Monday, February 3, 2014

Life of David - Lesson 35

The Rough Road back Home - 2 Samuel 19:8b-20:3

Prayer: Lord we thank you that you provide forgiveness & healing for our hearts and minds.  We ask that you help us as we strive to love & forgive the people in our lives that have harmed us, help us to do this as a response to your mercy & grace toward us.

Quickly Form Groups:
1.  Think of a situation in your life in which a relationship (family, friendship, co-worker, etc) has been broken.  What is your responsibility in the matter?  What steps should you take to try to rebuild? 

When we last left the narrative on David's life he'd been usurped by his son Absalom, taken his family & trusted troops & fled across the Jordan but left behind some who would provide him vital intelligence.  Then Absalom had gone with his army to find & kill David, but it was Absalom who was killed & his army defeated.  David grieved the death of his son, but recovered from his grief with the help of Joab (his nephew, general, and friend) to the point of being able to once again lead his people.  David at this point in the history is still across the Jordan, headquartered in Mahanaim, and now he is ready to head back home to Jerusalem.  There is a lot of repair-work that needs to be done, we'll see David start to rebuild the people's confidence in him & offer peace as he works through the process of restoring his throne.

2 Samuel 19:8b-10 - The men who had sided with Absalom high-tailed it back home.  The Israelites as a whole seem to be divided - some had wanted Absalom as king, but now Absalom is dead.  Those with some sense (perhaps the older ones with longer memories) reminded the others that David had been a good king, one who was victorious over their enemies.  I get the sense that they were using the argument that any king is better than no king, even if he's not the king you wanted.  As we continue through the next couple chapters its important that we realize that all is not well in Israel, it is a country with divided loyalties, this might help us understand some of David's actions on his return to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 19:11-14 - Remember that these two priests, Zadok & Abiathar, were part of David's intelligence network, so David knew he could rely on them to do his bidding.   As priests it would be natural for them to be leaders in attempting to restore Israel, so as Israel's priests they are asked to call together the elders of Judah (David's tribe) to spearhead David's return.  David wants all Israel to see that though the trouble started in his own family (tribe) that his family was behind him.  Keeping with getting the family back together on his side, David extends a pardon to Amasa (his nephew, cousin of Absalom / Joab / Abishai) and offers to give him Joab's position as his primary general.  Remember that Amasa had been the primary general of Absalom's forces - so this is a "transfer" that will keep him at the same rank, this is a strategic move on David's part to attempt to merge the forces (his and Absalom's) into one & have them loyal to his throne.  I'm sure Joab wasn't happy about this (more on this later in the chapter), but this is the action taken by David that makes me wonder if word had gotten to him that Absalom had died at Joab's hand - that would help explain the demotion of Joab.  In any case, David's strategy seems to work, the men of Judah (his tribe) are now fully behind him & encourage him to return. 

2 Samuel 19:15-18a - David starts the journey home, and gets as far as the East Bank of the Jordan river.  Remember that the Jordan is a major river, and that it acts as a bit of a barrier, crossing the Jordan is no small task & there is a huge entourage that needs to cross.  The men of Judah (David's tribe) have come to Gilgal, near the West Bank of the Jordan, and are preparing to help David & his entourage ford the river.  His tribe is now demonstrating solidarity with David.  There are some others that also come to help, some of which are surprising:
  • Shimei, the most surprising & most unlikely to help & want David, he is a Benjamite, has joined up with the men of Judah.  We'll get back to him in the next few verses.
  • An entourage of 1000 Benjamites with Shimei - this is important, since the tribe of Benjamin is Saul's tribe - the family that had the most reason to resent David were actually being supportive of him.
  • Ziba & his 15 sons & 20 servants - Ziba was the steward of Saul's household & had told David of Mephibosheth (Saul's grandson, Jonathan's son, who was crippled & being cared for by David) siding with Absalom.  Ziba had been loyal to David & had provided provisions for David & his entourage as they fled Jerusalem.  David had promised Ziba he could have all of Saul's household as his own because of Mephibosheth's betrayal (more on this later in the chapter).

