Dissension As David Resumes His Reign

Transcript

GRS 2-84
10/14/2007
Dissension As David Resumes His Reign
2 Samuel 19-20
Gil Rugh

We are in Second Samuel in your Bibles, Second Samuel and the 19th Chapter. And as we look at the history of Israel, we do see God’s unfailing love in dealing with his people. In spite of their failures and in spite of their sin and in spite of their rebellion God is faithful to His promises. He has called the nation Israel to be His special people, the nation that is the special objective of His love. And nothing will ever frustrate God’s purposes and plans for this nation He has chosen for Himself because of sin, because of rebellion their way is difficult. They have many problems, trials right down to our day the nation lives under the judgment of God for their unbelief, for their stubborn rejection of their Messiah. But even that rebellion will be broken and someday the nation as a nation will turn to Christ it will take the events of the tribulation to do that.

We’re talking about the reign of David, certainly one of the key figures in Israel’s history. With David begins the Davidic monarchy which culminates in the Messiah, Jesus the Christ that will sit on the throne of David and all the promises given to David will be realized. We are at difficult time of David’s life. David sinned in Chapter 11 with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband and that has brought turmoil to his family and turmoil to his kingdom. And really from Chapter 13 through Chapter 20 we have reminders of that and the turmoil that is taking place.

Chapter 18 concluded with the rebellion of Absalom, David’s son who attempted to overthrow his father and not just overthrow his father but have his father murdered, executed. His intention was that his father not escapes alive, so that Absalom could have the throne for himself. That rebellion, while a strong rebellion necessitated David’s fleeing from Israel and crossing to Jordan, but the end result of it was David was successful in putting down the rebellion. Absalom was killed by Joab, David’s military commander and that was an expressed contrast or conflict with David’s command which was fair Absalom, but Joab took it upon himself to kill Absalom.

What Chapters 19 and 20 deal with is David solidifying his reign over the kingdom again. Now what we’re going to see here are the seeds of division that will come to full blown split under Solomon’s son Rehoboam. You are going to see that the northern 10 tribes have begun to see themselves as distinct and different from Judah and the southern part of the kingdom. So the division of the kingdom even begins to come to the fore here.

Chapter 19 begins with David having to come to grips with Absalom. It’s an overwhelming, crushing blow to David to have Absalom die. He already had one son die at the hands of Absalom. Now Absalom has died and David is consumed with his own grief and he’ll have to put that aside and step up and assume his role as king. The nation is unraveling around him because it had rejected him by and large and united behind Absalom, now Absalom is dead and David is sitting, taken up with his own grief, there is no leadership for the nation. And so Joab will come and address David on this matter.

The opening 7 verse deal with Joab’s advice to David, it was told Joab saying behold “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” The victory that day was turned to mourning for all the people for the people heard it said that “The king is grieving for his son.” So the people went by stealth into the city that day, as people who are humiliated steal away when they flee the battle. So you see, what was a victory, the kingdom has been salvaged for David but what overshadows this the people realize David is overwhelmed with grief so the people can’t celebrate their victory, they begin to make their way home and the attitude is more of a defeated people slinking home. And David can’t think of anything but all Absalom, my son Absalom, “O Absalom, my son, my son!” Joab came into the house of the king and said today you have covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who today have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, the lives of your concubines. You’ve shamed them by, verse 6, loving those who hate you, hating those who love you. You’ve shown today that the princes and servants are nothing to you. For I know this day if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead you would be pleased, so a strong rebuke coming from Joab. You are declaring to the nation that nobody in the nation means anything to you Absalom was everything to you. Absalom tried to overthrow you, tried to kill you, he would have killed us, those of us who are followers of you and supported you. You don’t care about that if we were all dead but Absalom was alive you would be very happy.

So Joab’s stern instruction verse 7, now therefore arise go out and speak kindly to your servants for I swear by the Lord if you do not go out, surely not a man will pass the night with you. And this will be worse for you that all the evil that has come up on you from your youth until now and we will see. There are those who would try to step into the vacuum and assume authority and takeover the kingdom which Joab warns David as if you continue to sit here absorb with your own grief everybody around you, even your closest followers are going to fade away and then you will be in real trouble because you have nobody with you. And then when opposition does come and it will come as we see in the next chapter you have nobody, and you’ll be worse often you’ve ever been. So you better get yourself together and forget about your own personal loss. Joab is a man that has many qualities we don’t admire but he is a military commander and he does know how to take hold of situation even if sometimes he took hold of things that he shouldn’t have and so here he does act. David does respond to this rebuke. David has to come to realize I can sit here and weep and cry until somebody all my friends are gone and the kingdom is removed from me again in a way that I can’t restore it or I can begin to act like a king. So David does assume the role that he should and comes to the fore. Sometimes you have to put aside your personal grief your personal loss and do what has to be done and that’s what David has to do here.

