BREAKING FREE FROM DROUGHT

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, "It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death."

The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.) David asked the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you? How shall I make amends so that you will bless the Lord's inheritance?"

The Gibeonites answered him, "We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death."

"What do you want me to do for you?" David asked.

They answered the king, "As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and exposed before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord 's chosen one."

So the king said, "I will give them to you."

The king spared Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the Lord between David and Jonathan, son of Saul. But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah's daughter, Rizpah, whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, whom she had borne to Adriel, son of Barzillai the Meholathite. He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed and exposed them on a hill before the Lord. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.

Rizpah, daughter of Aiah, took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds of the air touch them by day or the wild animals by night. When David was told what Aiah's daughter, Rizpah, Saul's concubine, had done, he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had taken them secretly from the public square at Beth Shan where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.) David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.

They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul's father, Kish, at Zela in Benjamin and did everything the king commanded.

After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.

2 Samuel 21:1-14

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Have you ever been at a place in life where you felt spiritually dried up…thirsty…in need of relief?

The day after day grind and the challenges we face within can definitely make us feel this way, especially in times of difficulty. And as much as we try to sustain our faith, we still find ourselves sometimes slowly losing it as the searing rays of hardship beat down on our souls and try and dry up our sense of hope, leaving us yearning for help and rescue.

Well, as chapter 21 of 2nd Samuel opens, we find Israel experiencing a literal, physical drought which brought about a deep famine over the nation that lasted “three successive years”. It was so severe and taxing on the country that we see where King David went to seek “the face of the Lord” for relief and deliverance. It was then, as he asked God about why the drought was so severe and ongoing, that he learned why it was happening. We read the Lord telling him:

“It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death."

Now you’ll recall that toward the latter part of his reign, Saul was disobedient, more frequently dishonoring God by rejecting His Word and will than not. The case of the Gibeonites was a good example of that.

For Joshua and the “leaders of the assembly” had made an oath and treaty of peace before the Lord to allow the Gibeonites to live (Joshua 9:15, 18) but then Saul later decided to ignore that oath, attacking and killing Gibeon’s people. Now, his actions were resulting in judgment on the Israelites in David’s time.

After speaking with God and now armed with the reason for the drought, the scriptures show us how David took positive steps to try and correct the problem and end Israel’s famine. We read where he “summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them” asking:

“What shall I do for you? How shall I make amends so that you will bless the Lord's inheritance?"

David’s question shows us that the ball was clearly in the court of the Gibeonites with no restrictions on what they could ask for. They responded with the following acceptable reparation for what Saul had done saying:

“We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death…As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and exposed before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord 's chosen one."

We should note here that the Gibeonites didn’t ask for anything that wasn’t connected to Saul, the one who had committed the crimes against them. It was a request that David saw as reasonable and so he vowed to honor their request by giving the them seven of Saul’s male descendants…two sons that Saul had with his concubine Rizpah (Armoni and Mephibosheth) as well as the five sons of Saul's daughter, Merab. The seven men were “handed…over to the Gibeonites, who killed and exposed them on a hill before the Lord…during the first days of the harvest just as the barley harvest was beginning”.

With this, restitution had been made and after David ensured the slain men were given a proper burial along with the bones of Saul and Jonathan in the tomb of Kish, Saul’s father, the scriptures tell us that “God answered prayer in behalf of the land” and ended the drought and famine.

Through David’s actions, we see the way to break free from the spiritual droughts that might come upon our lives for all we need to do is to go to the Lord to find the way toward relief. Indeed, He holds all the answers to our questions…the One who is the Fount of all wisdom and knowledge…the Author of our salvation…and the Maker and Sustainer of our souls. Indeed, the Lord and the Lord alone brings an internal holy, divine rain to fall down within, watering our inner dryness and bringing us back to life when we go through tough times that create famines within our hearts and minds. Relief and release from our difficulties always begins with Him.

Consider these words from prophet Jeremiah:

“Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, O Lord our God. Therefore our hope is in You, for You are the One who does all this.” Jeremiah 14:22

We need to remember that our enemy, Satan, is very skilled at driving God’s people toward seeking help from anyone or anything else other than the Lord when people experience personal troubles…and we unfortunately fall into that trap way too often.

