Caught up in their Sins

 2 Samuel 11:14-27

A man or woman caught up in their sins has no limit to what they will do to cover their crime.  When that person is in a position of authority, such as a king, or president they give orders and others often enhance the sin.  Such is the case with Uriah as is witnessed in verses 14-22. 

David gives a letter to Uriah, it is an execution note to his general Joab, and yet Uriah did not have a clue he was delivering his death decree.  This was on that note: “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.” 

This is the action of general Joab; “And as Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there were valiant men. And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uriah the Hittite also died. Then Joab sent and told David all the news about the fighting. And he instructed the messenger, “When you have finished telling all the news about the fighting to the king, then, if the king's anger rises, and if he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? Who killed Abimelech, the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ then you shall say, ‘your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’”

Joab is a great general, and he must have wondered what Uriah had done to deserve death, but he carried out the King’s orders.  The messengers must be wondering what’s going on, why would Uriah the Hittite’s death appease David’s anger of allowing men to fall in battle using such a foolish military tactic?

This is the report about what David said to the messenger, “Thus shall you say to Joab, ‘Do not let this matter displease you, for the sword devours now one and now another. Strengthen your attack against the city and overthrow it.’ And encourage him.”  So it is all going well for the King, he has gotten Uriah’s wife pregnant, while Uriah is away in battle, and he had Uriah killed to cover up his sin.

And it seems clear that Bathsheba was not aware of David’s actions, so when she gets the report of her husband's death, she mourned for him.  It is not clear to me if Bathsheba had a choice in David’s adultery, but I’m betting she was terrified of what Uriah would do to her when he came home.

When the time of mourning was over, David had her come to his house and she became his wife, and bore him a son.  It is the last sentence we need to pay attention to.  “But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Entitlement

 2 Samuel 11:1-26

I’ve heard these verses preached on many occasions, and David is always guilty of staying home when other kings are at battle.  The verse reads like this; “In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.”  We do not know why David did not go to battle at this time, but we do know there were other times he did not go to battle with his men.  It was not staying at home that got David into trouble; it was a feeling of entitlement. 

In our culture to be entitled is common, for it is an “inflated sense of entitlement that sought special privileges for the individual.”  And maybe David allowed the enemy of his soul to tell him that as the King he was entitled to whatever he desired.  We can only speculate, but this is certain, when he saw Bathsheba bathing on her roof, he was taken with her beauty.  It makes sense that the palace was probably on the highest ground so the king could look out on his subjects, and on that evening he saw a lady so beautiful he wanted to know all about her.

The story should have ended after David sent out a person to find out all about her, and he got this report; “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”  But the story does not end, for the king has allowed lust to replace integrity, and like a deer in heat, he has his eyes only on the doe with no regard for the hunter.  The sad news is David knew she was married and that rendered her off-limits to him. 

Bathsheba seems to be innocent she was called to the palace and sent into the King’s chamber.  Scripture puts all the blame on David.  But sin always comes back to haunt you, and this time of fun is going to backfire!   She sends word   she is pregnant, and now the king has a problem, he has broken trust with God and with a soldier in his army.  David does what many a person has tried to do, cover his trail by having the husband Uriah come home to give him a report on the battle.  Uriah must have been one of the elite warriors, and it was not out of character to be summoned to give such a report.  What David was not counting on was Uriah was a man of integrity and would not go to see his wife while the Army of God and the ark of God were in battle.

The following is what Scripture reports about Uriah coming home.  “Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” And Uriah went out of the king's house, and there followed him a present from the king. But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord and did not go down to his house. When they told David, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?” Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.” Then David said to Uriah, “Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank so that he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.”  King David at any other time would honor such a man, but what will a King do when trying to cover his sin?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

No skin in the game

2 Samuel 10:9-19

I believe in the past I’ve divulged I once was in the army of the USA, but I was never a warrior, never in battle, I was a pretend soldier and not a very good one.  But even Sargent Rice knew that it was not a good thing to have the enemy at your back and front at the same time.  Joab, the general of the army of Israel, found he was in a difficult position, this is the action recorded that he took.  “When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians. The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai, his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.” (2 Samuel 10:9-12)

Now one thing is clear, Joab is not a pretend soldier he is a great general and knows that the resource he needs is not more men, not high ground, but the Lord God of Israel fighting for him.  Now, do you recall that we talked about a hireling and how when the battle gets tough they have no skin in the game and will run, not stand and fight?  We shall see that lived out with the army of the Syrians in verse 13, “So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.”

