Category: Daily Studies

These daily studies are intended to provide insight into the various books of the Old Testament. The Pentateuch has not been forgotten. I began this endeavor after my studies of the Torah. I will return to them later.
If you have comments, suggestions, or insights, feel free to post them.

2 Samuel 10

 

2 Samuel 10 (cf. 1 Chronicles 19)

 

Ammon (modern-day Jordan) were populated with the descendants of Lot (Ammonites). Even though they were distant relatives, there was great hatred between the two nations. God will later pronounce a great judgement on this nation (Ezekiel 25.1-7).

 

After the wars in 2 Samuel 8 (see our study), the king of Ammon died. David sent a contingent of men to show respect to his friend, the deceased king. It seems that Nahash (see 1 Chronicles 19.1) showed David kindness when he fled from Saul. This is the same king that Saul defeated but did not destroy as commanded in 1 Samuel 11 (see our study). Nahash’s son, Hanun, doesn’t think David is on a friendly mission due to the influence of his counselors. It could have been a combination of both reconnaissance and condolences. We see in 2 Samuel 11.1 that David’s armies first attacked Rabbah which is a large Ammonite city.

Shaving the beard and cutting the clothing was an insult tantamount to a declaration of war. As soon as the Israelites left, the Ammonites prepared for battle by hiring mercenaries from Syria.  See our study of Psalm 60 for greater detail concerning the number of men used to fight.

For more information on Joab and Abishai, see our study of 1 Samuel 26. To better understand the battles of this day and other chapters in 2 Samuel, see the map below.

Psalm 75

God will bring about His righteous judgement and will call all men to answer for themselves

Psalm 75

The term in the superscription, “Altaschith,” means “Do not destroy.” It occurs in Psalms 57-59 (see our study of Psalm 57, 58, and 59). Although the meaning is not clear, some have conjectured that it was a tune of a popular song.  Isaiah 65.8 seems to reference it.

The structure of the psalm presents different speakers:

  • the people praise God for who He is. what He has done, and for His being with them (1)
  • God announces His sovereign will of judging the earth at the time He gives (2-5). There is a Selah in the center of these verses asking us to pause and consider where we stand in terms of that judgement.
  • the people declare that God is the only and true Judge (6-9)
  • God declares His intention to bring about the final judgment (10)

God will bring about His righteous judgement and will call all men to answer for themselves. This psalm is full of end time terminology which will be discussed in a future post.

Psalm 60

The closing verses, 11-12, show where David sought his ultimate help. He turned to God to save him. The Hebrew word translated “help” is the word for salvation. He recognizes the deliverance only comes from God for man is incapable of saving. Where is your trust placed? Ask that question in terms of finances, family, friends, education, et al.

Psalm 60 (cf. Psalm 108, 2 Samuel 8, and 1 Chronicles 18)

As can be seen in the superscription, this psalm coincides with 2 Samuel 8 and 1 Chronicles 18. This is the second longest superscription in the psalter. Only Psalm 18 is longer. The Lily of the Covenant is also found in Psalm 80. It is a teaching psalm (a mitkam) and David wrote it. The setting is found in a battle and mentions three enemies David faced in the above passages. They were Aram-naharaim (highlands of two rivers or Mesopotamia [land between two rivers]), Aram-zobah (central Syria), and Edom in the Valley of Salt (near the southern portion of the Dead Sea). David was waging war against the Arameans in the north, the Edomites (and Moabites) invaded from the south, forcing David to send Joab to deal with the latter force. This psalm laments the reversal of David’s plans. The outline for the psalm is David’s lament (1–5), a certainty of David being heard (6–8), and a final plea for God to deliver Israel (9–12).

David calls for a pause (Selah) after verse four asking us to contemplate the demise of the army by the hand of God. His only response is to call out to that same God to deliver them and change what has occurred.

The closing verses, 11-12, show where David sought his ultimate help. He turned to God to save him. The Hebrew word translated “help” is the word for salvation. He recognizes the deliverance only comes from God for man is incapable of saving. Where is your trust placed? Ask that question in terms of finances, family, friends, education, et al.

To better understand the places mentioned, look at the map below.

Psalm 53

God does look down from His throne and has come down in Christ. He came for salvation and He will come for judgement. If you have not accepted the first, you are in danger of the second. Where do you stand today?

