Day 136: Absalom is Defeated

Today's readings: 2 Samuel 18, 1 Chronicles 23, and Psalm 37.

I. 2 Samuel 18 recounts how Absalom's rebellion is crushed as David's forces defeat his army, and Absalom is killed. Yet, the victory is overshadowed by David's sorrow over the death of his son.

II. 1 Chronicles 23 marks a transition from David's reign to Solomon's as king. David is near the end of his life, and he prepares carefully for the Temple that Solomon will build. The focus is on worship and proper service to God rather than military achievements.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, notes:

David establishes what Temple worship is to look like. He changes some of the former rules. Since the Temple is larger than the Tent of Meeting and is a permanent structure, there is a necessary shift in the type and amount of work that needs to be done. So David restructures the service of the Levites, reducing the minimum age for serving from thirty to twenty. (p. 34)

III. Psalm 37 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A wisdom psalm. The poet is an elderly wise man who speaks from a lifetime of experience. He counsels those who are vexed and angered that the wicked seem to prosper while the righteous struggle through life with very little. Reassurance is given that this is merely a temporary situation, for the ungodly are destined to reap the just punishments they deserve. In the meantime, the righteous are urged to trust in the Lord as their refuge and to wait upon his justice. Psalm 37 is an acrostic poem in which every other line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. (p. 860)

That's all for today!

Day 135: The Counsel of Hushai

 Today's readings: 2 Samuel 17, 1 Chronicles 22, and Psalm 36.

I. 2 Samuel 17 continues the competing counsel given to Absalom during his rebellion against King David. It also shows God's providence in preserving David despite Absalom's apparent advantage. Ahithophel, David's former adviser, proposes an aggressive military strategy to kill David, thus sparing his followers. Hushai, however, when asked, appealed to Absalom's pride and desire for glory by advising him to gather all Israel into a massive army and lead it personally into battle. Hushai also managed to warn David. When Ahithophel heard that Absalom rejected his plan, he knew his cause was doomed. He didn't flee, but instead hung himself like Judas Iscariot would do years later, rather than face justice for his betrayal. The chapter closes with David's army being strengthened, thanks to the generosity of supporters who provided supplies. 

II. In 1 Chronicles 22, David transitions from warrior-king to preparer for the Lord's Temple. God didn't permit David to build the Temple, but David devoted himself to ensuring that Solomon would have everything he needed to complete it. He chose the site where the Temple would be built and gathered the materials to build it. David told Solomon why he could not build the Temple and that Solomon would do so instead. He blessed Solomon and charged him to obey the Lord. Finally, he commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon build the Temple.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, notes on David preparing for the Temple and Solomon building it:

In John 4, Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well, who says, "Our fathers worshipped on this mountain; and you say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship" (John 4:20). But Jesus replies, "The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth" (John 4:23). Here, we see a foreshadowing of the Holy Eucharist, given by Jesus at the Last Supper and celebrated throughout the world during Mass. (p. 32)

III. Psalm 36 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm interwoven with wisdom themes. It contrasts the folly of the wicked with the faithfulness of God and ends with a prayer for divine protection from evildoers. (p. 860)

That's it for today! 

Day 134: Devastating Effects of Sin

Today's readings: 2 Samuel 16, 1 Chronicles 21, and Psalm 15.

I. 2 Samuel 16 continues the story of David's flight from Absalom during Absalom's rebellion. It contrasts loyalty, deception, and divine judgment. We are told that Shimei, a Benjaminite from Saul's family, curses David. Abishai wanted to kill him, but David stayed his hand. When Absalom entered Jerusalem, Ahitophel advised him to publicly sleep with David's concubines, which he did. So much for loyalty, let alone consent.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, notes:

David's response, though, reveals that he has indeed been humbled. He says that he is not so good and innocent that he does not deserve these curses. This is a great sign of repentance to say, "If you knew my heart and how much I have sinned against the Lord, you would know that your criticism of me doesn't cover half of it." (p. 30)

II. 1 Chronicles 21 recounts David's census of Israel, but with details and theological emphases that differ from the parallel account in 2 Samuel 24. In this account, Satan incites David to do the census, making God angry. He offers a choice of punishments to David through the prophet Gad. David offers his own life, but 70,000 Israelites die in a plague instead. God commands David to build an altar, and he offers sacrifices. God answers by sending fire from heaven, and the plague ceases. This will be the future site of Solomon's Temple.

