Queen of the Stars (The Royals of Adriel Book 1)

Member: LoreleiOrion

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Lord, how quickly we go from intimacy with You to rebellion, because our flesh is weak and the constancy of our awareness of You falters. May I strive to be so constantly alert to Your presence that the indwelling Holy Spirit is able to get my attention before I allow tests to become temptations which then blossom into overt sin. Not long after David had brought the ark of God to Jerusalem the season changed to Spring and the army of Israel went to do battle with their enemies as the cold and mud of Winter was not conducive to war- making.

David, as was sometimes his practice, had not gone out with his army but allowed Joab to lead them. The prior text in 1 Samuel described David leading directly only when they had some difficulty, as in the case of the regrouped and threatening coalition of enemy forces. In the evening, when it was cool enough to be on the roof of the palace, David walked around and saw a woman on top of another building who was bathing. In keeping with his often-impetuous nature David sent someone to find out who she was and then to bring her to him. His immaturity was such that he committed adultery with her, even though she was known to him as the wife of one of his soldiers, a man currently on the battlefield.

Bathsheba returned home and in a while discovered herself pregnant by David. Uriah was a more honorable man than David and refused to even go into his home so long as his fellow soldiers were in harms-way. After the mourning for her husband, Uriah, David summoned Bathsheba to the palace and added her to his wives. Nathan reminded David that he had sinned first against the Lord God, and David confessed and repented of that. Nathan told David that while he was forgiven, keeping the Lord God from striking him dead, he would no longer have peace with his enemies, his own wives would be taken and sexually assaulted by a relative, and his illegitimate child with Bathsheba would die.

David fasted and prayed but the boy still died. Although his servants could not get him to eat or to drink while the child was sick but not yet dead, once the child died David rose and bathed and worshiped, then he ate; explaining to astonished servants that there was no longer any chance that the Lord God would relent from His punishment, so he must go on with life.

Joab had finally about overcome the resistance at the Ammonite fortress so he sent word for David to lead the final assault so he, not Joab, would receive the credit. David did so, the plunder was great, and the Ammonites were forced to do heavy labor for Israel. Guilty of sin from birth inherited sin, due to the Fall of all Creation, from Adam and Eve. After all that the Lord God had done for and through David, and his very recent wild praise and worship of Him which had so offended his wife Michal, how quickly the lust of the flesh motivated David to forget God in a moment of illicit passion.

Joab was careful that David receive credit for the military victory, perhaps to avoid the appearance of competing with him as was the appearance under Saul when David received credit for major victories, or perhaps simply out of respect for him. How could David imagine that he could get away with such conduct?

How could he think that no one would notice his affair with Bathsheba, his effort to manipulate Uriah, and his arranged-murder of Uriah? David had it made and for the sake of a fling with a pretty, married, woman he kicked it all away — and even worse he dragged down his family and the whole nation with him. When have things been going really well in your life and then one poor decision has created a mess of things? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you may be headed for a really poor decision which could create serious trouble for you, and perhaps others as well.

Today I will pray and listen closely so that the Holy Spirit will find me alert and teachable. I will repent of the path I am on where I may have been rationalizing a poor decision I was about to make and will now stop every movement in that direction — no matter the cost. It may be something involving money or relationships, substance abuse or angry revenge, compromising with the world for to earn the approval of others, or something else. I will praise the Lord God for his clarity as to my standing before Him, and my dependence upon Him, and then ask Him to cleanse me and keep me clean.

They will honor your name. You are patient and demonstrate great loyal love and faithfulness. Then those who hate me will see it and be ashamed, for you, O Lord, will help me and comfort me. For she was a virgin, and to Amnon it seemed out of the question to do anything to her. Jonadab was a very crafty man. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I can watch. Then I will eat from her hand. She took the dough, kneaded it, made some cakes while he watched, and baked them. Get in bed with me, my sister! And you would be considered one of the fools in Israel! Just speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.

He overpowered her and humiliated her by raping her. His disdain toward her surpassed the love he had previously felt toward her. She put her hands on her head and went on her way, wailing as she went. Now be quiet, my sister. He is your brother. Let the king and his servants go with me. Instead, David blessed him. Is it not I who have given you these instructions?

Be strong and courageous! All his servants were standing there with torn garments as well. This is what Absalom has talked about from the day that Amnon humiliated his sister Tamar. When the servant who was the watchman looked up, he saw many people coming from the west on a road beside the hill. The king and all his servants wept loudly as well. And David grieved over his son every day.