Psalm 53

This psalm and Psalm 14 (see our study) are almost identical in the English. The Hebrew uses a different name for God. Psalm 14 uses Jehovah (יְֽהוָה) three times and Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) four times. Psalm 53 uses Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) each of the seven times it refers to God. However, this change does not occur in verse one or verse five. Verse one of both psalms contain Elohim (אֱלֹהִים). I believe this occurs because the fool says there is absolutely no god (Elohim [אֱלֹהִים])which would include the God of Israel (Jehovah [יְֽהוָה]). The major change is in Psalm 53.5. Compare it to Psalm 14.5-6. This could have been intentional for the purpose set forth in the occasion of the psalm.

This psalm can be a reflection of the state of our country in this generation. This psalm describes trying to rule without God and without His standards for life.

There are four types of people mentioned in this psalm who live a life that denies the reality of God. They are the foolish person who flatly denies there is even a possibility of a god (1), the lazy person who does not take the effort to know God (2), the person who pursues his own desires, he is called perverse (3), and the person who lives life as if there is no consequence for action, they devour all in their path (4). I see this as our society today. God’s judgement is cast. For those who choose to live a life as if there were no God, he will be put to shame (5). For those who choose to live the life God created for them to live, He brings blessings (6).

Genesis 6.5 describes the wickedness of people before the Flood. The word used to describe them is the same word used here, which is corrupt (1).

Psalm 53.2 tells us that God looks down. This is an interesting phrase and occurs elsewhere in the Scriptures. Here is a listing from the Psalms:

God does look down from His throne and has come down in Christ. He came for salvation and He will come for judgement. If you have not accepted the first, you are in danger of the second. Where do you stand today?

Psalm 50

If you were to define worship or service, what would it be? Is it giving offerings, sacrifices, time? Is it the pomp and circumstance of much religious circles. Or, is it the heart attitude that Jesus called for? Can it be purely inward as the monasteries of old? Or, is it outward as James proclaims? There must be a balance between the inward worship of heart and the outward worship of body (Romans 12.1-2).

Psalm 50

Although we have studied other psalms of Asaph already, this is the first one ascribed to him.

The scene is a courtroom wherein God calls His witnesses against Israel (and all mankind). His witnesses are earth (1) and heaven (4). God always calls His creation in when bringing judgment on man. The book of Micah and other prophets share the same motif. The witnesses are called and God asks us to pause (Selah). Do we have witnesses against us in terms of our syncretism?

The charge God lays on the people is that of the people feeling they have obligated God to do their bidding based on what they have done for Him. They feel as though God needs their offerings to survive. We are to do for God out of obligation in order to honor Him for who He is and for what He has done. The Ten Commandments have been broken, and those who are to uphold them are encouraging others to break them. Doesn’t this sound like the United States in our generation?

If you were to define worship or service, what would it be? Is it giving offerings, sacrifices, time? Is it the pomp and circumstance of much religious circles. Or, is it the heart attitude that Jesus called for? Can it be purely inward as the monasteries of old? Or, is it outward as James proclaims? There must be a balance between the inward worship of heart and the outward worship of body (Romans 12.1-2).

Much more needs to be done for the greatness of this psalm. Time does not allow for it today.

2 Samuel 9

David lived his life with all his ups and downs according to the purpose for which God created him (Acts 13.36). This is one of those instances where David served God’s purpose. We will see later that David falters a few times, but, in the end, he serves God’s purpose. How about you? Are you serving God’s purpose for your life in the area He has placed you (Acts 17.26)?

2 Samuel 9

The key to this whole passage is a promise David made to Jonathan before Saul and Jonathan died on Gilboa. David had promised him that David would always take care of the posterity of Jonathan. After he perished, there was only one alive and his name was Mephibosheth (see our study of 2 Samuel 4). His heritage is thus:

  • He is the grandson of King Saul and son of Jonathan who was crippled as his nurse fled and dropped him after the overthrow of Saul’s kingdom (2 Samuel 4.4-6)
  • After the overthrow of the kingdom, he was raised by Machir who was a powerful leader among the tribes on the eastern side of the Jordan River (transjordan). He also provided assistance to David in 2 Samuel 17.27-29 (2 Samuel 9.4-6)
  • He was sought out and honored by David because of David’s promise to Jonathan in 1 Samuel 20.14-17 (2 Samuel 9.1-13)
  • He was accused by Ziba of attempting to overthrow the kingdom of David when Absalom rebelled (2 Samuel 16.1-4)
  • He explains his side to David (2 Samuel 19.24-30)
  • He was spared by David (2 Samuel 21.7)
  • He was the father of Micha (2 Samuel 9.12)
  • He was called Merib-Baal (1 Chronicles 8.34)

