Gold for the heart - 2 Samuel 19-21

2 Samuel 19

1 And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom. 2 And the victory that day was turned to mourning for all the people: for the people heard how the king grieved for his son. 3 And the people sneaked into the city, like people who are ashamed sneak away when they flee in battle. 4 The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! 5 And Joab came into the house to the king and said, Today you have shamed the faces of all your servants who have saved your life, the lives of your sons and of your daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines; 6 You love those who hate you, and hate those who love you. Today you have shown that you have no regard for your officers or your servants: for I know today that if Absalom were alive and all of us dead, that it would be right in your eyes.

This is a great analogy of our relationship with God.
He made us in His image and gives all our life and breath and all things.
Then we love the world we hate our best friend—God.
The world is steeped in Satan’s system of evil that does good but leaves out God.
The world system is appealing and uses flattery to get what it wants.
The appeal and flattery do not last. They do not meet our needs.

Romans 11:36 of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

7 Now get up, go out, and speak to the hearts of your servants: for I have sworn by the LORD, if you do not go out, not one man will stay with you tonight: and that will be worse for you than all the evil that has come on you from your youth until now. 8 Then the king got up and sat in the gate. And they told all the people saying, Behold, the king sits in the gate. And all the people came before the king: and all Israel had fled every man to his tent.

Absalom’s followers went to their homes. The revolt was over.

9 And all the people of the tribes of Israel were quarreling saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he has fled out of the land because of Absalom. 10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Why are you silent about bringing the king back? 11 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests saying, Speak to the elders of Judah saying, Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house? For the word of all Israel has come to the king, to his house. 12 You are my brothers, you are my bones and my flesh: why then are you the last to bring the king back? 13 And say to Amasa, Are you not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me continually in the place of Joab. 14 And he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah, as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word to the king, Come back, you and all your servants. 15 So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to escort the king over Jordan.

Jesus also will return as king at the request of His people, the Jews, who followed the wrong one for a while.

Matthew 23:39 For I say to you, You will not see me from no on, until you say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.

Revelation 19:11 I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

16 And Shimei, the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. 17 And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; they went over Jordan before the king. 18 And a ferry boat went over to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; 19 And said to the king, Do not let my lord consider me guilty, or remember what I did perversely the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. 20 For I, your servant, know that I have sinned: therefore behold, I have come first today of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. 21 But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, answered and said, Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed? 22 And David said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you are adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that I am king over Israel today? 23 Therefore the king said to Shimei, You will not die. And the king swore to him.

Shimei had cursed and thrown rocks at David as he fled Jerusalem at the beginning of the Absalom revolt.
This is a picture of God and our sin.
He has removed our transgressions from us.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, that is how far he removed our transgressions from us.

24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had not dressed his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes, from the day the king left until the day he came again in peace. 25 And as he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, Why did you not go out with me, Mephibosheth? 26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for your servant said, I will saddle an ass, that I may ride on, and go to the king; because your servant is lame. 27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in your eyes. 28 For all of my father’s house were dead men before my lord the king: yet you set your servant among those that eat at your own table. So what right do I have to ask anything else of the king?

We were all dead in trespasses and sins until Christ died for us.

29 And the king said to him, Why speak any more of your matters? I have said, You and Ziba divide the land. 30 And Mephibosheth said to the king, Let him take all, since my lord the king has come again in peace to his own house. 31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to escort him over Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was an old man, eighty years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he dwelt at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. 33 And the king said to Barzillai, Come over with me, and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem.

God brings us to be with Him forever.

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

34 And Barzillai said to the king, How long do I have to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 Today I am eighty years old: can I discern between good and evil? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king repay me with such a reward?

God’s reward is great.

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcomes I will grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcomes will inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he will be my son.

37 Please let your servant return that I may die in my own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what seems good to you. 38 And the king answered, Chimham will go over with me, and I will do to him what seems good to you: and whatever you require of me, I will do it for you.

God also grants our desires and requests.

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD; and he will give you the desires you heart.

John 16:24 Until now have you have asked nothing in my name: ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king came over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned to his own place. 40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him: and all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel. 41 And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David’s men with him, over Jordan? 42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is a near relative to us: why are you angry about this? Have we eaten anything at the king’s cost? Or has he given us any gift? 43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, We have ten parts in the king, so we have more right in David than you: why then did you despise us, that our advice should not be first in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

Isn’t this like Jesus disciples fighting over who will be greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
God had now given David favor with the people again.

2 Samuel 20

1 And a man of Belial was there, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: he blew the ram’s horn and said, We have no part in David, neither do we have any inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

2 So every man of Israel left following David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah remained steadfastly with their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

This was a second revolt.
The people had come to David to make him king over all Israel.
Judah and Israel were arguing over who should have been first to bring the king back.
Then Sheba blew a trumpet and all Israel left to follow Sheba.
The men of Judah remained steadfastly with their king.
The Hebrew word for remaining steadfast is ‘dabaq’ meaning to cling to or adhere to. It is the exact word that was used in Genesis 2:24 saying the man shall leave father and mother and cleave to his wife.
We are also to cling or stick tight to our King.

Acts 11:23 and exhorted them all, with purpose of heart to cling to the Lord.

3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women, his concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward/custody, and fed them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living in widowhood.

David had no physical relationship with these women after Absalom had lain with them in the sight of the sun (2 Samuel 15, 16, 21, 22).
They were available to no one from then on.

