbered, so he is making the most of his remaining time as king to prepare the way for his son’s reign. But the transfer of power would not be as simple and trouble-free as verse 1 seems to indicate. The opening verse of this chapter severely truncates the story of Solomon’s ascension to the throne. In a single verse, the chronicler records the transfer of power from David to Solomon, while the author of the Book of First Kings takes two chapters to cover this same event. According to 1 Kings 1, there was an internal struggle over who would replace David as king.

David had a son named Adonijah who was officially the second-oldest of all his sons. When David’s firstborn son, Absalom, staged a coup and took over the kingdom, he was eventually killed by Joab, David’s military commander. His death paved the way for Adonijah to become the logical heir to David’s kingdom. But God had other plans. It seems that Adonijah had copied a page out of Absalom’s playbook and attempted to stage a coup. This young man mirrored the actions of his older step-brother and tried to establish himself as the next king of Israel.

About that time David’s son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, “I will make myself king.” So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him. Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome.– 1 Kings 1:5-6 NLT

Adonijah was a spoiled and compulsive young man who felt he rightfully deserved to be the heir to David’s throne. But God had ordained that Solomon would be the next king of Israel. He had clearly communicated this message to David.

“…you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him peace with his enemies in all the surrounding lands. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign. He is the one who will build a Temple to honor my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will secure the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’” – 1 Chronicles 22:9-10 NLT

At some point, David shared this news with Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba. When she received news that Adonijah had declared himself to be the next king of Israel, she confronted David.

“My lord, you made a vow before the Lord your God when you said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne.’ But instead, Adonijah has made himself king, and my lord the king does not even know about it.” – 1 Kings 1:17-18 NLT

The elderly David was completely oblivious to what was going on in his own family. He was unaware of his son’s coup attempt and the risk it posed to all his plans for Solomon and the future Temple. But God intervened and used Solomon’s distraught mother to bring this matter to David’s attention. Even Nathan the prophet got into the act, asking David if he had sanctioned Adonijan’s claim to the throne. This entire scenario happened virtually overnight, leaving David’s plans for Solomon and the future Temple in a state of confusion. He was forced to act quickly and put the matter of his successor to rest. He assured Bathsheba that her son was the designated heir to the throne.

“As surely as the Lord lives, who has rescued me from every danger, your son Solomon will be the next king and will sit on my throne this very day, just as I vowed to you before the Lord, the God of Israel.” – 1 Kings 1:29-30 NLT

David wasted no time, ordering a hastily prepared coronation service for Solomon. Normally, this event would have taken place after David’s death, but Adonijah’s actions necessitated a change in plans.

So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the king’s bodyguard took Solomon down to Gihon Spring, with Solomon riding on King David’s own mule. There Zadok the priest took the flask of olive oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon with the oil. Then they sounded the ram’s horn and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” – 1 Kings 1:38-39 NLT

Solomon would serve as David’s co-regent until his death. By anointing Solomon as his official replacement and allowing him the privilege of sitting on the throne of Israel, David had ended any and all speculation regarding the next king of Israel. He had also ensured that Solomon would be in place and prepared to carry out the construction of the Temple.

So Solomon took the throne of the Lord in place of his father, David, and he succeeded in everything, and all Israel obeyed him. All the officials, the warriors, and the sons of King David pledged their loyalty to King Solomon. And the Lord exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and he gave Solomon greater royal splendor than any king in Israel before him.– 1 Chronicles 29:23-25 NLT

But before David died, he had one last mission to accomplish, and that is what the rest of chapter 23 covers. Knowing that Solomon was still a young man and that the construction of the Temple was going to be a massive undertaking, David had gathered all the materials necessary to make it happen.

“My son Solomon, whom God has clearly chosen as the next king of Israel, is still young and inexperienced. The work ahead of him is enormous, for the Temple he will build is not for mere mortals—it is for the Lord God himself! Using every resource at my command, I have gathered as much as I could for building the Temple of my God. Now there is enough gold, silver, bronze, iron, and wood, as well as great quantities of onyx, other precious stones, costly jewels, and all kinds of fine stone and marble.” – 1 Chronicles 29:1-2 NLT

But David knew that a well-crafted and finely appointed building would not be enough. The house of God would require oversight by the priests of God. At this point in time, the Tabernacle was still in operation in Gibeon and under the care of the Levitical priesthood. But when the Temple was completed in Jerusalem, the entire sacrificial system would need to be transferred to this new location. For this to happen, David appointed a second team of Levitical priests to serve at the Temple complex.