David remembers the promise made to Jonathan after he had conquered and won many battles and became settled (2 Samuel 8.1). We can see this because Mephibosheth had a son (12) by this time. Since he was five when all this happened, some eighteen years could have passed, giving Mephibosheth enough time to marry and have a child.

What David did for Mephibosheth was not what the kings of ancient times did. They would slay all who were potential rivals (even in their own household). David not only spared Mephibosheth but gave him a home even though Mephibosheth could give nothing in return. Isn’t this much like what God does for us? He doesn’t slay us, but in His grace offers us who are crippled by our sin an eternal habitation fit for a king.

David lived his life with all his ups and downs according to the purpose for which God created him (Acts 13.36). This is one of those instances where David served God’s purpose. We will see later that David falters a few times, but, in the end, he serves God’s purpose. How about you? Are you serving God’s purpose for your life in the area He has placed you (Acts 17.26)?

2 Samuel 8

When God provides victories in your life, do you give Him the honor, praise, and glory for them? Or, do you hoard them yourself?

2 Samuel 8 (cf. 1 Chronicles 18)

The theme of this chapter can be seen in two verses, verses 6 and 14. In both of these, the writer states that “Jehovah gave victory to David wherever he went.” The kingdom is growing, through the hand of David by the will of God. This chapter recounts the kings David vanquished (the Philistines, the Moabites, the king of Zobah, the Syrians, and the Edomites [1-8]), the wealth he acquired in these conquests (9-10), and how he ruled his people (15-18). Since David sought God first (2 Samuel 6), God blessed David with a kingdom (Matthew 6.33).

Even the spoils David took, he offered to God for the building of the Temple under Solomon (11).

When God provides victories in your life, do you give Him the honor, praise, and glory for them? Or, do you hoard them yourself?

Historical Notes

  • Verse 2-two of three would be put to death
  • Verse 6-from Damascus to the Euphrates
  • Verse 13-David won a name for himself. Interestingly, David’s name appears twenty-one times in this chapter.
  • Verse 16-For more on Joab, read our studies in 1 Samuel 26, 2 Samuel 2, 2 Samuel 3, and 1 Chronicles 11.
  • Verse 18-For more on Abiathar, read our studies in 1 Samuel 30 and 1 Samuel 21-24.
  • As for the numbers involved in this chapter and in 1 Chronicles, the following numbers are given:

from the Syrians (Arameans) one thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers, and 20,000 footmen (soldiers) were captured. As well, 22,000 Aramean soldiers were killed. Thus, the 40,000 “horsemen” (2 Sam. 10:18) and 40,000 footmen (v. 18) are merely rounded-off figures for the 42,000 foot soldiers either captured or slain. The word “horsemen” in 2 Samuel 10:18 is thus used imprecisely or may have been miscopied from the listing in 2 Samuel 8:4 (King James Version study Bible. 1997).

Psalm 39

When we are not doing that which God has called us to do, His hand will be upon us. In this short life we have to live, it is best lived under the watchful gaze of God. This is only done when we abide in His Word. What are you doing today that causes God to gaze graciously on you?

Psalm 39

This psalm reveals more of whom David is and of whom we are than many other psalms. He does the very thing he desires not to do. He is determined not to speak, yet does. James informs us why we cannot control the tongue (James 3).

It is his desire not to bring shame to God’s name. So, he comes to God in the quiet of his place and breaks forth in complaints.

The Selahs found in this chapter provide the outline. David proclaims the futility and shortness of life (1-5). He then asks us to pause and consider this for ourselves. God disciplines His children for their sin (6-11). We need to pause and consider what chastisement God is giving us. David then prays for God not to look upon his sin any longer (12-13), which He does not (Psalm 103).

When we are not doing that which God has called us to do, His hand will be upon us. In this short life we have to live, it is best lived under the watchful gaze of God. This is only done when we abide in His Word. What are you doing today that causes God to gaze graciously on you?

