King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Thursday, May 16, 2024
Chapters: II Samuel Chapters 15-17
Message: Overcoming The Bondage of Guilt
Hello My Friend,
I believe that the most devastating to a faithful, saved born again Christian who has fallen into sin is knowing that they failed God, even after they repented, turned away from their sin, and was forgiven by God. Yet there is always something in the back of their mind that every time something bad happens it is the result of what they had done because after all, whatever befalls them is what they deserve for their transgression. Well, that is what I had drawn the conclusion of anyway, and to some extent it is true, but not for the reason we think. You see, if we live each day beating ourselves, then all we are going to receive is more pain because we keep dwelling on it. We are the ones who hold ourselves in contempt when God has already set us free, [Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.]
I understand that it is hard to let go of the past even though you know you are forgiven by God. I understand how hard it is to face God when you know that you have failed Him. Let me tell you, it takes a while before we can honestly have that one on one with God that we feel we have lost, which is not the same as daily prayers. I imagine this is how David felt over how he had dealt with the whole situation with Bathsheba, even after he knew he was forgiven by God. In fact, his relationship with God was in great turmoil so much so that he could not govern the nation as he once did. And if you think that politicians did not exist back then think again, if there is any example of the perfect politician it was Absalom. As we continue in the reading of 2 Samuel, we learn of how Absalom convinced the majority of Israel that he would be a better king than his father.
[2 Samuel 15:1-5 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. 4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! 5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.]
[Oh that I were made judge in the land…and I would do him justice!] There is your number one promise of all politicians, “Vote for me and I will take care of all your needs!” Here is a hint, it is not the governments job to provide everything for everyone. They are in office to make sure that everyone gets treated fairly, that our country is safe from our enemies, and to make sure that everything and everyone coming into the country is safe and for the benefit of the country. Politicians, are very good at promising to give the people the things they need and by the time the people figure out that their freedom is the price to pay for all that “free stuff”, the politicians have destroyed the country. And this was exactly what Absalom used to steal the hearts of the people and convince them that he should reign instead of his father.
[2 Samuel 15:7-10,12-13 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron. 8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD. 9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. 12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom. 13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.]
[And it came to pass after forty years,] This does not mean that Absalom conspired all this for forty years as he is probably about forty years old. There are several speculations as to what this means even some suggesting that it is incorrect, but since there are no errors in the Bible, it is probable that the was forty years after David was anointed as king. So, this is about the thirtieth year of David’s reign, and about four years after Absalom reconciled with David.
[which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.] Absalom, pretended that his vow required a sacrifice in the city of his birth, but in reality he considered Hebron for his temporary capital after he had been proclaimed as king until he had gotten his father out of Jerusalem. This would come back to haunt him as one cannot include God in their schemes, [Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.]
[And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite,] Our country did not fall into all the corruption that it is under right now overnight, it took decades of sly politicians bribing the people. Absalom cunningly got the people to trust him over his father and most of Israel actually sided with him, even David’s trusted advisers were walking away from him to join Absalom. Now, with Absalom attempting to take over the nation, David, did not want any bloodshed in Jerusalem so he saw no other solution than to leave for the time being, but he was not alone.
[2 Samuel 15:14-15,18-19,21 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. 15 And the king’s servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint. 18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile. 21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.]
[in what place my lord the king shall be…there also will thy servant be.] In contrast to our relationship with Christ, this should be our goal, wherever He goes, we will be there. It does not matter how many times we have tripped and fell, we need to get back up and move forward. In fact, there is a reason why the Bible says that the just fall seven times and get back up, [Proverbs 24:16-19 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. 17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. 19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;]
As a great soldier himself he was certainly capable of stopping all this, but he did not want bloodshed in Jerusalem. So, as the people of Judah, some of the Canaanites and Levites headed over to the Jordan River, David stops and tells the Zadok, who was carrying the Ark of the covenant to head back to Jerusalem.
[2 Samuel 15:23-26,28 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. 24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. 25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: 26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. 28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.]
[until there come word from you to certify me.] At this point, David was leaving it all in the hands of God, if He saw fit to keep him as king, then He would overthrow the wicked counsel of Ahithophel. Absalom, had time to carry out this plan because David was wrong in how he handled the entire situation. Had he addressed it properly, first by going to God and understanding the law, and enforcing it, then perhaps the outcome would have been different. However, David did have a plan, and this time it was the right plan. And for the first time since the whole thing started, David cries out to God.
[2 Samuel 15:30-34 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. 31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. 32 And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: 33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: 34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father’s servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.]
[And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet,] Does this sound familiar? This is the mountain that Jesus often went to pray and also where he ascended to heaven after his resurrection. We do need a place that we can go to spend some quality time with God and remember how Jesus taught us to pray, [Matthew 6:9-13 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.]
