Day 142: Whole and Joyful Hearts

 Today's readings: 2 Samuel 24, 1 Chronicles 29, and Psalm 30.

I. 2 Samuel 24 recounts David’s sinful census, the resulting judgment, David’s repentance, and the purchase of the threshing floor that will become the site of the Temple.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, notes:

In the book of Numbers, we see how the Lord orders a census to help save his people, but David conducts a census to assert ownership over God's people. When he recognizes his sin, David is humbled, which shows that his heart is open to being converted. In repentance, he offers sacrifice to the Lord on behalf of the people. (p. 46)

I rather like this. David knew he had messed up. Rather than ignore this or be defensive, he was humble in repenting for his sin, even offering to sacrifice for the people. We can say much about his behavior in some things, but none of us is without sin, and David gives us a good example of how to turn back to God. 

II. 1 Chronicles 29 records David’s final preparations for the Temple, the people’s generous offerings, David’s prayer, and Solomon’s accession. David dies, and his son Solomon takes over as king.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, notes:

David gives freely and wholeheartedly of his wealth - all the things he has won in battle. Because of this, the people of Israel also give freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. This brings joy to David because it brings joy to the Lord. We bring joy to the Lord when we give joyfully and without resentment. (p. 46)

III. Psalm 30 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A thanksgiving psalm. The speaker is filled with gratitude after being healed from a near-fatal sickness. The memory of his struggle and recovery leads him to praise the Lord and to invite fellow worshippers to join him. In later Judaism, Ps 30 was sung at the Feast of Hanukkah, which commemorated the rededication of the Temple by Judas Maccabaeus in 164 B.C. (1 Mac 4:36-59). Christian tradition has often read Ps 30 in reference to the Resurrection of Christ. (p. 853)

That's all for today!

Day 141: The Life of David

Today's readings: 2 Samuel 23, 1 Chronicles 28, and Psalm 42.

I. 2 Samuel 23 gives David's last recorded words and a list of his mighty warriors.

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

[W]e hear the stories of David's three mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tah-chemonite; Eleazar, son of Dodo, son of Ahoi; and Shammah, son of Agee the Hararite. David recognizes that he needed those around him to accomplish what God had called him to do; he knows that he could not have done it on his own. Like David, we should give God praise in every circumstance - and also recognize those around us and praise them for what they have done. (p. 44)

II. 1 Chronicles 28 recounts David's final public charge concerning the building of the Temple. Although he desired to build it himself, God chose his son Solomon instead for that task.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, notes:

[W]e read that David hands the reigns over to Solomon. Though Solomon starts out strong, he will not end strong. Solomon starts out with great wisdom, but he will eventually waste that wisdom and turn his back on the Lord. But the Lord does not turn his back on his people. The same is true for us: when we turn our backs on the Lord, he does not abandon us. (p. 44)

III. Psalm 42 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm. For reasons unstated, the Psalmist is separated from Jerusalem and unable to worship at the Lord's sanctuary. Memories of participating in Israel's sacred liturgies have brought him to tears and have fueled his desire to return to the holy city. Scholars surmise that Pss 42 and 43 originally formed one psalm... (p. 865)

Day 140: David's Prayer of Thanksgiving

 Today's readings: 2 Samuel 22, 1 Chronicles 27, and Psalm 41.

I. 2 Samuel 22 is David's great hymn of thanksgiving after God delivered him from Saul and his other enemies, which is nearly identical to Psalm 18. He celebrates God's faithfulness, justice, and power, while acknowledging that all his victories came from the Lord alone.

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

David reflects on his life and proclaims that the Lord has saved him because he loves him. He can look back on his life and rejoice, despite all of his failures... David understands his brokenness. His sins have been on full display to the people of Israel. Yet he knows that God's strength has helped him and made him great. The challenge for us is to acknowledge the truth of our lives courageously, both the good and the bad, and recognize where God has helped us with his grace to overcome our weaknesses. (p. 42)

II. 1 Chronicles 27 describes how David organized the kingdom before Solomon's reign. It highlights David's orderly administration and shows that good governance is part of faithful kingship.

III. Psalm 41 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A thanksgiving psalm for a recent healing. The Psalmist's recovery is celebrated briefly before he looks back on the trials of his sickness, when he was slandered by enemies and betrayed by a close friend. The Lord's care for the sick as well as his healing power are confirmed by the Psalmist's experience. (p. 865)

That's all for today!

Day 139: Reparation to the Gibeonites

 Today's readings: 2 Samuel 21, 1 Chronicles 26, and Psalm 40.

I. 2 Samuel 21 gives two episodes that occurred near the end of David's reign. In the first, Israel experienced a three-year famine. David seeks help from the Lord, who reveals that it is due to Saul's bloodguilt for attempting to destroy the Gibeonites (Joshua 9). The Gibeonites refuse money, but demand seven male descendants of Saul to be handed over for execution. David gives them what they ask. Afterward, he buries their bodies with the bones of Saul and Jonathan, and the famine ends. In the second episode, the Philistines again make war on Israel, and David is nearly killed, but is saved by Abishai. David realizes that he can no longer fight battles as he used to, having grown older.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, has some good commentary about the closing of this chapter:

The final section of 2 Samuel 21 describes wars with the Philistines. There is something powerful about how David, despite being old and weary, is still willing to go into battle. In 2 Samuel 11, we see that he avoided battle, but now he is willing to do his duty as king. David has come face-to-face with the fact that he is no longer the man he once was. This is a lesson to all of us as we continue to grow and get older. There is something humbling about this truth. (p. 40)

As someone who has grown older myself, it is indeed humbling but also a bit frustrating at times. 

II. 1 Chronicles 26 describes the organization of the gatekeepers, treasurers, and other officials responsible for the administration of the Temple and the kingdom under David. Although the Temple had not yet been built, and wouldn't be until Solomon reigned, David organized its future ministry in advance.

III. Psalm 40 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A thanksgiving psalm to which a prayer for mercy and help are joined. The opening verses celebrate God's marvelous intervention in coming to the Psalmist's rescue - actions that he now proclaims publicly and gratefully. His experience of being saved serves as a lesson for the others, encouraging them to trust in the Lord as well. Psalm 40 is the responsorial psalm for the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. (p. 863)

That's it for today!

Day 138: The Effect of Sin on Others

Today's readings: 2 Samuel 20, 1 Chronicles 25, and Psalm 39.

I. 2 Samuel 20 recounts a rebellion by Sheba the Benjaminite. Although he is eventually defeated and killed, enough Israelites had sided with him that this is another foreshadowing of how Israel would split after the death of Solomon. During the fighting, Joab murdered a rival named Amasa, which will cost him his own life later (1 Kings 2:5-6; 32-34). 

The BIY Companion, Vol II, has some good commentary about David's poor concubines:

As we see in 2 Samuel 20:3, violence begets violence. David left ten of his concubines behind to care for the house, and Absalom raped them. Because of this, David treats them as widows. They are sequestered until their deaths. This seems unjust. They are "caught in the crossfire" between David and Absalom's evil choices. Here we see how others can suffer due to our sins. The consequences of our evil choices do not end with us. (p. 38)

I don't even know what to say here. Easy for me to judge 3,000+ years later, but still. Those poor women were truly treated unjustly from the description.

II. 1 Chronicles 25 describes how David organized the musicians for the worship of God in the Tabernacle. It emphasizes that sacred music was a divinely appointed ministry and not just merely a performance.

III. Psalm 39 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A lament psalm. Initially the speaker, beset with a terminal illness, was determined to accept his suffering quietly and without complaint; but when his condition worsened, he was unable to keep silent any longer. He asks the Lord for a true understanding of the brevity of life and prays for deliverance from both his sin and his sickness. (p. 863) 

That's all for today!

Day 137: David Mourns Absalom

Today's readings: 2 Samuel 19, 1 Chronicles 24, and Psalm 38.

I. 2 Samuel 19 recounts the aftermath following the death of Absalom and the end of the rebellion. It moves from David's grief over Absalom's death to his restoration as king over Israel. Joab rebukes David for his deep mourning, telling him that such dishonors the soldiers who have died for him. David heeds him, morale improves, and he is restored as the rightful king of Israel. Shimei, who had cursed David, meets with him and asks for forgiveness. Abishai wants him executed, but David shows the man mercy. David is unsure of him, but Mephibosheth reveals his loyalty and humility. Barzillai, who had supplied David's forces during the rough times, is rewarded. Finally, the northern tribes complain that Judah brought David back without consulting them. The argument becomes heated, foreshadowing the later division of the kingdom after Solomon dies.

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

[W]e see that David mourns the death of Absalom. This is understandable for him as a father, but it brings shame upon the people because of the twenty thousand who died to preserve David's kingdom. Seeing David's grief, the people believe he would rather they had died than Absalom... Later, the people of Judah reestablish David as king of Israel, but there is dissension between them and the other tribes. Here, we can see the seeds of rebellion that will take place after the death of David's son Solomon. (p. 36)

II. In 1 Chronicles 24 David organized the descendants of Aaron into 24 priestly divisions to serve in the Temple. Although Solomon would later build the Temple, David prepared its worship in advance.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, notes:

[T]he line of David is highlighted because from it will come the Messiah... Though priests only come from the tribe of Levi, David is sometimes described as wearing an ephod - a priestly garment - when he goes to pray before the Lord... Jesus, a descendant of David in the tribe of Judah, is described as a priest in the order of Melchizedek - which is different from the Levitical priesthood. Here, David foreshadows Jesus both as King and priest. (p. 36)

III. Psalm 38 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm that Christian tradition counts as one of the seven penitential psalms, along with Pss 6, 32, 51, 102, 130, 143. Having committed sin, the Psalmist is seized by mental and physical distress that he regards as divine discipline. He is alienated by friends and family and feels vulnerable to the scheming of his enemies. His confession of sin is coupled with earnest appeals for God's help. (p. 862)

That's it for today!

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 (verse numbers removed):

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!