Deuteronomy 24:4 Her former husband, that sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and you will not cause the land to sin, which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance.

4 Then the king said to Amasa, Call out the men of Judah within three days, and you be present here. 5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he delayed longer than the set time that the king had appointed him. 6 And David said to Abishai, Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom! Take your lord’s servants, and chase after him, so he not get into fenced cities, and escape us. 7 And Joab’s men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty warriors followed him: and left Jerusalem to chase after Sheba the son of Bichri.

David sent Abishai out with David’s personal bodyguard after Sheba.
A revolt was in progress and Amasa was late in returning to the king with the men of Judah.
David had pronounced that Amasa, Absalom’s military commander, would be commander of the armed forces of Israel in place of Joab (2 Samuel 19:13).
And has not God taken us, His enemies, and made us kings and priests?

Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life.

Revelation 1:6 And has made us kings and priests to God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

8 When they were at the great stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on was strapped to him, and on it a girdle with a sword fastened on his loins in its sheath; and as he went forward it fell out. 9 And Joab said to Amasa, Are you well, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. 10 Amasa paid no attention to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he struck him with it in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and did not strike him again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother chased after Sheba the son of Bichri. 11 One of Joab’s men stood by him and said, He that favors Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab. 12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and threw a garment over him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

The sight of Amasa wallowing in his own blood stopped the others cold.
If mankind had wholly followed God, not one gruesome thing would have happened in history. God allows man to reap what he has sown—this teaches man that God’s way is best.

Luke 22:48 Jesus said to him, Judas, do you betray the Son of man with a kiss?

13 When he was removed from the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to chase Sheba the son of Bichri. 14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, to Beth-maachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went after him also.15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah. They heaped up a mound against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down. 16 Then a wise woman called out of the city, Hear, hear; Please tell Joab, Come near here, that I may speak with you. 17 And when he came near to her, the woman said, Are you Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid. And he answered, I am listening. 18 Then she spoke saying, Did they not speak in ancient times saying, Ask counsel at Abel: that’s how they ended the matter.

This was a manhunt through the nation.
The city of Abel was known for wise advice in settling matters.

God’s inheritance is His people

19 I am one of the peaceful and faithful in Israel: you seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why will you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD? 20 And Joab answered and said, Never! Far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. 21 That is not it: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David: deliver him only, and I will leave the city. And the woman said to Joab, Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.

Deuteronomy 32:9 the LORD’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

22 Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. And he blew the ram’s horn, and they left the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. 23 Now Joab was over all the army of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites: 24 And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder: 25 And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests: 26 And Ira, the Jairite, was a chief ruler under David.

David was king again.
These men were his cabinet.
The Lord had restored David to the place that God had destined him.

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I will not lack anything. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; Your rod and your staff they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. 6 Surely your goodness and mercy will chase me around all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

2 Samuel 21

God answers when we ask why

1 Then there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he killed the Gibeonites. 2 And the king called the Gibeonites and said to them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn to them: and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)

The Gibeonites were under the curse of that death that God put on the land of Canaan for their idolatry and atrocities.
They deceived Israel, saying they were from a far country and Israel swore in God’s name not to destroy them (Joshua 9).
They lived among Israel from the time of Joshua until Saul.
Saul tried to kill them all.
Some Gibeonites remained after Saul’s slaughter. Their lives continued on in the pain of the loss of loved one, fathers, wives, and children. God takes this into account.

Psalm 9:12 When he makes inquisition for blood, he remembers them: he does not forget the cry of the humble.

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

3 Therefore David said to the Gibeonites, What can I do for you? And with what can I make the atonement, so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD? 4 And the Gibeonites said to him, We will have no silver or gold from Saul, or from his house; you are not to kill any man in Israel for us. And he said, What can I say that I will do for you. 5 And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that schemed against us to destroy us from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, 6 Let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD chose. And the king said, I will give them.

The Gibeonites acted more honorably than Saul.
They didn’t require man for man of those that had been killed.

Deuteronomy 32:9 For the LORD’s portion is his people;

7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she birthed to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: 9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and all seven fell together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest. 10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for herself on the rock from the beginning of harvest until water dropped on them out of heaven, and allowed neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night. 11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had killed Saul in Gilboa: 13 And he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of those that were hanged. 14 And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the grave of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was entreated for the land.

Atonement or covering had been made for murder of the Gibeonites done by king Saul.
Then all were properly buried.
Then God heard and answered David’s prayers for the famine to end.

Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Genesis 9:6 Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood is to be shed: for in the image of God he made man.

Numbers 35:33 Do not pollute the land where you are: for blood defiles the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of him that shed it. 34 Do not defile the land that you will inhabit, where I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.

Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being;

15 Again the Philistines had war with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David was faint. 16 And Ishbi-benob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he wearing a new sword, tried to kill David. 17 But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, helped him, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him saying, You will not go out with us to battle again, so that you not quench the light of Israel.

Israel valued David because he lived close to God.
He knew and obeyed God’s word.
The songs that David wrote became part of God’s word that lives and abides forever.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

God fights for us and gives victory over giants

18 And after this there was battle again with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was of the sons of the giant. 19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite, killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20 And there was war again in Gath, where a man of great stature was, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David, killed him. 22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

God gave victory again after the offense had been dealt with.

1Samuel 17:47 And all this assembly will know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s,

Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:37…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

SUMMARY: 2 Samuel 19-21

God's inheritance is His people
He answers our questions
He fights for us and gives victory over giants