The Oak Tree in the House. 1 Kings 1:6.

When my father, Ernest, was about five, some older cousins came to visit. They were unruly, wildly undisciplined. One day the boys ran out of the house, little Ernest bringing up the rear. Just as he leapt from the porch, an older cousin pushed a wheelbarrow in front of him, knowing he would be unable to clear it. Daddy smashed his lip in a manner so bloody my grandparents realized he needed stitches. But first, my grandfather gave a good whipping to the older boy who deliberately caused the harm. (In 1940, any adult present was expected to administer corporal punishment to a child ‘in need.’)

Little Ernest returned from the hospital later that day and his older cousin walked up smiling as if to apologize. Suddenly, he grabbed the stitches and yanked them out, doing further damage to my father’s lip. Daddy had a scar beneath his lip in the shape of an ‘x’ for the rest of his life. My grandfather had no use for that family from then on, privately predicting the cousins would spend their entire lives in jail. Sadly, he was right.

Unlike those distant cousins, my father and his siblings were raised by a man of the most unimpeachable integrity. My grandfather believed in total honesty, and he expected honorable behavior from others. He was kind, but a formidable disciplinarian.

Steve Farrar writes, “I grew up in a home with an oak tree right in the middle of the house … It’s the kind of oak described in Isaiah 61:3 and it’s called an oak of righteousness. I’m referring to my dad” (from Farrar’s book POINT MAN).

My father and grandfather were also oaks of righteousness. I wish everyone could be raised by such solid fathers.

King David was not a solid father. David failed to do the hard things at home.

Did David fail to provide for his family? No.

Did David fail to keep a roof over their heads or to keep his wives and children safe? No. They lived in the king’s palace, after all.

Did David fail to educate his children? No, I’m sure they had the best tutors money could buy.

Did David fail to love his children or to dote on them and delight in them when they were cute and sweet? I can’t be sure, but this man who grew up herding sheep and writing worship songs probably had a tender heart for his many children.

But, like the parents who raised my father’s cousins, David failed to do the hard thing: David failed to discipline consistently.

About Adonijah, it is written, “His father had not displeased him at any time, saying ‘Why hast thou done so?’” 1 Kings 1:6. Concerned I might misinterpret the King James translation on this, I checked other versions. The translators make clear: David did not discipline Adonijah well—if ever:

“His father never rebuked him at any time by asking, ‘Why have you done so?’” (NASB)

“His father never rebuked him by asking, ‘Why do you behave as you do?’” (NIV)

“His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, ‘Why do you act this way?’” (HCSB)

“His father spoiled him rotten as a child, never once reprimanding him” (MSG)

“King David had never disciplined him at any time—not so much as by a single scolding!” (TLB)

What was the result of David’s permissive parenting? Death–the death of the son he loved.

Knowing David was near death, Adonijah tried to take the throne before it could be passed to Solomon as God had directed. David was able to put a stop to it, but the rebellion would eventually cost Adonijah his life (1 Kings 2:25).

How many other seemingly godly fathers have raised disappointing children because they did not discipline them? Sadly, it is not a short list (consider the Old Testament kings). I will admit, it is possible to discipline children too severely, or without supporting that discipline with a loving relationship. As Josh McDowell says, “Rules without relationship lead to rebellion.”[1]

But a relationship without rules—without discipline—can cause tremendous problems as well.

Children must be humbled by their parents. Children learn self-discipline by experiencing the discipline they receive from their parents. Children learn to be teachable when their parents correct them in their errors.

To discipline a child’s behavior reasonably and consistently is as important as anything else a parent can do for that child.

Parental discipline creates self-discipline, self-confidence, and strong young people with wisdom and good sense. By contrast, a lack of parental discipline creates weak, undisciplined adults who fall victim to their own appetites, bad choices, and foolish thinking. Parental discipline is not easy, but it is absolutely essential to building strong, wise, teachable men and women.

“Discipline your child while there is time” Proverbs 19:18.

“Whoever spares the rod hates his children, but the one who loves his children is careful to discipline them” Proverbs 13:24.

“Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will beat it far from him” Proverbs 22:15.

