~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
2 Samuel 9:1-11:27 ~ John 15:1-27
Psalm 119:49-64 ~ Proverbs 16:1-3
Old Testament - Interesting set of readings today in Second Samuel. We start off with David showing kindness to Saul's crippled grandson Mephibosheth and we end with David committing adultery, ordering the murder of one of his warriors, and making God very unhappy. What happened to change the course of events like this?? I think this is something that each one of us should take heed of - even when things are going very well in our walk with God, things can suddenly go the wrong direction if we are not vigilant in fleeing from sin and temptation. David was obviously tempted when he saw Bathsheba from his rooftop. He should have left that temptation there, and fled from it immediately - but instead he gave into it. He asked about Bathsheba (entertaining temptation...) and invited her over and then committed adultery. Then... things got worse. That's how sin goes. Once we let it start to run our life it can quickly start to ruin our life. David thought he could trick Uriah into thinking Uriah got his wife pregnant - but Uriah in chapter 11 was behaving much more honorably than the king! He would not sleep with his own wife when he knew other warriors were sleeping on the battlefields. Uriah acted honorably. David did not. David allowed sin to run the show. Below is a powerful painting by James Tissot showing the moment on the rooftop where David allowed temptation to take over...
Again - back to our lives - have you ever seen a pattern of sin running the show in your life? I know I have in the past. It's a dangerous pattern to see taking place in our lives. It can lead to all kinds of pain and suffering for ourselves and those around us. If you are perhaps even in the midst of sin running the show in your life now, there is hope. There is confession and repentance. David does give us this example in Psalm 51. Psalm 51 David wrote after the events in chapter 11 took place with Bathsheba & Uriah. Psalm 51 is a powerful Psalm of confession and repentance. You may be at the point where you need to pray this Psalm to God now. I think each of us does well when we pray this Psalm to God regularly. We certainly may not be at the point where David was in chapter 11 - but, we likely have sin to confess to God - even right now. Click here if you'd like to pray Psalm 51 now.
Bible.org's commentary on today's Second Samuel readings titled "David and Bathsheba" is at this link and "David and Uriah" is at this link.
New Testament - Today we read one of my favorite chapters in the Bible - John 15. I cannot tell you how much this chapter means to me and I hope to you as well. John 15 takes place just after the Last Supper, the night before Jesus dies on the cross, so this is one of Jesus’ last teachings to the disciples – and to you and me. It is so beautiful. My quick personal story on this chapter is that I have only preached verbally once – and it was when I was in Bulgaria a few years ago on a short-term mission trip. Our team ended up going to a small Roma church – and I mean small – in a village outside of the capital city of Sofia. As we drove up to the village where the church was located I saw rows and rows of grape vines in and around the village. I knew I would be preaching that evening – each person on our team took a turn every night. And initially I was planning to preach from a Psalm – but, when I saw the vineyards I quickly decided to preach from John 15, and it turned out to be so beautiful. I literally ended up outside of the church – all of us could not fit in the tiny 1 room church - under some grape vines preaching from John 15. God showed up. I cannot even remember what I said, but God moved. I pray that as you read John 15 today God moves for you as well. John 15 is something special. (John 16 & 17 are something special as well. . .)
Today in John 15 verses 12 & 13 we will read these words of Jesus - “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Why would Jesus give us such a command as this? Why would Jesus give this command the night before he died on the cross? How did Jesus show his love for us? Do you agree that there is no greater love than laying down one’s life for his friends? Did Jesus do this for you and me? If we are to love each other as Jesus loved us, how do we do this? When we look at Jesus’ life and how he lived it, what might we be able to model in our lives? When we look at Jesus laying down his life for us, how might we be able to “lay down our life” for our friends? Do you love others as Jesus loved you? Below is a moving painting by Spanish Baroque era painter Francisco de Zurbaran from the year 1635 titled "Agnes Dei":
Bible.org's commentary on today's John readings titled "Abiding in Christ" is at this link and "The Christian and the World" is at this link.
Psalms - Wow. I love Psalm 119 verse 54 today - "Your principles have been the music of my life throughout the years of my pilgrimage." What a beautiful metaphor - God's principles being the music of our lives through all our years as we are on our pilgrimage. Great stuff! How might God's principles actually become the music of your life? Do you think you'd need to be reading God's Word frequently to tune into his frequency? (did you catch that - frequently & frequency? :) I commend you for reading the Bible each day this year as we go through the One Year Bible. I pray you'll continue to read the Bible daily in all of your years to come. I pray God's principles are and will be the music of your life.
Verse 59 today is a great verse for each of us to consider - "I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your statutes." Have you ever reached a mid-life or maybe even a quarter-life crisis where you pondered the direction of your life? Do you like the direction your life is heading now? Do you want to change that direction? Will you turn to follow God's way? God's Truth? God's life for you? Do you believe that God's plans for you are so much bigger than any plans of your own that you could dream up on your own?
Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 16 verse 3 is so very wise for each of us - "Commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed." When it comes to plans for our lives, let us not model the behavior in this image below...
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: Based on today's Proverb, do you commit your work to God? Do you pray about your work and pray that it will be pleasing to God? Do you pray for others at your work? Do you pray for specific projects and meetings? Do you commit your work to God each and every day? If you do so, do you think your plans will succeed? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
Puzzling story this story of david and bathsheba. I just heard of a colleague pastor who was super Mr Charismatic in his personality and a spiritual dynamo to say the least, but he was always kept people who asked him 'hard questions' at a distance. Long story short, he committed adulterly with one of his staff and now he has shattered the stability of his family, lost the confidence of his wife, and he and his family have chosen to leave the city where they were pastoring and gone into another vocation other than pastoral ministry. Like David, I don't think this happened in his life because of a one shot deal but because of a lifestyle of self protection that is now costing him big time. Everyone loses when someone crosses the 'line'. No matter how much David was forgiven, and he was forgiven, he also paid a huge cost. Let's make sure we are about dispensing the lavish grace of God to those who bring sin upon themselves. We see this in how Jesus forgave a woman who had crossed those same lines, but let's also not forget the people who are hurt by such selfish choices.
Maybe if David had been practicing the turhts of John 15, and staying close to the Vine, this whole sorry mess would not have happened. There's probably no greater safeguard to moral purity than the day by day, moment by moment discipline of 'practicing the presence of God.'
I don't know when he wrote it but David also said in Psalm 16:7-8,11 "I will praise the LORD who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand I shall not be shaken....You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence..." So obviously David knew about the practice of the presence of God, but he failed to do it while he was on the balcony......Let's be ever diligent on our own 'balconies'.......
Posted by: L | May 25, 2007 at 07:50 PM
Now here is an interesting point to ponder:
II Samuel 9:3b Ziba answered the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet."
4 "Where is he?" the king asked.
Ziba answered, "He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar."
So, I looked up Machir and Ammiel in Nelson's Quick Reference of Bible People and Places and found that Ammiel is listed in 1025 b.c. as "Father of Bathsheba (I Chron 3:5). See Eliam (II Sam. 11:3)."
Could it be that this same Bathsheba, with whom David sinned, the wife of Uriah, was actually the father of the very person with whom Mephebosheth had been staying before Ziba told him of Saul's grandson?
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In "Bible Manners and Customs of the Bible," by James M. Freeman, more insight is provided about having the beard cut off:
"According to Oriental sentiment, a greater indignity could not have been put upon them. The beard is considered a symbol of manhood and, in some places of freedom--slaves being compelled to shave their beards in token of servitude. By shaving half of their beard, Hanun not only treated David's ambassadors with contempt, but made them objects of ridicule. The beard is usually kept with care and neatness; and thus, when David feigned madness in the presence of Achish, king of Gath, he 'let his spittle fall down upon his beard,' which convinced the beholders that he must be bereft of his senses. (I Sam xxi, 13). So disgraceful is it considered to have the beard cut off, that some of the Orientals would prefer death to such punishment."
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I always wondered why "in the spring" was the time "when kings go off to war," as it seems to me if you have a problem with someone, you settle it at that time, not wait until some "holiday." However, again the reference is "Bible Manners and Customs of the Bible," by James M. Freeman, "this was the time of year for the commencement or renewal of military movments, the season for severe storms being over.
II Samuel 11:26 "But the thing David had done displeased the LORD."
I cannot help but think about the busybodies around the palace, counting off the number of months of pregnancy before the birth of Bathsheba's baby. It was inevitable his sin would be discovered, and certainly the Lord knew this was going to result in more than a blemish on David's reputation.
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Posted by: Sue | May 25, 2007 at 07:51 PM
I think what maybe shocks me a bit about David's life as King, is the ease with which he seems to be able to either kill himself, or order others killed almost without a second thought. Surprising in some respects that he considers indirect murder to be a lesser sin than his taking the rap for his adultery - ultimately I presume as was said below, that his staff must have known about it, and so it was somewhat pointless to try and pretend otherwise.
I was also listening to a sermon based on this story about David and Bathsheba, and the pastor was pointing out two things - how unlikely it would be to be bathing in a public place, and how Bathsheba HAD to either be aware of the fact that she was bathing 'publicly' - at least enough to be noticed by David - and perhaps she actually engineered the whole thing to some degree being somewhat lost without her husband there for some time. Interesting thought - we tend to read it that David was the instigator, but now I'm unsure. We don't hear anything about Bathsheba repenting for her infidelity and adultery either, and how did she manage to escape severe punishment for it?
Posted by: Romayne | May 25, 2007 at 07:52 PM
AS to Bathsheba taking the rap, it shows how compassionate God really is. Think of it. She lost her husband and wept and mourned his loss. Then she loses her baby.
Interesting that a few days ago we read about Michal having her womb closed up forever after she publicly criticized and showed disrespect to her husband. That is what gets a big judgement!
Posted by: Kristie | May 25, 2007 at 07:52 PM
~ The True Vine ~
I think of this passage as like the "old man" and the "new man" in Christ. Jesus says that we can do nothing apart from Him, and that is true of the "old man," and those parts of our character need to be trimmed off so that we can bear new fruit from the giver of life. I do not think this references someone who has fallen away from the faith as some teach, particularly as verse 16 says "You did not choose me, but I chose you," and we have the confidence that we are sealed unto the day of redemption:
"Eph:4:30: And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
Posted by: Sue | May 25, 2007 at 07:53 PM
I think the idea of David staying home when "kings go off to war" is a very important consideration in the story of David and Baathsheba. It was in his prosperity and idleness that David found himself giving in to sin. Remembering the warrior that David was, it really is surprising that he stayed home. However, I think we can see in life today that, often (not always), with prosperity and comfort can come this sort of tendency. By staying home and sending the troops out without him, David was giving up his mission and gifting (though I personally hate to think of going to war as a gift BUT...I digress). We have our own battles to fight (metaphorically speaking) for the kingdom. In our comfort and prosperity as a nation, I think we sometimes surrender our battles and let sin move in in our idleness.
Posted by: HJD | May 25, 2007 at 09:01 PM
Very tragic story regarding David. We see how not turning our eyes, leads to entertaining the thought. If we dont stop ourselves there, sin in our heart turns to action. Unrepented sinful action leads one on a downward spiral! David didnt wake up one day and think, hm, I think i'll commit adultery and then have her husband killed! Sin is slow, sneaky and starts with compromise, which leads to another compromise, and so on. Before you know it, you're in a big mess! Poor Uriah! I like wen Nathan gives David the parable of the man's one lamb slaughtered and David was outraged!: that man should die! So Nathan said, You are that man! Sin looks so much worse when other people are doing it! We are masters at justifying ourselves...deceiving ourselves.
I love John 15! John v. 4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." Sometimes we may try to fool ourselves into thinking we can bear fruit alone. We cant. how can we? ppl may try self-help methods, self-will, etc. but thats useless. we need to abide in Christ and Him in us. Fruit is a byproduct! It cannot be attained on its own, its a byproduct of abiding in Him. theres no way around that!
"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."...i like this!
"I have called you friends." Wow! we who belong to Him are no longer enemies of God, but His friends! reminds me of a song I like, "I am a friend of God, I am a friend of God, He calls me friend!"
"You did not choose Me, but I chose you"...I really love this! Man, and wen i try to wonder, understand WHY He chose ME!...I cant figure it out! I remember a while back i well entertained pity parties thinking, i'm not chosen by anyone...i'm either a relative, a coworker, someone's "friend" kinda cause it just happened that way. No one chose me. no one married me, no one in my life made a choice to be with me, they all just kinda got stuck with me. In my tears and self-pity I heard God call out: Hello!! *I* chose you! The God of the universe chose you Jenny.' That really stopped me in my tracks. How can i complain when I been chosen by God almighty! There's a great song by Kutless, called Sea of Faces that really spoke to me. the lyrics go:
"If only my one heart
Was all You'd gain from all it cost
Well I know You would have still been a man
With a reason
To willingly offer Your life"
I love Prov 16:1-3...So true!!!! all i can say is Amen and Amen!
Posted by: Jenny | May 26, 2007 at 06:56 PM
2nd Samuel- prev. times hearing preaching, read/study- always heard David was outa the Lord's will, shoulda been on the battlefield (so important that ARK was there), but he sent others. Laying around aimlessly, rose from bed & up to roof, setting himself up for temptation.
Today the Spirit led me to something totally different. Maybe cuz the co- reading of John 15, and "lay down our life".
So Bathsheba stuck out more to me.
She was up on the roof bathing. Now while i've never done that!!!!!! - my sin is ever before me - and how i so wish i'd known now what the Lord has opened my mind/heart to. God, in HIS Wisdom made men so totally different than us women.
I have repented of "i am woman see me ......"
and am so grieved by my old nature that caused others.....????? It is so important how we dress even, pleasing to the Lord, and die to all self -ego, while taking care to look our best as representatives of God. Maybe there is something to those cultures that women cover head to toe-idk. And maybe something to those who even prohibit dancing. Yeah, i've been there, plus seen what girls do thru dancing. It can spark temptation.
Another thought......
or really, rather continuous meditation/study, has been the command to lay down my life. It started in recent reading about Jonathan & David's relationship. I believe that Jonathan is an example of laying down one's life.
How'd he do it????????????????
He was the prince/heir to throne, David subordinate- "a flea", yet Jonathan initiated friendship, was the one who initiated most of the covenants between them, and he lovingling, willingly gave up what he "providentially" was born into. Got me praying about my personal relationships, seeking His will and not my own or what's "due"me!
Posted by: Susanne | May 26, 2007 at 06:57 PM
Do you commit your work to God? Do you pray about your work and pray that it will be pleasing to God? Do you pray for others at your work? Do you pray for specific projects and meetings? Do you commit your work to God each and every day? If you do so, do you think your plans will succeed? ~ My job is defenitly from God, DEFENITLY! I got this job in a time that I would've taken ANY job. We were so close going down under and I couldn't find a job from one day to the other. And then this job came ... a perfect job, really perfect for me! I really do pray about my job and pray that it will be pleasing to God. I also do pray for others at my work, for everybody. I commit God to my work every day, He's very important in my job ... He's important in my life. So also in my work. Especially since He gave this job specificly to me, a job that just answered my prayers and which I can use in my work for Him!
Posted by: Mae | May 29, 2007 at 08:37 AM