“From all the Levites, 24,000 will supervise the work at the Temple of the Lord. Another 6,000 will serve as officials and judges. Another 4,000 will work as gatekeepers, and 4,000 will praise the Lord with the musical instruments I have made.”– 1 Chronicles 23:4-5 NLT

David had always intended the Temple to be the new dwelling place of God on earth. It was to replace the Tabernacle and serve as the primary place of worship and sacrifice for the people of Israel. The design of the Temple mirrored that of the Tabernacle but on a much grander scale. David knew that this new house of God would need to be holy and set apart just as the Tabernacle was. It would require the oversight and care of the Levites, the tribe that God had set apart for this duty. In all his preparations, David painstakingly adhered to the Mosaic law, ensuring that every detail of the Temple was in keeping with God’s commands.

Like Moses before him, David made sure that each of the clans of Levi was assigned duties that reflected their God-ordained roles. The Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites were each given duties to perform in the future Temple. In a sense, David created two teams of Levites to care for the two sacred houses of God.

And so, under the supervision of the priests, the Levites watched over the Tabernacle and the Temple and faithfully carried out their duties of service at the house of the Lord. – 1 Chronicles 23:32 NLT

During the construction phase of the Temple, both sanctuaries would require oversight by the Levites. However, once the Temple was complete, the primary emphasis would shift to the new location in Jerusalem. Before his death, David designated Solomon to be his co-regent and the future king of Israel. But he also reorganized the Levites so that they could adequately care for the Tabernacle and the Temple. He left nothing to chance. Every detail was covered and every contingency was considered. With all the planning for the Temple completed and the future reign of Solomon firmly established, David would rest easy and live out the remaining days of his life with the assurance that his legacy would continue and his dream of building a house for God would come to fruition.

“The Lord, the God of Israel, has given us peace, and he will always live in Jerusalem. Now the Levites will no longer need to carry the Tabernacle and its furnishings from place to place.” In accordance with David’s final instructions, all the Levites twenty years old or older were registered for service. – 1 Chronicles 23:25-27 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Trying To Be God’s King Without God’s Help

July 17, 2024 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

³¹Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, and he went on with the king to the Jordan, to escort him over the Jordan. ³²Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. ³³And the king said to Barzillai, “Come over with me, and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem.” ³⁴But Barzillai said to the king, “How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? ³⁵I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? ³⁶Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward? ³⁷Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him go over with my lord the king, and do for him whatever seems good to you.” ³⁸And the king answered, “Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you, and all that you desire of me I will do for you.” ³⁹Then all the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over. And the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own home. ⁴⁰The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. All the people of Judah, and also half the people of Israel, brought the king on his way.

⁴¹Then all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away and brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David’s men with him?” ⁴²All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is our close relative. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?” ⁴³And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, and in David also we have more than you. Why then did you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel. – 2 Samuel 19:31-43- ESV

The closing verses of chapter 19 serve as a foreboding preface for all that lies ahead. As David attempted to reestablish his hold on the throne of Israel, he was faced with the task of rewarding those who had stood by his side during Absalom’s short-lived coup. At the same time, he needed to win back the allegiance of those who had sided with Absalom in his rebellion. There were some, like Barzillai, who had aided David in his escape from Jerusalem. This wealthy octogenarian had provided David and his followers with food while they were in Mahanaim. Barzillai was from Gilead, a region east of the Jordan River that was divided between the tribes of Gad and Manasseh. While his tribal membership is not mentioned, Barzillai had proven to be an ally during those difficult days after David was forced to abdicate his throne. When David invited Barzillai to return with him to Jerusalem, the elderly man politely declined the offer, choosing instead to live out his remaining days in the familiar surroundings of his hometown. But as an expression of gratitude for David’s generous offer, Barzillai suggested that Chimham take his place. Chimham, who was likely Barzillai’s son, returned to Jerusalem with David and received the benefit of the king’s gratitude.

But there was a storm brewing. David’s return to the throne was going to be a rocky one, and simply handing out rewards to those who had stood by his side was not going to make the transfer of power any easier. Absalom’s well-orchestrated coup attempt had divided the kingdom. His plan to win the hearts of the people had been highly effective and had caused a large portion of the nation to turn against David. While David’s physical return to Jerusalem went smoothly, he was going to have a much more difficult time restoring public confidence in his leadership.

When Joab finally convinced David to end his excessive mourning over Absalom’s death, David’s first course of action was to seek the support of his own clan, the tribe of Judah. He knew he was going to need their support if he was going to reestablish his fractured and weakened kingdom. call for the tribe of Judah to come to his aid. In a message that appears to utilize guilt as its primary motivating factor, David confronted the leaders of Judah.

“Why are you the last ones to welcome back the king into his palace? For I have heard that all Israel is ready. You are my relatives, my own tribe, my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last ones to welcome back the king?” – 2 Samuel 19:11-12 NLT

David was painting his kinsmen as holdouts, suggesting that they were the last ones to the party. To hear David tell the story, he received a hero’s welcome when he returned to Jerusalem, but that wasn’t exactly the case. David’s return was no more triumphant than his humiliating exit had been. Yet, in an attempt to shame his fellow Judahites into action, he gives an overly optimistic assessment of his current situation. But the text paints a slightly different picture.