2 Samuel (16:5-14 &) 19:18b-23 - I like this guy Shimei, he has guts & conviction, but he also has humility.  Shimei had been convinced that David had deserved being ousted by Absalom (and in actuality what happened was part of the prophecy given to David by Nathan in chapter 12).  David had not disagreed with Shimei at the time, and actually understood that the punishment of being dethroned by his son may have been at God's hands.  Now Shimei realizes that it was not God's plan to remove David, and he humbly comes to David seeking forgiveness.  Abishai, one of David's generals & his nephew, isn't in any mood to be forgiving but David has a forgiving heart.  David also realizes that in order to rebuild his kingdom he'll have to repair broken relationships & forgive & make amends, and this is but one step of many along the way.  Let's not go thinking that David is completely letting Shimei off the hook, on his deathbed he puts Shimei's fate into the hands of his son Solomon - David trusts Solomon's wisdom (given by God) in dealing with this man.

2 Samuel 19:24-30 - Now David has to deal with someone who has betrayed him, or has he?  Mephibosheth comes to meet him, Ziba had indicated that Mephibosheth had betrayed David & sided with Absalom, but we're left wondering.  Mephibosheth has the  appearance of one who had been pining for David's return, but we're left with more questions than answers.  Why didn't he go with David? He has an answer for that, he claims that Ziba betrayed him.  This leaves David in a spot, its really hard for him to know which of these men to believe, and so in order to keep peace he order's that Saul's household be divided between the two men.  I tend to believe Ziba, Mephibosheth seems to be laying it on a bit thick, but only the Lord knows the truth of the matter, and David handled it as best he could.

2 Samuel 19:31-39 - Barzillai, I like this guy, this guy came along side David when he was in need.  Barzillai is old, and this is a healthy reminder to us that God has a purpose for us throughout our lives.  Barzillai had provided for the households of David's band of refugees, given them beds & kitchen items, as well as provided food & drink.  Now Barzillai has come to say goodbye to his friend David, and I can't help but read into the passage a sense of sadness on the part of these two men at their parting - it's likely they would never see each other again in this world.  David tries to get Barzillai to go back to Jerusalem with him, to join him in his court, but Barzillai says no - he's settled and just wants to stay home.  Barzillai offers up Kimham to go in his place, this is likely his son (hinted at elsewhere in scripture), a younger man who could appreciate David's generosity & the pleasures of life in David's court.  David kisses Barzillai, this is a common eastern action when parting company with a dear friend, David pronounces a blessing on him & sends him home.

2 Samuel 19:40-43 - Finally David crosses the Jordan, and Kimham is with him.  All of the troops of Judah & half of the troops of Israel are there to help get David & his entourage safely back to the West side of the river.  But all is not well, there continues to be bad feelings between the men of Judah & the rest of the men of Israel (I get the sense that the trouble is between the troops of the two factions).  There is still a great deal of distrust, the nation of Israel is still divided, and David still has trouble that he will need to deal with - he needs to get these hot-heads all onto the same side.

2 Samuel 20:1-2 - This was predictable, one hot-head decided he wanted to be in charge & so he sounds the trumpet & starts a rebellion - and David has only made his way back as far as crossing the Jordan.  The men of Israel have deserted David, but his own tribe continues to back him.  David wisely doesn't pursue at this point, and instead continues on his way & heads back home.

2 Samuel 20:3 - David is finally home in the palace.  The concubines left behind were violated by Absalom (in fulfillment of God's prophecy to David - a prophecy given through Nathan) & can no longer be a part of David's harem.  It seems odd to us that he would put them in a house under guard, but we need to remember that this guard may have been as much for their protection as for the protection of David's household & throne.  David likely had children by these concubines, so in a way he's taking care of & guarding his family.  The women are provided for, but treated as widows, for the rest of their lives.

Closing Prayer:  Lord I thank you for David's example, how he worked to try to make peace and rebuild trust.  How he loved those who were faithful to his throne & attempted to reconcile with those who were not.  It takes a big man to take the risk & offer a hand of friendship to an enemy, and it shows an amazing heart that longed for peace in Israel.  Help us to be a people who reach out and love our enemies, as you have directed us to do.  Amen!

Quickly Form Groups Again:
2.  What can we do with the Sheba's in our life?  How do you respond to those who don't want to heal, but rather want to tear things apart further?  As believers, what responsibility do we have toward them?

3.  Pray for each other.

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