Day 125: Covenant With David

 Today's readings: 2 Samuel 6-7, 1 Chronicles 9, and Psalm 89.

I. 2 Samuel 6 recounts King David's efforts to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. I have to wonder if there is more to the death of Uzzah for touching the Ark, when, from the text, he was just trying to steady it after the cart was jarred. Yes, even though this seemed well-intentioned, it did break God's law (Nu 4:15), but his intent should be considered at least. Perhaps that is part of what we're missing: Uzzah's intent and how he touched the Ark. This is one of those things where we probably don't have all the details and are forced to trust in the Lord without answers, not that we're entitled to have them anyway. 

One thing is for sure: this incident is used at times as a warning to others. For example, St. Jerome's harsh chastisement of Sabinianus, a deacon, for his notorious sexual sins, including trying to seduce a nun. Basically, if God struck down someone who appeared to be trying to do a good thing, how would this sinner fare if he didn't seriously repent?

At any rate, David eventually brings the Ark to Jerusalem, dancing before it in joy. His wife Michal is disgusted by this behavior and criticizes him for it. The chapter ends by noting that she "had no child to the day of her death," presumably in punishment for her comments here.

In the next chapter, we have God's covenant with David, which lays the foundation for the expectation of the Messiah. David tells Nathan the prophet that he wishes to build a temple for God to house the Ark, who initially approves. Yet later that night, God tells Nathan to correct this with David. God tells him that He has blessed David greatly, has "resided" in a tent for years, and promises instead to build David a "house," that is, a lasting dynasty. David praises God and marvels at being chosen by Him, giving a moving prayer that finishes the chapter.

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

Recall that the Ark contains the Ten Commandments, Aaron's staff, and manna... Mary, the Mother of God, is the "new Ark of the Covenant,' who carries the Word made flesh and "the living bread which came down from heaven" (John 6:51) in her womb. Just as David leaps and dances with joy before the Ark, the infant in Elizabeth's womb (St. John the Baptist) leaps for joy in the presence of Mary, the new Ark. Here we see how Jesus fulfills all the promises and foreshadowing of the Old Testament. (p. 12)

II. 1 Chronicles 9 explains who first resettled Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile and emphasizes the restoration of worship with the priests, Levites, and other Temple personnel. The chapter closes by repeating the genealogy of Saul, whom David has now replaced as king. So after God's judgment came restoration, as the returned exiles not only rebuilt their homes but also resumed proper worship of the Lord.

III. Psalm 89 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A royal psalm. It celebrates the Lord's everlasting faithfulness as well as his everlasting covenant with David. After introducing these themes, it expounds the greatness of God, who is exalted over the angels of heaven, and the greatness of David, who was exalted over the kings of the earth. This is followed by a prayer of lament that wrestles with the discrepancy between Israel's faith (God swore an oath to establish David's throne for all time) and the facts of history (the Davidic monarchy disappeared with the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.). Because a restoration of David's kingdom was politically impossible after 586 B.C., the psalm came to fuel Israel's hopes for a future Davidic messiah. Selections from Ps 89 are read on the feast of St. Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary, because through him Jesus was grafted into David's royal line (Mt 1:1-16) (CCC 437). (p. 906)

That's all for today!

Day 124: King David Rules

 Today's readings: 2 Samuel 5, 1 Chronicles 7-8, and Psalm 27.

I. 2 Samuel 5 recounts how all the tribes and elders of Israel went to Hebron and recognized David as king. He attacks Jerusalem, captures it from the Jebusites, and makes the city his capital. Then Hiram, king of Tyre, sends gifts and workers to build David a palace, essentially allying himself with the new Israelite king. David takes more wives and has more children, among whom is Solomon, who will become important later. He fights two battles with the Philistines after they attacked when they heard he had become king. David sought guidance from God before each battle and was victorious.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, notes:

When David becomes the king of Israel, he makes Jerusalem its capital, choosing it as his stronghold... The Philistines, when they learn that David has become king of Israel, want to fight him... In our lives, we should pray for God's guidance whether we should fight a certain battle or not. In Deuteronomy 17:17, the Law says that a king should not have multiple wives "lest his heart turn away." In disobedience to this command of the Lord, David takes many wives and concubines (see 2 Samuel 5:13). As a result, the majority of David's problems will come not from external enemies, but from his own family. (p. 10)

That does seem to be one of David's greatest weaknesses, which will lead to his greatest known sin later with Bathsheba. Not to put it too crudely, he tended to think with his smaller "head" instead of the one between his shoulders. He's not the only one, as even a cursory look at human history shows.

II. 1 Chronicles 7 continues the genealogies of the tribes of Israel, focusing on several northern tribes. These genealogies emphasize God's preservation of His people and identify families that would later inherit land or serve in Israel.

The next chapter gives even more genealogy, this time a more detailed one for the tribe of Benjamin, especially the family of the late King Saul.

III. Psalm 27 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm with elements of a psalm of trust. The speaker has supreme confidence in the Lord, and delights in God's presence in the Temple. However, he has been disowned by family and dogged by enemies making false accusations against him. (p. 851)

That's it for today! 

Day 123: The Death of Ish-Bosheth

 Today's readings: 2 Samuel 4, 1 Chronicles 5-6, and Psalm 26.

I. 2 Samuel 4 recounts how Ish-bosheth hears of the death of Abner and becomes discouraged. We are then given a brief intro to Mephibosheth, the lame son of the late Jonathan. Why this intro was shoe-horned here, since there's nothing more on him for several more chapters, I cannot say. At any rate, Rechab and Baanah, two of Ish-bosheth's army captains, kill their king, chop off his head, and flee. They bring Ish-bosheth's head to David, saying that they have avenged him against Saul's house. David is not pleased and reminds them of what happened to the Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul (2 Sam 1). He has both men executed and Ish-bosheth's head buried with Abner in Hebron.

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

In 2 Samuel 4, David seeks to establish a kingdom of justice. He seeks to have mercy on his enemy Ish-bosheth, who has been hailed as the new king. When Ish-bosheth is murdered by Rechab and Baanah, David does not reward the two men but condemns their evil act. He has them executed in the name of justice. Under David, Israel will be a united kingdom under the Law of the Lord. (p. 8)

II. 1 Chronicles 5 recounts the history of the tribes east of the Jordan, Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, highlighting both their blessings and their eventual exile because of unfaithfulness to God.

In the next chapter, we get even more genealogy, primarily for the tribe of Levi, emphasizing the priests, Levites, temple musicians, and the cities assigned to them.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, notes:

In 1 Chronicles, David is shown to prefigure the Messiah. It is believed that 1 Chronicles was written after the Exile, reflecting how much the people of Israel have suffered. The people long for the reestablishment of the kingdom and Temple worship. The eternal God works in time and history, continuing to guide and protect his people out of love. (p. 8)

III. Psalm 26 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm. The speaker, falsely accused, pleads with the Lord for justice. In presenting his case, he combines affirmations of innocence with denials of wrongdoing. The Psalmist hopes to be spared a shameful death that befits the wicked. Coming to the Lord's altar in the sanctuary suggests a scenario such as described in 1 Kings 8:31-32. (p. 851)

That's all for today! 

Day 122: Abner is Killed

Today's readings: 2 Samuel 3, 1 Chronicles 3-4, and Psalm 25.

I. 2 Samuel 3 tells that while the civil war continues, David's house was steadily growing stronger, while the late Saul's house was weakening and declining. Saul's son Ish-bosheth accuses Abner, the man who had made him king over Israel, of sleeping with his father's concubine. That greatly offended Abner, who defected to David. He negotiates with David to unite Israel under him as king, persuading elders and the tribe of Benjamin that it was time to do so. David demands the return of his wife Michal, which oddly enough, Ish-bosheth complies with. Rather strange that he'd do this for his rival, which also benefited the man he accused of betrayal. Meanwhile, Joab returns and kills Abner in revenge for his brother's death. David publicly condemns Joab's actions and curses his house. Then he publicly mourns Abner and leaves judgment for the murder to God, since David isn't yet strong enough to punish him.

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

Because of his character, David is a good and wise leader. We are called to forgive our enemies. We need wisdom in our relationships with people who have hurt us and others. We can grow in trust and pray that the cycle of violence ends in our hearts so that we can forgive and be reconciled. (p. 6)

II. 1 Chronicles 3 gives us more genealogy, the royal line of David, from his sons through the kings of Judah and into the post-exilic period.

In the next chapter, the genealogy continues. Listed are the descendants of Judah and Simeon, with a special emphasis on God's blessing, faithful labor, and territorial expansion.

I understand that these genealogies have importance, but reading through them can be monotonous.

III. Psalm 25 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A lament psalm. The speaker, in a state of distress, asks for the Lord's deliverance, guidance, and forgiveness. The nature of his trouble is unspecified, except that he faces enemies who are treacherous and filled with hatred. God is invoked in the hope that he will intervene and set matters right. Literally, the psalm is an acrostic, which means that each poetic line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. (p. 850)

That's it for today!

Day 121: Cycle of Violence

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

I. 2 Samuel 2 recounts first how David sought God's guidance about what to do next. He is told to go to Hebron, and he is anointed king of Judah. David commends the men of Jabesh-Gilead for their courage in retrieving and burying the bodies of Saul and Jonathan, as well as encourages them to remain loyal. Saul's commander, Abner, takes the late king's last remaining son, Ish-bosheth, and makes him king of most of Israel. Abner's forces then meet those of Joab, David's commander, where the latter defeats the former. Job's brother Asahel doggedly pursues Abner, who warns him off. Asahel refuses to listen, and Abner kills him. This sparks a blood feud between Joab and Abner. Both Joab and Abishai, enraged at the death of Asahel, then pursue Abner, who calls for peace and for the fighting to stop. Asahel is buried in Bethlehem, and David's men return to Hebron.

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

Violence does not simply end on its own; it must be ended by those who are fighting. Jesus allows violence to fall upon himself, suffering for the sake of the unrighteous. This puts an end to the cycle in many ways. Jesus gives us an opportunity to be part of the cycle of mercy - the cycle of allowing oneself to suffer for another. He calls us to forgive. Forgiveness, though, is one of the most difficult teachings of Christianity. (p. 4)

II. 1 Chronicles 2 begins by listing the twelve sons of Jacob/Israel. The genealogy then focuses on Judah, from whom the Messiah would come. Included in this are David's military leaders, Joab, Asahel, and Abishai. The remainder of the chapter traces various branches of Judah's family up to the time of David. Rather a dull reading, to be honest, but still important information for narrative story.

As the BIY Companion, Vol II, notes:

This genealogy in Chronicles tells the story from Abraham to David. Then the family line will go on from David to Jesus, who had been promised from the very beginning. Some of the names may be unfamiliar, but each individual has a place in salvation history. (p. 4)

III. Psalm 24 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

An entrance liturgy. Its Temple setting and its reference to God entering the gates point to a ritual procession featuring the Ark of the Covenant. Perhaps it was a ceremony for reinstalling the ark in the Temple after it had been carried forth into battle (24:8; cf. Num 10:35-36; 1 Sam 4:3-4). The psalm's questions and answers form an antiphonal dialogue that would have been sung in the Temple choir and the assembled congregation. Scholars also identify Ps 15 as an entrance liturgy. (p. 849)

That's all for today!

Day 120: David Mourns Saul

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

I. 2 Samuel 1 recounts David's mourning for Saul and Jonathan. It begins with an Amalekite coming to David, carrying Saul's crown and bracelet, telling him that both had died and he had finished off a gravely wounded Saul at his own request. David orders his execution because, by his own words, he had claimed to kill the Lord's anointed (Saul). He then composes a moving funeral song, honoring both Saul and Jonathan.

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

David mourns the deaths of his enemy Saul and his dear friend Jonathan by singing a song of lamentation. David entreats the people of Israel to learn this song and sing it. David refuses to be held captive by the memory of Saul's animosity and jealousy. Rather, he honors Saul. The wounds of our pasts are real, but the freedom we have in Jesus is greater. We do not need to be held captive by the past or even by any present sorrow or pain. With God's grace, like David, we can move forward. (p. 256)

II. 1 Chronicles 1 gives a genealogy from Adam, showing that the God of Israel is the Creator and Lord of all peoples, not only Israel.

The BIY Companion, Vol 1, notes:

1 Chronicles begins with a listing of many prominent biblical figures, including Adam, Seth, and Noah. Though there is no explicit mention of God here, he is directly involved in all their stories. These names mean something to us only because of what God has done through them. God can sometimes seem unnoticed in our lives, yet our lives matter because he is present. (p. 256)

III. Psalm 13 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed): 

A lament psalm. Anguish and distress have taken hold of the Psalmist, whose health is fading quickly and whose enemies have gained the upper hand over him. As in many lament psalms, complaints give way to a renewed confidence in the Lord's help in the final verses. The poet comes to trust that God will transform his sorrowful heart into a heart filled with joy. (p. 840)

That's it for today!

Day 119: David's Wisdom

 Today's readings: 1 Samuel 29-31 and Psalm 18.

I. 1 Samuel 29 recounts how David and his men marched with the Philistine army, but although Achish trusts him, the other Philistine leaders do not. So he is sent away and returns to Ziklag, while the Philistines continue on to Jezreel to do battle with Saul and the Israelite army. I'd say this is a good thing because David was spared fighting against his own kinsmen.

In the next chapter, David returns to Ziklag, and he and his men discover that it had been sacked and burned down by the Amalekites, who also carried away all the women, children, and possessions. David's wives were among those taken. They are grief-stricken, with the men grumbling about stoning David. David, though, turns to the Lord and is strengthened, telling him to pursue the Amalekites. They all set off in pursuit, finding an abandoned Egyptian servant along the way, who leads them to the Amalekite camp. David attacks and defeats the Amalekites, rescuing all of the hostages and retaking all the stolen possessions. They even increased their gain by spoils from the Amalekites, sharing some of this with the 200 men who had stayed behind at Ziklag. 

1 Samuel 31 finishes out the book by recounting the defeat of Saul's army at the hands of the Philistines. In the battle, Saul's sons, including Jonathan, were all killed, while Saul himself had been badly wounded and committed suicide to avoid torture and humiliation. The Philistines cut off the head of Saul's body, stripped off his armor, and made a spectacle of the body in their capital city to shame the Israelites and glorify their pagan gods. The men of Jabesh-Gilead heard about what had happened, and secretly recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons, burning them and giving the remains burial.

Saul was a tragic figure, one whose own actions led him down to such an ignominious end. What was even more tragic, sad even, was the death of his son Jonathan. He seemed to be a good man and obviously cared for David, yet he too was struck down. After reading this, I feel like I should pray for God's mercy on their souls.

II. Psalm 18 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A victory hymn. It extols the Lord as the Savior of his servants, particularly David, whom the Lord rescued from many dangers. God also gave David victory in war and made him a ruler over nations bordering Israel. In all of this, God's covenant of kingship with David was confirmed. Psalm 18 is nearly identical to 2 Sam 22:1-51. (p. 843)

That's all for today!