ΑΩ

P.S, It is interesting to reflect on the many verses about discipline in Proverbs. King Solomon, who wrote or collected and edited all of the proverbs in the book, had seen it all. How much of the messiness in David’s family and among David’s children influenced Solomon’s choices about which proverbs to include in the book? Perhaps Solomon had in mind the rebellions of Absalom and Adonijah when he included Proverbs 19:18–“Discipline your child while there is still time!”

[1] https://www.josh.org/ddl-video/rules-without-relationships-lead-to-rebellion/

NO SMALL PARTS: David Served God’s Purpose in His Generation. 1 Chronicles chapters 23 – 27.

God had a purpose for the life of David—I’m sure we can all agree on that. But what about you and me? Does God have a purpose for folks living seemingly ordinary lives in which nothing much ever happens? After all, David was a king—he made the headlines every day. Most of us will never do anything worthy of mention in a newspaper. Does God have a purpose for you and me?

Initially, David wanted to build the temple, but God told him that he had shed too much blood. The temple would be built during the peaceful reign of Solomon. But David took on the task of preparing things for Solomon. David not only collected gold, silver, brass, iron, timber, and stone (1 Chronicles 22:14), but he also prepared Solomon personally (28:9-21).

We must prepare our children as well. Like Manoah the father of Samson, we should pray for guidance, asking God, “What will be the child’s mission and responsibilities?” (Judges 13:12). We must help them discover their gifts and develop their abilities, work habits, and integrity.

But what if your child is going to be a carpenter, a nurse, a farmer, or a teacher? Do those roles matter? Thespians like to say, “there are no small parts, only small actors.” But is that true? Are there no small parts?

Does every role or every job have some merit? I mentioned that most of us will never see our name in the newspaper. But what if you saw your job in the Bible? Wouldn’t mention in the pages of scripture indicate worth and merit? If your job or one similar to it were named in God’s word, would that make you feel SEEN? As in seen by God, the Creator of the universe–the Creator of YOU?

Consider some of the jobs assigned in and around the temple and the palace:

Bakers (23:29), custodians (23:28), those who checked the weights and measures (23:29), managers of treasures (26:20), managers of endowments (26:26-28), musicians and singers (25:6-7), porters (professional movers) (26:12-18), priests (24:1), prophets (25:1), assistants for sacrifices (23:29-31), assistants for purification ceremonies (23:28), bailiffs, supervisors, and judges (23:4-5), public administrators (26:29-30), supervisors over the king’s treasures (27:25), over his farmers (27:26), over vineyards and wine cellars (27:27), over olive trees (27:28), supervisors over herds, flocks, camels, and donkeys (27:29-30), and various counsellors, scribes, and generals (27:32-34).

To summarize, First Chronicles fills five chapters with records of thousands of people covering every aspect of the work at both the temple and the king’s palace. Most of these workers are not listed by name, but by job. Their jobs—their vocations—matter. And what a broad range of vocations. And somehow even the most humble of these merits a mention in the word of God. Think about that: the Bible talks about custodians. Custodians matter and are included in God’s word.

God knows every one of these people. God designed them to fulfill his divine purpose—whether as porter or prophet. God likewise designed you and me to fulfill his purpose. He knows you. He knows the gifts, talents, skills, and interests he gave you. He designed you as a unique creation, and you will fulfill his purpose for your life simply by being yourself.

Seek him. Give God your life, your future, your goals and dreams. And let him lead you to the work he made you to do.

“David served God’s purpose in his generation” Acts 13:36.

God, help us to serve your purpose in our generation.

ΑΩ

P.S. For more, consider Romans 9:19-21 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-31.

David’s Second Great Sin. 1 Chronicles 21:13.

Everyone remembers the story of young King David’s tragic failure with Bathsheba: giant killer grows fat and arrogant and stumbles headlong into adultery and murder. But do you know David’s second great failure, his “second-worst sin” the one committed by old King David?

The census.

Old King David told Joab to use his troops to take a census of all the men in Israel of fighting age. But Joab knew David was not supposed to take a census and tried to talk him out of it.

There is something greedy about David’s motivation, similar to the impulse moderns feel when we count our money, relish in our resume, or perhaps take an IQ test.

Taking a census was taking control. The king without a census goes to war relying on God. The king with a census goes to war relying on himself and his numbers.

The previously unknown tally came out to about 1.5 million fighting men, 1 Chronicles 21:5. As soon as David received the count he knew he had sinned greatly. David repented and begged God for forgiveness, and God gave him three choices:

“Choose either three years’ famine, or three months to be destroyed by thy foes while the sword of thy enemy overtakes thee, or for three days the sword of the Lord, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all Israel” 1 Chronicles 21:11-12.

As king, which would you choose for your people: three years of famine, three months of losing battles, or three days of a pandemic?

Wisely, the now-humble king decided to punt: “let me now fall into the hand of the Lord, for great are his mercies” 1 Chronicles 21:13. David asks the Lord to choose for him. Which did God choose? Three days of pestilence.

There is wisdom in this. Men were going to die. That was understood. But three days of horror are better than three months of horror or three years of horror.

When I was in college a psychology professor said something wise about punishment:

“Punishment should be swift, severe, and soon-over.”

First Chronicles 21 indicates God may agree. A swift punishment that is soon over is merciful. Punishments that linger hang over our lives like a cloud of shame. Punishment that is swift and soon over restores the child. It restores dignity. It restores the relationship. The nation of Israel lost thousands of men during those three days, but then the healing began. The restoration began.

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WHAT IS MY ROLE?: God Uses Different People. 2 Samuel 20:16-21.

Picture generated by A.I.

Imagine: you live in the town of Abel, a small city in Israel. One day the walls of Abel are surrounded on all sides by the army of Israel, the soldiers carrying bows and arrows, spears and shields, and more shovels than you have ever seen. The battle-scarred soldiers quickly begin building a siege ramp of dirt that will soon rise high enough to allow them to scale the wall. The city gates are locked, but you cannot survive: the city’s crops and herds are in the fields outside the wall—being eaten and trampled by the army.

Messengers arrive with demands: in twenty-four hours the city will be destroyed, the men and boys slaughtered, the women and children captured. The city fathers have a meeting. The young men want to fight for blood and glory; the old men urge caution.

Suddenly news arrives from the gate. A “wise woman” (2 Sam.20:16) is negotiating with the enemy, shouting down from the top of the wall to the leader far below. The men run to listen:

“Joab! You seek to destroy a city in Israel: why would you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?”

He answers: “Far be it from me, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy … A man from Ephraim named Sheba, son of Bichri, hath lifted up his hand against David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city.”

“Behold, his head shall be thrown down to you over the wall” 2 Samuel 20:16-21.

Hearing that, the majority agrees with the woman: better to toss over the head of Sheba—whom everyone knew to be a scoundrel—than to risk the city in a war against Israel’s own army.

“And they cut off the head of Sheba, the son of Bichri, and cast it down to Joab, and Joab blew a trumpet and they retired from the city, every man to his tent” 2 Samuel 20:22.

Men have played most of the leading roles in the pages of scripture and on the stages of history.

Most political, business, and church leaders are male. However, scripture also records the stories of numerous female leaders: Miriam, Deborah, Huldah the prophetess, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary the sister of Martha, Mary Magdalene, Lydia, Phoebe, Priscilla, and Queen Esther who may have single-handedly saved the entire Jewish race.

The story of the unnamed “wise woman” who negotiated with Joab and saved the city confirms: God does use women in leadership.

Perhaps he has used men more often. Perhaps men are more interested in leadership and women less. One might argue men have an inclination toward leadership. I do not know. I can speculate. But speculation is irrelevant. What is relevant is the Biblical evidence.

The Bible reports the lives and decisions of hundreds of leaders. Most of them are men. But some of them are women. No matter what you believe about New Testament church leadership, you must accept the truth: God has used many women over the centuries, both in the scripture and in my life and yours. Any analysis of the “role of women” must begin with this truth:

God has been using women from the beginning, and God considered their actions important enough to be recorded in his word.

“There is neither Jew, not Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” Galatians 3:28.

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You Reap WHERE You Sow: David’s Sin Turned His Home into a Battleground. 2 Samuel 19:2.

Picture generated by A.I.

Relationships around a throne are treacherous because of deceit, violence, and murder. Diplomats and courtiers may taste the delicacies of kings and queens, but the metallic smell of blood is never far away. Everyone is watching everyone else, looking for weaknesses, creating alliances, destroying the careers and lives of enemies and trusted friends. Surely the most difficult and dangerous social interactions happen at the king’s court.

King David took the throne after paying his dues running from Saul. David refused to attack the anointed king and won the favor of the nation. Then as the nation’s king and military chief, David defeated all of Israel’s enemies. There was peace in the land and peace in the palace. Read that again:

THERE WAS PEACE IN THE PALACE.

But then David committed adultery and murder, creating a cycle of violence and death—and turning the once-peaceful palace into a place of whispers, drama, and back-stabbing.

When Absalom launched a civil war against his father, David did not hesitate to employ double agents and espionage, 2 Samuel 15:34-36.

First, he convinced Hushai to serve Absalom deceitfully, giving bad advice; second, he told Hushai to “smuggle intel” to two priests who would then pass that news along to David. Hushai did as he was told, convincing Absalom to delay his attack:

“The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good … thy father is a mighty man, and they which are with him are valiant men. Therefore, I counsel that all Israel be gathered unto thee….” 2 Samuel 17:7-11.

Next, Hushai sent the priests back to David with secrets:

“Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, ‘Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders … and thus and thus have I counselled.’ Now send quickly and tell David, saying ‘Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over….’” 2 Samuel 17:15-16.

As a result of Hushai’s ability to act as a double-agent, David’s army defeated Absalom and David’s beloved son—who wanted to kill him—ended up dead. How did David feel about winning this civil war? Terrible. He publicly mourned for his son, demoralizing his troops who had put their lives on the line to win him the victory. “And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people” 2 Samuel 19:2. David, the grieving father, was tone-deaf to the political situation. Joab, his savvy but unsympathetic general, chastised him:

“Thou hast shamed, this day, the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines, in that thou lovest thine enemies and hatest thy friends … For this day, I perceive, that if Absalom had lived and we had all died, then it had pleased thee well. Now therefore, arise, go forth, and speak comfort to thy servants” 2 Samuel 19:5-7.

The once peaceful palace was transformed into a place of politics and intrigue, of double-agents and espionage.

David’s house was no longer a home but a battleground.

Why? Because David sinned in his house. He brought Uriah’s wife into his house and committed adultery with her in his house. He ordered Uriah’s murder from his house. You reap what you sow. David committed adultery and murder in his house, and God said, “the sword shall never depart from thine house” 2 Samuel 12:10.

Dear God, may we love Jesus more than all other loves so that we can be your disciples, Matthew 10:37. But fill us also with the fear of God so we do not sin in our own houses or in our jobs. Help us love you and make good choices. May we establish habits that give us peace of mind while keeping us a bit busier than David was when he stayed home from work and took a lingering look at Bathsheba. Remind us that we will reap what we sow and often WHERE we sow, Galatians 6:7.

ΑΩ

Prophets and Parables: the Indirect Approach. 2 Samuel 14:1-13.

Following King David’s great sin, the prophet Nathan came to him with a story about a rich man with flocks of sheep who took from a poor family its lone, pet sheep and ate it. David was outraged and Nathan famously said to him: “Thou art the man” 2 Samuel 12:7.

Why did Nathan create this imaginary story? Because it is hard to rebuke a king while he is puffed up with his own greatness. And the fable worked. In fact, this is not the only time an underling had to approach the king with a fable.

Two years after David’s son Absalom was banished for the killing of his half-brother, David’s son Amnon, Joab persuaded a woman to go to the king with a made-up story about a dispute in her family. When she told her story and David agreed to protect her son, she answered in effect, if you’ll protect my son, why must Absalom remain banished? Bring him home. Why should Israel lose both Amnon and Absalom?” 2 Samuel 14:1-13.

The indirect approach worked again. In fact, David agreed to her request even though he immediately saw through it, saying “Joab put you up to this, didn’t he?” 2 Samuel 14:19. That is how persuasive an indirect approach can be: it can lower a person’s defenses.

Some situations require a direct approach. When a son acts irresponsibly with a firearm, a father will take the gun away and speak strong words about gun safety. Firearm safety requires a direct approach. But when a hotshot college pitcher with a full-scholarship decides to quietly join his teammates in a smokeless tobacco habit, an indirect approach may be more effective. Upon discovering the secret, a father might say nothing and instead begin innocently sending his son links to videos about young ball players with mouth cancer. The indirect approach allows the young athlete to save face and keep an open mind, where a direct approach may not.*

Our goal is to persuade. Sometimes a direct approach is persuasive, sometimes an indirect approach is persuasive.

The Bible communicates both ways. For example, the law forbids idolatry directly: “Thou shalt have no other gods” Exodus 20:3. But the prophets approach idolatry indirectly, such as the life of the prophet Hosea whom God instructed to marry a prostitute, illustrating Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness. Hosea’s entire life was an analogy, a metaphor—an indirect object lesson.

Throughout the Old Testament, God takes an indirect approach using the lives of prophets and a great deal of the nation’s history to teach lessons his people were unable or unwilling to learn through more direct communication. In the New Testament, Jesus perfects this approach, crafting a series of rich parables–allegories–to teach deep, spiritual truth.

An English-major friend on social media said yesterday he can’t read novels because he is a “get-to-the-point kind of person.” My response? Getting directly to the point has its place. But it lacks subtlety and nuance.

Speaking directly is effective, even critical at times, but it lacks imagination. The longer, more circuitous approach of indirect communication and storytelling can persuade people when they might otherwise put up defensive walls. A parable, a story, even an effective metaphor can reach people who might not respond well to a direct order, a direct request, or even direct advice.

God, help us to love and understand the Old Testament in all its wordy indirectness. Give us patience and discipline with this library of some of history’s most challenging books. And give us the people skills to know when to speak directly and when to approach a situation with a bit more imagination. Guide us so that our words are effective, apples of gold in settings of silver, Proverbs 25:11.

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* The writer may or may not have personal knowledge of this turn of events.

ARE YOU ENTITLED? Busy David and Lazy David. 2 Samuel 11:1.

David on the Balcony. Picture generated by A.I.

One morning during a series of wars, two military men had an interesting conversation:

“Haven’t you been on a long journey? Last night you finally arrived in town. Why didn’t you go home and see your wife?”

“The ark, and Israel, and Judah are living in tents. And my commander and all my military brothers are sleeping in the open field. Should I then go to my home and eat and drink and lie with my wife? By your life, I would never do such a thing” 2 Samuel 11:10-11.

These two men were David and Uriah. Uriah swore on David’s life that he would never leave his men in tents for a night back home with his wife. Under normal circumstances, David—the man who once felt guilty for cutting the hem of Saul’s robe—would love such a display of integrity.

MISSION-MINDED DAVID—whose example of public respect for Saul and fear of God may have made Uriah the man he was—would honor Uriah for his heroic discipline. MISSION-MINDED DAVID would have felt the sting of Uriah’s words—after all, when war came around, David had chosen to sit this one out. He sent his men into battle, while resting in his recliner at home. Then he saw something he shouldn’t have on the web, and next thing you know, he was immersed in sins that he never could have imagined.

We have many strategies for handling temptation. You can flee. You can enlist an accountability partner. You can avoid the situation. You can surround yourself with people who will help you. You can change your habits. You can change your thinking by memorizing Bible verses on the topic. You can draft a written commitment. You can reduce stress, get more sleep, exercise, and healthy food. You can count your blessings so that your mind is filled with feelings of gratitude and joy instead of self-pity and anger.

But one thing we rarely mention is to simply get up and go to work.

ENTITLED DAVID failed because he was at home enjoying early retirement.

“In the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they brought destruction on the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem” 2 Samuel 11:1.

The story is told again:

“And it came to pass … at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army and wasted the country of the children of Ammon…. But David tarried at Jerusalem” 1 Chronicles 20:1.

DAVID STAYED IN JERUSALEM.

Why did David stay home? What was he thinking? It is true that his officers persuaded him to stay home from battle years later—when he was too old to fight. But this is young David. What made him choose to lay around the palace eating potato chips and getting fat? Maybe he felt like he deserved a break after all those years running from Saul, sleeping in caves and living like an animal. Maybe he had so much money and luxury, it began to go to his head and he grew arrogant and entitled. The Bible does not say. I suspect pride and a sense of entitlement were involved.

But it was springtime. The surrounding nations were plotting attacks. The Ammonites had to be subdued. And Joab handled it, as David knew he would. But David should have been there. Instead, David’s entitlement led to laziness, laziness led to lust and adultery, adultery led to murder—and the words of God through the prophet Nathan led to the humbling and repentance of a lifetime.

Humble David confessed. He did not try to shift the blame to anyone else. David took “extreme ownership” of his failure:

“Against thee and thee only have I sinned, and done what is evil in thy sight, so that thou art blameless when thou dost judge … Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit … The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, oh God, thou wilt not despise” Psalm 51:4,10-12,17.

Read Psalm 51 and learn to confess the way David did—being completely open and honest with God.

Dear God, never let us become entitled, arrogant, and lazy. May we serve you and be mission-minded every day of our lives, resting appropriately but never losing sight of your goals for us. And when we fail, help us to confess and own our sin the way David did.

ΑΩ

“The King is Dead; Long Live the King!” The Restoration of Mephibosheth, 2 Samuel 9:6-8

Pictured: David restores Mephibosheth, artist unknown.

A king may have a long and peaceful rule. But when the king dies, the Problem of Succession asks who will be the new king?  Who will succeed to the throne?

To address this problem, the French and English began announcing one king’s death with the next king’s succession in a single sentence: “The King is Dead; Long Live the King!”*

But it was rarely that simple. The Problem of Succession could be complicated by the seemingly rightful claims of two or three persons, often brothers. One may have the popular support of the citizens, a second may have the support of the rich and powerful, while a third may have the support of the military. When such problems arose, they often resulted in murder and fratricide: one brother would take the throne and immediately kill his other brothers to establish his reign. If his brothers have had sons, the new king may kill his nephews too. It was a bloodbath. For example, King Abimelech killed his 70 of his 71 brothers in Judges 9:5, and King Jehu killed the 70 sons of King Ahab in 2 Kings 10:11, 2 Chronicles 22:8.

King Saul’s grandson and heir Mephibosheth was born into such a world. Saul and his son Jonathan died on the same day, but Saul had a surviving son named Ish-Bosheth—who was immediately crowned king over every tribe but Judah. King Ish-Bosheth reigned in Israel two years while King David reigned only in Judah, 2 Samuel 2:10.

Then Ish-Bosheth was murdered (not by David) and David became king over the entire nation. But Saul had a surviving heir, his grandson, Mephibosheth, who was five when Saul and Jonathan were killed. Fearing for the boy’s life, his nurse had grabbed him and fled, but she dropped him, crippling him permanently. Two years later, his uncle, King Ish-Bosheth, was murdered. Mephibosheth remained in hiding for years, born a prince, now a fugitive, who no doubt feared King David would have him murdered the day he discovered one of Saul’s heirs remained alive.

A sentence of death hung over the life of Mephibosheth, leaving his heart more crippled than his feet.

Then one day, Mephibosheth was summoned to David’s royal court. This humble, broken man who probably traveled everywhere by crutches or a cart, must have been terrified. How can I possibly pose a threat to David, he may have asked himself. Who am I? No one even knows I’m alive. I don’t have an army. No one would want me for a king. I’m nothing! I’m useless! I’m a worthless wretch. A beggar. I imagine Mephibosheth did not think highly of himself.

“Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell on his face and did reverence. And David said, ‘Mephibosheth.’ And he answered, ‘Behold thy servant!’ And David said unto him, ‘Fear not. For I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore to thee all the lands of Saul your father. And thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.’ And Mephibosheth bowed himself and said, ‘What is thy servant, that thou should look upon such a dead dog as I am?’” 2 Samuel 9:6-8.

But there was more. Not only did David give all of Saul’s lands to Mephibosheth. Not only did he grant him a permanent seat at his royal table, a prince once again. But David also commanded Saul’s servants to work for Mephibosheth. That was Ziba and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants—King David instructed the 36-man crew to farm Mephibosheth’s lands and bring the produce to him.

David took a broken, crippled man, a fugitive who lived his entire life in the shadows of shame and under risk of death, and elevated him to one of his most honored men. David gave Mephibosheth the honors he had hoped to give to Mephibosheth’s father, Jonathan.

And this is our life. We were born into such a world. We were born into a world of guilt and shame, hiding in the shadows, a sentence of death pronounced over our lives, but Jesus sought us out.

Like David in 2 Samuel 9:1, Jesus asks “Is there anyone left that I can honor?” And Jesus found you. And Jesus found me. And he offers forgiveness. A clean slate. He gives us grace. Restoration. He takes off our rags and clothes us with his righteousness. He gives us blessings, gifts, property, goods, and a seat at his table. And he calls you friend, John 15:15.

As Cory Asbury sings, “Check your shame at the door, ‘cause it ain’t welcome anymore. You’re in the Father’s house.”

Mephibosheth had to drop his load of shame when he entered David’s house. Have you dropped your shame? Have you given your sin, guilt, and brokenness to Christ? Do you truly know that “there is therefore, now NO CONDEMNATION” in your life? (Romans 8:1).

God, restore our lives as David restored the life of Mephibosheth. Show us how to lean on you for forgiveness, grace, restoration, hope, and joy. Make us instruments of your restoration. May we do for others what King David did for Mephibosheth.

ΑΩ
* Not to be confused with “God Save the King,” the national anthem of Canada, New Zealand, and the unofficial anthem of Great Britain, and a direct quote from 2 Samuel 16:16– “And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, ‘God save the king, God save the king.'”

DAVID AT WAR: Four Truths. Psalm 60:8-12.

When God made David king, he told him he would use David’s reign to bring peace to the nation, 2 Samuel 7:10-11. But David could only secure the peace by waging war. David was destined to be the “man of war” God described in 1 Chronicles 28:3.

Sometimes war is unavoidable.

In David’s case, it was actually his calling. While it is true that God chose Solomon, a man of peace, to build his temple, we must never think that David was not obeying God when he waged war. He was.

Four things happened when King David launched his military campaigns:

  1. He defeated Israel’s enemies,
  2. He won spoils in battle and dedicated those treasures to the Lord,
  3. He placed military bases within the borders of neighboring nations, and
  4. He gave God all the glory for his military victories.

“And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines and subdued them … and he smote Moab … David smote also Hadadezer … When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand [Arameans]. He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus … and the Lord gave David victory wherever he went” 2 Samuel 8:1-6. The writer continues: David “put garrisons in Edom … and the Lord gave David victory wherever he went,” 2 Samuel 8:13.

Why the armed garrisons within the borders of other sovereign nations? Because those nations were hostile to Israel. This is a merciful measure because it allowed those nations to maintain autonomy and self-governance as long as they did not raise armies to threaten Israel. In other words, David defeated his enemies, but he did not swallow them up in a growing empire. He was not trying to expand Israel’s territory.

He defeated the enemies merely to secure Israel’s borders from attack. David then placed armed garrisons within the surrounding nations to ensure those nations did not again attack Israel, and probably to collect tribute or taxes from those nations.

(The United States is not the first nation to maintain a military presence within the borders of another nation.)

Everything David collected from Israel’s enemies he dedicated to God:

“And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. Likewise from … cities of Hadadezer brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brazen sea and the pillars and the vessels of brass [for the temple],” 1 Chronicles 18:7-8.

After David defeated King Hadadezer, King Tou of Hamath, a king in the area who had been at war with Hadadezer, sent David “all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass. These also David dedicated to the Lord, with the silver and gold he brought from all these nations, from Edom, and from Moab, and from Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek,” 1 Chronicles 18:10-11.