Music

I Put My Hope In You (Psalm 39) by Derek Sandstrom

Psalm 36

Jeremiah 17.9 reminds us of what this psalm states. By nature, we are wicked. To the core of our heart, we are wicked. Our names could be placed at the beginning of this psalm. It is only because of God who is mentioned in verses 5-9 that we can have a clean heart, a new heart; that is only found in Jesus. Are you standing against the wicked (4) or are you walking beside them (Psalm 1)? Is your life lived partly for God and partly for you in this world? Are you living a life of syncretism?

Psalm 36

This psalm is clearly a psalm of contrasts much like Psalm 1. It contrasts the rebelliousness of the wicked man (1-4) with the righteousness of God (5-9) and concludes with a prayer of protection for the righteous (10-12). The superscription of “the servant of Jehovah” provides a similarity to Psalm 18. The subject matter reminds us of Psalm 14 and Psalm 53.

Verses 1-4-The style is rough in the Hebrew as David describes the life of the wicked man. The progression from disavowing God to practical atheism is brought on by the deceit of man and the teachings of deceitful mankind. These result in belief in self and blindness to moral issues where in the self becomes a god and there are no moral bounds. What is true for you may not be true for them; we call this moral relativism. When we examine the world, our world, the United States, we see this as having already occurred and Christians stand in its wake. This psalm is for us.

These verses show the attitude of those who deny God. They believe they will not be found out and if they are they will not be judged for it. Think of those the world celebrates, they commit crimes and believe they can walk off without being judged merely because of their name or position they hold. As an example, a recent President committed atrocities in the White House, was impeached, and then let go primarily because he was helping the economy.

The very first word in Hebrew (לַמְנַצֵּחַ) is not even translated in many versions. It means an oracle that is prophetic, coming from God, and it is associated with “the transgression” (נְאֻֽם־פֶּשַׁע). This would mean that God gave to David an insight into the very nature of the wicked, those in rebellion against God. And, that is the denial of the existence of the God who also reveals His very nature in verses 5-9. When describing those who base their righteousness on what they do, Paul quotes Psalm 36.1 in Romans 3.18. The person who walks away from God is described in Micah 2.1 as one who cannot sleep until he has devised a wrong and when he awakens he completes the thought with action. There will come a time when those who walk away from God will be incapable of doing anything of value in God’s sight (Jeremiah 4.22 and Romans 1.18-3.31). This is primarily because the wicked do not think that what they are doing is wrong. Abortion is an example of these verses being played out in the United States.

Verse four invites us to do the opposite of what the evil do. They do not reject evil. We need to actively reject the evil that the world, the devil, and we present to ourselves (1 John 2.15-17).

Verses 5-9-The style is lyrical when it comes to describe God (John 8.12 tells us this is speaking of Jesus). When it comes to knowing who God is, we need to rely on His revelation of Himself in His Word (Romans 11.33). Otherwise, we might mistake ourselves for Him. Part of the revealing God does becomes a revelation of our nature as well (as seen in the first four verses). The more aware we are of Him, who is light (John 1.4-5, 9), the greater we know our darkness (1 John 1.5-7). This is where repentance comes in (1 John 1.9). God blesses those who seek to know Him (9). He does not merely bless them with a place to go but with a life to live. Knowing Him goes far beyond what our imaginations can capture (Ephesians 3.20-21). It is not merely having a source of water for refreshment (Jeremiah 2.13), it is a fountain pouring forth. It is abundant life (John 10.10)

Verses 10-12-David’s prayer is for God to protect the righteous from the wicked. In God’s presence is protection (12). The wicked cannot stand before Him (see Psalm 18). David was given a revelation of the wicked, of God, and, here, a glimpse of the horror of judgment on the wicked (Proverbs 24.16). There will be a place, “there,” where the wicked will not stand (the Judgment Day).

Jeremiah 17.9 reminds us of what this psalm states. By nature, we are wicked. To the core of our heart, we are wicked. Our names could be placed at the beginning of this psalm. It is only because of God who is mentioned in verses 5-9 that we can have a clean heart, a new heart; that is only found in Jesus. Are you standing against the wicked (4) or are you walking beside them (Psalm 1)? Is your life lived partly for God and partly for you in this world? Are you living a life of syncretism?