Meanwhile, the Israelites who had supported Absalom fled to their homes. And throughout all the tribes of Israel there was much discussion and argument going on. The people were saying, “The king rescued us from our enemies and saved us from the Philistines, but Absalom chased him out of the country. Now Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, is dead. Why not ask David to come back and be our king again?” – 2 Samuel 19:9-10 NLT

The nation was in a state of turmoil as people tried to assess all that had taken place. David’s stellar reputation as the warrior-king had taken a serious hit as a result of Absalom’s bloodless coup. The man who had slain Goliath and led Israel in victories over their enemies had lost his throne to his own son and failed to put up a fight. This left the people questioning whether David was the right man for the job. Had political polling been available, David would have scored low in consumer confidence and popular support. He was damaged goods and attempting to rule over a divided and demoralized people.

So, despite David’s assertion that the tribe of Judah was late to the party, not everybody had lined up to welcome David home. The Israelites, representing the ten tribes besides Judah and the Benjaminites, were divided in their thoughts regarding David. Many were scared that he would seek retribution against them for siding with Absalom. Others argued that David had been successful against the enemies of Israel, but had fled at the sight of Absalom. The only real vote of confidence that David received was that, with Absalom’s death, he was the only logical choice as a replacement. That is not exactly a rousing endorsement. Yet, David was under the somewhat deluded impression that all of Israel was ready to welcome him back and used this thought to goad the tribe of Judah into action. In doing so, David actually made his problem worse.

His message produced results but probably not what David expected. The text states that “All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel escorted the king on his way” (2 Samuel 19:40 NLT). He was able to garner the full support of his own tribe but not everyone was on board with David’s return. Many remained in hiding, fearing what David would do when he returned to power.

To a certain extent, the nation of Israel remained a loosely held-together confederation of 12 tribes. David had located his capital in Jerusalem, within the borders of his own tribe of Judah. The other tribes wrestled with thoughts of jealousy and envy at Judah’s hold on the reins of power and they demonstrated their dissatisfaction by accusing David of cronyism.

But all the men of Israel complained to the king, “The men of Judah stole the king and didn’t give us the honor of helping take you, your household, and all your men across the Jordan.” – 2 Samuel 19:41 NLT

These men knew that they had their work cut out for them because they had chosen to side against David. Now that he was back in power, they were going to have to get back into his good graces. When they saw the tribe of Judah accompanying David back into the capital, they feared that David was going to hold them accountable for the allegiance they showed to Absalom. They believed David’s close ties to his own tribe would leave everyone else in the not-so-pleasant position of being outsiders. They knew their actions against David were going to make reconciliation difficult. So, they went out of their way to portray themselves as victims. They claimed that they were being overlooked and left out of the plans for the nation’s reunification.

It’s important to remember that these people had just fought a major battle against one another in which 20,000 men had died. There were still emotional and physical wounds to be healed. The civil war that had just taken place, while short-lived, had left deep-seated animosities between the tribes. Every step David took, both literally and figuratively, was going to be hyper-analyzed. His leadership skills were going to be put to the test. His ability to navigate the stormy and dangerous waters of reunification was going to require a wisdom greater than he possessed. If David ever needed God, it was now. But there is a marked absence of any reference to God in any of this narrative.

At so many other times in his life, when facing difficulty, David sought God. He would seek the Almighty’s counsel and refrain from making any decisions until he knew what God would have him do. But here, in the heat of the moment, David appears to be acting on impulse. Perhaps he was in a hurry to put this nasty episode behind him and restore a sense of normalcy to the situation. But every decision he makes seems to blow up in his face. In ignoring God’s will, David would suffer the consequences, but he would also learn the difficult lessons that come with leadership. Simply wearing the crown did not make him a king. Getting his kingdom back wasn’t going to win his people back. Handing out rewards was not going to heal the wounds that plagued his nation. David needed the wisdom of God. Without His help, David was like any other man, susceptible to outside influences, filled with inner conflicts, motivated by fear, plagued by thoughts of self-preservation, capable of anger, and always subject to sin.

Far too often, we read the stories of David’s life and attempt to turn him into an icon of virtue and a model for spirituality and godly leadership. But David was a man. Yes, he was a man after God’s own heart, but that doesn’t mean he always did what God would have him do. The real lessons to be learned from the life of David have to do with the faithfulness of God, not the righteousness of David. His life is a stark reminder of mankind’s need for the assistance of a holy and righteous God.

David was God’s anointed king; he had been hand-picked for the role. But without constant reliance upon God, David was an accident waiting to happen. Apart from God, his life tended to end up as a train wreck with bodies strewn across the landscape. The good news of the gospel is not just that we have been chosen by God to receive His mercy and grace made available through His Son’s death on the cross, but that we have been given access to His wisdom and power every day of our lives. We have received unlimited forgiveness for the sins we will inevitably commit. We have His unfailing love even when we fail to love Him consistently or completely.