But my friends, God’s Word is truth and the truth is that we can’t find true, life-restoring spiritual rain to moisten our dried out souls and reinvigorate our faith from any other source except the Lord…the One through which all things are possible. When we do this, we see where God always keeps His promises to break our spiritual drought and water our souls in such a way that brings inner life welling up into eternal life…the living water that Jesus spoke of when he met the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well (John 4).

Before I close today’s important message, some words from God as found in the Book of Isaiah:

“You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the Lord, have created it.” Isaiah 45:8

This is my prayer for you today…that the Lord would send His heavenly rain down on you to break through any spiritual drought you may be experiencing. I ask that He might send showers of righteousness upon you so to “let salvation spring up” anew…just like the sprouting of the plants after God opened up the heavens and sent physical rain on Israel.

Brother and sisters, God is ready, able, and more than willing to help us get through the difficult times that are inevitable in life. He has been, is, and will always be our very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1)…the only One through which we have hope…and the only One who water our thirsty souls so to restore us over and over again.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

THE VOICE OF REASON

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

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Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah and through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered together and followed him. All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maacah. They built a siege ramp up to the city and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down, a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him." He went toward her and she asked, "Are you Joab?"

"I am," he answered.

She said, "Listen to what your servant has to say."

"I'm listening," he said.

She continued, "Long ago they used to say, 'Get your answer at Abel,' and that settled it. We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord's inheritance?"

"Far be it from me!" Joab replied, "Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! That is not the case. A man named Sheba, son of Bicri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man and I'll withdraw from the city."

The woman said to Joab, "His head will be thrown to you from the wall."

Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice and they cut off the head of Sheba, son of Bicri, and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.

Joab was over Israel's entire army; Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; Adoniram was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was recorder; Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; and Ira the Jairite was David's priest.

2 Samuel 20:14-26

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Have you ever been in a situation where you were about to make a really bad decision only to be saved by someone who became your voice of reason, preventing you from really messing up?

I know I have…and in fact, it happens all the time. More on that later.

In today’s scripture passage, we see in 2 Samuel, chapter 20 where Joab is in pursuit of a man named Sheba. You’ll recall that David had sent all of Joab’s men out after him with Abishai as their commander after Amasa, his appointed army commander, was late returning as ordered. As they pursued Sheba, Joab proceeded to kill Amasa who had joined the forces and this technically left Abishai in charge although as we see in today’s passage, Joab took it on himself to run the show after the men chose to follow him.

Of course, David was back in Jerusalem and unaware of any of this.

Well, Sheba, needing a place to escape from the approaching Israelite army, “passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah and through the entire region of the Berites”, finally gaining some men for his side when the Berites “gathered together and followed him”. And with Sheba sheltering inside the fortress walls of Abel Beth Maacah, “all the troops with Joab came and besieged” the city. Seeking to gain access, Joab had his men build a “siege ramp”, standing it “against the outer fortifications” while “battering the wall to bring it down”.

Now you’ll remember that Joab had a reputation as being ruthless, showing he would even resort to murdering if that’s what it took to get what he wanted. And so as he had his men batter their way into the city, we know he had no real concern for the city or its people within, even if they were fellow Israelites and the city itself was part of God’s promised land. The bottom line was that he would capture and kill Sheba, no matter what had to happen…and it was into this place that a voice of reason entered in.  

For the scriptures tell us that a “wise woman” called down to Joab’s men as they battered away saying:

“Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him."

When he came to hear what she had to say, she asked him to hear her out which he agreed to do. So with communications lines opened, the woman went on to question Joab, almost querying him to see if he had really thought about what he was doing. She said:

"Long ago they used to say, 'Get your answer at Abel,' and that settled it. We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord's inheritance?"

Putting this in other words, the wise woman was essentially asking Joab:

“Have you lost your mind? Why in the world would you want to destroy a peaceful people and destroy a blessed city in Israel, thus swallowing up people and property that belonged to God?”

