2 Samuel 15:4 And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.”
There is still so much manipulation and deception in this chapter, but I connect to David the parent and David’s faith journey in very real ways. When his oldest son raped his daughter, David did nothing. When his son, Absalom, killed his brother to avenge his sister, David banished him for years, eventually allowing him back, but still banishing Absalom from his sight. I think he clearly sees the flaws of his parenting. As a flawed parent myself, facing the reality of your parenting mistakes is incredibly sobering. You can’t undo. You can only apologize and try to move forward in a more positive direction.
2 Samuel 15:10 Then Absalom sent secret messages throughout the tribes of Israel to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’”
On his faith journey, commentary tells me David wrote at least six Psalms during this period: Psalms 3, 41, 55, 61, 62, and 63. Every single one of these Psalms cries out to God for mercy, peace, and rest. David seeks God, he longs for God, he know God is his unshakable fortress in his distress. His praise is humble and sincere, not obsequious. He knows his sin. He has humbled himself before God.
2 Samuel 15:30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the ability to humble myself before You, to admit my failures and shortcomings, to seek forgiveness and grace. Help me to show to others the same compassion that You lavish upon me. Draw me closer. Amen.
2 Samuel 15:37 So Hushai, David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city.
Have a blessed day.
Forgiveness and reconciliation…. (devo reflection)
2 Samuel 14:2-3 So Joab sent someone to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought from there. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning…. Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” …
This chapter is full of pretense and manipulation. No one is upfront and honest about who’s pulling the strings and what the motives are. The whole chapter leaves me with a bad feeling.
2 Samuel 14:19 The king asked, “Isn’t the hand of Joab with you in all this?” The woman answered, … “Yes, it was your servant Joab who instructed me to do this….”
So what can I learn from this tangled web that David and his family and advisors continue to weave? 1. Honesty really is the best policy. Be honest and upfront about your reasons and motives. 2. Get your heart right with God first. Then get right with others. (That will help you steer clear of #3.) 3. Don’t try to manipulate others. They will see through it and the relationship will probably be damaged on the process.
2 Samuel 14:29 Then Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come to him. So he sent a second time, but he refused to come.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this clear example of how the right thing (attempted forgiveness and reconciliation) done in the wrong way will never turn out right. Help us to be open, honest, and upfront with those who have wronged us and those we have wronged. Help us to forgive each other and ourselves and to be reconciled before You. Draw us closer. Amen.
2 Samuel 14:30 Then he said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servant’s set the field on fire.
Have a blessed day.
Being a good parent…. (devo reflection)
2 Samuel 13:21 When King David heard all this, he was furious. (NIV)
2 Samuel 12:10 says: “Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.” 2 Samuel 13 certainly seems to be a fulfillment of 2 Samuel 12:10, but I continue to be struck by Davis’s behavior. I thought at first he was so furious with Amnon’s actions that he was, essentially, “sputtering mad,” but it seems he was so enamored of his firstborn that he can’t be bothered to discipline him for raping his half-sister.
2 Samuel 13:21 When David heard what had happened to Tamar, he was very angry. But Amnon was his oldest son and also his favorite, and David would not do anything to make Amnon unhappy. (CEV)
As a parent, I’m completely flummoxed by David’s behavior. How do you love a child, your child, so much that you refuse to correct him, especially when he commits an act as heinous as rape? How can a parent allow a child to go through life thinking that behavior is acceptable? I know I’m not supposed to judge, but come on, David. What are you doing here?!?
2 Samuel 13:21 When King David heard about this, he became very angry. But David didn’t punish his son Amnon. He favored Amnon because he was his firstborn son. (GWT)
Lord, Thank You for this day. It’s hard to thank You for scripture like today, but thank You for a look at why the job of parent is so crucial, why it is so important to correct our children so they can grow to be good, caring, loving human beings who love You and care for Your people. It isn’t easy to be a good parent sometimes. Give us strength to parent with Your love and grace, even when it’s difficult. And thank You so much for these children You’ve entrusted to us. Amen.
2 Samuel 13:22 And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for disgracing his sister Tamar….
Have a blessed day.
Restoration and renewal…. (devo reflection)
2 Samuel 12:10 “Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised Me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.”
David wrote Psalm 51 after he fully realized his sin against God (probably after 2 Samuel 12:13) and was striving to humble himself in God’s presence. I have read the blurb at the beginning of the Psalm before, but I always come to this Psalm when I am struggling. To read it along with 2 Samuel 12 adds a new layer of depth for me.
2 Samuel 12:11 “This is what the LORD says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight.’”
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit with in me” (Psalm 51:10). “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me” (Psalm 51:12). My sins are nothing like David’s, but like David, I have cried out these verses to the Lord as I sit in the ashes of my hopes, begging God for restoration and renewal. And God, my precious Savior, gracious and loving and merciful, He hears our pleas.
2 Samuel 12:12 “‘You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. Thank You for allowing us to see our way back to You when we lose our way. Thank You for the ability to humble ourselves before You. Restore to us the joy of Your salvation, Lord. Draw us closer. Amen.
2 Samuel 12:13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
Have a blessed day.
A daily priority…. (daily devo)
2 Samuel 11:1 …But David remained in Jerusalem.
The LORD is not mentioned in the chapter until the very last line. David, who did such a good job of focusing on God, rejoicing in God, showing kindness as an extension of His love and appreciation of God, falls so very far during this chapter that it is truly hard for me to read. It hurts my heart.
2 Samuel 11:4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her….
But what can I learn from David’s fall? The biggest lesson, I think, is that keeping my eyes on Jesus is a constant and continual process. It takes vigilance, adjustments, and correction when we start to drift off-course, which invariably happens. Keeping my eyes on Him has to be a daily priority, hour by hour, moment by moment. Jesus, Help me.
2 Samuel 11:15 …“Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for a crystal-clear picture of what happens when we take our eyes off of You. Thank You for Your willingness to help us course-correct moment by moment. Help me to keep You always at my center. Amen.
2 Samuel 11:27 …But the thing David had done displeased the LORD.
Have a blessed day.
Lead me boldly…. (devo reflection)
2 Samuel 10:12a “Be strong….” (NIV)
God is steadfast and faithful. This morning, these lines in 2 Samuel, are like balm to my soul—strengthening and encouraging me for what lies ahead. First, I must always remember the source of my strength: Jesus. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…” (2 Cor 12:9).
2 Samuel 10:12b “…let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God…” (NIV)
Next, I must remember why I do what I do, who I’m fighting for, working for, striving for: Jesus. “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the LORD rather than for people” (Col 3:23). Lord, I know You can use me wherever I am, but I also know You have a plan specifically for me, something I was uniquely created to do. Help me to see it, know it, and do it for Your honor and glory. Guide me.
2 Samuel 10:12c “…The LORD will do what is good in His sight.” (NIV)
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for being steadfast and faithful, even when I feel like a hot mess. Thank You for words of wisdom and encouragement this morning. You are my strength. You are my center. Lead me boldly in Your will so that I can shine Your light. Amen.
2 Samuel 10:12c “…May the LORD’s will be done.” (CSB)
Have a blessed day
To whom can I show God’s kindness? (devo reflection)
2 Samuel 9:1 David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
As you know, I’ve been struggling with some very human, very negative feelings of late: bitterness, anger, frustration, fear. Those feelings affect the way I feel within myself. If a feeling could be described as “exhaust fumes,” that would pretty accurately describe how those emotions feel within me, poisonous, noxious.
2 Samuel 9:3 The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”…
But David shows me a better way. Just the thought “to whom can I show God’s kindness?” allows me to pull oxygen deeply into my lungs again. Is the key to conquering my human weakness of anger, fear, and bitterness to show God’s kindness to others, especially those who are causing me to feel angry, afraid and bitter?
2 Samuel 9:6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor….
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for continuing to call me to task about the anger, fear, and bitterness that I allow to flourish. Thank You for showing me a better way, Lord. Give me the strength to humble myself through You. Draw me closer. Help me to shine Your light. Amen.
2 Samuel 9:7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake if your father…”
Have a blessed day.
Be my center…. (devo reflection)
2 Samuel 8:15 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.
David seeks God first and often. He feels so much gratitude for God’s blessings and provision that he actively seeks ways to express his gratitude. As a leader, he doesn’t try to rule everything tight-fistedly. Instead, he finds the person best suited for each job and puts them in charge. In contrast, Saul tried to control everything, didn’t even acknowledge God most of the time, and allowed himself to be consumed by jealousy.
2 Samuel 8:16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder….
It’s easy to look at these two kings and know who got it right, but I must confess that there is more Saul in me than I am comfortable with. The control-freak part of me wants to keep my hand in everything (because what if someone messes it up?). The proud part of me often feels bitter and slighted over things that “should” have been but weren’t. It’s exhausting and frustrating, not at all God-centered, and not the way I want to live my life. Jesus, Help me.
2 Samuel 8:17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abisthar were priests; Seraiah was secretary….
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for helping me to see this area of my life that I need to bring under Your sovereign control. I want You to be my center. I want to be so full of gratitude for Your blessings that I am constantly looking for ways to praise You in thanks. I do not want to be bitter or angry or focused on myself. Help me, Jesus. Amen.
2 Samuel 8:18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.
Have a blessed day.
Actively seeking…. (devo reflection)
2 Samuel 7:18a Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said….
King David is so full of gratitude for God that he is actively seeking to do things for God to express that gratitude. He wants to build God a permanent dwelling. God is pleased with the intent but does not want a permanent dwelling built by David’s hands. However, He blesses David because of David’s sincere desire to bless God.
2 Samuel 7:18b …“Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that You have brought me this far?”
There are a couple of things of note here. One is that David’s gratitude led Him to action. He wanted to do something special for God who had done so much for him. I want to be more like that. Another is that when God rejected the idea of David building Him a house, David doesn’t get snarky. He accepts that God has His reasons and that David doesn’t understand them, but that’s ok. I want to be better at that graceful acceptance when God has reasons I don’t understand.
2 Samuel 7:28 “Sovereign LORD, You are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and You have promised these good things to Your servant.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for David’s example in this chapter. Help me to take my gratitude for You and use it to actively seek ways to express that gratitude. Draw me closer as I shine Your light for all to see. Amen.
2 Samuel 7:28 “Now be pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever in Your sight….“
Have a blessed day.
A barren, unfruitful life…. (devo reflection)
2 Samuel 6:16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.
I thought I knew where God was leading me this morning. David planned this elaborate celebration for the Lord, and while he sought to celebrate the Lord, he did not seek God’s will in the matter at all. But then we arrived at Michal, and God whispered to my heart, “Beloved, this is what I need you to ponder.”
2 Samuel 6:20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”
I have this deep notion of the way things “should” be, the way my family and others “should” act. Perhaps it is rooted in my deep desire to feel a sense of control. Who knows. What God showed me this morning through Michal is that that attitude leads to criticism and sarcasm, which can lead to a barren, unfruitful life. Jesus, Help me.
2 Samuel 6:21 David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD…I will celebrate before the LORD.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for loving me enough to humble me for my critical attitude. I don’t want to be critical, sarcastic, or bitter, Lord. I want to glorify You. I want to love Your people well. Help me, Lord. Show me how. Draw me closer. Amen.
2 Samuel 6:23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
Have a blessed day.