Instead, act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for some time. When the two of them got into a fight in the field, there was no one present who could intervene. One of them struck the other and killed him. In so doing we will also destroy the heir. I will give instructions concerning your situation. But let the king and his throne be innocent! Then they will not destroy my son!

When the king speaks in this fashion, he makes himself guilty, for the king has not brought back the one he has banished. But God does not take away life; instead he devises ways for the banished to be restored. Perhaps the king will do what his female servant asks. The king may listen and deliver his female servant from the hand of the man who seeks to remove both me and my son from the inheritance God has given us! May the Lord your God be with you! For your servant Joab gave me instructions. But my lord has wisdom like that of the angel of God, and knows everything that is happening in the land.

I will do this thing! Go and bring back the young man Absalom! He may not see my face. From the sole of his feet to the top of his head he was perfect in appearance. She was a very attractive woman. So he sent a second message to him, but he still was not willing to come. Go and set it on fire. It would be better for me if I were still there. If I am at fault, let him put me to death! The king summoned Absalom, and he came to the king. Absalom bowed down before the king with his face toward the ground and the king kissed him.

But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you. Then everyone who had a judicial complaint could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement. In this way Absalom won the loyalty of the citizens of Israel. Since they were invited, they went naively and were unaware of what Absalom was planning.

The conspiracy was gaining momentum, and the people were starting to side with Absalom. Otherwise no one will be delivered from Absalom! They were leaving with the king. Go back and stay with the new king, for you are a foreigner and an exile from your own country. Today should I make you wander around by going with us? I go where I must go. But as for you, go back and take your men with you.

May genuine loyal love protect you! As the king was crossing over the Kidron Valley, all the people were leaving on the road that leads to the desert. When they positioned the ark of God, Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city. Go back to the city in peace! All the people who were with him also had their heads covered and were weeping as they went up. You must send them to me with any information you hear. Yes, you will strike all my enemies on the jaw; you will break the teeth of the wicked.

Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place. Have mercy on me and respond to my prayer! How long will you love what is worthless and search for what is deceptive? Who is our master? They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground, where it is thoroughly refined. May I rejoice because of your deliverance! If you do not respond to me, I will join those who are descending into the grave. The Lord will permanently demolish them. I am rescued and my heart is full of joy; I will sing to him in gratitude. Selah They refuse to change, and do not fear God.

His words seem softer than oil, but they are really like sharp swords. He will never allow the godly to be upended. Violent and deceitful people will not live even half a normal lifespan. But as for me, I trust in you. Lord, You instruct us to gather within social constructs, because without them we quickly regress to very primitive ways of thinking and acting. May I pray for our leaders that they might listen to and obey You and enforce the law righteously that justice might insure freedom and peace. When evil goes unpunished the disease of injustice spreads like cancer, which is why in Your perfect wisdom You established a system of justice.

May I be as willing to submit to justice as I am to seek it for others. When unresolved bitterness enters the heart of a person it poisons them to rebel against all authority, even You. May I be careful to avoid bitterness but rather to forgive, reconcile, and restore relationships. David believed the lie that Amnon was ill and so he instructed Tamar to bring him food.

Amnon asked her to feed him and when she came near he grabbed and raped her, then sent her away like a cheap whore, shaming her.

Absolom took Tamar into his home and was furious with Amnon, but said nothing as he nursed his anger. David was angry but did nothing to punish Amnon, even though the law required that Amnon be put to death. Two years after Amnon raped his half-sister Tamor, her brother Absalom still seethed in anger, as no justice had been brought to bear upon him for the crime by King David.

Absalom schemed to get Amnon out of the palace to the shearing fields where he instructed his servants to kill him. David first received word that all of his sons had been killed by Absalom but then learned that it was only Amnon. David mourned Amnon and, after the time had passed, he desired to see Absalom to reconcile. David made it known that he wanted to see Absalom but did nothing about it so Joab took it upon himself, as he had done in the past, to invent a scheme to get Absalom back to Jerusalem.