The voice of reason had spoken…and as we see, it got immediate results for Joab quickly responded to the woman’s words by letting her know he wasn’t as interested in swallowing up and destroying the city as he was in capturing Sheba who had “lifted up his hand against” King David. With that, we find Joab asking for just one thing from the woman…that she hand over Sheba. If she did this, he would “withdraw from the city” to which the woman replied:

“His head will be thrown to you from the wall."

And that’s what happened as she made good on her promise after going to the people within the city “with her wise advice”. They proceeded to “cut off the head of Sheba” and throw it over the wall to Joab.

With that, Joab “sounded the trumpet” and “his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home” while “Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem”. Needless loss of life and destruction had been averted…all because of the wise woman’s voice of reason, a voice that even altered the plans of someone as determined as Joab.

Now…back to my opening remarks. For I am consistently receiving the voice of reason and, in turn, I am consistently kept out of trouble.

In our passage for today, the wise woman offered her guidance as a servant to Joab who she acknowledged as having the upper hand with his army besieging the city.

In regard to my daily life, I am a servant to the Lord who is my Master who is always speaking to me by way of the Holy Spirit, just as He does to anyone who places their faith and trust in Him. Through Him, we receive all the reason and wisdom we could ever ask for. It’s up to us then to accept the direction and put it into practice…for it’s only then that we can be assured we’ll do the right and righteous thing and avoid doing something sinful, just as Joab was diverted from needlessly destroying a whole city and its people over the quest for one man.

Later, Solomon, David’s son, would write important words to validate this truth as he said this in the second chapter of Proverbs:

“For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” v.6

Given this, we would be well served stop leaning on our own understanding and reason, submitting to God’s instead. For when we do this, we can live in a spirit of contentment, knowing we are walking obediently with our Lord. Going back to the Proverbs, we find Solomon affirm this when he wrote:

“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding…” (3:13)

I don’t know about you but I like being blessed by the Lord. In fact, I can’t get enough of it and so I have conditioned myself to always listen to his voice of reason, a voice that will always lead me in the right way for it will be the way He wants me to live as I do the things He wants me to do.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

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When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but did not lie with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.

Then the king said to Amasa, "Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days and be here yourself." But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him.

David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba, son of Bicri, will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master's men and pursue him or he will find fortified cities and escape from us."

So Joab's men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba, son of Bicri.

While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath.

Joab said to Amasa, "How are you, my brother?"

Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab's hand and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba, son of Bicri.

One of Joab's men stood beside Amasa and said, "Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!"

Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him. After Amasa had been removed from the road, all the men went on with Joab to pursue Sheba, son of Bicri.

2 Samuel 20:3-13

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Have you ever known of anyone who was so desperate for something that they were willing to do whatever it took to get it, even if it meant killing someone?

I hate to have to say this but it does happen…and not just once a day but many times over throughout this world we live in...a world watched over by the God who created it.

Unfortunately those who are so blinded by their own selfish ambitions that they disregard anyone or anything that gets in their way fail to see that the Lord sees all that they do…and doesn’t forget when repentance fails to take place. In today’s passage, we find Joab, David’s deposed army commander, once again take center stage with murderous intentions.

You may remember that it was Joab who disregarded David’s plea to be gentle with his son Absalom, instead choosing to kill him with three javelins after his hair got caught in the branches of a large oak tree (2 Samuel 18:9-15). This would lead to David losing confidence in Joab’s leadership and appointing Amasa, Absalom’s former army commander, to take his place (2 Samuel 17:25, 19:13).

Well, as chapter 20 opens, we see where David seeks to send his army after Sheba, who you’ll recall sparked divisiveness by calling on the ten tribes of Israel to leave David and follow him instead (2 Samuel 20:1-2). The scriptures tell us that David called on Amasa to:

"Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself."

And so Amasa did as David requested and “went to summon Judah”. For some unknown reason, Amasa took “longer than the time the king had set for him” to return and so the king turned to Abishai, saying:

"Now Sheba, son of Bicri, will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master's men and pursue him or he will find fortified cities and escape from us."

We sense the urgency David felt as he could no longer wait for Amasa to come at the risk of losing his opportunity to capture Sheba, but note that he decided not to turn to Joab but instead turned his (Joab's) men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors” over to the “command of Abishai” who marched the forces “out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba”.