The differences from 2 Samuel seem odd to me, more for why God was angry. The BIY Companion, Vol II, explains, though, that "by conducting a new census, David is implying that the people of Israel are not God's people anymore but his." Now that makes much more sense.

III. Psalm 15 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

An entrance liturgy. It opens with questions, probably posed by a Levite or priest, and it continues with the congregation's response as they enter the precincts of the Temple. At issue are the moral requirements for entering the Lord's presence. The worshipper must be righteous in word and deed and a model of justice toward his neighbor. Scholars also identify Ps 24 as an entrance liturgy. (p. 841)

That's all for today!

Day 133: Persevering in Trust

Today's readings: 2 Samuel 15, 1 Chronicles 19-20, and Psalm 3.

I. In 2 Samuel 15 the family ruptures as Absalom leads a rebellion against his father, King David. Absalom usurps the throne, and David is forced to flee from Jerusalem. He does manage to place Hushai in the palace as a spy. So we have political intrigue, betrayal, rebellion, espionage, and David's humble trust in God, all of which together would actually make a good movie if done right!

The BIY Companion, Vol II, has some good commentary on this:

In an act of trust, David commands the priests to return the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. He knows that he will be in the Lord's presence again if he wills it... All of David's issues with Absalom started with his inaction. We need the Lord to help us do what we need to do, when we need to. (p. 28)

II. 1 Chronicles 19 recounts the war between Israel under David and the Ammonites and their Syrian allies. It parallels 2 Samuel 10.

In the next chapter, Rabbah is captured, and there are victories over Philistine giants. These events are paralleled in 2 Samuel 11-12. Interestingly enough, though, the sordid Bathsheba Affair is omitted in Chronicles. 

III. Psalm 3 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm. It opens with a complaint, followed by words of confidence in the Lord's protection and a confession of his power to save... Psalm 3 is set against the background of 2 Sam 15-18, which recounts how David was run out of Jerusalem while his disgruntled son, Absalom, seized control of his throne for a time. (p. 834)

That's all for today! 

Day 132: David and Absalom

 Today's readings: 2 Samuel 14, 1 Chronicles 18, and Psalm 14.

I. 2 Samuel 14 recounts how David tries to reconcile with Absalom. Joab brings a "wise woman" to tell a story which helps convince David to restore Absalom. His son returned, but David wouldn't see him as their relationship remained emotionally broken. Joab is made to help Absalom get an audience with the king. David visits and forgives him. Yet, there is no word of repentance by Absalom or genuine healing between father and son. We have unresolved family conflict and a superficial peace between David and Absalom that will quickly lead to problems.

II. 1 Chronicles 18 records the expansion of King David's kingdom after God established His covenant with him in the previous chapter. From what I see, it parallels much of what was told in 2 Samuel 8.

III. Psalm 14 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (some verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm that bemoans how godless fools devour God's faithful ones. The Psalmist is distressed by the moral depravity that surrounds him, but he is confident that a judgment is coming that will seize the wicked with "terror" and provide "refuge" for the oppressed poor. A similar version of this lament appears as Ps 53. Paul excerpts from the Greek LXX version of 14:1-3 to support the claim that Jews are captives to the power of sin, just as Gentiles are (Rom 3:10-12). He rightly understands that the Psalmist laments the prevalence of sin among fellow Israelites. (p. 841)

That's it for today! 

