Broken Promises’ Restitution and Felling Giants

2 Samuel 21:1-22
    1 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, “It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.” 2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; the children of Israel had sworn protection to them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah. 3 Therefore David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”
    4 And the Gibeonites said to him, “We will have no silver or gold from Saul or from his house, nor shall you kill any man in Israel for us.”  So he said, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”  5 Then they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the territories of Israel, 6 let seven men of his descendants be delivered to us, and we will hang them before the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD chose.”  And the king said, “I will give them.”
    7 But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite; 9 and he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So they fell, all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest. 10 Now Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured on them from heaven. And she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night.
    11 And David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 12 Then David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of Jabesh Gilead who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them up, after the Philistines had struck down Saul in Gilboa. 13 So he brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there; and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged. 14 They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. So they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God heeded the prayer for the land.
    15 When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint. 16 Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.”
    18 Now it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the sons of the giant. 19 Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. 20 Yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21 So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David's brother, killed him.  22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

Restitution for broken promises and seeing opposition by giants who fall - this sums up the present chapter of scripture.  Saul had previously broken Israel’s covenantal promise of protection to the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:19-21) by turning against them and killing many; therefore the LORD showed David that was the reason He had given a famine to Israel for three years until atonement was made.  The Gibeonites asked not for monetary restitution, but for seven of Saul’s descendants to be handed over to be hung. David did this willingly, but spared his best friend Jonathan’s son.  He then gathered the remains of Saul and Jonathan which the Philistines had previously put on public display, and buried them properly.  After all these actions, God heard the prayers for the land that the famine would cease.  Then battles with the Philistines showed that the giants would again fall as Goliath had for David as a youth in the beginning of his calling by the LORD.  These are lessons for us today as well; we are to honor our vows or refrain from making them in the first place (Numbers 30:2, Ecclesiastes 5:4-5).  If Israel had not made the covenantal vow to the Gibeonites in the first place, this would not have happened.  In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus emphasized that we should not make rash vows, but simply agree to do or not do something; otherwise we are bound to do what we promise to the Lord.  There is also a less obvious lesson for leaders here.  When age advances and enemies arise, it is best not to engage them face to face for the good of the people you lead, lest the battle overtake you and your service end before the time.  Let God fight the battles through younger warriors. 

Rebellion and Retribution

2 Samuel 20:1-26
    1 And there happened to be there a rebel, whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. And he blew a trumpet, and said: “We have no share in David, Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse; Every man to his tents, O Israel!”  2 So every man of Israel deserted David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah, from the Jordan as far as Jerusalem, remained loyal to their king.
    3 Now David came to his house at Jerusalem. And the king took the ten women, his concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in seclusion and supported them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.
    4 And the king said to Amasa, “Assemble the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself.” 5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah. But he delayed longer than the set time which David had appointed him. 6 And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord's servants and pursue him, lest he find for himself fortified cities, and escape us.” 7 So Joab's men, with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men, went out after him. And they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. 8 When they were at the large stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came before them. Now Joab was dressed in battle armor; on it was a belt with a sword fastened in its sheath at his hips; and as he was going forward, it fell out. 9 Then Joab said to Amasa, “Are you in health, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10 But Amasa did not notice the sword that was in Joab's hand. And he struck him with it in the stomach, and his entrails poured out on the ground; and he did not strike him again. Thus he died.  Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri. 11 Meanwhile one of Joab's men stood near Amasa, and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David—follow Joab!” 12 But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he moved Amasa from the highway to the field and threw a garment over him, when he saw that everyone who came upon him halted. 13 When he was removed from the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.
    14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and Beth Maachah and all the Berites. So they were gathered together and also went after Sheba. 15 Then they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maachah; and they cast up a siege mound against the city, and it stood by the rampart. And all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down.  16 Then a wise woman cried out from the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come nearby, that I may speak with you.’ ” 17 When he had come near to her, the woman said, “Are you Joab?”  He answered, “I am.”  Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your maidservant.”  And he answered, “I am listening.”  18 So she spoke, saying, “They used to talk in former times, saying, ‘They shall surely seek guidance at Abel,’ and so they would end disputes. 19 I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?”
    20 And Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy! 21 That is not so. But a man from the mountains of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city.”  So the woman said to Joab, “Watch, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.” 22 Then the woman in her wisdom went to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. Then he blew a trumpet, and they withdrew from the city, every man to his tent. So Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.
    23 And Joab was over all the army of Israel; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; 24 Adoram was in charge of revenue; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 25 Sheva was scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were the priests; 26 and Ira the Jairite was a chief minister under David.

Sheba the Benjamite rebelled against the LORD’s anointed as king David entered into Jerusalem, and Israel followed him in rebellion.  On the way of pursuit to stop Sheba, Joab killed Amasa whom David tasked to lead his forces against Sheba because of an old grudge where Absalom replaced Joab with Amasa as leader of his forces (2 Samuel 17:25).  Later king Solomon would remember his murder of Amasa and order his death as retribution (1 Kings 2:5, 31-32, 35).  Also, the rebellious Sheba was beheaded at Abel by a woman’s wise counsel to behead the rebel and stop the destruction of the city.  Joab remained in charge of the army of all Israel for the time being until Benaiah would later execute him.  We learn then that rebellion against God and His people will end in judgment of retribution for such sin, whether in this life or at the final judgement. This is an example to beware the rebellion of disbelief in rejection of the gospel of reconciliation.  How much better to obey with faith that trusts and receives the gospel of forgiveness and release from the finality of that judgment (Hebrews 9:27-28) instead of rebelling in disobedience of disbelief?  

Kindness and Conflict

2 Samuel 19:31-43
    31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And he had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man. 33 And the king said to Barzillai, “Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”
    34 But Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am today eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37 Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”
    38 And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do for you.” 39 Then all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over, the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.
    40 Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel. 41 Just then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, “Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king, his household, and all David's men with him across the Jordan?” 42 So all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is a close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the king's expense? Or has he given us any gift?”
   43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, “We have ten shares in the king; therefore we also have more right to David than you. Why then do you despise us—were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?”  Yet the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

We find both kindness and conflict here as David the king returns to Jerusalem; kindness from David to Barzillai, the aged man who had supplied David and his small band out of his wealth when he was banished, and now was too old to accept the gracious invitation of kindness to enter with the king.  There was conflict between the tribe of Judah from whom David was a part, and the other ten tribes of Israel who wanted in on the pomp of parading David across the Jordan and back to Jerusalem.  The arguments of Judah were “fiercer” than those of Israel, however, and they prevailed in that argument.  They were more solid, tougher words of right to bring him in as a kinsman.  Here we can learn to be more kind ourselves in honoring those who give us aid in times of need, even returning the favor to others related to the helpers when necessary.  We can also be firm in conflict, solidly standing tough, but with love and not with malice or hate. 

Mercy and Grace

2 Samuel 19:18-30
    18 Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan. 19 Then he said to the king, “Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, or remember what wrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart. 20 For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”
    21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?”  22 And David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?” 23 Therefore the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.
    24 Now Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace. 25 So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”
    26 And he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame. 27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes. 28 For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to cry out anymore to the king?” 29 So the king said to him, “Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’ ” 30 Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”

David demonstrated mercy on the one who cursed him when he was forced to flee Jerusalem (2 Samuel 16:5-8), for he could easily have had him severely punished or even put to death as king.  He instead trusted the LORD and showed Shimei the mercy God and shown him.  He also continued to show grace to Saul’s descendant and his best friend Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, who was lame.  David wondered why he had did not left the city with him, but learned that Mephibosheth was deceived and therefore unable to go.  Nonetheless, he remained loyal and threw himself on the mercy of the king.  David demonstrated grace and forgave all as if nothing ever happened.  We see shadows of the Anointed Messiah, the Christ who is king over all, in David’s actions, but also the human side of humility and failure which we share with him.  He demonstrated mercy and grace in forgiveness of sin and unconditional acceptance as our Lord does with us in much more complete and eternal ways.  Let us then follow David’s example and Christ’s in forgiveness and grace (Luke 6:37) towards our enemies. 

Personal Loss, Godly Gain

2 Samuel 19:1-17
    1 And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3 And the people stole back into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
    5 Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines, 6 in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well. 7 Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.” 8 Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” So all the people came before the king.  For everyone of Israel had fled to his tent.
    9 Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us from the hand of our enemies, he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled from the land because of Absalom. 10 But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”
    11 So King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house? 12 You are my brethren, you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’ 13 And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.’ ” 14 So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, just as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants!”
    15 Then the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to escort the king across the Jordan. 16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17 There were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over the Jordan before the king.

Here we see such personal loss of king David in the defeat and death of his son who had taken the throne from him, yet we also witness the godly gain for his reign restored over God’s people as he was anointed to fulfill in service to the LORD.  The people did not understand this dichotomy of David’s attention and sorrow in victory, not grasping the depth of the personal loss which kept his attention from showing himself as ruling in view of them.  Good advice led him to show himself and call Judah back to join Israel as one people under his God-given rule.  This godly gain of his reign as the chosen and anointed sovereign outweighed the personal loss.  We may learn how to put our own loss in perspective with God’s work of the gospel as many who went before us, counting the suffering as merely temporary in light of eternity in the Anointed Christ’s rule over us all.  May our unity in Him drive us together in all truth and true obedience of worship according to His word by His Holy Spirit.  Amen! 

Bad News Victory

2 Samuel 18:19-33
    19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.” 20 And Joab said to him, “You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king's son is dead.” 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.
    22 And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” So Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?” 23 “But whatever happens,” he said, “let me run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.
    24 Now David was sitting between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate, to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a man, running alone. 25 Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came rapidly and drew near. 26 Then the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “There is another man, running alone!” And the king said, “He also brings news.” 27 So the watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”
    28 So Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “All is well!” Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!” 29 The king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king's servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about.”  30 And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still. 31 Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “There is good news, my lord the king! For the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you.” 32 And the king said to the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” So the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like that young man!”
    33 Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: “O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!”