David wasn’t a perfect king, but he was God’s king. His life provides us with a powerful reminder that our best days will be those in which we recognize our weakness and our need for God’s power. Trying to be God’s king without God’s help would never work out well for David. In the same way, when we attempt to be good Christians without the benefit of God’s power, grace, and mercy, it will never produce the results we are hoping for. David was going to learn to trust in God, not himself. He was going to find out that winning the support of men would never replace his need for the sovereign power of God in his life.

Passivity, Procrastination, and Passing the Buck

July 15, 2024 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

¹¹And King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house, when the word of all Israel has come to the king? ¹²You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’ ¹³And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if you are not commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.’” ¹⁴And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, “Return, both you and all your servants.” ¹⁵So the king came back to the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring the king over the Jordan.

¹⁶And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, from Bahurim, hurried to come down with the men of Judah to meet King David. ¹⁷And with him were a thousand men from Benjamin. And Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, with his fifteen sons and his twenty servants, rushed down to the Jordan before the king, ¹⁸and they crossed the ford to bring over the king’s household and to do his pleasure. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan, ¹⁹and said to the king, “Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart. ²⁰For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” ²¹Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” ²²But David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be as an adversary to me? Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?” ²³And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king gave him his oath. – 2 Samuel 19:11-23 ESV

Joab forced David to abandon his lingering state of mourning over Absalom and demanded that he take back the reins of his fractured kingdom. His eyes finally opened to the gravity of the situation, David’s first official act as the restored king of Israel was to win back the trust of the tribes. He began with his own tribe of Judah because they had backed Absalom during his coup attempt. In a sense, David was having to clean up the mess he had made of his kingdom. His poor leadership and failure to deal with the crimes of Amnon and Absalom had damaged his credibility among the people, including his own clan. So, to regain their trust and favor, he sent the priests, Zadok and Abiathar with an offer of pardon and restoration if they would pledge their allegiance to him as king. To assuage any lingering anger over Absalom’s ignominious and brutal execution by Joab, David offered to replace his former military chief with Amasa, Absalom’s former top commander. This decision by David served two purposes. First, it was a politically savvy move intended to pacify and persuade any of his fellow tribesmen who still had reservations about his leadership abilities. Secondly, it was a way for him to humiliate and punish Joab for his blatant display of insubordination.

There is little information in the text regarding Amasa’s qualifications for this role, but it would appear that David was less concerned with Amasa’s military credentials than with pacifying his critics and restoring order to his kingdom. The only details about Amasa are found in chapter 17.

Absalom had appointed Amasa as commander of his army, replacing Joab, who had been commander under David. (Amasa was Joab’s cousin. His father was Jether, an Ishmaelite. His mother, Abigail daughter of Nahash, was the sister of Joab’s mother, Zeruiah). – 2 Samuel 17:25 NLT

Whether or not this was a wise move on David’s part is unclear, but it was an obvious slap in the face to Joab. David was letting his friend and former commander know that his murder of Absalom was unacceptable. As far as David was concerned, Joab’s violation of a direct command to preserve Absalom’s life was unforgivable. David could have had Joab executed for insubordination but, instead, he chose to publicly humiliate him. Once again, David makes judgments that appear to be motivated by emotion rather than logic or reason. It had been Joab who led David’s army against the forces of Absalom and delivered a resounding victory. It was Joab who took the life of Absalom, a condemned murderer and insurrectionist, an action David should have taken years earlier. Finally, Joab had been the tone who spoke words of truth to David and commanded him to stop mourning over Absalom and start acting like a king again. But despite all this, David would reward Joab by giving his position to Amasa, Joab’s own cousin and the man who had led the army that had tried to usurp David’s kingdom.

Some might say that this was just a case of political posturing on David’s part – an attempt to win back over the opposing side. David was just “reaching across the aisle” in a gesture of goodwill. But was this a wise move? Better yet, was it a godly move? In his effort to unify his fractured nation, was David going too far? Was he sending the wrong message? It’s interesting to note that David did little to punish those who rebelled against him, yet he demoted Joab, his long-time friend and the commander of his army. There is a visible and disturbing pattern in David’s life. When his son, Amnon raped his half-sister, Tamar, David did nothing about it. When Absalom ended up murdering Amnon, David failed to take action yet again. Now, when David is forced to clean up the aftermath of a well-orchestrated and seemingly successful takeover of his kingdom, he displays more indecisiveness and inaction. He seems reluctant to mete out any kind of justice for the many acts of treason committed against him. It’s important to remember that every individual who participated in the coup against David was actually guilty of insubordination to God. Their alignment with Absalom was a blatant rejection of God’s will. Yahweh had appointed David as the king of Israel and yet, they were complicit in rejecting God’s king and replacing him with a king of their own choosing.