Now, this had to have rankled Joab as he saw an army that was once under his command placed under yet another man’s leadership, even if it was his brother, but we see where this didn’t cause him to remain in Jerusalem and not go into battle. Instead, he was in the midst of the forces when they arrived at a “great rock in Gibeon” where Amasa finally “came to meet them”.

The scriptures tell us that “Joab was wearing his military tunic” with a “belt with a dagger in its sheath” which was strapped on his waist. And as Joab stepped forward to greet Amasa, his dagger “dropped out of its sheath”, something that seemed innocent enough but there was definitely evil intent behind it for as Joab greeted Amasa, taking him “by the beard” with “his right hand” as if to kiss him, he took the dagger and “plunged it into” Amasa’s belly. We read where this killed Amasa and caused his intestines to spill out on the ground.

As I read this, I couldn't help but think it was a precursor to what was yet to come as we know Judas Iscariot would betray Jesus with a kiss.  

Back to the scriptures, where we see that Joab and Abishai left Amasa there and proceeded to continue their pursuit of Sheba.

So would Joab get what he wanted? Did he achieve his goal of regaining command by murdering his competition?

Well, we read where he did indeed succeed for as Joab and Abishai moved forward, “one of Joab's men stood beside Amasa” and said, "Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!" And with that, Joab regained control of the army, completely unbeknownst to David. Ironically, Sheba wasn’t the only one involved in a rebellion.

Meanwhile, the body of Amasa still was in the “middle of the road” and “wallowing in his blood”. This was causing a distraction for the advancing forces who stopped as they reached him to see what had happened. So one of Joab’s men dragged Amasa “from the road into a field and threw a garment over him”. With this done, “all the men went on with Joab to pursue Sheba”.

In Joab, we see the sinful approach to doing whatever it takes for it can lead someone to do anything to get what they want, even take another’s life. Thank goodness that as Christians, the Bible gives us a much different and holy approach to the “whatever it takes” principle through examining the life of Jesus, the One who gives us our identity as believers.

For in Jesus, we see a perfectly righteous man who was willing to do whatever it takes, not for His own gain, but for the gain of everyone else. He came to teach and to heal and to guide…but most of all to save and to bring love…a love that knew no boundaries…a love that would lead Him to willingly die for the sins of all mankind on Calvary’s cross to purchase the pardon of anyone who would simply believe in Him.

Indeed, Jesus showed us that He was willing to do whatever it took to save a dying world in need…a world of sinners destined for Hell, and He fully expects us to follow His lead and do the same. This is why He gave us the clearest instructions possible before He ascended into Heaven to sit at the Father’s right hand saying:

"All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

Before Jesus departed this world to assume His place of power and authority over creation from Heaven, He appointed His disciples, past and present, to carry on His work until He returns again. Through His Great Commission found in Matthew’s Gospel, He gave us words of action that fully reflect His selfless, self-sacrificial attitude. For note how He called us to get outside of ourselves in order to serve others…seeking to help others come to believe in Him as well, therefore making them disciples. Then, we’re commanded to baptize these believers so they can publicly show how they have aligned themselves with Jesus, dying to self in order to become new creations in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17). We’re also to continuously teach those new Christians to obey all that He commanded.

As we do this work, He gave us the great comfort to know that we never do it alone for He promised to be with us until “the very end of the age”.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus called us to go forth and to serve others selflessly, just as He did…and as we do, He ever walks along with us…leading us…protecting us…and encouraging us to willingly do whatever it takes to help others find their salvation in Him, even if it means we might lose our life in the process.

Today, and every day, let us give thanks to God for sending the indescribable gift of His Son Jesus (2 Corinthians 9:15), the One we get to follow and serve until that day when He comes back to take us with Him to Heaven forever.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

THE DANGER OF DIVISIVENESS

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

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Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan together with all his men

All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?”

Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king; and besides, we have a greater claim on David than you have. So why do you treat us with contempt? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?”

But the men of Judah responded even more harshly than the men of Israel.

Now a troublemaker named Sheba. son of Bicri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, “We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, O Israel!”

So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba, son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 19:41-43, 20:1-2

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As we see in the closing verses of 2 Samuel, chapter 19 and the opening two verses of chapter 20, David, the king of Israel, was finally making his way back to Jerusalem after his brief exile caused by his son, Absalom, who had rebelled against him. You’ll remember that it was a time of unrest and disruption for him and his people and I’m sure there was little doubt that David and his followers were looking forward to returning home, getting things back to normal, and experiencing a little peace. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for yet another conflict to arise for we see in the scriptures where the men of Israel come to David with a complaint.

At the heart of their grievance were feelings of hurt from not being included in David’s return to Jerusalem. We see where they accused “the men of Judah of “stealing the king away” and “bringing him and his household across the Jordan together with all his men”.

Well, we see where this accusation didn’t sit well with the men of Judah who responded to the Israelites saying:

“We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?”

Indeed, what were the Israelites angry about it?

After all, they had first aligned with Absalom and his treacherous betrayal of David. It was only after Absalom had died that the people of Israel decided to go back to David and allow him to lead them again.

And so when it came right down to it, the men of Judah wished to see David home and so they did. They received no special favor or gain from what they did and yet the Israelites felt they had been violated…and, in doing so, allowed their envy to escalate the discord at hand.

For the Israelites could have accepted the words of the men of Judah and dropped the whole matter right there but they didn’t.

I wonder if this may have happened to you at some time.

Have you ever had someone start an argument with you about something petty and despite your best efforts to defend yourself and diffuse the situation, your adversary wouldn’t give up, seemingly trying to keep the dispute going?

I know I have.

Well, this is what happened between the men of Israel and Judah for we see where the Israelites refused to let the squabble end. Instead, they moved on from jealousy to downright selfishness…another emotion that stokes the flames of divisiveness.

For we read where the Israelites suggest that they have a greater claim on the king than the men of Judah, as if David was a piece of their territory in the Promised Land as they said:

“We have ten shares in the king; and besides, we have a greater claim on David than you have. So why do you treat us with contempt? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?”

Here, we see the people of Israel bonding together as ten tribes against Judah. They felt then that this made them a majority that deserved a greater share and more rights when it came to dealings with the king, including being able to usher him back home to Jerusalem. When that didn’t happen, the Israelites saw Judah as treating them with contempt.

So how did the men of Judah respond to the selfish, king-possessive attitude of the Israelites?

Well, as you might have predicted and God’s word confirms, they “responded even more harshly than the men of Israel”, a decision that led the fight to a breaking point. All that was needed was someone or something to facilitate the fracture and we see where this happened in the person of a man named Sheba.

Quick question…

Do you think Satan uses people and circumstances to bring about conflict?

You bet he does for the enemy wants nothing more than to destroy every good and perfect thing that God puts together, especially relationships…and he’s willing to use anyone or anything to make that happen. He’s skilled in exploiting the sin potential within anyone to breed strife and disrupt what God may be trying to do within His kingdom here on earth.

Back to the scriptures where we’re introduced to a Benjamite named Sheba who could be labeled in the scriptures by one single word…troublemaker. For we read where he sounded a trumpet and shouted to his fellow Israelites:

“We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, O Israel!”

And that was all that was needed to cause a schism within the nation of Israel as the Israelites chose to desert “David to follow Sheba” while “the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem”. The kingdom that God designed to be united instead became segregated, showing us the dangerous nature of divisiveness first-hand.

Unfortunately, this was just a precursor of an even greater split still yet to come after David’s son Solomon, who would inherit the throne from his father, would die and hand the rule of the kingdom over to his son, Rehoboam. We’ll get there down the road but for today, let me close with some more questions:

Do we not see divisiveness all around us today?

In our local, state, federal, and world governments?

In our communities?

In our work and personal relationships?

And even in our churches?

Truly, the devil is hard at work to separate…to divide and conquer people and he’s finding more than his fair share of victories every day, causing great angst and trouble through divisiveness.

So what are we to do about this as a people of the Lord?

We can start by never allowing ourselves to be a part of the problem.

In other words, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us so that we can recognize when the enemy is work trying to bring disputes that will divide vice unite. That includes watching out for others who try and sow discord as well as avoiding being a willing party to say or do things that might cause divisiveness.

When we turn to the Lord, the one true source of perfect unity…the One through which we all can stand on common ground…the One who calls us to peace and love for others, then and only then can we avoid getting caught up in feelings of jealousy, or envy, or retaliation that only serve to divide. He will always work to keep us from repeating the mistakes of the past like we see in today’s scripture passage.

Today and every day, let’s all commit ourselves to remain focused fully on Jesus, the One who bonds us together as believers…the One who is constant and perfectly consistent…the One who promised to be with us until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20) and therefore will never leave us nor forsake us.

Friends, God’s Word reminds us that His Son, Lord Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). When we truly decide to surrender our hearts, minds, and lives to Him, then and only then will we become like Him in every way, joined together in perfect unity and harmony so that divisiveness becomes a thing of the past.

Let’s make this our daily prayer for ourselves and this world we live in…the world God created.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

THE BEAUTY OF SELFLESSNESS

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

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Barzillai the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from there. Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim for he was a very wealthy man. The king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem and I will provide for you."

But Barzillai answered the king, "How many more years will I live that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance but why should the king reward me in this way? Let your servant return that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever pleases you."

The king said, "Kimham shall cross over with me and I will do for him whatever pleases you. And anything you desire from me I will do for you."

So all the people crossed the Jordan and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing and Barzillai returned to his home.

When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel had taken the king over.

2 Samuel 19:31-40

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As David began his return to Jerusalem in 2 Samuel, chapter 19, we have seen him run into some people from his past.

First, he encountered Shimei who had cursed him and his men, throwing rocks and dirt at them as they fled Jerusalem (2 Samuel 16:9-14). When they reunited near the Jordan River, you’ll remember how Shimei threw himself down at David’s feet and asked for mercy which was granted.

Then, David encountered Mephibosheth who had not gone with David when he fled because he was crippled. You’ll recall that Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s son and so Saul would have been his grandfather.

David sought to show God’s kindness to Mephibosheth and did so by granting him all the land that had belonged to Saul and allowing him to dine at the royal table. Additionally, David appointed a special steward for Mephibosheth named Ziba who showed himself later as deceiving, lying about the reason that Mephibosheth had not joined him as he fled Jerusalem. Not waiting until he could hear the other side of things, David gave Ziba everything he had given Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 16:1-4).

Later, David met with Mephibosheth upon his return to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 19:24-30). It was then that he learned the truth and realized Ziba had duped him. He restored half of the original allotment back to Mephibosheth.

Finally, we see in our passage today that David meets “Barzillai the Gileadite” who had come down from “Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king” so to “send him on his way from there”.

As with the first two men David met, Barzillai was not a stranger. For as David and his people fled, becoming hungry, thirsty, and tired, they came to the town of Mahanaim where they were provided “bedding and bowls and articles of pottery” as well as “wheat and barley, flour, and roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk” by three men, one of which being Barzillai (2 Samuel 17:24-29).

The scriptures told us that Barzillai was a “very old man, eighty years of age” and was “very wealthy”. Remembering the wonderful hospitality that Barzillai had shown in Mahanaim, David extended the following invitation:

“Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you."

This was quite an offer because not many people were granted an audience with the king let alone have him provide for their needs. Surely, the request had to be pretty enticing for a man who was up in years and could benefit greatly for special accommodations as he continued to grow older.

But in Barzillai, we see something special beyond his hospitable nature for we see him display an attitude of selflessness as he responds to David’s proposal with the following:

“How many more years will I live that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance but why should the king reward me in this way? Let your servant return that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever pleases you."

We read where David honors Barzillai’s request, allowing the servant Kimham to cross over the Jordan with him while promising to do whatever pleases him. Bit note that David wouldn’t allow Barzillai to completely escape his gratitude because he further promised that he would do anything that Barzillai desired from him.

And with that, “all the people crossed the Jordan” followed by David…and as he crossed over, he “kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing”. Then, “Barzillai returned to his home” while Kimham crossed with David to Gilgal, richly blessed beyond his dreams because of the selfless act of Barzillai…an act that placed Kimham in the care of his king.

You know, as I meditated on this message today, I couldn’t help but think about Jesus. For He had secured an audience with the King of all kings, one with God the Father because He was His Son (John 10:30). With that, He had everything He could ever ask for and could have just looked after Himself.

After all, who did He have to fear? Who was greater or more powerful than Him?

And yet, Jesus, like Barzillai, showed us the beauty of selflessness when He willingly decided to put Himself aside so that one day anyone who believed in Him as Savior could have an audience with the King as well. Consider this from Luke’s Gospel:

When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him, along with the criminals — one on His right, the other on His left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up His clothes by casting lots.

The people stood watching and the rulers even sneered at Him. They said, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."

The soldiers also came up and mocked Him. They offered Him wine vinegar and said, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." Luke 23:33-37

Jesus clearly heard the challenges from below as He hung bleeding, suffering, and dying a slow death.

“Let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

“If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”

Little did those who mocked Him realize that He absolutely could have saved Himself and struck them all dead in a moment’s notice. He could have adopted a vindictive mindset that felt like He didn’t have to die for these people who were so sinful and ungracious…but He did, amazingly with a spirit of forgiveness as He asked this from His Father:

"…forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

And with that, He willfully submitted Himself to die a criminal’s death on that cross at Calvary, showing all mankind that He was an almighty, loving, powerful Savior who knew that providing a salvation opportunity for all sinners was a far greater and noble act than saving Himself.

Friends, in Christ Jesus, we see the beauty of selflessness fully revealed…a beauty that He expects us to model in our own lives. For through His actions, we see that what’s most important isn’t what we do for ourselves but rather what we do for others. It was this unselfish attitude that led the Apostle Paul to write the following Christ-inspired words in his letter to the Romans:

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3

Friends, let us commit ourselves to live out this verse in our lives every day, thinking about ourselves with sober judgment while not considering that we’re superior to others. Let us be willing to place our own interests aside and seek to make a difference in the lives of those who are in need.

For when we do this, we will show ourselves as Christ-like, as we’re to do as Christians, and reflect the very spirit of Jesus Himself…who taught us the full beauty of selflessness by example.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

NOT GUILTY

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

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Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes. Throughout the tribes of Israel, the people were all arguing with each other, saying, "The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country because of Absalom; and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"

King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: "Ask the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters? You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?' And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab.'"

He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man. They sent word to the king, "Return, you and all your men."

Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan.

Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. Shimei, son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. With him were a thousand Benjamites, along with Ziba, the steward of Saul's household and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the Jordan where the king was. They crossed at the ford to take the king's household over and to do whatever he wished.

When Shimei, son of Gera, crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king and said to him, "May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. For I your servant know that I have sinned but today I have come here as the first of the whole house of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king."

Then Abishai, son of Zeruiah, said, "Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the Lord's anointed."

David replied, "What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? This day you have become my adversaries! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Do I not know that today I am king over Israel?"

So the king said to Shimei, "You shall not die." And the king promised him on oath.

2 Samuel 19:8b-23

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In the first part of 2 Samuel, chapter 19, we saw where Joab had to jostle David out of his attitude of mourning to show gratitude and appreciation towards the men who had fought so valiantly on his behalf in the battle against Absalom and the Israelites who chose to follow him. And so David followed Joab’s counsel, emerged from his sequestered mourning, and presented himself to the people.

Meanwhile, we read where those who had decided to align themselves with Absalom and his attempted coup to kill and unseat David, “fled to their homes” and arguments began to arise “throughout the tribes of Israel”. Those tribes were saying to one another:

“The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country because of Absalom; and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"

While this argument was occurring, the scriptures tell us that David decided to send the following message to the elders of Judah through his priests Zadok and Abiathar:

"Ask the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters? You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?' And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab.'"

Note here that there are two parts of David’s appeal.

First, he was seeking to have the elders of Judah bring him back to Jerusalem as king now that Absalom was dead, fortifying his request by reminding the elders that they were David’s “own flesh and blood”.

Secondly, David also had decided to replace Joab with Amasa, his blood relative and Absalom’s army commander. In regard to this, we’re not told that David was angry at Joab for killing his son against his orders but his actions sure send a message that Joab had fallen out of favor with the king. Unfortunately, we will soon see where Joab once again will take authority into his own hands, choosing to take out Amasa.

Back to the scriptures where we see how David’s words were effective as he “won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man” and they sent the following word to him:

"Return, you and all your men."

And so that’s just what happened as David began to go back to the holy capital city of Jerusalem (ironically referred to as the “city of David), going as far as the Jordan.

Meanwhile, “the men of Judah” went to Gilgal so they could “meet the king and bring him across the Jordan” and they were joined by “Shimei…the Benjamite from Bahurim” who “hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David” along with “a thousand Benjamites”. “Ziba, the steward of Saul's household” was in their company as well along with “his fifteen sons and twenty servants”.

What an encouraging sight this must have been for David as he approached the Jordan and saw such a large welcome party! Truly, it was a king’s welcome as the crowd “rushed to the Jordan” and “crossed at the ford to take the king's household over and to do whatever he wished”.

Well, one of those who did so, Shimei, “fell prostrate before” David and said to him:

"May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first of the whole house of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king."

For some context here, we need to rewind to chapter 16. There you may recall that as David fled Jerusalem with his people after learning of Absalom’s rebellion, he encountered a man named Shimei as he approached Bahurim. You’ll recall how Shimei, a man from the same clan as Saul, came out and cursed David and his men, pelting them with rocks and showering them with dirt. Because of this, Abishai wanted to kill him for his actions but David chastised him, feeling that the Lord had a reason for him to be cursed. And so he let Shimei continue his actions as he walked away from him and Bahurim (2 Samuel 16:5-14).

Well, as we see in today’s passage, Abishai hadn’t forgotten what Shimei had done and still held a grudge against him as he bowed down before Israel’s king hoping for mercy. After all, most any other king wouldn’t have hesitates to execute any man who cursed him let alone throw rocks and dirt as well.

Unfortunately, Abishai forgot one thing for David wasn’t just any king. He was a king who was after God’s own heart…a God who was defined by mercy and forgiveness and grace. And so David once again rejected Abishai’s recommendation, sparing Shimei’s life with an oath while essentially telling Abishai that they now were adversaries who shared nothing in common. His pardon sent a message that was loud and clear to Shimei and anyone who would say he deserved death.

That message?

I find him not guilty.

In this passage, a sinner bowed down before David and pleaded for compassion through clemency that would provide a new lease on life. And through a man after God’s own heart, Shimei received just that…a amnesty from his sinful behavior.

Now fast forward to us today.

For we all stand guilty of sin before God, our heavenly King. We all deserve death because the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and day is coming when we will have to give an account for the way we lived. It will be a day of judgment where God will issue one of two verdicts as our eternal future hangs in the balance of Heaven and Hell. We, like Shimei, will be bowed down before the King, seeking His forgiveness and mercy and grace…and whether or not we receive His pardon…like Shimei received from David…will depend on the answer to one question:

Did we choose to believe in Jesus, His Son, as our Savior?

God’s very Word makes it clear that Jesus alone is the only One who can stand with us at the point of judgment and tell the Father:

“This man or woman is not guilty…for I have paid the penalty for their sins on the cross at Calvary. Their name is written in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:15).”

With that confirmation of justification from Jesus, that person’s passage to eternal life is sealed…saved by the atoning blood of the precious Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29)…the only One through which anyone can come to God the Father (John 14:6).

And what about those who chose to not believe in Jesus?

Well, they would have lost their opportunity to gain Heaven and any hope of eternal life there passed away at their death. Their name will not be written in the Book of Life and there will be no intercession by Jesus on the day of judgment. And so God will render a guilty verdict, therefore condemning that person to a life of everlasting darkness, torment, and damnation.

Given this, there is always urgency for Christians to do everything they can to share the Gospel with those who are unsaved. Today, that number is approximately six billion people…three fourths of the earth’s population. That’s six billion people who are standing on the precipice of Hell because they either haven’t heard the gospel before or have heard it and decided to reject it.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, the bottom line is that we simply can’t rest…and Jesus certainly wouldn’t permit us to do so…until every single man and woman in this world can stand before God, their King, at life’s end hear Him declare them “not guilty”.

How will you answer the call found in Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) today?

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.