Joab did not want king David to know the bad news of victory over his enemy, for that who sought the life of the king was also his estranged son was dead.  The man Ahimaaz was a friend of Jonathan who had helped David, and Joab did not want him bringing the bad news of the victory hat same day of Absalom’s death, so he sent another instead; Ahimaaz went also and outran the bearer of bad news, and kept silent when the other who was not close to David arrived and delivered it.  David had seen Ahimaaz running, and assumed that he brought good news, but that the other only brought news which was not necessarily good.  On hearing of the death of his son Absalom, it devastated David and brought on great sadness with mourning over his loss, news which the second runner could not understand was not good news of a victory.  Joab and Ahimaaz both knew the victory of defeat was more than bittersweet.  We must learn also that the death of an enemy who is opposed to Christ and His gospel is still someone to be mourned, especially since such death brings eternal defeat (Hebrews 9:27-28) without the hope found in Jesus Christ alone (Acts 4:12).  

Defeat and Inglorious Death

2 Samuel 18:1-18
    1 And David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2 Then David sent out one third of the people under the hand of Joab, one third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I also will surely go out with you myself.” 3 But the people answered, “You shall not go out! For if we flee away, they will not care about us; nor if half of us die, will they care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us now. For you are now more help to us in the city.”  4 Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom.
    6 So the people went out into the field of battle against Israel. And the battle was in the woods of Ephraim. 7 The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand took place there that day. 8 For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
    9 Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on. 10 Now a certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!”
    11 So Joab said to the man who told him, “You just saw him! And why did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt.”  12 But the man said to Joab, “Though I were to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king's son. For in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware lest anyone touch the young man Absalom!’ 13 Otherwise I would have dealt falsely against my own life. For there is nothing hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me.”
    14 Then Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom's heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree. 15 And ten young men who bore Joab's armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.  16 So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people. 17 And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and laid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel fled, everyone to his tent.
    18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King's Valley. For he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom's Monument.

Absalom was the king’s son, but his rebellion cost his life.  His defeat ended in such an inglorious death with his head caught in a tree while escaping on a mule.  The hanging did not end his life, but the wrathful vengeance of Joab did at the point of the spear with the assistance of ten of his assistants.  This was in direct disobedience to David’s order to deal kindly with his son and not kill him.  Joab acted in his own vengeance in anger over Absalom’s sinful banishment and restitution instead. He had intervened to have David let Absalom back into Jerusalem, only to have him take the kingdom from his father by manipulating influence to build a loyal power base and assume the throne.  But in the end Absalom died such an inglorious death and left no heir, just a cold stone monument to his life.  Those opposed to the Lord and His Anointed will also face shame and death in the end, along with eternal regret and suffering.  No cold stone memorial of worldly accomplishments will long honor such a life opposed to Christ. Do we submit to the Anointed One, or rebel in the disobedience of disbelief?  How much better to submit in obedient faith now to the Savior and find life and peace and be remembered forever by the Anointed Lord! 

Frustrated Counsel

2 Samuel 17:15-29
    15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised. 16 Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’ ” 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed at En Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David. 18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man's house in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it. 19 Then the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known. 20 And when Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” So the woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.”  And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21 Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, “Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.” 22 So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan.
    23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father's tomb.
    24 Then David went to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Jithra, an Israelite, who had gone in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother. 26 So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.
    27 Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, 29 honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”

Here is frustrated counsel which was accurate, but not aligned with God’s plan.  The wise counsel of Absalom’s advisor ignored over the misdirection of David’s man led Ahithophel to hang himself.  One may suppose that he counted his reputation ruined and his enemy escaped as warranting the desire not to live with the shame as less than trustworthy or valued for wise counsel.  He did set his house in order first, suggesting a verbal will at least to ensure all went to whom he desired so there was no confusion after his sudden departure by suicide.  The end result was the sparing of David’s life and that of his band with him to fight another day until David once more sat as king over all God’s people from Jerusalem.  Then some came to David’s band of brothers in Mahanaim with food to provide for them.  They acknowledged his right to be king by this, and strengthened his might to fight on and rule once more.  Some might suggest that he was not well liked, but incidents such as this say otherwise.  He was a man after God’s own heart after all (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22).  We therefore learn from this passage how the Lord preserves those He calls to His work in His way and in His time; we are to trust Him even in bad circumstances (Job 13:15) allowed by God.  He is faithful who calls and promises, and frustrates (Job 5:12) the crafty schemes and counsel of the enemy, confounding their plans for His sovereign purposes.

Counsel and Wisdom

2 Samuel 17:1-14
    1 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. 2 I will come upon him while he is weary and weak, and make him afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I will strike only the king. 3 Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace.” 4 And the saying pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
    5 Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he says too.” 6 And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken in this manner. Shall we do as he says? If not, speak up.”
    7 So Hushai said to Absalom: “The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time. 8 For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are enraged in their minds, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not camp with the people. 9 Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ 10 And even he who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt completely. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. 11 Therefore I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. 12 So we will come upon him in some place where he may be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and all the men who are with him there shall not be left so much as one. 13 Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city; and we will pull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”
    14 So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring disaster on Absalom.

We find that David’s direction to leave Hushai behind to frustrate the good counsel of Ahithophel as told in 2 Samuel 15:34 now comes into play.  Ahithophel wanted to attack David and his small band while they were tired to scatter his followers, kill the king, and bring back all those who left Jerusalem with him.  Absalom knew the reputation of David’s old counselor, and asked Hushai to remark on Ahithophel’s plans; this moment provided the planted weapon of dissuading counsel to stop a good plan and gain David the victory in the end.  Absalom believed the misdirection and set in motion the disaster to come on him m from the LORD.  What we learn here is that in matters of national strategy there is time for misinformation and false narratives to gain military victory, but also that this is not to be automatically applied to personal matters.  We are not to lie or deceive each other, but to speak truth in love and entrust ourselves to the Lord’s mighty hand.  This is similar to not personally murdering anyone, yet still be willing to kill for the nation as the soldier doing his duty to fight as John said (Luke 3:14) to this question.  We are to be interpersonally honest and yielding over striking back, yet finding a place for espionage and deceit in wartime as we find in this passage.  These are difficult thoughts to deal with, but must be considered especially among those servants in the military who are the Lord’s servants.  Counsel and wisdom which come from God win out in the end. 

Cursed by Man, Called by God

2 Samuel 16:1-23
    1 When David was a little past the top of the mountain, there was Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean to do with these?” So Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who are faint in the wilderness to drink.”  3 Then the king said, “And where is your master's son?”  And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’ ” 4 So the king said to Ziba, “Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I humbly bow before you, that I may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king!”
    5 Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. 6 And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! 8 The LORD has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!”
    9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!” 10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”
    11 And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the LORD has ordered him. 12 It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day.” 13 And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust. 14 Now the king and all the people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there.
    15 Meanwhile Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem; and Ahithophel was with him. 16 And so it was, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” 17 So Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”  18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 “Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence.”
    20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give advice as to what we should do.”  21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.  23 Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

King David left Jerusalem to escape a showdown with his son who took over the kingdom for a while.  On the way out David blessed some while others cursed him, repeating what Absalom and his enemies slandered him with.  David did not order the one cursing him to be stopped or killed, but acknowledged that it was of God for his true sin (most likely considering the Bathsheba and Uriah incident).  He also trusted that the LORD would repay or restore according to His will, and therefore did not retail or silence the accusers.  We also are to put our lives in His hands as to a faithful Creator, and not seek our own revenge when slandered. 

Mercy, Truth, Rebellion, and Spies

2 Samuel 15:13-37
    13 Now a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”  14 So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”  15 And the king's servants said to the king, “We are your servants, ready to do whatever my lord the king commands.” 16 Then the king went out with all his household after him. But the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house. 17 And the king went out with all the people after him, and stopped at the outskirts. 18 Then all his servants passed before him; and all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who had followed him from Gath, passed before the king.
    19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place. 20 In fact, you came only yesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I go I know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truth be with you.” 
    21 But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”  22 So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones who were with him crossed over. 23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness.
    24 There was Zadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city. 25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place. 26 But if He says thus: ‘I have no delight in you,’ here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.
    30 So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up. 31 Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
    32 Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God—there was Hushai the Archite coming to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father's servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 35 And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king's house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Indeed they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”  37 So Hushai, David's friend, went into the city. And Absalom came into Jerusalem.

There was rebellion by Absalom to take the throne of David his father when enough of the people were swayed to support his rebellion.  The king was warned and left the city with those still faithful to him, leaving Hushai behind as a spy and influencer to frustrate the counsel of Absalom’s advisor.  Ittai wanted to go with David and David wanted to leave him there as a plant to keep informed of Absalom’s moves, but his loyalty earned him the right to stay with David and his band instead.   Therefore, Hushai stayed behind as a source of intelligence and dissuasion for David’s cause.  They brought the Ark out of Jerusalem as well, but the king wisely sent it back where it belonged, knowing that it would be in its rightful place should the LORD return him to the throne.  This entire episode was a part of Nathan’s prophecy of division in David’s house for his sin in killing Uriah to have Bathsheba for himself and to cover the fact that he got her pregnant.  What good we do learn here to imitate is that we should submit to circumstances against us at times, but be wise to keep abreast of the ones against us for if and when the Lord restores us.  This does not translate directly in many cases, for we are not divinely appointed kings, yet as kings and priests to our God we are in His sovereign plan, and must be wise to the work of our adversary (1 Peter 5:8) while harmless in our responses (Matthew 10:16, Philippians 2:15).  We live by mercy and truth like Ittai in godly wisdom and actions, not by the sword. 

Plotting and Treason

2 Samuel 15:1-12 

    1 After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.” 3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.” 4 Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.” 5 And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. 6 In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
    7 Now it came to pass after forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow which I made to the LORD. 8 For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the LORD indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.’ ”  9 And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.
    10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’ ” 11 And with Absalom went two hundred men invited from Jerusalem, and they went along innocently and did not know anything. 12 Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city—from Giloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number.