The Ammonites saw the Syrians turn tail and run, they took off for home and all ran into a walled city.   So Joab returns home, but the Syrians called all the other Syrians, and together they had a vast army.  This is the account in verses 13-19, “And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates. They came to Helam, with Shobach, the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him. And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army so that he died there. And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.”

If you are an Ammonite and your defender has just been whipped real good, and you have become a stench to King David, that’s not a place to find yourself.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The wrong counsel

 2 Samuel 10:1-6

Have you ever listened to the wrong counsel, sure you have, we all have, but when you are in charge of a nation, lousy counsel can cause great disaster if listened to an carried out.  The Ammonites have been under Israel’s domination, and yet David and the king of the Ammonites have a good working relationship, that gives the Ammonite people a lot of freedom.  But then King Nahash dies, and David wants to show respect and kindness to his son Hanun.  Shall we look in the story in 2 Samuel 10:2b-4, “So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the Ammonites. But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, their lord, “Do you think because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?” So Hanun took David's servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away. When it was told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.”

The Lord handed down to Moses the Law.  The Law must have been available to the new King of the Ammonites because he had the emissaries of King David’s beards cut.   In the book of Leviticus 19:27, “You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.”

But the young King allowed fear to rule that day, if only he had someone to remind him of this quote: “Many of our fears are tissue-paper-thin, and a single courageous step would carry us clear through them.”  (~Brendan Francis)  But that is not what he did, and now the fear is justified in that they had broken trust and turned a kindness into a stench to David.

 What do you do when you blow it with the boss?  I hope you don’t do what this young King did!   King Hanun went on a hiring binge, first the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000-foot soldiers, the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob, 12,000 men.

Now someone forgot to tell him that hirelings always cave when the battle begins to turn on them.  That is what happens to so many churches when the pastor does not know that the local group that goes by the name church does not employ him, but he is God’s tool if called by God in the first place.

Tomorrow we will see how the battle is played out.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

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What characteristics do you look for in others?

2 Samuel 9

When you see the attributes of God in a person, not all of them, but some, it brings about respect for the person and as we explore King David’s history certain characteristics jump out at us.  David was faithful to authority and his word, and we are going to see that clearly in chapter 9, he was also merciful.  We will know that he was a promise keeper in his actions to a promise he had made to Jonathan in 1 Samuel 20:14-17.

I’m not sure what a King’s schedule is like, but I’m sure when you have won the many victories and have a large army and conquer land and people, it must have been a full-time job.  And yet David recalled his dear friend Jonathan and wondered if anyone from the line of Saul was still living so that he could honor a promise made to Jonathan.

It seems that David was wondering out loud about this and someone recalled Ziba, a servant in the house of Saul.  When Ziba was called to David this is their exchange; “And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.”

Do you know where Lo-debar is?  It is east of the Jordan River in Gilead.  I also wondered about Machir the son of Ammiel and why he was taking care of Jonathan’s son?  This is all we know about Machir he was an influential man in that region who cared for Saul’s sons.  He will later in chapter 17 give aid to King David and the people with him as they flee from Absalom.

If you are from the line of Saul and the new King is asking for you, that may not be a good thing, because Kings at that time killed the family of their predecessors.  So when he came to David he bowed down to the ground and paid homage, this had to be a pain for a man in his condition. 

The first words from David to Mephibosheth were, do not be afraid, I’m going to restore all your grandfather's lands and home to you, and will require that Ziba and his 15 sons take care of it for you.  But the best was yet to come, and you will eat at my table each day with my sons.

What characteristics do you look for in others, and do you expect the same thing in your life?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Reins of Leadership

 2 Samuel 8:1-18

As we explore 2 Samuel 8:1-18, our investigation will expose a valuable lesson that was a big part of David winning so many battles.  Chapter eight begins with David defeating the Philistines and subduing them, but then it states, and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.  This writer is ignorant in many areas and was wondering what Metheg-ammah was?  I opened my Study Bible, and it has this to say on the subject; Metheg-ammah “bridle of the cubit” it is an unknown site, and some suggest the expression is figurative.  If so, David took the bridle (the reins of leadership) from his enemies.