So the king arose and sat in the gate. They told all the people the king’s sitting in the gate. I mean this is the statement this is where the king would sit. And people could come to him. He has put aside his grief; he is taking the role of being a king again. And so all the people now come before the king before they sling away because they’re ashamed. They feel like those who did what they shouldn’t have done. But now he’s the king they can come before him, they can honor him as king. They were reminded all Israel had fled each to his tent. So now they begin to reassemble again. All the people were quarreling throughout all the tribes of Israel saying “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies, saved us from the hand of the Philistines but now he is fled out of the land from Absalom.” However Absalom whom we anointed over us is died in battle. Now then why are you silent and brining the king back you see where things had begun to unravel with the loss of leadership and now with David sitting in the king the people who had rejected David and followed Absalom begin to sort out their thinking again. You know under Absalom all they could think about was what they didn’t like about David. But now Absalom is out of the picture they begin to, they again think of the things that David had done for them as king. He delivered us on the hand of our enemies. He saved us from the hand of the Philistines but David is not even in the land of Israel right now he’s still on the other side of the Jordan. So the word begins to go out we have to bring David back, we are to honor him as king and re-establish his throne in Jerusalem. Then King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priest. Speak to elders of Judah saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of Israel have to the king”. I mean I am hearing from all the tribes that they’re going to restore me as king but where’s Judah? You are my tribe, why are you holding back why aren’t you here to restore me to my throne? You should be taking the initiative. You are my brothers, my bone, my flesh why should you be the last to bring me back? Say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me and more also if you will not be commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.” David is very upset with Joab for killing Absalom of an act of disobedience and you realize here Joab is supporting David but as always true, you have to be careful that the military commander doesn’t begin to overrule and become the more powerful figure. Joab has committed an act of disobedience to David which the whole army knows about. The army is aware, the king has said don’t kill Absalom and Joab took it upon himself to do it. Are there no consequences for this? May be Joab is more powerful even than David. So David in effect removes Joab and in an act to restore the confidence of the people, since Absalom is out of the picture he takes that military commander that Absalom had appointed and places him in Joab’s place.

Back in Chapter 17 verse 25 we are told that Absalom made Amasa his military commander. So now David in act of conciliatory action he makes Amasa the commander of the army so that all the people will be confident that they can come back and support David and even Amasa who served under Absalom now serves David.

Verse 14, then he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man so they sent word to the king saying "Return, you and all your servants " so the king comes back to the Jordan and Judah came to Gilgal in order to go meet the king and bring the king across the Jordan. So David is ready to return. Now we’ve got some pride and all here. The northern ten tribes, we talk about Judah that includes Benjamin. But Benjamin is a small tribe so we have the northern ten tribes and the southern two Judah and Benjamin. We usually we just refer to the southern kingdom with Judah. Benjamin is joint will it that makes the 12th tribe there but we have the ten tribes in the north and two the south. While the ten tribe they have been talking about restoring David Absalom is dead and think about all that David did for us and the victories he gave let’s restore David to be king Judah’s dragging their feet, David sends out word to Judah you are to be leading the way because I am of the tribe of Judah. You are to be the first one who restores me. So now, Judah comes out to meet David at the Jordan and are going to be there and help and lead the way bring him across the Jordan this will cause tension between Judah and the northern ten tribes. So that’s the setting but we have some people to deal with here.

In verses 16 to 23, Shimei, and you remember Shimei he was the man who come out when David was fleeing from Jerusalem so that Absalom wouldn’t trap him in the city and he was throwing stones and dust to David and pronouncing a curse on David for being a man of blood and so on. And one of David’s military men wanted to go out and cut his head off and David said no may be the Lord sent him to curse me leave him alone. Well, now Shimei knows he’s in trouble. David’s coming back as king I’m the man who was throwing stones and dust at him and cursing him. So he brings a thousand men, obviously a prominent person here. He’s of the tribe of Benjamin which was Saul’s tribe which may account for some of his action and he comes and seeks mercy from David really along with him there comes Ziba. And Ziba was the servant of Saul and particularly the servant of Saul’s son Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth. And remember Mephibosheth who was lame in his feet and he came out to meet David when David was fleeing from Jerusalem and he brought many provisions for David and when David said “Where is Mephibosheth? Ziba, Oh Mephibosheth decided to stay back in case the people want to place him on the thrown of his grandfather Saul.