David had a habit of overlooking and dismissing the sins of others. Perhaps this lingering trait was motivated by an awareness of his own past sinfulness. Whatever the case, David appears to have struggled with implementing justice. Even Joab seems to have known that, had he not executed Absalom, David would have allowed his son to live. He had been an eye-witness to David’s pattern of passivity and poor follow-through.

David even pardoned Shimei, the man who had cursed and thrown stones at him as he was fleeing from Jerusalem. This disgruntled member of the clan of Saul had publicly berated and chastised David.

Not surprisingly, when David returned to Jerusalem as king, Shimei was one of the first to show up and beg for his forgiveness.

As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei fell down before him. “My lord the king, please forgive me,” he pleaded. “Forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. I know how much I sinned. That is why I have come here today, the very first person in all Israel to greet my lord the king.” – 2 Samuel 19:18-20 NLT

Shimei was petrified that his former temper tantrum was going to get him killed, and Abishai was more than willing to make it happen. Just as on the day when Shimei had hurled rocks at David, Abishai spoke up, saying, “Shimei should die, for he cursed the Lord’s anointed king!” (2 Samuel 19:21 NLT). But, once again, David rebuked Abishai, and told him, “Why have you become my adversary today? This is not a day for execution, for today I am once again the king of Israel!” (2 Samuel 19:22 NLT). Rather than face retribution, Shimei was given a full pardon. David was understandably reticent to mar his return to office with additional bloodshed or acts of vengeance. He wanted to be viewed as a peacemaker, not a vindictive, revenge-seeking dictator who was going to pay back everyone who had wronged him.

But there is an interesting side note concerning David and Shimei that sheds some light on David’s real attitude toward this man. Years later, when David was nearing death and preparing to hand over the kingdom to his son, Solomon, he gave him a series of directives, to be carried out after his death. One of them concerned Shimei.

“And remember Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin. He cursed me with a terrible curse as I was fleeing to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, I swore by the Lord that I would not kill him. But that oath does not make him innocent. You are a wise man, and you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him.” – 1 Kings2:8-9 NLT

It seems that David’s pardon of Shimei was temporary in nature. David would keep his word and not seek revenge against Shimei, but that did not mean he had forgiven or forgotten what Shimei had done. He simply postponed or put off Shimei’s execution for a later date and pawned off the responsibility to his son. On his deathbed, David commanded Solomon to kill Shimei for him. Yet, Solomon came up with a different plan.

The king then sent for Shimei and told him, “Build a house here in Jerusalem and live there. But don’t step outside the city to go anywhere else. On the day you so much as cross the Kidron Valley, you will surely die; and your blood will be on your own head.” – 1 Kings 2:36-37 NLT

This arrangement would work well for Shimei until he made the mistake of leaving Jerusalem in search of a couple of runaway slaves. When Solomon found out, he had Shimei executed. So David’s revenge against Shimei was ultimately carried out; he paid for his sins. But it seems that David was constantly letting someone else do his dirty work for him. He had let Absalom carry out justice against Amnon. Then it took Joab to pay back Absalom for his act of treason against his own father. Then David assigned Solomon with the task of dealing with the rebellion of Shimei.

David was in a difficult spot; he had a divided kingdom and his reputation was in shambles. Absalom had spent years spreading vicious rumors concerning David’s poor leadership and lack of justice. He had raised questions regarding David’s integrity and undermined the people’s trust in him. So, David had his work cut out for him. But what he really needed to do was act like a king; he needed to lead decisively and justly. He could not afford to be complacent or to be seen as lacking in conviction. David’s desire to be politically correct and treat everyone with kid gloves was going to blow up in his face. David should have spent more time worrying about what God would have him do, rather than obsessing over what was politically expedient. The people wanted and needed a king. Part of the reason they had backed Absalom was that he came across as the kind of leader they were looking for. He had exposed flaws in David’s leadership. Yet David continued to allow those very same weaknesses to plague his reign.

God had provided a means by which the kings of Israel were to rule; He had given them His law and statutes. They were to operate based on His will, not according to what was politically correct or personally convenient. God had made His will clear.

“When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.” – Deuteronomy 17:18-20 NLT

David’s divided kingdom needed a king who had God’s undivided attention. The people needed a monarch who was obsessed with doing the godly thing, not the expedient thing. They needed a man after God’s own heart, not a king who spent all his time trying to win over their hearts.

Words Can Hurt and Also Heal

July 14, 2024 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

¹It was told Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” ²So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” ³And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle. ⁴The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” ⁵Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines, ⁶because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. ⁷Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.” ⁸Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king.