In a manner somewhat similar to that of Nathan in the matter of Bathsheba, Joab instructed a woman to tell a story to David and when he agreed, to let him know that the person she wanted returned and protected from harm was really Absalom. David challenged her to admit that Joab put her up to it, and she confessed, at which point David called Joab and instructed him to go and bring home Absalom. Absalom arrived but David, for no apparent reason, refused to see him. Absalom explained that he was being ignored by Joab when he needed to get a message to King David and that he would rather have remained in Geshur than to have traveled to Jerusalem only to be ignored by David.

He insisted that if he was to be judged then so be it. Joab delivered his message and the King relented and invited Absalom to visit. Absalom arrived and bowed before David. Absalom conspired against his father, King David, and in secret began a campaign to replace in him in the hearts of the people.

In Hebron Absalom accelerated his plan and when David heard that he was planning a coup he gathered men and his closest associates and family and fled — leaving behind 20 concubines to care for the palace. David heard that Ahithophel, his former royal adviser, had sided with Absalom — so he asked the Lord God to curse him with bad advice for Absalom.

David also sent Hushai, his friend and confidant, to make himself available to Absalom and to balance the counsel of Ahithophel. When a crime has been committed, and the perpetrator is known, if there is no justice it is probable that the victim or those close to them will seek vigilante justice. Why would David do nothing to Amnon after he raped his half-sister when the law required action?

Could David have been reluctant to see Absalom because he felt guilty for not punishing Amnon for the rape of his sister? David had already created a problem through his illicit relationship with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah and now he made it worse by failing to enforce the law. Joab seems to be the lynchpin who made things happen on the battlefield, and at home. When have you watched an organization be harmed because a leader failed to enforce the law boundaries, guidelines, laws, rules with consistency and justice?

When have you experienced or observed an unpunished offense leading to further offenses, actual crimes or perhaps unresolved offenses? When have you observed someone in business, ministry, politics, or a relationship allow another person to illegitimately invade their space and do nothing, indeed to retreat even though they did not need to do so? Also, to reveal to you a place in your life where you may not be acting decisively, in consultation with Him, or where a leader needs your prayers for the same failure and to reveal a place where you need to reassess your confidence in God and your willingness to stand for the right in His strength.

Today I will pray for the leader whom the Holy Spirit brings to my attention. I will pray for a leader I will do so at least once per day for at least a week. I will pray for them to listen to the Lord God and to obey Him. I will pray that they be convicted by the Holy Spirit of any area where they have been careless or venal. I will pray for my own commitment to obey legitimate authority. I will use my appropriate authority to mediate justice where a wrong has been done and has not been properly addressed, it may be in the role as parent, coach, educator, ministry leader, judge, or some other role.

If the injustice has been against me I will walk through the process of forgiveness so that the enemy can no longer use it to poison my life and perhaps manipulate me into stealing from the Lord God His sovereign right to vengeance against those who sin. I will prayerfully review my responsibilities as a leader, whatever that looks like, be it as a parent, coach, counselor, teacher, ministry leader, business leader, political leader, etc. If the Holy Spirit shows me a place that I am making decisions without consultation with Him, or am avoiding decisions for fear of consequences, I will repent and set my path right.

If a leader needs my prayers, and as-appropriate some words of counsel and encouragement, I will request courage and wisdom from the Holy Spirit and do so. I will also ask a fellow believer to pray in-agreement that I will be faithful in standing for truth. He had a couple of donkeys that were saddled, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred raisin cakes, a hundred baskets of summer fruit, and a container of wine. May I find favor in your sight, my lord the king. You man of bloodshed, you wicked man!

Now the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. Disaster has overtaken you, for you are a man of bloodshed! Let me go over and cut off his head! So also now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone so that he can curse, for the Lord has spoken to him. But Shimei kept going along the side of the hill opposite him, yelling curses as he threw stones and dirt at them. Long live the king! Should it not be his son?

Just as I served your father, so I will serve you. What should we do? All Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. Then your followers will be motivated to support you. Both David and Absalom highly regarded the advice of Ahithophel. Then I will go and pursue David this very night. I will rout him, and the entire army that is with him will flee. I will kill only the king In exchange for the life of the man you are seeking, you will get back everyone. The entire army will return unharmed. Should we follow his advice?

If not, what would you recommend? Your father is an experienced soldier; he will not stay overnight with the army. For all Israel knows that your father is a warrior and that those who are with him are brave. Let all Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba — in number like the sand by the sea! We will descend on him like the dew falls on the ground. Neither he nor any of the men who are with him will be spared alive — not one of them!