Well now Ziba comes, verse 17 to meet with David and his 15 sons, his 20 servants they rush to the Jordan before the king. They kept crossing before to bring over the king’s household do good what’s goon in his sight that he may come and ask for mercy. And ask David to forget about what he did and forgive him. Don’t take it to heart. Verse 20 your servant knows I have sinned and I have come today to be the first one here to welcome you back. Abishai, verse 21 when David’s military men say he deserves to die he cursed the Lord anointed. David said no one will die today. And I think here that will come up later, David says nobody will die today.

In verse 23 the king swore Shimei “You shall not die.” But on his death bed then later when we get to Kings, David would tell Solomon don’t let his gray hair go down to the grave. And ultimately Shimei will die at the hands of Solomon. The details of that will get to but for now he is forgiven, he escapes punishment. Then verse 24 Mephibosheth, the son of Saul and he’s really the grandson but of course in the Bible they talk about the son whether, as a son whether you are a son or a grandson or a great grandson or descended you are in that line. Mephibosheth is the son of Jonathan the son of Saul but Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had neither cared for his feet nor trimmed his mustache nor washed his cloths from the day the king departed until he came home in peace. And Mephibosheth has had the signs of mourning. Now Ziba his servant said he’s stayed behind thinking they might make him king but this is not the way that a person who’s expected may be to be made a king would carry himself.

So Mephibosheth clearly has the signs of the man I mourning over what is happened with David. This would seem to be contrary to Ziba said “Mephibosheth was thinking back in Chapter 16 verse 3 “He didn’t want to come and flee with David. Mephibosheth has a different story, David says to Mephibosheth “Why didn’t you come with when I left?” verse 26 Mephibosheth have answered “O my Lord my King, my servant deceived me for your servant said I will saddle a donkey for myself that I may ride it and go with the king because your servant is lame”. Remember Mephibosheth is lame in his feet he can’t walk. So I am saddling my donkey because I couldn’t walk and more over he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But he doesn’t go on to defend himself. “My lord the king is like the angel of God; therefore do what is good in your sight. For all my father’s household was nothing but dead men before my lord the king, yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table what right do I have yet that I should complain anymore to the king?” I mean it’s not even right that I continue to present my case to you. Whatever you decide will be right because you’ve already shown me more kindness than I could have ever expected. The interesting thing is David doesn’t want to be bothered anymore. He’s just not interested in anymore about the story. So he just puts an end to it verse 29 so the king said to him “Why do you still speak of your affairs I have decided you and Ziba shall divide the land.” I know that you and Ziba would split what is yours. I don’t want to hear any more about your affairs. Mephibosheth has said to the king let him even take it all since my lord the king is come home safely to his own house. So little bit abrupt, you might expected David would have more interest in resolving this particularly since he’s dealing with Mephibosheth the son of the beloved Jonathan. I don’t want to hear any more of your affairs. You and your servant Ziba divide what you have that settles it and that’s wisely here but. So we never do know for sure who’s right but from the descriptions here you get the idea that Mephibosheth did indeed honor David and was in mourning when he went into exile.

You have another person so see what you have here; you have different people that had played a role. Shimei, the man who cursed and threw stones at David, he has to be dealt with. Ziba and Mephibosheth had been in the picture back in Chapter 16 in connection with David’s fleeing. Now you have Barzillai, the Gileadite verse 31 who had come down from Rogelim and he went on to the Jordan with the king to escort him over the Jordan. Now Barzillai was very old being 80 years old. He has sustained the king while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man. So when David was in exile Barzillai is the man of great material means and so he provided all of David’s needs during this time. So a true and great friend. David said to Barzillai you cross over with me I’ll sustain you in Jerusalem. You come with me and live in Jerusalem and you’ll be taken care off. Barzillai says no I’m too old, too old. I can’t enjoy the things that you’d provide for me, I can’t hear the music anymore, my hearing’s gone, I can’t enjoy the good food anymore I just wanted to go back to hometown and that’s where I’ll die. But he does ask David to take his son with him it was a great honor and a great opportunity to being and in fact be made part of the kings household and given all the honors that with that. So Barzillai does ask David take my son and so David takes his son Kimham down in verse 37, 38 he will go with David. David will refer to this matter when he is transferring the kingdom to Solomon. He reminds Solomon of Barzillai’s kindness and so Solomon has an obligation to see the Barzillai’s son is still properly cared for and so on.

Then come down to verse 40, and verses 40 to 43 you get something that will ultimately as a forerunner a picture of what is to come with the splitting of the kingdom to the northern and the southern. The king went on to Gilgal and Kimham went on with him that was Barzillai’s son, all the people of Judah and also half the people of Israel had come neat the king. Behold all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king “Why had our brothers the men of Judah stolen your way and brought the king in his household then all David’s men with him over the Jordan.” Then all the men of Judah answered to men of Israel because the king is a close relative to us why then are you angry about this matter. We didn’t benefit financially or material from this action but the men of Israel answered to men of Judah and said we have ten parts in the king therefore we also have more claim on David than you. Why did you treat us with contempt? Wasn’t it our advice to bring, first bring David back, yet the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of men of Israel. See their conflict we have here now. The 10 tribes against the two and Judah against the other tribes here and the hard feelings, wounded pride because the 10 tribes took the initiative in saying we got to bring David back and re-install him as king. But then the honor and this becomes where the pride comes in, of getting the honor of bringing David across the Jordan and thus back into his land Judah did that before the other tribes were there. So the other tribes look at it as Judah usurping the honor that would have been theirs. Now you have an argument going on, we have ten parts in the kingdom and Judah said and they even speak more harshly backwards said words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel. You see a split here. You are going to see it aggravated in Chapter 20 now again, the kingdom will stay united under David, it will stay united under David’s son Solomon, and it will split under Solomon son Rehoboam. So here you see the feelings and how they’re running and the seeds if you will which will ultimately culminate in that split.

Chapter 20, you have a revolt and so you see now you’ve had some of the turmoil and trouble within David’s own family. Now he somewhat settled that but the turmoil in his kingdom is not over. So Chapter 20 opens up now where those fellow happened to be there whose name is Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite, and he blew the trumpet and said “We have no portion in David, nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse. “Every man to his tents, O Israel!” So all the men of Israel withdrew from following David and follow Sheba the son of Bichri but the men of Judah remained steadfast to their king from the Jordan even to Jerusalem so you see what’s happened here you flow out to Chapter 19 this disagreement leads to Bichri who’s a Benjamite and would be at the line of Saul. And even though they will be identified with Israel with Judah in the southern kingdom of split finally occurred. Here you have him ascertain himself really as a rival king. And the hard feelings between Judah and the ten tribes runs so strong that the ten tribes go with Sheba and the wording here is interesting. Turn over to First Kings Chapter 12.

First Kings Chapter 12 this is where the kingdom will split under Solomon’s son verse 16 of First Kings 12 When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, that people answered the king saying “What portion do we have in David, we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Now look after your own house, David!” Can you see the similarity of language though we had in Chapter 20 Second Samuel verse 1 are saying basically the same thing.

So we have in Second Samuel Chapter 20 verse 1 we will come to a final division another generation down the line after Solomon’s reign. There’s amazing the influence that are worthless person can have even among the people of God. Do you have the nation Israel? Here you have David the King God’s anointed and you have a worthless fellow that’s the Biblical description of him. And you know the majority of the nation is going to choose to follow the worthless fellow and these are supposed to be the people of God this is Israel. Public do have God’s anointed God’s selection for king on the thrown David “I have chosen for myself a man of my own heart” and he had a worthless fellow step forward and the majority of the nations ready to go after him, remarkable. A worthless fellow his name is Sheba. Now you got the ten tribes saying we’re going with him. You may have David the Judean king, fine let him be king of Judah we’ll have our own king. And you see the thinking that can culminate in the split of the nation in a firm way later. Judah remains loyal to David. You can see Joab’s comments warning David he could end up in a very serious situation if he doesn’t step up soon because if he hadn’t stepped up, when he did, Judah may not have supported him and then he would have been without allies. So David comes on to Jerusalem they do nothing right now, he goes back he continues with Judah back to Jerusalem and he makes the adjustments there that need to be made the ten concubines are provided for but they will live as widows, the concubines that Absalom violated when he came to Jerusalem they are set apart, they live as widows would have lived, David provides for them in every way but they will have no relations with David.

Then in verse 4, David has to prepare now how to deal with the rebellion. So Amasa is his new military commander, so he tells Amasa to gather the men of Judah over the next three days and then present yourself here with me. So the army of Judah, men of Judah will form David’s army to go and deal with his rebellion. So Amasa went out to call the men of Judah but he took longer than three days. Now every day is important here because you’ve got a rival king with the support of ten tribes. So David said to Abishai verse 6 “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your Lord’s servants and pursue him so he just not find for himself fortified cities and escape from our sight.” David knows it could happen he just did it. Remember when Absalom was chasing him he bought times so he could solidify himself, strengthen his position to be ready to deal with Absalom. He will say every day that Sheba’s out there he’s in the chance to build his following to fortify himself it will be harder to defeat him. So he sends Abishai with the men available out. Joab’s men went out after him along with the Kerethites, the Pelethites all the mighty man. They went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri, Joab’s going along. Joab’s not a happy camper because he’s been demoted; I mean like Joab does not take that well.

So they were at the large stone which is in Gibeon verse 8, Amasa came to meet him. Joab’s dressed in his military attire were out to do a war, and he has his sword on the belt around his waist, and he’s walking along the sword falls out. So Joab picks up the sword so he hasn’t in his hand. Amasa is not thinking anything here, when they meet Joab has his right hand which would be his normal writing hand he grabs on to Amasa’s beard like he’s going to give him the kiss of greeting while he pulls his chin and to give him a kiss of greeting he runs his sword through it. That’s how Joab deals with rivals and verse 9 Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. Amasa was not on guard against his sword which was in Joab’s hands so he struck him in the belly and poured out his inward parts on the ground. Bible gives you some descriptive pictures here. Now we have a problem, the men who are assembling Joab has reasserted his position if you will because the rival commander is dead. You know this is another act of rebellion against David.

Joab has again asserted his authority to overrule David. David said Amasa is now the military commander, Joab says no he’s not. I’ll kill him and he does and for this David won’t deal with Joab during his life but he will instruct Solomon, so one of the first act of Solomon will be to put Joab to death for these actions and Joab knows he deserves to die for what he’s done. Perhaps David does not believe he’s in a position I think he’s got one rebellion on his hand what’s he’s going to do now. Set up another front and have to deal with Joab and any of those who may support Joab? Basically Joab had strong following among the military men. I already ten tribes following Sheba, how many of the soldiers in Judah might follow Joab if David turns against Joab. So really David is in a position where he doesn’t seem to have much choice so Joab assumes command and leads the armies. From this point on Joab will be the military commander until Solomon deals with him.

Verses 14 to 22 Sheba comes to his end they track him down, they come to the city and beseech the city where he is hold up in verse 15 there’s a wise lady who come to the wall of the city and calls out for Joab in verse 16 a wise women called from the city, “Hear, hear please tell Joab come here that I may speak with you”. He approached her and the women said “Are you Joab?” he answered “I am.” She said to him “Listen to the words of your maid servant.” He said “I am listening” and she goes on and really what you wants to know is why do you trying to destroy this city for, you’re trying to destroy a mother in Israel I am a mother in Israel you are here to destroy me, destroy our city? Verse 19 “I am of those who are peaceful and faithful in Israel you are seeking to destroy our city even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?” I mean we’re part of what the promised. We’re part of Israel. Joab says “Far from me that I should swallow up or destroy! That’s not the case. There’s a man here from the hill country of Ephraim Sheba son of Bichri by name he’s lifted his hand against King David. Hand him over we’ll break the siege of the city.”

The woman says “We’ll throw his head over” how about that. They’re not willing to open the gates of the city because you never know what Joab’s going to do once he’s inside so pretty smart lady here. How are we going to resolve this? Well he wants Sheba but we’re sure not going to say well come on in and get him so I’ll tell you what we’ll do we throw his head over. You don’t need the whole body you get the head you’ll know you got him right. So she goes and speaks to the leaders of the city they cut off Sheba’s head and threw it to Joab. Joab sounded treat they go home. The rebellion is over. Sheba had never really had the kind of position that he could gather the armies of Israel in a true force to challenge directly the armies of David under Joab. He’s following was more scattered and so on. So with Sheba’s death the rebellion is over they returned home. So the Chapter concludes with some of David’s administrators in verses 23 to 26. Joab is over the whole army of Israel. Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and the Pelethites and when Solomon becomes king this Benaiah will become his commander and he will carry out Solomon’s instruction to go and execute Joab. So here you see him having a key military role and just as therefore shadowing he will be the man runs the army under Solomon and one of his first acts will be to go and execute Joab for his acts of rebellion against David.