Our leadership in the USA has not had the stomach to win a war since WW 2, but King David was a warrior and also listened to God’s direction on how to battle and what to do with those who are left.  If you are in a church that only teaches one aspect of God’s character you are going to think David was heartless and evil.  But David had a healthy, vital, growing relationship with God, and knew all about God’s character.  I believe David would have said; “Because of who God is, I can face any situation.”

So David went to war against Moab and defeated them, and the Moabites lived on Israel’s southeast border beyond the Dead Sea.  This is not going to fit the USA game plan, but it was what kings did to those they took in battle.  David made the soldiers of Moab lie on the ground and two lines of men he put to death, but one third or one line he left alive.  If you take out all the men, who are going to work, and pay tribute or pay taxes to David, or be his subject? 

Verses 3-8, give us a picture of David’s battles and victories; “David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. And David took from him, 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000-foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze.”

Often we give credit to the general or the leader of a nation who wins a war or a great battle, yet David always knew the source of his victories from the time he was a shepherd boy and fought the lion and the bear.  Only bad can happen to a leader who believes they are the source of the victories or the growth of a church.

Now we have recorded King Toi of Hamath sending his son Joram with both silver and gold and bronze to thank David for defeating his enemy Hadadezer, who he had battled many times.

The key to David’s victories was not found in the silver, gold, bronze, land, and people he ruled over, but in verses 11-12. “These also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.”

The end of verse 14 is critical, “And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.”  And verse 15 gives this insight on David’s leadership skills, “So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people.”  As you finish the chapter, you see David putting into leadership men that he had a history with, men he could trust.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Our Purpose sould be Like King David's

2 Samuel 7:18-29

We live in a culture that has few good models in the leadership of our nation, Congress is a total mess, with a bunch of self-seekers, who would do almost anything to keep what they believe is power.  The sad fact is until you have encountered Jesus Christ you have no real understanding of power, for in Him is life-changing power.  And speaking of models, you will find few in the sports world or Hollywood, but when you see some one they are making fun of by the more enlightened of our media, take notice.

The prophet Isaiah talks about the time that is coming in Isaiah 5:20-21, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their on sight!”

Yes, we live in a time where there are influential people spending millions to remove any memory of men of our history and replace them with what?  These same kinds of people are sons of the devil, tools in his hand and they hate the light for it exposes the evil of their mind and heart.  They and I use that to cover a large group from the beginning of mankind who hate authority and do not want to submit to God’s power.  David was not such a man, in fact, if you need a model he is a great one, so lets explore the account in 2 Samuel 7:18-29.

The prophet Nathan has delivered a message from God that countermand’s what Nathan has told David the day before.  David’s desire was to build a place of worship for God, and the answer from God was you are not the man to do so.  Have you ever had a sincere desire to bring honor to God?  David did, and this is how he responded to the news; “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!  You have set your glory above the heavens.”  You will find that in Psalm 8:1, and in 2 Samuel 7:18, we see David going into the tent of meeting and sitting in the Lord’s presence.

What a model, when disappointed, when told you’re not the person for the job, do as David and sit before God, be still and have a heart of gratitude for all that God has done for you and your family.  David understood Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?  He knew if this was done by future generations; the Lord would work through a surrendered heart.

David understood God’s grace in his life, and I’m fearful that many in our time are caught up in the big me, and a small god, and that is sad, but that big me and little god will always fall short of leaving a vision for the next generation. 

It is incredible what King David understood about God’s purpose for Israel, it was more than a people called by His name.  It was to make a Name for himself, so others like you and I would turn to Him.

David's heart desired to make sure God’s name was exalted forever, now you and I should make sure that our goal and the first action should be to God.  David understood that God’s word was without error, and that was his foundation for his life.

David was more interested in how God was understood and perceived than how he was, that is a great thing to model.

From the Back Porch,

There is danger in zeal

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Do you recall these words from Jesus, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  (John 15:5)   Has the enemy of your soul ever said in a voice that sounds just like you, that’s not true look at all you have done?  I’ve heard that voice, and I recall Jesus saying, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44b)

What does the above verses have to do with God’s covenant with David, or David’s desire to build a house for God?  Let me attempt to answer those questions, because we know David had a heart for God and I believe his desires were in keeping with that spirit, but more than anything David wanted to please God. 

