Tag: Absalom

Psalm 64

When you pray to God, do you praise Him even before the answer? Even if the answer might be no?

Psalm 64-A title, if I were to title these, “Two Archers, One Winner”

This, again, was written during the time of Absalom’s rebellions (2 Samuel 15-18). When reading these verses it is easy to see that words can hurt us greatly. “Sticks and stones my break my bones but words will never hurt me,” is a lie. “Sticks and stones my break my bones but words will surely kill me,” is more accurate. Slander and misuse of words is so severe a sin in the eyes of God, it made the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20.16). James spends most of chapter three of his book discussing the problems of the tongue and its power (James 3.1-12).

There is a plot afoot to dethrone David by the words of his son Absalom (see our study of 2 Samuel 15). What Absalom, and those in later chapters such as Shimei and Ahithophel (see our study of 2 Samuel 16), slandering David, he felt his character was being blasted. Rather than railing against them, David does what we all should do and that is to pray to the only One who can do something about it. God.

  • Verses 1-2-David prays for protection from evil speakers.
  • Verses 3-6-David describes the evil actions of those who seek to destroy him. Verse five reflects the willful ignorance of people who are sinning for God sees and watches every move (see our study of Psalm 2).
  • Verses 7-9-David describes their defeat by the hand of God. Two of the greatest words in Scripture are found in verse seven: “But God . . .” Trace these two words together and find the presence of God intervening in the life of man. If there is enough interest, we can begin a study on these two words.
  • Verse 10-David, even before it occurs, expects people to praise God. The wicked try to hide their plots, but the righteous proclaims them before all.

When you pray to God, do you praise Him even before the answer? Even if the answer might be no?

Psalm 61

When we can look back to see God at work, know that He is at work, and this will lead us, always, to praise Him. Have you praised God for who He is and what He has done lately? Tell someone, write it down.

Psalm 61

This is a psalm of David to be played in worship on stringed instruments (Neginah).

David was thrust out of the city away from the sanctuary during the revolt of Absalom (2 Samuel 15-18). He uses a double entendre here. He wants to return to the rock that is higher than he, which physically, being in the woods of Ephraim, would be Jerusalem and spiritually would be a reference to God Himself. David’s desire is to return to Jerusalem where he knows he can worship and commune with God. Jesus describes this reasoning in John 4 when He speaks with the woman at the well in terms of worship (John 4.15-26). The thought was we needed to be in a specific place to worship God. Jesus corrects this and establishes that God can be worship anywhere, at any time. He is not demeaning corporate worship in a specific place (church) but is expanding the idea of worship to a personal level as-well.

This psalm can be divided in two parts by the Selah after verse four.

  • Verses 1-4-David is basing his prayer and pleas to God not on a wishful thought but on his previous experience with God. In essence, David is saying: “I may not be in Jerusalem, but I am never far from You. So, God, based on who You are and what You have done in my life, I ask You to protect me, to bring me into Your presence.” David knew who God was and what God had done for him and he based his prayers and his life on that truth.

Selah: When times are rough, do you have evidence that God has been at work in you? Do you know Him well enough to trust Him to be there for you (1 John 2.15-17)? Or, do you wishfully think that He might help you that may be based on something that is not truth? Before times are rough, begin to write out how God has used you, how He has been involved in your life, and how He has changed you. When we combine our experience with our knowledge of the Scriptures, we can stand solidly when the rough times attempt to knock us over.

  • Verses 5-8-Can the changes of pronouns begin a prayer for someone other than David. David changes from “I” to “the king” in these verses. This could be a messianic reference for God to present to the world the ultimate Solid Rock.

When we can look back to see God at work, know that He is at work, and this will lead us, always, to praise Him. Have you praised God for who He is and what He has done lately? Tell someone, write it down.

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2 Samuel 18

2 Samuel 18 (For the background see our studies in 2 Samuel 16 and 17)

Even this early on, David seems to have lost his trust in his relative Joab. Joab was the commander of David’s army. He may have been on Absalom’s side for a time (2 Samuel 17.25 may or may not indicate this). We do know in 1 Kings 2.28 that he did follow David’s other son, Adonijah. Dividing the troops into three companies could have held a twofold purpose. Three companies going into battle provide a common offensive and defensive stand (a central company with two wings or the point, the main company, and a rearguard on the march) but also provides David with at least one company if two of the leaders turn traitor.

Verses 1-18 present the means of Absalom’s death by the hand of Joab as an act of God (19). Verses 19-32 present the news being delivered to David. Verse 33 is David’s reception of it. The repetition of Absalom and son is significant in Hebrew writing. There was great mourning on David’s part over the death of this son even though he was in rebellion.

I leave the chapter unfinished. I will continue it another day.

2 Samuel 14

There are times when people play on our emotions and on our real experiences in order to manipulate us into doing something which seems right in our eyes (Read Judges) but in the end it is destruction (Proverbs 14.12). This is syncretism at its peak. Be careful of things that you want to hear (2 Timothy 4.1-5) that do not align with Scripture. This is Satan’s number one ploy. In this chapter David’s trusted nephew was the source.

2 Samuel 14

Depending on how the preposition in verse one is rendered, this chapter takes two differing views. If the preposition עַל is translated “toward,” which is contextually difficult, the meaning is that David desired to have Absalom in his presence. However, is refusal to meet with him when he returned to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 14.24). The preposition most likely should be translated “against,” which better fits the passage. For the rest of Absalom’s life, he and David were at odds with each other. He would not allow Absalom into his presence, Absalom rebelled against David (see our study of 2 Samuel 15), and Absalom died tragically in rebellion to David (see our study to come on 2 Samuel 18 and The Consequences of Sin [study to come]). Through the deceit and duplicity of Joab in this chapter, David granted Absalom’s return. There was not repentance on Absalom’s part and not reconciliation on either part. Absalom was next in line to be king, Joab was playing both sides of the field and was not above deception to obtain favor in the eyes of both David and Absalom. In using this woman, he played on David’s emotions and upon a real experience David had. Nathan was a prophet through whom God spoke to convict David of his sin (see our study of 2 Samuel 12). The woman of Tekoa was used to play on this real experience in David’s life. She told him things that would get his emotions playing on who his son was and the need to see him no matter the cost. It would cost Absalom his life, David’s relationship was never restored with Absalom because they never sought reconciliation. They did not discuss the sins nor seek forgiveness for them.  Even though Absalom goes before David with obeisance, there is no repentance. Nothing biblical occurs.

Absalom’s character surfaces at the close of the chapter (25–33). He is good looking, charismatic (in the true sense of the word-drawing people to him), deceptive, and cruel.

There are times when people play on our emotions and on our real experiences in order to manipulate us into doing something which seems right in our eyes (Read Judges) but in the end it is destruction (Proverbs 14.12). This is syncretism at its peak. Be careful of things that you want to hear (2 Timothy 4.1-5) that do not align with Scripture. This is Satan’s number one ploy. In this chapter David’s trusted nephew was the source.

2 Samuel 13

A generality follows:
This is a warning to all women, beware the flattery and seduction of men whose sole desire is to have sex with you. The treatment that Amnon gave Tamar should not be considered abnormal. It is normal. When a man is in lust with a woman and is unwilling to go through the formalities of marriage, his sole desire is the sexual experience, and not the person.

2 Samuel 13 (See our study of 2 Samuel 11,The Consequences of Sin [study to come], and David’s Family Tree)

David’s dysfunctional family is portrayed in this gruesome tale of Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom. The actions taken and not taken in this chapter will haunt David for the remainder of his life. The crux of the story is this, David’s children, from various wives, fall in lust with each other. The son and daughter of a foreign princess (Maachah the Geshurite) were Tamar, a virgin, and Absalom. They were good looking, which led to both their downfalls. Amnon, David’s oldest son by a foreign wife (Ahinoam the Jezreelite), fell in lust with her. He deceived her into sleeping with him, he raped her, and then pushed her away in disgust. According to Levitical law, he could not marry her even if he desired to (Leviticus 18.11). Her brother wants their father, David, to discipline his oldest child, which he does not. Absalom becomes quite angry and plots to kill Amnon. He is successful. The heir to the throne is murdered. Let’s see what parallels this has with David’s sin with Bathsheba. David slept with a woman that he should not have slept with and she was in a time of purification. David committed deception and murder to correct a sin. David is reflected in the lives of these sons of his. No wonder he didn’t want to discipline Amnon nor Absalom. Absalom is lost too. He flees to his mother’s area of the world and lives in Geshur, which is a refuge for criminals. David did not mourn the loss of his dead son, much like he did not mourn the loss of his dead son in 2 Samuel 12 (see our study). Instead, he mourned the loss of his living son, which runs parallel to 2 Samuel 12 as well.

A generality follows:

This is a warning to all women, beware the flattery and seduction of men whose sole desire is to have sex with you. The treatment that Amnon gave Tamar should not be considered abnormal. It is normal. When a man is in lust with a woman and is unwilling to go through the formalities of marriage, his sole desire is the sexual experience, and not the person.

How you treat women reflects your character. How you discipline your children will determine their future. Think on these matters.