Just a few things to note out of these two Chapters. First, in Chapter 19 verses 1 to 8 we saw sometimes you must put personal duty and responsibility above your own personal grief. What Joab said to David is true, David has lost focus here loosing this child is a cause of overwhelming grief and especially in the context of his rebellion against David and never a chance to put things right, never a chance for reconciliation. And David is overwhelmed with grief but you know there’s something more important than David doing personal grief and sadness here and that is the work of the Lord it needs to be done. So David has to put his own personal feelings aside and do what he must do as the Lords representative. That’s a good representative that’s a good reminder for us. And all have things that may come in to our lives it will bring sadness and grief but I have to be careful I don’t park there. Not minimizing grief but there’s something more important and that is to do what the Lord is appointed to me to do. And that’s not just to sit and mourn day after, day after, day over that which has broken my hearts so to speak.

And the second thing I thought about in these Chapters his true friends proved themselves in trying times. In the Book of Proverbs says a friend is made for adversity, Proverb 17:17 and that’s true. Would want to use the football team as an example but you know when you are winning you have lots of friends and when you are not winning somehow you don’t have many friends I am not taken a position here but just an example and I don’t want to get into troubles with my illustration but what happened. Shimei when David is on the run he is throwing stones and dust and cursing him. When David is coming back to be restored as King and that I can’t do enough I come out with a thousand servants or whatever to welcome you back. Barzillai, he’s the true friend. He stays with David in the worst of times he’s there to share with David in the best of times. But the real test of his friendship is he was there when everybody else was abandoning David. Barzillai was there doing whatever he could to sustain David to provide for David and to see him through this time and just a good reminder. Friends are made for adversity and that becomes the test and the time.

Paul referred to this in Second Timothy Chapter 1. When he referred to all of those who had abandoned him all in Asia have forsaken me but Onesiphorus he has defended me. Even in my imprisonment Onesiphorus was there for me. So David’s true friend, he was there through the worst of time with Paul when there was nothing to be gained by standing with Paul so to speak so that same principal.

The third point our selfish ambition, wounded pride creates conflict. You see the conflict developing here in Israel. More than ten tribes their prides been wounded. Judah took to themselves the honor of bringing David across the Jordon back into the land that action it is somewhat symbolic of we are restoring David to the throne. That was our honor, it was our original idea. He took our honor and wounded pride selfish ambition it always causes conflict and deal with the root of it deal with the selfish ambition, the foolish pride. James has something to say about that in the wars and conflicts that comes from within ourselves.

In Chapter 20, Sheba, another point worthless man can create havoc amongst God’s people. It doesn’t take the best of men to cause division amongst God’s people; it can take the worst of men. And how tragic it is the worst of men can get a following. Why in the world would anyone in the Israel follow a man that the scriptures say was worthless? In our position to David that God had himself personally selected and appointed as King. A man after my own heart, but ten of the tribes of Israel that will take Sheba a worthless man. And a worthless man can cause a lot of trouble. As Oh he couldn’t have any influence amongst God’s people, don’t underestimate the damage that Satan does with worthless people. And a wise person’s counsel can prevent much damage. This wise woman, the last part of Chapter 20 if she hadn’t used the wisdom she did that city would have been destroyed. Joab and his army were in the processes of tearing down the walls. If they have done that who would have survived in the city, this wise woman could see what the outcome of this would be and with her wisdom she prevented much damage.

Well, the history moves long. We are coming to the end of David’s reign. He is closing Chapters; Chapters 21 to 24 will be a collection of events from David’s reign. Not necessarily in chronological order but it will, they will draw out certain events that took place during the reign of David that give us some appreciation and understanding of what took place during the time that he reigned over Israel.

Let’s pray together. Thank you Lord for your grace. Thank you for your sovereign work even through the trials, the troubles, the turmoil that beset the nation and you were sovereign overall. Thank you for David, thank you for faithful people who come to the fore during these difficult times. Lord, pray that we might learn the lessons from these historical events and perhaps most important at all that the sovereign hand of our God is in control of all. When your purposes are accomplished they can never be frustrated even by the worst acts of sinful men. Lord we are confident in that. We are your people, we are your children. We are confident that your purposes be accomplished in our lives as we walk faithfully with you day by day. We look forward to the days of this week; we anticipate that even perhaps our Lord will come before the weekends. Lord until he comes we pray that we might be faithful. We pray in Christ’s name, amen.