I’m assuming most of us who are followers of Christ have such a desire, and then the devil begins to say we need to get old Bob religious.  Religious is not the same as a relationship, and when we come to understand we are branches totally dependent on the vine, then we know that apart from Christ we can do nothing.

David goes to a trustworthy man of God his name is Nathan a prophet of the only God.  He told Nathan to look at what God had done for him and that he lives in this beautiful pad with walls of cedar, and the ark of God who blessed me is still living in a tent.  Now that brings us to verse three, “And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”  I like Nathan and it is clear that this man of God loved David as much as your pastor loves you, yet he did not inquire of God, and that is not good when giving counsel. 

But the very same night God had this instruction for Nathan to give David, and it is found in verses 5-17.  “Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled, and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”

There is danger in zeal without the leadership of the Holy Spirit, be very careful when you set your heart on doing something big for God, He is the vine and all we must do is remain in Him, and He will produce much fruit in you.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Despised by his Wife

2 Samuel 6:12-23

Now we left off on David’s failed attempt to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem when Uzzah with the best intentions tried to steady the ark when the oxen stumbled, and God killed him.  David, in fear of God, left the ark at the house of Obed-edom, and the Lord blessed him and his family.

King David is getting reports about how Obed-edom is blessed, and David had the ark of God brought up to the city of David with rejoicing.  This was the way it was done; “And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house.”

What a message for anytime, David wanted to be part of what God was up to, and in that obedience brings blessing, and because Obed-edom was being blessed in allowing the ark of God to be at his house, David wanted to join God and be part of the blessing.  That does not mean others will understand our hearts, for we find that his wife and the daughter of Saul watched David dancing before the Lord as the ark of God entered the city, and she despised him in her heart.  Could it be he was not conducting himself as a king should, and in her accusing heart she did not approve of David’s actions?  We in our advanced culture would never act in such a way! 

Now David is on a high, and this is what Michal, his wife had to say, and I'm sure it made his day.  Shall we listen in on their exchange: “And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” And David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord—and I will celebrate before the Lord. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them, I shall be held in honor.” And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.“

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Enthusiasm & Zeal are Prevalent in Religious

 2 Samuel 6:1-11

Neither enthusiasm, nor zeal replaces obedience, but both are prevalent in religious activities.  How ever in a relationship both need trust, respect, love, and even admiration for the other person. Today we are going to explore one of King David’s darker days as King, where he allowed zeal and enthusiasm to replace seeking God’s direction.  As I’m writing this paper, I’m reminded that Bob needs to seek God everyday, not when he has a big problem or project, but in the everyday details of life.

My parents taught me as a young boy that ignorance of the law was not an excuse, and if I broke the law and got caught, I would have to accept the punishment.  David, I’m sure was ignorant of what was written, but the priests were not, and they should have informed David that he was breaking God’s instructions.  It is written in Numbers 4:5-8 instructions about how to move the Ark of the Covenant.  “When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it. Then they shall put on it a covering of goatskin and spread on top of that a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles. And over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue and put on it the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the flagons for the drink offering; the regular showbread also shall be on it. Then they shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet and cover the same with a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles.”

The King may not have been aware of God’s instructions, but he must have heard about what happened when the Philistines brought the Ark to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and some of the men of the village looked upon the ark of the Lord and He struck down seventy men for doing so.  This teaching should make all of us understand that God is serious about His commandments. 

David gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand, and they went to Baale-judah to bring up the ark of God.  And they put it on a new cart, and all the house of Israel was making merry before the Lord, with songs and all kinds of instruments.  All seemed well until the oxen stumbled and Uzzah put his hand on the ark, and God struck him down, and he died beside the ark.  And it is recorded that David was angry because the Lord had burst forth against Uzzah.

And this was David’s response: “And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” So David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.”  2 Samuel 6:9-11

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Recalling the Source of the Victory

 2 Samuel 5:17-25

When a nation is respected even feared for its military power, when a new leader comes to power, they will be tested.  We saw it with George Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald John Trump, and as we look at what is referred to as the past, we see it in the history of Israel and its leaders. 