Day 131: Hope for the Future

 Today's readings: 2 Samuel 13, 1 Chronicles 17, and Psalm 35.

I. 2 Samuel 13 recounts one of the darkest episodes in the history of David's family. Lust, abuse of power, revenge, and David's failure to administer justice are all in play in this. Amnon, David's heir apparent and the half-brother of Tamar, is consumed by lust for her. He schemes to rape her, which he successfully does. Afterward, an enraged Absalom, the full-brother of Tamar, assassinates Amnon two years after David failed to punish him for this outrage. I presume as a father he was torn over whether or not to enforce Mosaic Law on his errant son, but Tamar was his child too. He showed weakness as a king and a father. Thus, Absalom chose revenge and murdered his half-brother Amnon. He fled to Geshur after the killing (remember, he committed murder of his half-brother and the heir apparent). The chapter ends with David seeking to reconcile with Absalom. I must confess, if I were in a similar situation to Absalom, I would have been very tempted to do like him in this case.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, notes:

Ultimately, Absalom avenges his sister by killing his half-brother Amnon. This begins Absalom's rebellion against his father David. When David learns that Amnon raped Tamar, he is angry but does nothing. He does not defend his daughter or confront his son. He does not act like a father. This failure will mark David's life with his family. His actions do not live up to his high calling. (p 24)

II. 1 Chronicles 17 retells the story of God's covenant with David from 2 Samuel 7. The differences are only minor from what I see.

III. Psalm 35 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm. The speaker, a victim of false accusations, prays for God to expose the treachery of his enemies. His distress is acute, for he is not only attacked "without cause," but he is betrayed by old friends for whom he used to pray and fast. The psalm unfolds in three cycles of petitions and complaints that culminate in a vow of thanksgiving... (p 858)

That's all for today!

Day 130: Nathan Condemns David

 Today's readings: 2 Samuel 12, 1 Chronicles 16, and Psalm 51.

I. In 2 Samuel 12 the prophet Nathan confronts King David using a parable: a rich man steals a poor man’s only lamb. David, angered, condemns the man only for Nathan to declare: “You are the man!” (12:7). David has committed a most grievous sin in the killing of Uriah and taking his wife, Bathsheba, for his own pleasure. For this, Nathan promised that while God "put away your sin; you shall not die," the child conceived from this adulterous union would die as punishment. David repented of what he had done, giving us some of the most moving of the Psalms, but the temporal consequences of his sin remained. He fasted and wept for the child, calling upon God's mercy, but it was not to be. The child died a week later. When told, David rose up, cleaned himself, and went to worship God. When questioned by his astonished servants, he replied: "[N]ow he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me" (12:23). It's a touching scene, but I cannot help but think of the poor child. I pray he didn't suffer and was welcomed to Paradise upon his death.

Next, David went to comfort Bathsheba over the death of their child, and soon they conceived another, whom they named Solomon. The chapter ends with the defeat of the Ammonites and capture of their royal city, including their king and his crown.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, notes:

David is a flawed hero. He is a sinner and broken man. David's sin in the dark needs to be brought into the light for God to save him. He is an example of God's ability to save... Nathan the prophet tells David that the Lord forgives him but that there are consequences to his actions. (p. 22)

II. 1 Chronicles 16 records what happens after the Ark of the Covenant is successfully brought to Jerusalem. There is much joy and thanksgiving to God, with regular worship being established (16:37-43).

III. Psalm 51 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A lament psalm that Christian tradition counts as one of the seven penitential psalms, along with Pss 6, 32, 38, 102, 130, 143. It is often called the Miserere (Latin for "Have mercy..."). It presents essential elements for reconciliation with God: the sinner confesses his sin to the Lord, accepts responsibility for his wrongdoing, expresses contrition, and asks for forgiveness, inward healing, and renewed joy. (p. 873)

This psalm is believed to have been composed in repentance in the aftermath of David's great sin.

That's it for today!