Now Israel had fled every man to his own home. ⁹And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land from Absalom. ¹⁰But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?” – 2 Samuel 19:1-10 ESV

David needed a kick in the pants. He may have been king, but he wasn’t acting like one. His faithful followers had just handed him a great victory over Absalom and his forces, returning him to the throne of Israel, but all he could do was weep and mourn over the loss of his son. No explanation is given for David’s deep depression and what appears to be excessive grief over the death of his rebellious son. It’s impossible to know whether David was grieving over the loss of Absalom or if he was suffering remorse over his own sins that had been the impetus for the entire affair. Perhaps David was regretting his less-than-stellar parenting skills that had led to his son’s loss of respect for him and, ultimately, his rebellion against him. Whatever the reason behind David’s ongoing grief, it had become a serious problem.

David had returned to power but had ordered no victory celebration to commemorate the occasion. He had offered no words of gratitude to his troops. He had failed to express his condolences to those families whose fathers and sons had died in the battle. In fact, the text makes it clear that David was obsessed with the loss of his son and nothing else. He remained in a perpetual state of mourning, repeating the words, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Samuel 19:4 ESV).

David’s dour mood affected the entire city. We’re told the people “crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle” (2 Samuel 19:3 NLT). Absalom’s coup attempt had been successfully shut down but “the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness” (2 Samuel 19:2 NLT) – all because of David’s lingering sorrow over his son’s death.

David was an emotional wreck and in no state to shepherd the sheep of God. He had regained his throne but had effectively abdicated his responsibilities to lead his people. As he languished in sorrow, they began to lose faith in him. They questioned his love for them, and it seemed that this state of affairs would have gone on indefinitely had Joab not intervened.

As David’s long-time friend and the commander of his army, Joab refused to sit back and watch David squander this great victory and continue to treat his people with contempt. Angered by David’s actions, Joab stepped in and spoke up and, in doing so, he took a great risk. After all, David was the king and Joab had disobeyed his direct order to spare Absalom’s life. He had personally taken it upon himself to execute the king’s son and put an end to the rebellion. Now, he was going to confront the man who could have him put to death for his insubordination. But for Joab, it was worth the risk. Something had to be done. So, in a display of extreme selflessness, Joab entered the king’s chambers and read his friend the riot act.

“Today you have embarrassed all your servants who have saved your life this day, as well as the lives of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your concubines. You seem to love your enemies and hate your friends! For you have as much as declared today that leaders and servants don’t matter to you.” – 2 Samuel 19:5-6 NLT

Joab pulled no punches and wasted no time with niceties. He didn’t stroke the king’s ego or give him a reassuring hug. He refused to join David in mourning the loss of Absalom because he didn’t share David’s sense of sorrow or regret over Absalom’s death. His decision to kill Absalom was motivated by his love for David and his concern for the well-being of the kingdom. Now, he was putting his own life on the line by dropping a truth bomb on his inconsolable and incapacitated friend.

The Bible has much to say about the power of a well-intended and well-timed rebuke. It is never something we like to do but there are times when it is exactly what we need to do. A rebuke, when done in love, has a curative and restorative quality to it. The apostle James reminds us, “you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins” (James 5:20 NLT). David’s excessive mourning over the loss of Absalom was a sin. He was not only offending the sensibilities of his own people by overlooking all that they had done for him, but he was treating God with contempt by refusing to acknowledge that Absalom’s death had been divinely sanctioned. Through the actions of Joab, God had done what David had refused to do; punish Absalom for his murder of Amnon. David’s inaction led to Absalom’s loss of respect for him and, ultimately, to his decision to replace his father as king. Yet, God had graciously restored David to the throne. The Almighty had thwarted the plans of Absalom and reasserted His sovereign will for His chosen servant, David. But it took a wake-up call from Joab to shake David out of his debilitating state of melancholy and lethargy.

The Proverbs of Solomon have much to say about the topic of rebuke.

Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue. – Proverbs 28:23 ESV

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. – Proverbs 27:5-6 ESV

Solomon would go on to discuss the same topic in the Book of Ecclesiastes.

Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool. – Ecclesiastes 7:5 NLT

Perhaps Solomon, the son of David and the God-appointed heir to David’s throne learned these lessons from observing his father. He may have recalled his father’s response to Absalom’s death and hearing of Joab’s timely intervention. It’s also likely that he was familiar with the words his father penned in one of his psalms:

Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it. – Psalm 141:5 NLT

What Joab had to say was difficult for David to hear. His words would have stung but they were necessary and exactly what David needed at this point in his life. Blinded by his grief, David was oblivious to the devastating impact his actions were having on all those around him. So Joab was blunt, even harsh, telling David, “You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you” (2 Samuel 19:6 NLT).

Those words must have been like a slap in the face to David. But Joab was not done. He continued to berate David, stating, “It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased” (2 Samuel 19:6 NLT). In this obvious use of hyperbole, Joab was trying to shock his friend into recognizing the error of his ways. The exaggerated nature of Joab’s words was intended to elicit some kind of response from his listless friend. His language was meant to shock and shame David in action.

One can only imagine how David’s excessive sorrow over Absalom’s death affected his other children. How were they supposed to take this over-the-top display of sorrow for their murderous and rebellious brother? What about the ten concubines who had been sexually humiliated by Absalom on the palace rooftop? How did they feel when David wept uncontrollably over the loss of his son but refused to address what he had done to them. There is no indication in the text that David ever addressed these women personally or did anything to alleviate their pain and loss.

David’s behavior had become dangerously destructive. His fractured kingdom and damaged reputation needed repair, but his obsession with Absalom’s death was doing more harm than good. So, once again, Joab took matters into his own hands and did what needed to be done. He was willing to wound his friend and risk his own life to save the kingdom – and his efforts worked.

So the king went out and took his seat at the town gate, and as the news spread throughout the town that he was there, everyone went to him. – 2 Samuel 19:8 NLT

Joab put his neck on the line. But why? Because he cared for David. He knew that if he did nothing, the ramifications would be devastating. He warned David, “Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before” (2 Samuel 19:7 NLT). Doing nothing was not an option for Joab. He could not afford to sit back and watch David destroy the kingdom. There was far too much at stake.

As the Proverbs states, faithful are the wounds of a friend. Words, even when spoken in love, can hurt. But if our intention is to restore and reconcile, then the pain will be well worth it. If we are motivated by love, our words, while initially hurtful, will prove helpful in the long run. David was in deep sorrow, but it was a misdirected and unhealthy kind of sorrow that was destroying all those around him. He expressed no sorrow over the 20,000 Israelites who lost their lives in the battle between his forces and those of Absalom. He displayed no regret or repentance for his role in the whole affair. Not once does David confess to God or admit his culpability for all that had taken place. So, in a sense, David’s sorrow was unacceptable because it mourned over the wrong things. The apostle Paul provides a powerful reminder of what godly sorrow really looks like:

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. – 2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT

Had Joab not spoken up, David might never have woken up to the devastating nature of his actions. Joab’s love is evidenced in his willingness to say the hard things that David needed to hear. To say nothing would have been easier, but it would have been nothing less than an expression of hatred.

An Attitude of Ingratitude

July 13, 2024 / kdmiller55 / Leave a comment

¹⁹Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run and carry news to the king that the Lord has delivered him from the hand of his enemies.” ²⁰And Joab said to him, “You are not to carry news today. You may carry news another day, but today you shall carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.” ²¹Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed before Joab, and ran. ²²Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?” ²³“Come what may,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.

²⁴Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone. ²⁵The watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he drew nearer and nearer. ²⁶The watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the gate and said, “See, another man running alone!” The king said, “He also brings news.” ²⁷The watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man and comes with good news.”

²⁸Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “All is well.” And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.” ²⁹And the king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was.” ³⁰And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.

³¹And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king! For the Lord has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you.” ³²The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil be like that young man.” ³³ And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” – 2 Samuel 18:19-33 ESV

While David’s army had marched off to do battle with the superior forces of his son, Absalom, he had remained behind. As the day wore on and the battle raged, he could do nothing but wonder about the outcome of the conflict. This was a winner-takes-all battle that would determine whether David would regain his throne, spend his life in exile, or lose his life to his own son. So, when Joab and his troops had won a great victory and done away with Absalom, they sent word to David. But Joab knew David well and anticipated how the king would respond to the news of his son’s death. Joab had been fully aware of David’s command to spare the life of Absalom but had disobeyed. When he discovered David’s rebellious son hanging helplessly from a tree, his hair long hair caught in its branches, Joab drove three spears into Absalom’s body, effectively ending the coup and saving David’s kingdom.

Before the battle, David had chosen Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok the priest, to serve as a courier, keeping the king informed about everything taking place within the walls of Jerusalem. So, when Ahimaaz heard of the victory, he jumped at the chance to let David know what had happened. But Joab denied him the opportunity, knowing that David would not receive the news well. He recalled how David treated the Amalakite who claimed to have taken the life of King Saul (2 Samuel 1:1-16). Rather than rewarding the man for eliminating his arch-enemy, David had him killed.

So, on this occasion, Joab refused to risk the lives of one of his own men, choosing instead to send a Cushite mercenary to break the news to David. Yet, Ahimaaz, likely driven by pride and the thought of earning David’s favor, begged Joab to allow him to accompany the Cushite. In his eagerness to tell the king about the great victory, Ahimaaz outran the Cushite and was the first to arrive at David’s camp. Still breathless from his long run, Ahimaaz fell before the king and declared, “Everything is all right! Praise to the Lord your God, who has handed over the rebels who dared to stand against my lord the king” (2 Samuel 18:28 NLT).

But Ahimaaz’s news failed to bring a smile to David’s face. Instead, the anxious king asked, “What about young Absalom? Is he all right?” (2 Samuel 18:29 NLT). This response must have confused Ahimaaz. Why was the king more concerned about the well-being of his rebellious son than he was about the news of the failed coup attempt? Wisely, Ahimaaz pleaded ignorance, stating, “When Joab told me to come, there was a lot of commotion. But I didn’t know what was happening” (2 Samuel 18:29 NLT). It is unclear whether Ahimaaz was lying or was simply unaware that Joab had killed Absalom. But before David could press for more details, the Cushite arrived on the scene and reiterated the words of Ahimaaz. Once again, David brushed aside the news of the victory and demanded to know what had happened to his son. Breathlessly, the Cushite delivered what he believed would be the good news of Absalom’s death.

“May all of your enemies, my lord the king, both now and in the future, share the fate of that young man!” – 2 Samuel 18:32 NLT

But both Ahimaaz and the Cushite must have been shocked by David’s reaction. Rather than rejoicing at the news of the great victory and the deliverance of his kingdom, David walked away in sorrow.

The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.” – 2 Samuel 18:33 NLT

David didn’t utter a word of thanks to the two men or display any excitement over the news that the rebellion had been put down. Both Ahimaaz and the Cushite had recognized the impact of the day’s events. Ahimaaz had eagerly declared, “Praise to the Lord your God, who has handed over the rebels who dared to stand against my lord the king” (2 Samuel 18:28 NLT). The Cushite had echoed that sentiment, stating, “I have good news for my lord the king. Today the Lord has rescued you from all those who rebelled against you” (2 Samuel 18:31 NLT). But David didn’t share their enthusiasm.

There is a passage in the book of Isaiah that reflects the perspective David should have had when he received the news of God’s miraculous deliverance of his kingdom.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! – Isaiah 52:7 NLT

But rather than celebrate God’s miraculous deliverance of his kingdom, David mourned the loss of his son. He even wished that he had died in Absalom’s place. While we can certainly understand a grieving father’s response to the loss of his son’s life, it must not be overlooked that David was the God-appointed shepherd of Israel. As king, he was responsible for the well-being of the entire nation, not just his own household. David’s reaction to his son’s death not only displayed a disregard for God’s divine involvement in the victory, but it dismissed the devastating reality that 20,000 Israelites had died that day – all as a result of his son’s selfish and sinful actions.

But more importantly, David’s response displayed an ingratitude toward God that was evident to all those around him. His actions shocked and surprised them. Rather than rejoicing at what God had done, he took the divine deliverance of God and treated it with disdain. As the God-anointed king of Israel, David was to lead his people by example. This was to be a day of celebration, not mourning. The kingdom needed to be unified and that required David to put aside his personal issues and begin the process of restoring the faith of his people by leading well. Absalom undermined David’s integrity and caused the people to reject him as king. Now that he had his throne back, he needed to win back the hearts of the people. But David was too busy mourning.

Sadly, this was not a short-term response on David’s part. His melancholy and mournful state would become a lingering problem that infected the entire nation. The opening lines of the next chapter reveal the devastating consequences of David’s self-absorbed pity party.

Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom. As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle. The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!” – 2 Samuel 19:1-4 NLT

David’s demeanor cast a pall over the entire nation. Rather than a joyful spirit of celebration, the people were overcome with somberness and sadness. They were afraid to express joy because their king was despondent and depressed. And David’s lingering languidness would not have elicited confidence in his troops. They would have resented how the king had turned their great victory into a national day of mourning. These men had risked their lives and watched as their comrades fell by their sides, just so David might be restored to his throne. Now, all he could do was weep over the death of his rebellious son.

The prophet Isaiah describes how the king and the nation should have responded to the news of the victory over their enemy.

The watchmen shout and sing with joy,
    for before their very eyes
    they see the Lord returning to Jerusalem.
Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song,
    for the Lord has comforted his people.
    He has redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord has demonstrated his holy power
    before the eyes of all the nations.
All the ends of the earth will see
    the victory of our God. – Isaiah 52:8-10 NLT

How easy it is for us to view life from our limited perspective and to selfishly place our desires over those of God. David had wanted to spare Absalom and believed that he could somehow return things back to the way they had been before. But God, in His justice, had determined to punish Absalom for what he had done. The king’s son deserved death for his murder of Amnon and God saw that justice was done. Had David gotten his wish and been able to spare Absalom, the kingdom would have remained in a state of flux. His unrepentant and ambitious son would have proven to be a constant threat, so God intervened and graciously restored David’s kingdom. But rather than responding with gratitude and joy, David returned God’s undeserved favor with self-pity and an infectious spirit of sorrow.

David, who would go on to write his fair share of Psalms, could have benefited from the advice of another unnamed psalmist.

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
    Let the whole world know what he has done.
Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
    Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
Exult in his holy name;
    rejoice, you who worship the Lord. – Psalm 105:1-3 NLT

Devotionary

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Absalom