Following Israel’s defeat of Edom, King David composed Psalm 60. David thrills in the victory, but he never forgets it comes from the Lord:

“Moab is my washbasin, on Edom I toss my sandal, and over Philistia I shout in triumph … Give us help from trouble, for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly. For he it is that shall tread down our enemies” Psalm 60:8, 11-12.

God, we know you called David to war and you made him victorious. Bless our relations both foreign and domestic. Fill us with love for all people and the courage to wage war when we must. Give us wise leaders who are peacemakers. And help us to give generously to your work, remembering that it is you who gives us the victory in all things. We praise you both in victory and in defeat.

ΑΩ

“In Spirit and in Truth”–Worship With Enthusiasm and the Fear of the Lord. 1 Chronicles 13:7-12.

The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object of the Hebrew faith. It was a national treasure to be kept in the tabernacle or the temple. But when David became king, the ark had been sitting in the home of Abinadab for twenty years (and God had blessed Abinadab greatly as a result). David wanted to bring the ark to its proper home so God would bless the entire nation.

The young king captured Jerusalem, made it the capital city (re-naming it the “City of David”), and made plans to bring the ark to Jerusalem. This was to be a huge event, a sort of victory parade for the nation to celebrate its new king and to give proper reverence to the God who brought them so far and to the ark, one of God’s most sacred symbols. There were crowds, a band, and the king himself would be playing an instrument and joining in the dancing.

“And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. And David and all Israel played before God with all their might and with singing, and with cymbals, and with trumpets. And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand on the ark, and there he died before the Lord. And David was displeased … and David was afraid of God that day, saying, ‘How shall I bring the ark of God home to me’?” 1 Chronicles 13:7-12.

Talk about a public relations debacle!

Instead of a victory party and a return to proper worship and reverence for God and the Ark of God, David has a good man dead on the street, struck down by God in the most public forum possible because he failed to treat the ark with respect. Poor Uzzah was only trying to steady the ark so it would not fall from the cart. But that’s just it—the ark was not supposed to be moved in a cart. The nation had written scripture, scrolls containing God’s word on the handling of the ark and all things sacred. But no one had consulted God’s word. Instead, David allowed his enthusiasm to cause him to rush in and make plans in a sloppy manner, and a man was dead as a result.

While David figured out what to do next, he left the ark in the home of Obed-Edom, and God blessed Obed-Edom and all he owned, 1 Chronicles 13:13-14. Further, David “perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king” because God was blessing his kingdom both at home and abroad, 1 Chronicles 14:2, 17. David realized God was not mad at him or standing in heaven waiting to throw a thunderbolt at David. God was blessing him. But David understood the people needed to consult God’s word and obey God’s laws.

“Then David said, ‘None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites, for them hath God chosen to carry the ark’” 1 Chronicles 15:2.

David admitted it was done incorrectly the first time, 1 Chronicles 15:13. The second time, David read the scripture and made sure it was obeyed. He sent the right people (Levites) to move the ark the right way—not on a cart but hanging from poles suspended between the shoulders of four men. Such a method of transport ensured no one would make the mistake of carelessly touching the holiest object on earth.

“So David went and brought the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the city of David with gladness. And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the Lord with all his might” 2 Samuel 6:12-14.

The second time around, the nation did things the right way. David’s enthusiasm was tempered temporarily, but he must have been thrilled with the final result, knowing that when the ark finally arrived in Jerusalem, it was done properly and God was truly pleased with his people. David, the musician-king, sang a great song of worship to mark the occasion. One line seems to capture what might be learned from the death of Uzzah:

“Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Fear before him, all the earth” 1 Chronicles 16:29-30.

Jesus tells us to worship the Father “in Spirit and in Truth,” John 4:24. We must worship with enthusiasm, but we must also worship according to the truth of God’s word. Worship with enthusiasm but also with the fear of the Lord.

God, may our enthusiasm be tempered by knowledge of your word. Bless us with the joy of the Lord and the fear that would help us live holy lives. Thank you for the mysteries of forgiveness, grace, regeneration, and holiness. May we please you with worship that is enthusiastic but also reverent and sacred. Give us hearts filled with Godly, holy, and joy-filled worship that loves and welcomes everyone.

ΑΩ