When the Philistines heard David was the new king of Israel they all came looking for him, and it was not to congratulate him but to kill him.  You see David not only had deceived them once he had also been used by God to kill their hero and military champion as a young boy with a slingshot and stone.  He had entered into King Saul’s army and had many victories and was feared by the Philistine army.  What have we learned about fear?  It produces hate and hates end game is putting to death the source of its hatred.

Now even a great leader like David had a tendency to fall back on what had worked before, and for years his life had been to hide from Saul at the stronghold, and it was his playbook of the best place to hide from an enemy, so once more that is where he went.  But David was a wise man who put no confidence in his abilities, but in his God who had helped and protected him as a young shepherd boy against the lion and the bear. 

Verses 19-22, “And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.”  Often, it is a great victory that allows us to be defeated, if we forget who gave the victory.  It is easy to become proud, we whipped these guys, and they will never deal with us again, but before you turn around, they are in the Valley of Rephaim. 

But David was not one to take the credit but had to honor God as the Source of all his victories, and when the Valley was full of Philistine soldiers David once more inquired of God as to what he should do?  And this is what David heard from God in verses 23-25, “And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.”

I often do battle without any assurance of victory, and usually have even joined in a fight that was not my battle.  Many of us who go by the name of Christian have entered into the struggle of someone else, and it has been my experience that God does not give grace or victory when we do so.  A wise person will model David and seek the Lord and wait for his direction before going to war.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

David's Wisdom

 2 Samuel 5-16

Today, if one is looking for a Chief Executive, first they may search from within the company ranks, or they may get what is called a headhunter, one who is used to find executive level placement.  One might say the tribes of Israel became headhunters.  This is the written account of the tribe coming to David king of Judah; “Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. At Hebron, he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem, he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.”

It is essential that we do not forget the bitter civil war and some of King David’s wisdom in moving the capital to Jerusalem.  It was centrally located, and Hebron was not, and it was located in Benjamin, the tribe of Saul.  It was a great message to the northern tribes that David was not only the King of Judah but now Israel. 

One of the first things David did was rename the city calling it the city of David, and he began to put in supporting terraces.  The King of Hiram of Tyre was over a very prosperous port city, and he started to send David building materials, not only to build a home for David but also to build the city.  Unlike many leaders of our day David always was clear that it was not David but God who was his source and power.  I’m sure that Deuteronomy 32:4 is a verse David recalled; “The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are Justice.  A God of faithfulness and without iniquity just and upright is He.”

Now often we think of King Solomon, the son of David as some over sexed guy with all those wives and concubines, but he was modeling dad, though he took it to a new level. 

This is the account; “And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David. And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

In Search of a Reward

2 Samuel 4

Do you recall what this writer stated in an earlier paper about Ish-bosheth, how it was not God, nor the people that gave him the kingship over Israel, it was Abner?  And when you are someone’s puppet then the one who placed you in authority can also remove you.  If Abner had not been killed it would have been interesting to observe how he would have eliminated the King.

It is also of interest and a great reminder that the one who has the real authority to put you in the office must be strong enough to keep you in that position.  So as we begin chapter four, we find Ish-bosheth in a mess; “When Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed.”  Fear always shows up when a leader is removed by death or other means, and was magnified by the actions or lack of actions of Ish-bosheth. 

Two men who were leaders of raiding parties, one named Baanah and the other Rechab, brothers, and sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, came while the king was asleep and killed him.  They cut off his head and took it to David, now the message had not gotten back to Israel.  What happens when the young man brought Saul’s armor to David and took credit for killing Saul after he had fallen on his sword?   But do recall that it did not go well with the young man David who had him killed for his claim of killing Saul.

Now, these two brothers show up believing they will be rewarded and David tells them the story of what happened to the young man who brought Saul’s armor to him and orders his young men to do the same to them.  These are the words and the actions the brothers heard from David; “How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?” And David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.”

A note from the writer, yesterday October 2, 2017 an evil man full of the devil and under his control, killed 59 people at last count and wounded over 500.  Evil has been with us from the day mankind rejected God’s authority in the Garden.  The first account of murder was Cain and his brother Able, and we have many who have killed millions, some claim they were doing God’s work, others just wanted to kill.  But all of them had one thing in common, they were a son of the devil, and Jesus told us this truth; “The thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”  The thief and the devil are the same person, so be on guard because the devil wants to do one of those three things in your life.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice