As an Observer

2 Samuel 19:15-23

As an observer, I’ve enjoyed many victories; one of the most recent was the 2017 World Series where the boys from Houston took it all.  Going back many years, when I was in high school our team won the State Championship, yet I was just an observer.  That’s what Shimei was doing when David was in a battle for his kingdom, but with one big difference, Shimei was pulling for the other side.

Do you recall the greeting David got from Shimei while fleeing Jerusalem?  I wonder if you remember Shimei and his actions found in chapter 16:5-8, ^“When King David got to Bahurim, a man belonging to the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he was yelling curses as he approached.  He threw stones at David and at all the royal    ^a]servants, the people and the warriors on David’s right and left.  Shimei said as he cursed: “Get out, get out, you worthless murderer!  The Lord has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you became king, and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Look, you are in trouble because you’re a murderer!”

Do you recall how David’s men wanted to kill Shimei and David said no, that it might be coming from God?  You and especially me should take note of the action by David, before striking back when attacked. 

Shimei is in a bind; David has won, and Kings have long memories, and I bet he is sweating bullets, or maybe arrows.  You have to wonder what was going on in his mind, Kings kill enemies, and also their families, and my actions and emotions ran amuck.  So Shimei understood if he and his family were going to survive action had to be taken.  Often when we have dropped the ball and entered into sin, the last thing we do is confess with a broken heart before God.  But not Shimei, look at this account in chapter 19:16-20, “So the king came back to the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring the king over the Jordan.  And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, from Bahurim, hurried to come down with the men of Judah to meet King David. And with him were a thousand men from Benjamin. And Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, with his fifteen sons and his twenty servants, rushed down to the Jordan before the king, and they crossed the ford to bring over the king's household and to do his pleasure. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan, and said to the king, “Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart. For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”

Now the King has a choice once more, will he listen to the counsel of Abishai who asks on the first encounter with Shimei; “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?  Let me go and take off his head.”  And now at a later time, David is returning in victory, and these were the words of Abishai as they encounter Shimei; “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed.”

Watch out if you have an Abishai give you counsel, for he is not into mercy, just payback for any injustice.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Trying to restore a nation

 2 Samuel 9-14

Big mistakes, I mean significant screw-ups are not easily overcome, and the people of Israel were experiencing the ramifications of putting their hopes in the wrong man.  Can you go there, sure you can you have been in that camp and so have I, much too often, but the answer is how does a person, business, a church or a nation recover?

Most of the time they do as the people of Israel, they argue and begin to point a finger at those who were responsible.  I’ve been there and when you’re tired of arguing and blaming not one thing has changed, but maybe the problem has gotten more complicated.  Or perhaps you do as the people of Israel and recall what God has done with the one you have rejected, and that's called history, and that brings to mind, my dad who always said, we repeat history because we do not learn from it.

Well, the people of Israel recalled what David had done, how he was used by God to rescue them and win their battles.  They also took the blame on themselves and admitted they had made a mistake putting faith in Absalom.

Israel has just experienced a significant defeat, and fear of reprisal is having a field day in all of Israel, so they want to make sure that David understands they want him back as their king, and yet Judah who was not part of the rebellion is very quiet.  David sends this message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house when the word of all Israel has come to the king? You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’ And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also if you are not commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.’” And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, “Return, both you and all your servants.”

David is a wise king, and he is trying to restore a nation that has experienced a civil war, he removes Joab from being the commander of his army and replaces him with Amasa who was the general of Absalom’s army.  We were not told that David found out Joab murdered Absalom, but it is hard to keep such knowledge from a leader.  But David knew it would not be wise to kill the man who had been used by God to save the king from the traitor Absalom. 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Defeat out of a great victory

 2 Samuel 19:1-9

A kingdom is restored but the price is such a cost to David, and it is my opinion the sorrow is more profound than losing a son.  While David has been on the run from Absalom and mainly waiting for the results of the battle with his son's army, he has had a lot of time to reflect.  And the same accuser, the one Jesus calls a liar and deceiver is doing a number on David.  He is reminding him of every spear-throwing contest that he was too busy to attend, and how he dropped the ball when his son Amnon raped Tamar, the sister of Absalom.

Yes, David is fair game for the devil and so are you and I when we are removed from the battle and sitting wondering if God is going to come through once more?  Now you may be thinking David is an easy target because he a mess; if those are your thoughts we all dropped the ball, we have all fallen short in many areas of our life.  When engaged by the evil one, run to Jesus, for in Him you stand and ask Jesus to fight the accuser for you, you are of great value to Him.

The following nine verses of 2 Samuel 19, give us the account of what took place after David was informed of Absalom’s death.  “It was told Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle. The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines, because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today, I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.” Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king.”

As the army is returning to the city after a great victory and genuinely saving David and his family and his kingship, they are greeted with a King who is only mourning over his son’s death.  Joab has often confronted David, and this may be the boldest and wisest Joab ever was, with his king.

He understood that the men were coming back as victors and now they were faced with a king who was mourning over a traitor.  We should stop and ponder over how the enemy has brought defeat out of a great victory.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Fake News and the Real Story

 2 Samuel 18: 23-33

Today, we will see that the battle was won, the victory has taken place, but King David is in great anguish over the price paid.  I met more than one man who still grieves over the price they paid to reach the top in their occupation.  Many times it was the loss of a wife and children, and I will always remember what one man shared with me, “ I lost one family getting to the top, and now I’m a dad at 54 years of age, two young children, and I’m not going to mess this up.  He shared how often he would go home tired and beat up after a bad day, but I get out in the yard and play with my children, they are my priority.

“King David also had messed up as a dad, and one son that should have been his pride and joys had distain for his dad and wanted him dead.  But David is alive, and Absalom the son is dead, this is how David got the news.  Picking up the account in 2 Samuel 18:24-30, Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone. The watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he drew nearer and nearer. The watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the gate and said, “See, another man running alone!” The king said, “He also brings news.” The watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man and comes with good news.”

Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “All is well.” And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.” And the king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king's servant, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was.” And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.”`

It is incredible how often fear keeps one from being truthful, however Joab told Ahimaaz about the death of Absalom.  It was the second runner that came with the real news, the first messenger only shared what he hoped would be pleasing to the king.  This is the rest of the story; “And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king! For the Lord has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you.” The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil be like that young man.” And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Bad to the Bone

2 Samuel 18:9-23

Folks, it’s just plain stupid or as one of my friends would say, it’s just bad to the bone to rebel against God’s anointed.  Be very careful in your attacks on men God has put over you, and that includes, bosses, pastors, and even Presidents.  The young son of King David believed he would be a better king than his dad, so he has deceived the people and some of David’s closest advisors to follow him into battle.

His army is slaughtered and he is in that forest that has taken more of his men than David’s army.  He encounters David’s men, and he is riding on a mule, and this is the written account of what took place.  “Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head the mule that was under him went on. And a certain man saw it and told Joab, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” Joab said to the man who told him, “What, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” But the man said to Joab, “Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not reach out my hand against the king's son, for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake protect the young man Absalom.’ On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.” Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak. And ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him.”

Joab is a great general and very loyal to the King, but he has a history of not obeying orders and taking matters into his own hands.  Now if you are the soldier that found Absalom you are a man who fears both the king and God.  Joab knew that the end of Absalom was the end of the battle, so he called off his troops and picked a runner to send the news to King David.  Ahimaaz always was the one to run with the news, and it seems that if one runner came with the news it was thought of as good news, and if two came it was considered to be bad. 

We all like to get good news, but today with the fake news often we only hear the bad about all who are in authority, it’s time to look to the Father, not to CNN, CBS, NBC, or even Fox.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Any old forest will win the Battle!

2 Samuel 18:1-8

As David reviewed his troops before the battle with Absalom’s army, it is interesting the numbers that had come with King David or had joined him later.  Beginning in verses one and two we find this information: “Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. And David sent out the army, one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite.”

A leader should first and foremost listen to the Lord, and often the Lord will speak to us through others, this was what happened on the day of battle with Absalom and his army.  In verses 2b-4, “The king told the troops, “I myself will surely march out with you.”

But the men said, “You must not go out; if we are forced to flee, they won’t care about us. Even if half of us die, they won’t care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It would be better now for you to give us support from the city.”

The king answered, “I will do whatever seems best to you.”

So the king stood beside the gate while all his men marched out in units of hundreds and of thousands.”

David was not only the anointed king of Israel and Judah, he was a man after God’s own heart, and he, like you and me, was also a sinner.  But one must never forget that a man seeking God will have a father’s heart, and David loves his son Absalom, and it is important for us to know that God loves us.  So in verse five, we have the King gave this command; “And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.”

Now you recall that David divided his troops into three groups because they were attacking a more significant force, and this would have made Absalom’s general spread his forces over a larger area.  But the real battle took place in the forest of Ephraim, a few miles northwest of where David and the people were waiting to get a report.  On that day the battle did not go well for Absalom and Israel, by drawing Absalom’s army out of the open country where their superior numbers would be a significant advantage, entering the forest took away the benefit of the more substantial army.  And it cost 20,000 of Israel’s men their lives, and it's reported that the woods killed more than David’s army.  My only comment is, when God is fighting for you any old forest will win the battle!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Pride leads to Distrution

 2 Samuel 17:23-29

Do you recall 2 Samuel 16:23?  “Now the advice Ahithophel gave in those days was like someone asking about a word from God—such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.”  This is a dangerous place for a man to find himself it would be effortless for most of us to become prideful and arrogant, and to believe what people have said.  Now, from a military strategy, his advice was rock solid, but God was fighting for David, and Ahithophel’s counsel he would not listen to.

So what does a man do who his leader always seeks and does what he tells them as if it was God speaking to them?  “When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.” (2 Samuel 17:23) 

Why did he take such extreme measures, was it because he knew the jig was up, the party was over, and David now would defeat Absalom and still be the king, and he would be considered a traitor?  We do know that he was a wise man but also a very foolish man who believed he could take the crown from God’s anointed.

As a child in small Baptist churches, I observed men who believed they were wise, we called them deacons, and often they would think their job was not to serve but to run the church, and usually they attacked the pastor.  Most of those little churches never grew, they just die, and you might say they hung themselves.

It is essential to understand this is a civil war it is neighbors fighting neighbors, and cousins fighting cousins, as was the case of Amasa over the army of Absalom and Joab over the command of David.  Amasa was also the nephew of David.  When the military of Absalom crossed the Jordan River, David and his army was about 20 miles from them in Mahanaim.

It’s so important that you and I always remember, God still provides what is needed for his people, and in this case, we have these men of influence who God called to take care of David and his people.  We find this account in verses 27-29, “When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat, for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”

We must put the words found in Deuteronomy 31:6b into our memory, “for the Lord your God who goes with you.  He will not leave you or forsake you.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Two plans, but one is from God

                                                   

2 Samuel 17: 1-14

My background is in sales, and a good salesman is excellent at asking questions and will listen to his customer’s reply.  Let’s begin with a question; with the knowledge we have about Ahithophel’s counsel why would Absalom seek Hushai or even listen to it?  We ended chapter 16 with verse 23, “Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom?” 

First, Ahithophel told Absalom to sleep with all of David’s concubines in the sight of all of Israel.  Now let’s continue the account in chapter 17:1-5, “Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged and throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him will flee. I will strike down only the king, and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man, and all the people will be at peace.” And the advice seemed right in the eyes of Absalom and all the elders of Israel.”

The reason it sounded good to Absalom and all the elders was that it was rock solid, great advice.  David is not able to move fast, he has a lot of family and other children, and I’m sure older people with him and his men. Ahithophel is correct, they are weary and discouraged, and it would be a surprise to encounter Absalom’s army so soon.  But God has sent a man to mess up the works; you recall Hushai, the man who arrived from another direction at about the same time as Absalom enters Jerusalem, so did Hushai.  But Absalom did not do a proper investigation and assumed he had waited for him to arrive in Jerusalem.

It also seems that Ahithophel was not present when Absalom ask for the counsel of Hushai, let’s look at the story in verses 5-13, “Then Absalom said, “Call Hushai the Archite also and let us hear what he has to say.” And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “Thus has Ahithophel spoken; shall we do as he says? If not, you speak.” Then Hushai said to Absalom, “This time the counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good.” Hushai said, “You know that your father and his men are mighty men and that they are enraged, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Besides, your father is expert in war; he will not spend the night with the people. Behold, even now he has hidden himself in one of the pits or in some other place. And as soon as some of the people fall at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ Then even the valiant man, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will utterly melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and that those who are with him are valiant men. But my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as the sand by the sea for multitude and that you go to battle in person. So we shall come upon him in some place where he is to be found, and we shall light upon him as the dew falls on the ground, and of him and all the men with him not one will be left. If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we shall drag it into the valley until not even a pebble is to be found there.”

Two plans, but one is from God to bring judgment on the proud and foolish young man Absalom and the ones who were deceived into following him.  Verse fourteen gives us a clear understanding of this fact.  “And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

But God

2 Samuel 17:15-22

It matters not where you are, King David running for his life from his son or the prophet Daniel put into a den of lions, God will fulfill his plan for your life.  Nowhere does it say in Scripture that these men’s emotions were not going wild, but they never doubted that if it were God’s will, He would save them.  Jan and I have learned a beautiful verse while leading fourth graders in Awana Club, it is found in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous.  Do not fear or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God who goes with you.  He will not leave you or forsake you.”  King David had witnessed God doing that while just a shepherd boy, and as he fought Goliath, or for the many years that Saul hunted him to kill him.  Do you look back to a time where it was God going before and behind you, and you knew in your heart, He will not leave me or forsake me?

God has put Hushai in place to not only hear the plans of Absalom but to give advice that will give David and the people time they need.  But God had others there to carry the message; one such person was the priest Zadok, and a servant girl, and two of David’s men Jonathan and Ahimaaz.  Now the two men were about one-fourth of a mile from Jerusalem at a place called En-rogel where the Kidron and Hinnom valleys met.

Beginning the account in verse 15 through 22, “Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so have I counseled. Now, therefore, send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not stay tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’” Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En-rogel. A female servant was to go and tell them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they were not to be seen entering the city. But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So both of them went away quickly and came to the house of a man at Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard. And they went down into it. And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth and scattered grain on it, and nothing was known of it. When Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And the woman said to them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

After they had gone, the men came up out of the well, and went and told King David. They said to David, “Arise, and go quickly over the water, for thus and so has Ahithophel counseled against you.” Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, not one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Betrayal of a friend

 2 Samuel 16:15-23

Betrayal of a friend, or one that you consider to be one of your closest friends, is not an easy thing to get over.  Ahithophel was that man to King David, and these are King David’s words about how it affected him found in Psalm 55:12-14.  “Now it is not an enemy who insults me—otherwise I could bear it; it is not a foe who rises up against me—otherwise I could hide from him.  But it is you, a man who is my peer, my companion, and good friend!  We used to have close fellowship; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.”  One cannot read that and not hurt for the one who has been betrayed by a dear friend.  Most of us never have many close friends at any time in life, so to have one that you love and trust his counsel turn on you, is hard.  And yet the King is dealing with a more significant hurt, in that his flesh and blood does want to remove him from the throne, but will not be happy until his dad is dead.

Absalom and his army were surprised to enter Jerusalem without a fight and to find that the King and his servants and mighty men had left the city.  It seems that both Hushai the Archite and Absalom entered the city about the same time and this was how Hushai greeted Absalom; “Long live the king! Long live the king!”  Absalom was wise and knew his dad and Hushai were best of friends and were surprised and suspicious, and he asked this question and gets this reply.  “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, for whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him, I will remain. And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.” 

Absalom asked for the counsel of Ahithophel about what he should do next and was told to go to his father’s house and sleep with King David’s concubine, whom he had left to keep the house.  So they set up a tent on the roof so all of Jerusalem could see what was happening.  Ahithophel’s counsel was essential, and he knew this would convert many of the holdouts to their way.  In fact, verse 23 gives us a better understanding of Ahithophel’s counsel.  “Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom.”

When men have that kind of power they must guard against becoming proud and arrogant, we will see that Ahithophel did not do so, and it cost him his life.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Stone throwing from the house of Saul

 2 Samuel 16:5-14

If you’re a King or a President of a major country, you do not expect anyone to curse you in your presence, much less to pick-up rocks and throw them at you and the people around you.  If that happens in the good old USA, the person would be arrested, and if it happens in Russia or China, the person would be shot on the spot.  Today we are going to see how King David handles this as he fled from the hand of his son Absalom.

This is the account in 2 Samuel 16:5-8, “When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! The Lord has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.”

Bahurim was a nearby Benjaminite village, and Shimei, son of Gera, is unknown except this action in David fleeing from Absalom and then later when Solomon brought judgment on him for his actions.  We do know that he was of the house of Saul, but so were many people in the area.  Shimei like many of us is accusing without understanding the facts.  It's assumed he is referring to David having a hand in the death of Saul and Jonathan, or Ishbosheth’s death, none of that is true.

Now when you are the King or President you have the best of men around you to make sure you're protected at all times, Abishai was that man for David.  And that kind of man has no tolerance for someone attacking his leader, and so Abishai asks David to let him kill Shimei as he had requested earlier for permission to kill Saul.

It seems to me that verse 10 can be taken many ways, but I believe David was not sure if Shimei was being used by God to curse him or not, and because of that fact, Shimei got a pass.  This is a great place to return to David’s words in verses 11-14.  “David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today.” So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust. And the king and all the people who were with him arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself.”

I do recall those all night war games and carrying a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) its weight was around 16 pounds unloaded, and we had to take ammunition that added to the weight.  I never was in combat, and it was not often that we shot our weapons.  I said that only in the recall of how good it was to get to the end of the war games and find rest.  But I did not have my son hunting me down with the intent of killing me; I’m not sure how one finds rest in that situation.

From the Back porch,

Bob Rice

The sin of Deception

 2 Samuel 16:1 - 4

Absalom’s conspiracy looks as if it has worked, his father the King is on the run with his faithful servants and the mighty men and his family and a small army.  As they leave and a little beyond the summit the servant of Mephibosheth met them with the following.  We will continue the account in verses 1-4, “When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine. And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.” And the king said, “And where is your master's son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’” Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I pay homage; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”

Ziba lies when ask this question; “And where is your master's son?”  But why did he lie?  

Before answering the question, it might be wise to look at chapter 9:9-10, “Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master's grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's grandson shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.”  If people would only read the Scriptures, they would not make statements like it has never been this dark before.  Long before President Bill Clinton and the media came up with a kind word for a ball face lie, you recall they called it spin, and the media called him the king of spin.  Yes, long before that you can go back to the Garden of Eden and find Adam lying to the All-Knowing God.

Lies work for a while, all sin is a pleasure for a while, but God has said, “Be sure your sins will find you out,” one wonders how long will Ziba’s sin profit him, and what will be his judgment?  Ziba, President Bill Clinton, and you and I will find our sins will find us out, and unless confessed with a broken and contrite heart we will face eternal judgment.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A traitor in the Family

 2 Samuel 15:7-37

When one thinks of traitors, names like Judas comes to mind one of the 12 disciples of Jesus sold out his master for 30 silver coins.  Or if you are a citizen of the United States of America a name that pops into your mind is "Benedict Arnold" quickly became a byword in the United States for treason or betrayal because he betrayed his countrymen by leading the British army in battle against the men whom he once commanded.  (Taken from the dictionary)

I’m not sure how many would associate the name Absalom with betrayal and treason, yet he personified those titles.  To be such a person you must be deceptive and very self-absorbed.  Never has a betrayer put others before his desires, and we will see that with this son of King David.

Where does it all begin, I believe all traitors believe they got the short straw and set out to make things right?  Her brother raped Absalom’s sister, however King David was angry and did not punish the act or the actor.  Now Absalom has a plan to get even and take away the kingdom, and it is recorded in these verses.  “And at the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron. For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to the Lord.’” The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, ‘Absalom is king at Hebron!’” With Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem who were invited, guests, and they went in their innocence and knew nothing. And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing.”

He uses fake news to steal the hearts of the people by coming to the King and telling them that the King was too busy and did not care for them.  He also looked for significant people in David’s inter-circle that could be swayed to join him; one such man was Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city Giloh.

There is a contrast in leadership between David and his son Absalom, one cares for the city and the people of Jerusalem and the other just wanted the power to make anyone suffer that opposed him.  We conclude today with verses 13 and 14, “And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Pride and Arrogance

2 Samuel 14:25-33 – 15:1-6

Verse 25 gives us a lot of information about Absalom, we will begin there; “No man in all Israel was as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw.”  As you read the remainder of chapter 14, you will notice that Absalom cannot get an appointment with his dad, the King.  He can’t get Joab the kings general to see him, so he has the field of wheat that Joab owns burned and that gets Joab’s attention.  And Joab gets Absalom an appointment with King David!

Let’s look at chapter 15:1-6, “After this, Absalom got himself a chariot, horses, and 50 men to run before him. He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for settlement, Absalom called out to him and asked, “What city are you from?” If he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,” Absalom said to him, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king does not have anyone to listen to you.” He added, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land. Then anyone who had a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would make sure he received justice.” When a person approached to bow down to him, Absalom reached out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him. Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for a settlement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.”

Today we have an ex-president of the United States that has been accused of running a shadow government as if it was a new thing.  But as you read the verses above it is clear that Absalom was doing the same thing.  It's based on lies and deception much like what is taking place in the USA today.

I want us to compare Absalom to another created being with the same spirit and nature, his name is Lucifer.  Lucifer is depicted as a mighty but proud angel who leads a revolt against heaven.  As we explore this cherub, we see him identified as Satan or Lucifer, and his chief sins were pride, greed, and the desire for power.  In Ezekiel 28:17, “Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.
I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you.”

Now you do not want to miss this point, both of these were created beings, one a man the other an angel that became proud, both wanted something that did not belong to them, pride and arrogance was their downfall.  Nothing has changed, God is the same today as then, and men and women, boys and girls are still caught in the web of pride and arrogance.   As a follower of Christ take the test in 2 Corinthians 15:5.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Fake News

2 Samuel 13:37-39 – 14:1-24

“But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom because he was comforted about Amnon since he was dead.”

Are you willing to sit and ponder on the loss of a son, not from an accident, no his death was planned out by his half-brother?  It is all about getting even for the pain you caused my sister.  A note is needed here; bad things happen to people we love.  God will give them the grace to handle it, but when you or I take on a wrong to others, God does not extend grace to us, but gives us a spirit of forgiveness if we ask.  Or we can choose to be like Absalom and let it fester and make us angry.

This is where Absalom’s murder of his brother Amnon has taken him; he is living with his maternal grandfather Talmai, the ruler of Geshur.  That may not sound all that bad, but any day David could request that Talmai hand him over and he would have had to do so, but we do know Absalom lived there for three years.

Moving into chapter fourteen, give thought to your best friend, a person you are very close to, who has longed to see a child but just could not allow them back home, given what they had done.  Joab and David had a lot of history, they knew each other well, and Joab knew how much David yearned for his son. 

We read and hear a lot about fake news and yet it’s not anything new.  Joab plans a story of a widow who had lost her husband and her two sons began to fight out in the field and one killed the other and now the clan wanted her to turn over the other son so they could put him to death for murdering his brother.  They did not only want her only son’s life, but it would put the mother without an heir.  Let’s look at the story in verse 7, “Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant and said, ‘Hand over the one who killed his brother so we may put him to death for the life of the brother he murdered. We will destroy the heir!’ They would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on earth.”

 In verses 8-14, it becomes clear that this was all a set-up; “The king told the woman, “Go home. I will issue a command on your behalf. ”Then the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord the king, may any blame be on me and my father’s house, and may the king and his throne be innocent.”

“Whoever speaks to you,” the king said, “bring him to me. He will not trouble you again!”

She replied, “Please, may the king invoke the Lord your God, so that the avenger of blood will not increase the loss, and they will not eliminate my son!”

“As the Lord lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son will fall to the ground.”

Then the woman said, “Please, may your servant speak a word to my lord the king?”

“Speak,” he replied.

The woman asked, “Why have you devised something similar against the people of God? When the king spoke as he did about this matter, he has pronounced his own guilt. The king has not brought back his own banished one. We will certainly die and be like water poured out on the ground, which can’t be recovered. But God would not take away a life; He would devise plans so that the one banished from Him does not remain banished.

Yes, it was fake news, but it worked, and the King asked the woman if Joab had put her up to that and she answered yes.  So the King called in Joab and ordered him to get Absalom and bring him home, but to make sure he understood he was not allowed in the King's presence.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice