Topic : 2 Samuel

God’s Gift

A British factory worker and his wife were excited when, after many years of marriage, they discovered they were going to have their first child. According to author Jill Briscoe, who told this true story, the man eagerly relayed the good news to his fellow workers. He told them God had answered his prayers. But they made fun of him for asking God for a child.

When the baby was born, he was diagnosed as having Down’s syndrome. As the father made his way to work for the first time after the birth, he wondered how to face his co-workers. “God, please give me wisdom,” he prayed. Just as he feared, some said mockingly, “So, God gave you this child!” The new father stood for a long time, silently asking God for help. At last he said, “I’m glad the Lord gave this child to me and not to you.”

As this man accepted his disabled son as God’s gift to him, so David was pleased to show kindness to Saul’s son who was “lame in his feet” (2 Sam. 9:3). Some may have rejected Mephibosheth because he was lame, but David’s action showed that he valued him greatly.

Our Daily Bread, April 6, 1994

Resource

• The Grace Awakening, C. Swindoll, 1990, p.29

Resource

• Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome, K Hughes, Tyndale, 1988, pp. 88ff

Grandfather of Bathsheba

By comparing 2 Samuel 11:3 and 23:34, some believe that Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bathsheba, and that he was enraged because David had committed adultery with her. So Ahithophel may have wanted Absalom to destroy David and take the throne from his father. But when he saw Absalom following advice that would lead to defeat, he was so despondent that he gave in to despair and took his own life instead of committing the matter to God.

Our Daily Bread, Sept. 2, 1990

Adultery/Affair

When I was growing up, “adultery” was a word one whispered. Today the word is “affair,” and it’s a subtle change. Affair has an air of mystery about it, and romance, and excitement. Radio, television, movies, books—all of the media—assume or encourage the affair. It’s easy to fall into the trap: everyone is doing it, so it must be OK. Unless, of course, you believe in keeping the laws of God.

For whatever reason, keeping the seventh commandment is becoming more difficult for more and more Christians. In fact, JU. Allan Petersen begins his new book, The Myth of the Greener Grass, with a question: “Is Anyone Faithful Anymore” And it’s a good question. He writes that in his 38 years of traveling ministry he has counseled pastors, pastors’ wives, missionaries, Sunday school teachers, Christian counselors, and church members who reflect the increasing incidence of extramarital affairs among professing Christian people. There is a “tendency to find reasons to support this behavior, even though those reasons might be contrary to the moral and biblical convictions we have long held.”

Today we want to talk about relationships, not sin. Peterson points out the relationship of David and Bathsheba, and the results of their affair. The lessons we can learn from the story of David, a man of God who fell into sin, apply to all of us, men and women alike. Here are some of the, pointed out by Petersen:

1. No one, however chosen, blessed, and used of God, is immune to an extramarital affair.

2. Anyone, regardless of how many victories he has won, can fall disastrously.

3. The act of infidelity is the result of uncontrolled desires, thoughts, and fantasies.

4. Your body is your servant or it becomes your master.

5. A Christian who falls will excuse, rationalize, and conceal, the same as anyone else.

6. Sin can be enjoyable but it can never be successfully covered.

7. One night of passion can spark years of family pain.

8. Failure is neither fatal nor final.

Source unknown

Paid Four Times

1. Child Died

2. Tamar, his daughter violated

3. Ammon, His son, slain

4. Absalom slaughtered

Source unknown

Five C’s

1. Commissioned,

2. Confront,

3. Commandment,

4. Consequences,

5. Confession

Seven Laws of the Learner, B. Wilkinson, ch. 7

Resource

• The Strong Family, Bible Study Guide by C. Swindoll, p. 71

Resource

• The Strong Family, Bible Study Guide by C. Swindoll, p. 128

People Helping People

But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, came to his aid. 2 Samuel 21:17

Sometimes we win great spiritual victories or reach a seemingly unattainable goal without the help of a friend or companion. This was true of David when as a shepherd lad he killed Goliath with nothing but a sling and faith in God. In later years, however, he would have been slain by a giant named Ishbibenob if his nephew Abishai had not come to his aid. Now, are we to conclude that God was with David when he met Goliath, but not when he confronted the second giant? I don’t think so! The Lord simply used a different means to take care of His servant. The first time, He used David’s skill with the sling; the second time, He used Abishai’s strength and military prowess.

Our Daily Bread, Wednesday, February 8.

Painting Contractor

Wes Evans, principal of Christian Heritage School, Edwall, WA, told of how a painting contractor donated a large amount of paint to a school he formerly was at. He used the donation as a tax write-off. When they opened it, it not only was of a horrendous color, but most of it had gone bad. The school had to pay to have it hauled to the dump.

Wes Evans