Absalom obviously never forgave his father the king for the banishment and subsequent coldness when allowing him back to Jerusalem.  Though he was the guilty party as avenging murderer of his sister’s attack on his half-brother, he plotted to take over the throne from David as revenge, though he should have been put to death for the murder.  Therefore, he began going out of his way to smear his father as a bad king so they would support his coup to replace David.  This conspiracy of plotted treason grew over time until the time was right, as we shall see in the rest of the chapter.  What we learn from this example is again what not to imitate, but avoid.  We are not to seek vengeance or retaliation for our own sin especially, bit behind accountable and responsible. 

Forgiveness and Reconciliation

2 Samuel 14:25-33
    25 Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he cut the hair of his head—at the end of every year he cut it because it was heavy on him—when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king's standard. 27 To Absalom were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance.
    28 And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, but did not see the king's face. 29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. And when he sent again the second time, he would not come. 30 So he said to his servants, “See, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.
    31 Then Joab arose and came to Absalom's house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”  32 And Absalom answered Joab, “Look, I sent to you, saying, ‘Come here, so that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.” ’ Now therefore, let me see the king's face; but if there is iniquity in me, let him execute me.”
    33 So Joab went to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed Absalom.

Forgiveness and reconciliation are not always instantaneous.  True forgiveness takes time to heal past wounds, and here required an attention getting act to move reconciliation along.  To be brought back from banishment at Joab’s insistence, only to have Absalom’s father not acknowledge his presence displayed a partial forgiveness at best; David still refused to come to see him or invite him to be seen.  A rash and destructive act got Joab’s attention after asking Joab to come mediate a couple times.  He set Joab’s fields ablaze.  That got things moving, and then Joab must have realized that he had initiated the reconciliation to save Absalom’s life and restore David’s son to him by bringing him back.  Joab finally told the king, and David called for his son to come see him at last.  This forgiveness and reconciliation took time to heal the wounds of the murder of the rapist son and forgive the perpetrator enough to not take vengeance.  Son and father were together, but what lasting effects did the hesitation to reconcile and reunite have?  This is a lesson for us to not let the day end before seeking forgiveness when we wrong another, or forgive those who have sinned against us (Ephesians 4:26, Matthew 6:12-14, Mark 11:25-26), remembering that He forgives our sin (1 John 1:9) as well.  We then can learn from David and Absalom to forgive more quickly and reconcile sooner to avoid further harm. 

Well-Intentioned Deceit and Reconciliation

2 Samuel 14:1-24
    1 So Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was concerned about Absalom. 2 And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman, and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel; do not anoint yourself with oil, but act like a woman who has been mourning a long time for the dead. 3 Go to the king and speak to him in this manner.” So Joab put the words in her mouth. 4 And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself, and said, “Help, O king!”
    5 Then the king said to her, “What troubles you?”  And she answered, “Indeed I am a widow, my husband is dead. 6 Now your maidservant had two sons; and the two fought with each other in the field, and there was no one to part them, but the one struck the other and killed him. 7 And now the whole family has risen up against your maidservant, and they said, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may execute him for the life of his brother whom he killed; and we will destroy the heir also.’ So they would extinguish my ember that is left, and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on the earth.”
    8 Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.”  9 And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord, O king, let the iniquity be on me and on my father's house, and the king and his throne be guiltless.”  10 So the king said, “Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you anymore.”  11 Then she said, “Please let the king remember the LORD your God, and do not permit the avenger of blood to destroy anymore, lest they destroy my son.”  And he said, “As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”
    12 Therefore the woman said, “Please, let your maidservant speak another word to my lord the king.”  And he said, “Say on.”  13 So the woman said: “Why then have you schemed such a thing against the people of God? For the king speaks this thing as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring his banished one home again. 14 For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him. 15 Now therefore, I have come to speak of this thing to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. And your maidservant said, ‘I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his maidservant. 16 For the king will hear and deliver his maidservant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together from the inheritance of God.’ 17 Your maidservant said, ‘The word of my lord the king will now be comforting; for as the angel of God, so is my lord the king in discerning good and evil. And may the LORD your God be with you.’ ”
    18 Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Please do not hide from me anything that I ask you.”  And the woman said, “Please, let my lord the king speak.”  19 So the king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” And the woman answered and said, “As you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken. For your servant Joab commanded me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant. 20 To bring about this change of affairs your servant Joab has done this thing; but my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that is in the earth.”
    21 And the king said to Joab, “All right, I have granted this thing. Go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.”  22 Then Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed himself, and thanked the king. And Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant.” 23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24 And the king said, “Let him return to his own house, but do not let him see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king's face.

Here we see well-intentioned deceit which brought about a favorable outcome.  Joab, the commander of David’s forces, could see that the king was very concerned about his son Absalom and yet was torn to restore the murderer of his other son Amnon.  Therefore, Joab hatched a scheme to get David to understand by a parable acted out by a hired woman that he should bring Absalom back to spare him and restore as God also makes ways for banished ones to come back to Him.  This is the mercy and goodness of God for forgiveness and restoration of the sinner.  David was able to see the parable’s meaning, most likely because he recalled the parable of Nathan the prophet as we read in 2 Samuel 12:1-14, and verified it was Joab behind this story.  David allowed Joab to restore Absalom to Jerusalem, but not entirely to himself yet, keeping his distance for a while until relational restoration could be made.  Absalom was not allowed in the king’s presence, but was not pursued anymore to be punished for murder.  We see in a way how God restores, yet still requires personal reconciliation and healing between people, which takes time.  

