Tag: 2 Samuel

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

A tough math lesson to learn

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by cottonbro studio on pexels.

A “through the bible” devotion from 2 Samuel 24.

The book of 2 Samuel ends on a sad note. Even though Joab advises against it, David takes a census of Israel.

Here we read that the Lord was angry with Israel and he incited David to call for a count of the people. In the parallel text of 1 Chronicles 21:1, it is Satan at work here. This is one of those times when God allowed a temptation, to teach and discipline David.

The results are impressive: his military forces number 1.3 million. But there is a price to pay. Seventy thousand die by plague because of David’s sin. When you are in leadership, your decisions affect a lot of people, and here, an entire nation.

Exodus 30:12 speaks to this. “When you take a census…” be prepared to make atonement for each one, a contribution, so that there won’t be a plague. These are God’s people, not yours.

What’s going on here? Is David simply curious? Or do the numbers bolster his confidence? Is he finding his strength in numbers rather than in God? David learns that God can take it all away.

I guess we all need that reminder. We need a math lesson. You and I have one God. That’s really as far as we need to count.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Strong words about serious victory

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion from 2 Samuel 22.

When David writes that God his hands for battle, he isn’t kidding (2 Samuel 22:35). David uses vivid and violent words to describe the outcome of the fight.

  • I pursued my enemies and eliminated them (v38).
  • I have devoured and smashed them (v39).
  • I destroyed those who hate me (v41).
  • I pulverized them as the dust of the earth; I crushed and trampled them like the mud of the streets (v43).

When we’re watching crime series on TV, we often wonder why the police or FBI agents don’t just shoot the legs out from underneath a bad guy, or shoot the gun out of his hand. Those who do more shooting than I do have told me that if you are going to use a gun, you don’t fool around. You shoot to kill. At the shooting range, the person-shaped target has a bull’s eye in the middle of the torso.

David didn’t just chase bears and lions away from the flocks he was tending. He killed them (1 Samuel 17:34). He didn’t just knock Goliath out with a stone. He lopped off his head (1 Samuel 17:51). Victory means you’ve killed the enemy.

Rarely do I characterize my Christian life with ruthless words like pulverize, crush, and trample. But maybe I should.

Maybe that’s why Paul writes that “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). You can’t mess around. The only way to victory is death, which Christ endured for me.

And that’s why I can worship and praise God along with David.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Extra fingers and toes

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion from 2 Samuel 21.

You start going to war with the Philistines, and you never know who you’re going to run up against. Their forces include giants with giant weapons. And if that isn’t intimidating enough, “There was a man of great stature who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot” (2 Samuel 21:20).

Little details like this make make me want say, “Tell me that story again!” I wonder if it gives you an edge in hand-to-hand combat. Can you grip a larger sword or spear? Do you have better balance? Or is it just intimidating?

It’s called polydactyly, and it shows up in 1 out of every 500 to 1,000 babies. The extra digit can be on the thumb side, the pinky side, or in between other fingers or toes. Children with this condition have surgery after age one to correct the condition.

Otherwise, you’d never be able to buy a pair of gloves, right? You’d always have to wear mittens. Wouldn’t you need a custom made glove for baseball? Maybe you’d be a star football receiver. You’d need extra wide shoes or sandals, right?

Would it mess you up as you were learning to count? You’d never be able to give someone a high five, would you?

In the mid 1960’s, Topper Toys actually sold a Sixfinger toy spy gun. It shot five different projectiles, could be used as a secret code clicker, and transformed into a ballpoint pen.

Anyway, if you ever encounter someone with an extra digit or two, don’t panic. David and his warriors handily defeated these giant Philistines (21:22).

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Here…catch!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Erik Mclean on pexels

A “through the bible” devotion from 2 Samuel 20.

After Absalom’s death, David has a lot of loose ends to tie up when he returns to Jerusalem. One of them is Sheba who hails from the tribe of Benjamin. He doesn’t support David and rallies others to revolt, too.

Joab, David’s general, leads the search for Sheba and finally besieges the city of Abel Beth-maacah where he’s hiding. With assault ramps in place, they are ready to topple the wall and destroy the city to get to Sheba.

A wise woman speaks to Joab and asks if there might be a peaceful solution. Joab says, “Sure. Just give us Sheba.”

The woman promises, “We’ll throw his head over the wall.” Sure enough, she gets the people to cut off Sheba’s head and toss it to Joab (2 Samuel 20:22).