Instead, be sure you cross over, or else the king and everyone who is with him may be overwhelmed. A female servant would go and inform them, and they would then go and inform King David. It was not advisable for them to be seen going into the city. So the two of them quickly departed and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. There was a well in his courtyard, and they got down in it.

No one was aware of what she had done. Then they left and informed King David. By dawn there was not one person left who had not crossed the Jordan. After setting his household in order, he hanged himself. So he died and was buried in the grave of his father. They also brought food for David and all who were with him, including wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, He appointed leaders of thousands and leaders of hundreds. But you are like ten thousand of us!

So it is better if you remain in the city for support. So the king stayed beside the city gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands. The battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. The slaughter there was great that day — 20, soldiers were killed. Now as Absalom was riding on his mule, it went under the branches of a large oak tree. His head got caught in the oak and he was suspended in midair, while the mule he had been riding kept going. I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a commemorative belt! In the meantime all the Israelite soldiers fled to their homes.

You have no good news that will bring you a reward. When he looked, he saw a man running by himself. The Lord has vindicated you today and delivered you from the hand of all who have rebelled against you! He went up to the upper room over the gate and wept. My son, my son, Absalom! If only I could have died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son! I relied completely on the Lord, and he turned toward me and heard my cry for help. He placed my feet on a rock and gave me secure footing. May many see what God has done, so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord!

I want to declare them and talk about them, but they are too numerous to recount! You make that quite clear to me! I spare no words! May your loyal love and faithfulness continually protect me! My sins overtake me so I am unable to see; they outnumber the hairs of my head so my strength fails me. You plan how to do what is unjust; you deal out violence in the earth. He is my refuge; I will not be upended. They love to use deceit; they pronounce blessings with their mouths, but inwardly they utter curses.

When they are weighed in the scales, all of them together are lighter than air. For you repay men for what they do. They shoot at him suddenly and are unafraid of retaliation. All who see them will shudder,. They will proclaim what God has done, and reflect on his deeds. All the morally upright will boast. They smash me into the ground. They force me to live in dark regions, like those who have been dead for ages.

My strength is fading. Do not reject me, or I will join those descending into the grave. Show me the way I should go, because I long for you. May your kind presence lead me into a level land. The Lord, my protector, deserves praise — the one who trains my hands for battle, and my fingers for war,. Our daughters will be like corner pillars, carved like those in a palace. Our sheep will multiply by the thousands and fill our pastures. No one will break through our walls, no one will be taken captive, and there will be no terrified cries in our city squares.

Lord, You have warned us that the heart of humankind is deceitful and selfish, but that we still share Your blessings and trust You to care for us. May I be as generous with what I have received from You as You have been with Your loving provision for me. Absalom was attacking Your chosen King, the outcome was certain to be bad for him. May I take care to prayerfully consult the Holy Spirit so that I do not find myself in hopeless contradiction to Your will, my Lord God. While great harm may be done by those who oppose You, in the end they will fail. May I be watchful that I am not drawn into alliance with those who oppose You, in major or in minor ways.

Ziba brought food and wine and donkeys to David, and his fellow refugees, from those resources. Along the way a distant relative of Saul cursed David and threw dirt and rocks at he and his entourage. Meanwhile Absalom arrived in Jerusalem and was greeted by Hushai. Ahithophel offered to pursue David and his men into the desert while they were still exhausted from their flight from Jerusalem.

Ahithophel then challenged Absalom to ask Hushai what he would do. David sent out three commanders, each of one-third of the huge army that had gathered around him. He instructed them to do their best but to avoid harm to Absalom. Absalom was also caught-up in the branches of a tree and swept off his donkey. Soldiers saw him and told Joab who was angry they had not killed him — but they reminded him that David had asked that Absalom be protected — and that they believed Joab would not have defended them had they killed Absalom.

He is my refuge May I hear about your loyal love in the morning, for I trust in you. People are like a vapor, their days like a shadow that disappears … Grab me and rescue me from the power of foreigners, who speak lies, and make false promises … How blessed are the people who experience these things! How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord! The text does not say so explicitly, but Ahithophel may have been the instigator of some of David's earlier poor choices in the matter of Absalom, Amnon, and Tamar. David's plan to frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel to Absalom via Hushai worked as planned and the proud Ahithophel could not bear the shame of being ignored.

David continued to be protected by the Lord God despite his self-focused foolishness. His series of irresponsible choices led to the death of his son Absalom and 20, soldiers as well as a fracturing of the loyalties within the nation of Israel. How powerful must have been the evil influences in Saul's life that even after David was so kind to Mephibosheth he still turned against David at the first opportunity? Why would Absalom, after acknowledging the truth in Ahithophel's advice that David and his men would be tired and therefore more vulnerable , not notice that Hushai's advice would cause he and his men to be equally so after chasing him such a distance?

Ahithophel was apparently focused only on giving practical advice, without regard to the person whom he was advising, and he presumed that his advice would automatically be accepted due to his reputation. When have you experienced or observed blessings coming from an unexpected source at just the right moment?

When have you experienced or observed an appeal to ego causing a leader to choose poor advice over good? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal how you may be a blessing to someone in need as the resources He has given you are not yours alone but are intended to bless brothers and sisters in Christ as well, to reveal a place in your life where you are not being fully obedient, to show you a decision that you have made that may have sparked resentment in another.

Today I will share my reflections with at least one other believer. I will generously share from the bounty, great or small, which the Lord has given me. I will do so quietly, without need for public recognition, and will pray that the brother or sister in Christ will bless others in the same way when given the opportunity. I will also pray for leaders as He directs.

I will prayerfully consult the Holy Spirit and receive direction as to a wrong I have done that needs to be made right. It may be a harsh word said in anger, an unfairness to an employee, an insensitivity to a child or spouse, a financial dealing that was improper in some way, or some other place where the love of self was more in evidence than that of the Lord being poured out through me into the life of another. I will confess, repent, ask forgiveness, make restitution as may be appropriate , and invest in the ministry of reconciliation. I realize now that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, it would be all right with you.

This disaster will be worse for you than any disaster that has overtaken you from your youth right to the present time! When all the people were informed that the king was sitting at the city gate, they all came before him. But the Israelite soldiers had all fled to their own homes. He rescued us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom. So now why do you hesitate to bring the king back? Why should you delay any further in bringing the king back? God will punish me severely, if from this time on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!

Now the people of Judah had come to Gilgal to meet the king and to help him cross the Jordan. They hurriedly crossed the Jordan within sight of the king. Now after he had crossed the Jordan, Shimei son of Gera threw himself down before the king. You are like my enemy today! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? From the day the king had left until the day he safely returned, Mephibosheth had not cared for his feet nor trimmed his mustache nor washed his clothes. But my lord the king is like an angel of God. Do whatever seems appropriate to you.

But instead you allowed me to eat at your own table! What further claim do I have to ask the king for anything? You and Ziba will inherit the field together. My lord the king has returned safely to his house! Am I able to discern good and bad? Can I taste what I eat and drink? Am I still able to hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should I continue to be a burden to my lord the king? Why should the king reward me in this way? But look, here is your servant Kimham.

Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever seems appropriate to you. And whatever you choose, I will do for you. After the king had kissed him and blessed him, Barzillai returned to his home. Now all the soldiers of Judah along with half of the soldiers of Israel had helped the king cross over.

Why are you so upset about this? Or have we misappropriated anything for our own use? Why do you want to curse us? Every man go home, O Israel! But the men of Judah stuck by their king all the way from the Jordan River to Jerusalem. The king took the ten concubines he had left to care for the palace and placed them under confinement. Though he provided for their needs, he did not have sexual relations with them.

They remained in confinement until the day they died, living out the rest of their lives as widows. But in doing so he took longer than the time that the king had allotted him. Otherwise he will secure fortified cities for himself and get away from us. Now Joab was dressed in military attire and had a dagger in its sheath belted to his waist. When he advanced, it fell out. There was no need to stab him again; the first blow was fatal. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bicri.

Having noticed that everyone who came across Amasa stopped, the man pulled him away from the path and into the field and threw a garment over him. When they had assembled, they too joined him. They prepared a siege ramp outside the city which stood against its outer rampart.

You are attempting to destroy an important city in Israel. There is a man from the hill country of Ephraim named Sheba son of Bicri. He has rebelled against King David. Give me just this one man, and I will leave the city. Joab blew the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each going to his own home.

The Royals of Adriel Series

Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem. Benaiah the son of Jehoida was over the Kerethites and the Perethites. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the secretary. So David inquired of the Lord. Now the Gibeonites were not descendants of Israel; they were a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had made a promise to them, but Saul tried to kill them because of his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah. The seven of them died together; they were put to death during harvest time — during the first days of the beginning of the barley harvest.

From the beginning of the harvest until the rain fell on them, she did not allow the birds of the air to feed on them by day, nor the wild animals by night. They had secretly taken them from the plaza at Beth Shan. It was there that Philistines publicly exposed their corpses after they had killed Saul at Gilboa. After they had done everything that the king had commanded, God responded to their prayers for the land. So David went down with his soldiers and fought the Philistines. He had said that he would kill David.

You must not extinguish the lamp of Israel! On that occasion Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the descendants of Rapha. On that occasion there was a large man who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all! Drive them away because of their many acts of insurrection, for they have rebelled against you.

Like a shield you protect them in your good favor. O Lord, do not continue to rebuke me in your anger! For I was once walking along with the great throng to the temple of God, shouting and giving thanks along with the crowd as we celebrated the holy festival. You save me from violence! They heaved because he was angry. The Lord illumines the darkness around me. I will sing praises to you. He always delivers me, and brings all I desire to fruition. Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was head of the officers. He killed eight hundred men with his spear in one battle.

He was one of the three warriors who were with David when they defied the Philistines who were assembled there for battle. When the men of Israel retreated, The Lord gave a great victory on that day. When the army returned to him, the only thing left to do was to plunder the corpses.

When the Philistines assembled at Lehi, where there happened to be an area of a field that was full of lentils, the army retreated before the Philistines. He defended it and defeated the Philistines; the Lord gave them a great victory. A band of Philistines was camped in the valley of Rephaim. They carried it back to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord It is equivalent to the blood of the men who risked their lives by going.

Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors.

He killed three hundred men with his spear and gained fame among the three. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a cistern on a snowy day. The Egyptian wielded a spear, while Benaiah attacked him with a club. David put him in charge of his bodyguard. Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, Altogether there were thirty-seven. Lord, You bring good from what the enemy has used to bring evil, but sin always has negative consequences. May I be careful that I not presume that carelessness on my part, though forgiven and redeemed by You, will have no bad consequences for me and for others.

Once again a foolish man attacked Your chosen leader and once again he paid with his life. May I be wise and seek after You that I may be a valued servant in Your great plan and not an impediment to be removed from the way. After David killed Goliath the Israelites were no longer terrified of giant soldiers among the Philistines.

May I remember that You are greater than any giant in my world and therefore I will stand with You for truth. When we celebrate Your glory and honor and power we draw nearer to You, and it is only there that we have purpose and safety. May I praise and worship You often. Joab challenged David for creating a new crisis as he appeared to value Absalom his enemy more than the faithful soldiers, merely because he was one of his sons.

David understood the threat to his credibility and went to the city gate where people came to see him. David sent word to the leaders of the tribes who represented the somewhat divided original Israel, still bearing the name Israel, as he had fled Jerusalem primarily in the company of those who had become identified and Judah — he asked them to make clear his way to Jerusalem. Among those who greeted him were Shimei, the distant relative of Saul who had thrown stones and curse him as he fled, but David rebuked those who wished to kill him and instead accepted his confession and repentance and observed that it was time for healing.

Also among those who greeted David was an equally repentant Mephibosheth, grandson of Saul, who blamed bad counsel for turning him against David. On the dark side was an escalation of the tribal conflict between the communities of Israel and Judah. Sheba son of Bicri, a Benjaminite, took advantage of the squabbling between those of Israel and those of Judah and sparked another rebellion. He took some men with him and set out to rally others to his cause. David sent Amassa to gather those of Judah but he was gone longer than David gave him to complete the task which made Joab suspicious.

Joab met him and killed him and then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba.

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At the fortified city they prepared to breach the gate or the walls when a woman convinced Joab to negotiate. He agreed to spare the city if they surrendered Sheba, so they killed him and tossed his head over the wall, then Joab returned to Jerusalem. The Gibeonites asked for sever descendants of Saul to execute for the sake of justice, then their bones and those of Saul and Jonathan were brought to the land of the Benjaminites and the famine was lifted. David was now an old man and when he joined his troops in battle against the Philistines he became tired and vulnerable and had to be rescued from one of the giant relatives of Goliath.

The soldiers then declared that it was no longer necessary for David to battle with them as he represented Israel and their blessings. Other giant relatives of Goliath came against the Israelites and they were also killed. Then it returned to the theme of rescue as he described all who had turned against him. It concluded with a statement of assurance that the Lord God would heal and rescue him because, despite his sin, he had remained steadfastly loyal to the Lord.

He pleaded with the Lord for rescue him and he confidently looked forward to singing His praises when He did. In his usual bombastic style David wrote a prosaic reflection on the recent events of his life. He narrowed his responsibility for the troubles by only addressing his direct honor to the Lord God, rather than his personal sin and leadership failures, and he emphasized the sin of others. David then gave honor to the warriors who had surrounded him over many years, telling of their amazing exploits in battle, and explaining how they had earned their promotions. David's refusal to escalate the violence earlier against Shimei and Mephibosheth made this moment of repentance and reconciliation possible, a role model for others, and part of the healing of the nation.

The Benjaminites had a troubled history, they were very proud of Saul, and with his loss there was some considerable angst as to their standing among the tribes. The Lord God had warned Israel against a mere human king and had told them all of the difficult things one would bring upon them. Saul went beyond even the troubles God prophesied and long after his death negative consequences of his poor choices were visited upon the people.

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David's emphasis, though favorable to himself, was primarily on the Lord God, where it should be. Why would David prefer Amassa over Joab as leader of his army, and was that a wise priority? Why did Joab kill Amassa?

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Why would David had thought it necessary to be on the battlefront? Why would David believe it was important to celebrate the loyal warriors? The leaders of Israel asked David a fair question, which he did not answer, and that was why he fled with those of Judah rather than remain with Israel and Judah and stand his ground.

This is the second time that a woman saved David, this time indirectly, from a big hassle - using reason and strategy. There will be giant challenges in our lives, but because Jesus has overcome death we are not afraid. On those occasions where David fell short in his personal righteousness, and his sense for right-leadership priorities, it was because his eyes and heart were not on the Lord.

When have you observed that despite overcoming a past conflict in an organization or relationship there remained some difficulties? I will ask a fellow believer to pray-in agreement as I accept the courage and wisdom of the Lord to face and to overcome the giant s in my life. It may be depression, which flows from unresolved anger or fear, substance abuse, financial or relationship troubles, challenges in school or the workplace, health problems, or other events which are stealing your joy and blocking your blessings.

I stand in the power of the Lord and walk one step at a time to victory and freedom. I will take the time to celebrate what the Lord God means to me; what He has done for me, what He has done in and through me, and what He has done in spite of me.

For in you I have taken shelter. In the shadow of your wings I take shelter until trouble passes. He protects the lives of his faithful followers; he delivers them from the power of the wicked. All the ends of the earth see our God deliver us. You ensure that legal decisions will be made fairly; you promote justice and equity in Jacob.

They prayed to the Lord and he answered them. They found you to be a forgiving God, but also one who punished their sinful deeds. But why does my master the king want to do this? Then they went on to the Negev of Judah, to Beer Sheba. In Israel there were , sword-wielding warriors, and in Judah there were , soldiers.

Now, O Lord, please remove the guilt of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly. I am offering you three forms of judgment. Pick one of them and I will carry it out against you. Or shall you flee for three months from your enemy with him in hot pursuit? Or shall there be three days of plague in your land? Now decide what I should tell the one who sent me. I prefer that we be attacked by the Lord, for his mercy is great; I do not want to be attacked by men!

Seventy thousand men died from Dan to Beer Sheba. As for these sheep — what have they done? Attack me and my family. Here are oxen for burnt offerings, and threshing sledges and harnesses for wood. I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt sacrifices that cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty pieces of silver. And the Lord accepted prayers for the land, and the plague was removed from Israel. Then bring back a report to me so I may know how many we have. My master, O king, do not all of them serve my master? Why does my master want to do this? Why bring judgment on Israel?

So Joab left and traveled throughout Israel before returning to Jerusalem.

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In all Israel there were 1,, sword-wielding soldiers; Judah alone had , sword-wielding soldiers. Now, please remove the guilt of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly. Pick one of them. I prefer to be attacked by the Lord, for his mercy is very great; I do not want to be attacked by men! As he was doing so, the Lord watched and relented from his judgment. David and the leaders, covered with sackcloth, threw themselves down with their faces to the ground. I am the one who sinned and committed this awful deed! O Lord my God, attack me and my family, but remove the plague from your people!

My master, the king, may do what he wants. Look, I am giving you the oxen for burnt sacrifices, the threshing sledges for wood, and the wheat for an offering. I give it all to you. I will not offer to the Lord what belongs to you or offer a burnt sacrifice that cost me nothing. He called out to the Lord, and the Lord responded by sending fire from the sky and consuming the burnt sacrifice on the altar. The Sidonians and Tyrians had brought a large amount of cedar logs to David. Therefore I will make preparations for its construction. You must not build a temple to honor me, for you have spilled a great deal of blood on the ground before me.

I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. Indeed, Solomon will be his name; I will give Israel peace and quiet during his reign. I will grant to his dynasty permanent rule over Israel. May you succeed and build a temple for the Lord your God, just as he announced you would.

Be strong and brave! I have stored up , talents of gold, 1,, talents of silver, and so much bronze and iron it cannot be weighed, as well as wood and stones. Feel free to add more! Get up and begin the work! May the Lord be with you! He has made you secure on every side, for he handed over to me the inhabitants of the region and the region is subdued before the Lord and his people. Get up and build the sanctuary of the Lord God! Lord, You know our hearts and You do not tolerate sin gladly. May I take care in any role in leadership; husband, father, teacher, counselor, to not allow my sin to cause trouble for others.

You stand with Your people against enemies but we must never presume that You will overlook our failure to stand righteously before You. May I be attentive to the things You have asked of me so that I am a suitable vessel for Your blessings. Notable phrases were that he took shelter in the Lord, a parallel to his shelter in the cave, and that the Lord might cover the whole earth with His splendor. You godly ones, rejoice in the Lord! Give thanks to his holy name. The Lord God was again angry with Israel, though the text does not specify the reason.

David commanded Joab to make a census of the manpower available to the army. Joab and the other military leaders pleaded with him to not do so, as they knew it was forbidden by the Lord God, but David insisted. They suggest that the 2 Samuel 24 telling was a spiritual perspective, and that the Chronicles 1: God had warned that a human king would be a two-way street of trouble for Israel, their sin would hurt him, and his sin would hurt them. Joab and his men reluctantly obeyed and returned with the census, at which time David was immediately repentant of his sin, but it was too late.

The prophet Gad brought David three options from the Lord God; seven years of famine, three days of plague, or three months fleeing an enemy. David had been through the fleeing-thing twice before and quickly decided that he preferred the measured judgment of God to that of man. His reason for rejecting the seven years of famine are not discussed but his age and the probable harm to the nation may have prompted him to choose against such a long hardship. David chose the plague and the Lord God took 70, men then halted the death angel. David cried out to the Lord that it was his fault and he and his family rather than others should be punished.

David replied, "I am a poor and lightly esteemed man", meaning that he was unable to provide a bride price. Saul then advised him that no bride price was required except for the foreskins of Philistines. David took part in a further battle, killed Philistines, and brought their foreskins to Saul as a double bride price. In the biblical narrative, Michal chooses the welfare of David over the wishes of her father.

When Saul's messengers search for David in order to kill him, Michal sends them away while pretending he is ill and laid up in bed. She lets David down through a window and hides teraphim in his bed as a ruse. Cheryl Exum points out that although she risked her life in helping him, after he leaves the court, he makes no attempt to contact her. While David was hiding for his life, Saul gave Michal as a wife to Palti, son of Laish , and David took several other wives , including Abigail. Ish-bosheth complied, despite the public protests of Palti.

Alter notes the contrast between David's measured negotiations and Palti's public grief. After Michal was returned to David, she criticised him for dancing in an undignified manner, as he brought the Ark of the Covenant to the newly captured Jerusalem in a religious procession. These events have raised moral issues within Judaism, especially in the context of the prohibition in Deuteronomy On the one hand, some argue that it is prohibited to re-establish a marriage with a previous spouse who has subsequently remarried.

On the other hand, other commentators explain that David had not divorced Michal at this point in time, but rather Saul acted to break their marriage by marrying her off to another without David's consent. Some have argued that it is unclear whether Michal died barren and childless, as stated in 2 Samuel 6: Gill attempted to resolve the conundrum presented by many Hebrew manuscripts' use of Michal, rather than Merab, by translating 2 Samuel Now, Merab, Michal's older sister, was the wife of Adriel 1 Samuel

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