Revenge Planned and Executed

2 Samuel 13:23-39
    23 And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the king's sons. 24 Then Absalom came to the king and said, “Kindly note, your servant has sheepshearers; please, let the king and his servants go with your servant.”  25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go now, lest we be a burden to you.” Then he urged him, but he would not go; and he blessed him.  26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.”  And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom urged him; so he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
    28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Watch now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant.” 29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled.
    30 And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed all the king's sons, and not one of them is left!” 31 So the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. 32 Then Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered and said, “Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore, let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead. For only Amnon is dead.”
    34 Then Absalom fled. And the young man who was keeping watch lifted his eyes and looked, and there, many people were coming from the road on the hillside behind him. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king's sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is.” 36 So it was, as soon as he had finished speaking, that the king's sons indeed came, and they lifted up their voice and wept. Also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly.
    37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. 38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And King David longed to go to Absalom. For he had been comforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.

The revenge for Absalom’s sister’s rape on his half-brother took over two years of planning and waiting for the moment to execute.  Absalom invited his father the king and all his sons to go with him under the guise of attending a sheep-shearing festival.  David refused, but also did not want Amnon to go, which may have been because he suspected something in the back of his mind.  David knew what Amnon had done to Tamar two years ago, and possibly did not trust Absalom’s request.  Either way, all the sons went and helped kill Amnon in vengeance for his rape of their sister.  There was a false report at first that they all were killed, until all returned but Absalom and Amnon.  The brother of David told him of the determined and premeditated killing of Amnon, as well as the safe return of all the other brothers.  Absalom ran away and the king mourned his lost sons, one dead and the other who fled.  This entire episode in king David’s life was a direct result of his own sin with Uriah and Bathsheba, for his murder of Uriah resulted in more than the death of that newborn child; it also brought the prophet’s curse on his family to set brother against brother and him as well (2 Samuel 12:10).  This clearly shows that vengeance is the LORD’s, not ours, to take, and murder to avenge a wrong does not make anything right, for it is yet another sin piled on a previous one.  This is why we have laws and governments to provide justice and not vengeance (Romans 13:4).  If we take justice into our own hands, we face God’s and the consequences of our own lawlessness. May we learn not to plan and execute revenge on anyone who wrongs us or our family, but trust justice to God in His time through the means He has put in place over us all.   

Amnon, and Tamar - Sin’s Desire and Results

2 Samuel 13:1-22
    1 After this Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2 Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man. 4 And he said to him, “Why are you, the king's son, becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.”
    5 So Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’ ” 6 Then Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar my sister come and make a couple of cakes for me in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”
    7 And David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Now go to your brother Amnon's house, and prepare food for him.” 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was lying down. Then she took flour and kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. 9 And she took the pan and placed them out before him, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said, “Have everyone go out from me.” And they all went out from him. 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them to Amnon her brother in the bedroom. 11 Now when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”
    12 But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! 13 And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.” 14 However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her.
   15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!  16 So she said to him, “No, indeed! This evil of sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me.”  But he would not listen to her. 17 Then he called his servant who attended him, and said, “Here! Put this woman out, away from me, and bolt the door behind her.” 18 Now she had on a robe of many colors, for the king's virgin daughters wore such apparel. And his servant put her out and bolted the door behind her.
    19 Then Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly. 20 And Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.  21 But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 22 And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad. For Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

The sin of lustful desires can be stirred up by bad counsel of ungodly friends.  Here were two half brothers and sister with the younger brother listening to the crafty and evil-minded cousin Jonadab.  Amnon the younger lusted for his half sister Tamar but only let that sin come to conception after being persuaded by ungodly advice of the cunning cousin to set a trap to rape her by feigning illness to gain her presence alone in the guise of nursing him with food.  It quickly turns sinister as Amnon followed the ungodly plan and took her to bed against her will; she even pleaded that he go to their father the king for permission to satisfy his supposed love with marriage, but his love was really only physical desire which he satisfied himself with as he dishonored Tamar, then cast her aside in hateful disgust after the rape.  She was devastated, her brother Absalom by the same mother (Maachah) found out what crime against her and the LORD their half brother Amnon had done, and set his vengeful hate in motion with cold calculation.  King David even got wind of what had happened, but it only angered him at what his son had done.  This entire episode shows the danger of allowing sinful desires to fester in the mind while driven by feelings over obedience to God’s moral law.  We see the patten of sin and death laid out in James 1:14-15 from temptation to forbidden desire (1 John 2:15-16) and on to sin in action, ultimately ending in death.  Genesis 4:7 provided the answer to Amnon, that he should beware of sin’s pull to dominate and overtake his willful thoughts and resulting actions, for he and we are to reign in and over that sin of desire (מָשַׁל mâšal, to rule, dominate).  Amnon listened to evil counsel of a cousin leading him away from God’s clear word of commanding counsel for our good, and the result was devastating to his half sister in the act and hatred afterwards, not to mention the long term repercussions to follow in the family.  Our thoughts must be brought into captivity (Romans 7:23) to Christ and His words of command for life and godliness or we will suffer similar consequences.  What dominates us, sinful satisfaction of temporary (Hebrews 11:25) pleasure to suffer the inevitable consequences, or ruling over these temptations to be pleasing to God by willfully yielding to His good design for our thoughts and behavior? 

Captured Crown of Glory

2 Samuel 12:26-31 

    26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the people of Ammon, and took the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, “I have fought against Rabbah, and I have taken the city's water supply. 28 Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called after my name.” 29 So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, fought against it, and took it. 30 Then he took their king's crown from his head. Its weight was a talent of gold, with precious stones. And it was set on David's head. Also he brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance. 31 And he brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made them cross over to the brick works. So he did to all the cities of the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

David conquered a royal city by the hand of his army’s commander, Joab, taking the final warring action to make it His victory at the behest of Joab.  He did this that the city be named after his king and not himself; Joab honored and served the anointed king of Israel, and wanted the glory to be his and not his own.  David received the crown of the city’s king and wore it.  He also took much treasure and put the people to work as laborers in making bricks, much as Pharaoh had Israel do years before, but without the harshness and abuse.  Instead they were a conquered people put to work and not to death.  This was wise mercy, not cruel enslavement.  Then they returned to Jerusalem after conquering more Ammonite cities in the same way, building up a labor force and wealth for the kingdom.  In a similar way we can look at our battles for the Lord Christ and His glory as His army and servants, taking prisoners from enslavement to sin and putting them to work in the kingdom of God on the way to our heavenly city to come, the Celestial City of God’s presence among the true treasures rescued which are the souls of people set free in Jesus Christ.  A rough analogy, but one brought to mind by this short tale of God’s work here by David and his battles to capture a crown for God’s glory.  It is a short reminder of how David’s Captured Crown of Glory evokes reflection on the crowns we gain to give to the Lord at the end (Revelation 4:10). 

Uncovered Sin Confessed and Consequences

2 Samuel 12:1-25
    1 Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. 3 But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. 4 And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 So David's anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! 6 And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”
    7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! 9 Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. 10 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ ”
    13 So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”  And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.”
    15 Then Nathan departed to his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became ill. 16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!”
    19 When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?”  And they said, “He is dead.”  20 So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate. 21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”  22 And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”
    24 Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her. So she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. Now the LORD loved him, 25 and He sent word by the hand of Nathan the prophet: So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

After David the king abused his power to cover up his adultery and murder, God sent Nathan His spokesman to confront him.  In this passage we see sin uncovered and confessed, but also the inevitable consequences in the midst of mercy and grace.  This event is recorded for us in scripture as a strong warning to each one of us regarding sin’s results, that we may learn to say yes to Jesus’s words and no to sin’s temptations.  David was confronted by the prophet speaking for God to him by way of a parable that he might see the damage of his sin to others and the consequences earned as punishment of righteous judgment for the deed.  It was not, however, a stolen beloved pet lamb of a poor man by a rich man with no pity or care for the loving attachment of the poor man and his family to the only lamb they raised together.  No, this was shown as David’s anger of the injustice and callous self-serving greed in the story revealed he was just as lacking in pity and just as accountable for taking Uriah’s only love, Bathsheba, for himself because he was rich and powerful.  The consequences were far reaching and close at hand; David’s sons and descendants would be filled with violence and his wives taken by others in return for his sinful actions.  David did repent as we see him pour out his contrite and broken heart in Psalm 51, but that did not erase the consequences with cheap grace; his actions brought discredit to God’s people and himself as their leader.  The result was the child of the adulterous act, murderous coverup, and selfish marriage of the widow was taken by the LORD after seven days.  David accepted the judgment of God and the LORD then gave them another son who was loved by Him and chosen to continue the reign leading to the Messiah.  Good came out of the evil, not because of it, but by the grace and goodness of God and His chosen but faulty leader of His people.  We see that sin has consequences, but forgiveness and grace move us forward and restore our relationship with our Lord for His glory and good, as well as our own (1 John 1:9, Romans 8:28).  Let us therefore flee temptation and confess our sin to Him and each other, accepting the consequences and drawing ever more near to Christ our Lord.  

Go Out to Battle to Avoid Temptation

2 Samuel 11:1-27
    1 It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. 2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. 3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. 5 And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.”
    6 Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered. 8 And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah departed from the king's house, and a gift of food from the king followed him. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. 10 So when they told David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?”
    11 And Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.”  12 Then David said to Uriah, “Wait here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 Now when David called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him drunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
    14 In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.” 16 So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men. 17 Then the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And some of the people of the servants of David fell; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
    18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war, 19 and charged the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling the matters of the war to the king, 20 if it happens that the king's wrath rises, and he says to you: ‘Why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? 21 Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’ ”
    22 So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Joab had sent by him. 23 And the messenger said to David, “Surely the men prevailed against us and came out to us in the field; then we drove them back as far as the entrance of the gate. 24 The archers shot from the wall at your servants; and some of the king's servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.”  25 Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab: ‘Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and overthrow it.’ So encourage him.”
    26 When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. 27 And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

When kings should be going out to battle, actively involved in the LORD’s fight, David sent the army and his commanding general while staying home idle.  This is what took his mind off the work which kept him focused on following and doing His will, and led to nighttime walks on the rooftop in those idle times.  There he saw beautiful Bathsheba bathing, obviously naked, and lust overtook his wandering heart and thoughts.  He let this fester even after asking and finding out that she was another man’s wife.  He used his authority as king, having put aside his responsibilities as ruler of the nation and army, and had her brought to him to sleep with her and satisfy his unlawful desires.  She became pregnant.  David tried to cover up the sin instead of confessing it to the LORD and to the husband by having him come back from the battle he should have been fighting in order to have Uriah sleep with his wife to make it appear the child was his.  Uriah was more righteous and devoted to God, not allowing himself pleasure without his wife while others were living in austere field conditions for the battle, unable to enjoy their own wives and doing so for God’s honor and His people.  David went further to arrange Uriah’s demise by putting him on the front lines, then leaving him alone to die.  The coverup complete, David let Bathsheba mourn and then took her as a wife for himself after the arranged murder.  We see here how insidious sin can take over good devotion to the Lord, especially when we are not engaged in living for the Lord’s work, which for us is the gospel of Jesus Christ.  James 1:14-15 sets this pattern for us, showing how desire left unconstrained according to God’s word and precepts leads to such sin as we never would consider possible.  When we are tempted and dwell on those things which appeal to our desires opposed to God’s, that enticement can lead us to disobey what we know clearly the Lord desires, and if left unchecked will lead to death.  This can be spiritual numbness or actual loss of our own or another’s life as the example here demonstrates.  Either way, the lesson here is to be about our Father’s business so that we don’t end up fulfilling our own business of pleasure in ways contrary to the righteousness we are called to in Christ, leading to destructive harm.  We are to avoid such sinful desires (Titus 2:12, 1 Peter 2:11, 4:2-3).  We find in 1 John 2:15-17 that we should be doing the will of God instead of seeking to satisfy our sinful desires.  Let us remember the example here in scripture of David and Uriah and Bathsheba, being about our Father’s business instead of our own in idleness and self gratification which leads to further sin.  When kings (and priests) of the Lord go out to battle, we must not remain idle and fall into destructive temptation as James warns us.  

Enemies Defeated by the LORD

2 Samuel 10:1-19
    1 It happened after this that the king of the people of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 2 Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the people of Ammon. 3 And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?”
    4 Therefore Hanun took David's servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away. 5 When they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”
    6 When the people of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive to David, the people of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot soldiers; and from the king of Maacah one thousand men, and from Ish-Tob twelve thousand men. 7 Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men. 8 Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array at the entrance of the gate. And the Syrians of Zoba, Beth Rehob, Ish-Tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
    9 When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel's best and put them in battle array against the Syrians. 10 And the rest of the people he put under the command of Abishai his brother, that he might set them in battle array against the people of Ammon. 11 Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12 Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
    13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14 When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai, and entered the city. So Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went to Jerusalem.
    15 When the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered together. 16 Then Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River, and they came to Helam. And Shobach the commander of Hadadezer's army went before them. 17 When it was told David, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in battle array against David and fought with him. 18 Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand horsemen of the Syrians, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, who died there. 19 And when all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore. 

David wanted to show kindness to the Ammonite king as was shown him by the man’s father, but he dishonored David’s ambassadors of peaceful intentions instead because of bad counsel based on theories of conspiracy against the king.  He went to battle after the Ammonites realized the consequences of their foolishness and sided with the Syrians as hired help to fight Israel.  David sent Joab, who divided his forces to wage the war against them in the field and city.  They ran the hirelings off and the others hid in the city.  The Syrians were angered because they had been run off, and therefore returned in greater numbers to fight David, but they were soundly defeated and surrendered to serve Israel.  Syria then refused to ally with Ammon again for fear of further loss in defeat.  We then learn several things from this.  Firstly we see David once again demonstrating a desire to show kindness (חֶסֶד ḥeseḏ), which is mercy and kindness often based on a feeling of loyalty or good intentions as he did previously in 2 Samuel 9:1 to Jonathan’s son.  When this offer was mocked and reviled, he acted to defend further attacks from a desired friend turned enemy based on bad counsel.  We are called to turn the cheek and forgive instead of retaliate, however, as Christ showed us a better way (1 Corinthians 12:31-13:1).  We should be ruled by love for our enemies, even when they are misled and manipulated against our desires for their good.  Secondly, we learn that God vindicates His people and is the one who will enact avenge His people with judgment in the end (Revelation 6:10).  This all means that we are not to pursue vengeance, but love our enemies, even when they group together for our harm, whether in actual violence, with slanderous attacks, or even turning governments against us for Christ’s and the gospel’s sake.  Our enemies are defeated by the Lord through our love, not retaliation, as we put ourselves in His sovereign hands.