I’ve thrown pumpkins off the top of a fraternity house. Please don’t ask me why we did this. It must have been after the annual pumpkin patch raid and a lot of beer. It was fun. And it was a mess.

A human head hitting the ground? Not fun. Bloody. Disgusting. A city escapes destruction. Joab and David win a victory. And someone gets to take home a head!

I don’t remember coloring a page about this in Sunday School. We would have needed some extra red crayons!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

I just can’t wait to be king!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Christian Chen on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from 2 Samuel 15.

The light turned green, but I waited for a moment. In that moment, a car sped through the intersection. If I hadn’t hesitated, I might have died in the collision.

I’m very glad I waited.

If Absalom had just waited, he would have ascended to the throne when his father David died. But he can’t wait. He just can’t wait to be king.

So Absalom starts acting like he’s running for office.

  • He rides around in a chariot with fifty attendants, as if he were the king (2 Samuel 15:1). Optics are important, right?
  • He’s got time for people who can’t get an audience with the king. He makes campaign promises like, “If I were appointed judge in the land…everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.” (15:4)
  • He treats everyone like a friend. “Whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him” (15:5). 

Absalom did this for four years and “stole the hearts of the people of Israel” (15:6). His popularity soars and the people are willing to declare him to be king. David wisely flees before any violence breaks out.

There will be plenty of violence. But when the dust settles, Absalom dies. David retains the throne.

If only Absalom had waited.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Acting out

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Jure Širić on pexels

A “through the bible” devotion from 2 Samuel 14.

I can tell when my dogs feel like they aren’t getting enough attention. They go out of their way to find a grandkid’s toy to chew on, one of my socks to drag into the backyard, or a stick to bring into the house from the backyard. One of the dogs will “spite pee” on a bathroom rug if he’s feeling ignored. They know how to get our attention!

They’re just like kids, only furrier. Children know they’ll get plenty of attention if they misbehave, make a mess, or ignore you when you are talking to them.

It’s a tale as old as time.

David and his son Absalom are estranged after some family drama. David’s oldest son Amnon rapes his half-sister Tamar. Two years later, Absalom, her brother, avenges her by having a drunk Amnon murdered at a feast. It is three years before David summons Absalom back to Jerusalem. But they don’t actually meet face-to-face. Guess what message that sends?

Two years later, Absalom wants Joab, David’s general, to arrange a meeting. Joab ignores him twice, so Absalom sets fire to Joab’s barley field. That gets his attention and an audience with his father, the king.

I know, that is extreme. But it makes me wonder, what have I done because I wanted or needed attention? Complain? Say a long, long prayer? Ignore someone? Say something inflammatory? Speak loudly? Or proudly?

In those moments, I need to remember that God always pays attention. As soon as I begin to pray, he’s listening. Sometimes he’ll say, “Cut it out!” (Repent!). Other times he’ll say, “Sounds good. Here you go.” Still other times He’ll just listen. My prayer goes on and on. He just listens.

He doesn’t notice me because I act out or accomplish something. He’s my God. He’s my Father. And I will always be his dearly loved child.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

David’s most shameful moment

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from 2 Samuel 11 and 12.

Imagine having the account of your most shameful behavior published in the best selling book of all time. Peter’s denial of Jesus is recorded in scripture. Paul’s persecution of Christians is documented. Moses has to explain why he can’t go into the promised land in the Pentetuech. (He hit the rock to get water instead of speaking to it.) Noah gets drunk and naked after the floodwaters recede. Judah sleeps with his daughter-in-law Tamar.

I never like reading about David’s affair with Bathsheba and his attempt to cover it up, ultimately leading to the death of Uriah (2 Samuel 11). Everything is going so well for David, and suddenly, it all falls apart. Not only will his child die, but there will be conflict among his other children.

My heart breaks when I read David’s words, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:13). David hasn’t just hurt other people. He has turned against God himself. Any sin affects our relationship with God. David offers no excuses. He simply confesses.

I wonder how the author of 1 Samuel knew of this moment? I doubt that the prophet Nathan said anything. David must have talked about it. Perhaps he told the story when asked why he wrote Psalm 51.

When you think about it, all of our most shameful moments become Jesus most shameful moments. “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). In exchange, we put on Christ and his best moments, his righteousness.

All the people God uses have issues. They are broken. But it’s about the people God uses. It’s about the God who uses them. It’s about the gracious God who uses you and me.