[then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.] You see, David was not really running from his son, he was trying to keep the city from being destroyed and had a plan to discover Absalom’s plan. Absalom, did not need what happened between Tamar and Amnon to conspire against his own father, it was just the fuel that he needed to do what he had thought about doing for quite some time. David, on the other hand, was more concerned about his people, and as he made his way up to Mt. Olivet he was greeted by Zeba.
[2 Samuel 16:1-3 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. 2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink. 3 And the king said, And where is thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.]
[for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom] Even though Ziba felt sure that David would come out victor over his son he made the wrong assumption that Mephibosheth expected the present situation would result in his being restored the kingdom. This was probably a thought that crossed his mind so that he might obtain possession of the estate which he was now taking care of by the king’s order, [2 Samuel 9:9-10 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. 10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.]
Well, after their encounter with Ziba, they moved on toward the Jordan River only to be greeted by someone else, and it was not a joyful greeting either, [2 Samuel 16:5,7-9 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. 7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: 8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. 9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.]
[let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.] This also looks familiar and reminds me of when the Pharisees were attempting to capture Jesus and Peter tried to stop them, [John 18:10-11 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?]
Wow! Does not David sound a little like Jesus? Now, that David was coming to his senses, he pretty much says the same thing, [2 Samuel 16:11-14 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. 12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. 13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. 14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.]
[It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction,] It really is no doubt that he had been praying to God, but again, I imagine it was like all God’s faithful do, thinking that whatever befalls them is their own fault, and they just have to deal with it on their own until it comes to pass. God, does not want us to be that way, He wants us to come to Him for everything, [Isaiah 1:18-20 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.]
Now, while David was getting his act together, coming to his senses, and seeking help from God, Absalom was trying to figure out how he can officially take the throne from his father, even willing to kill him if that meant that he would be king. David, sends Hushai, his second top adviser over to Absalom to check back, but first, Absalom asks Ahithophel what he should do.
[2 Samuel 16:16-18,20-21 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. 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend? 18 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide. 20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do. 21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.]
[and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father:] Remember, what Nathan had told David? [2 Samuel 12:11-12 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.] Well, that is where the chastening stopped, and now, God would step in before anything else escalated, [Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.]
[was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God:] Absalom, was convinced that since the two most trusted advisers in the nation were on his side, and the Ark as well, that it was a blessing from God. Likewise, since both of these men were well known by the people, they just assumed it was God also. We are to never assume that every bad thing that happens is approved by God or from God. Remember, Satan had a stake in this also, it was from David’s lineage that God would send His Son, but he had no idea which son, if he could stop God’s plan, then he would certainly make sure that everything that was going on was from God. All God was waiting for was David to come to his senses and realize that He was still with Him and looking upon his affliction. Ahithophel, came up with another ridiculous plan, this time Absalom was not so quick to follow his advice.
[2 Samuel 17:1-5 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: 2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: 3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. 4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. 5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.]
[I will arise and pursue after David this night:] Can you see now why Ahithophel was so quick to sell David out, not to mention kill him? He wanted to be the one recognized with all the praise. Well, this was God’s plan, and He was not about to let anyone overthrow it. And when Hushai gave his advice, it was directed by God.
[2 Samuel 17:8-9,11-12,14 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. 9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom. 11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person. 12 So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one. 14 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 appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.]
[and that thou go to battle in thine own person.] Hushai’s advice was to let the whole congregation see Absalom lead the victory of taking on his own father. Can you understand now that God knew all along what Absalom was capable of? This really had nothing to do with David’s transgressions or how he handled the situation with Amnon, God used it as a way to both show how evil Absalom was from the start, and to bring David to make peace with himself over what he had done. God does not want us to suffer forever, there is a time for suffering, but even then, He is still with us, He will never make us suffer more than we are can handle, [1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.]
Yes, it was very good advice to just capture David, as David was God’s anointed, He knew his heart and that he greatly repented and suffered enough for what he had done. It was not for Absalom to kill God’s anointed and take the throne from his own father, not to mention, He was a sly fox anyway, and would not have made it too far as king. Doing it this way, gave him a sense that he would gain the recognition of being the rightful king of all Israel while it gave David and his army time to prepare for the battle. Now, something incredible happened as David and all the people crossed over the Jordan to keep bloodshed out of Israel, and all the while Ahithophel did not take it too well that Absalom did not take his advice.
[2 Samuel 17:22-24,27-28 Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan. 23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father. 24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 27 And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, 28 Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,]
[Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat,] Do you see how God took care of and provided for David after he came to his senses? God does not want us to suffer more than He appoints, we bring on more suffering when we do not let go of our own guilt. We must understand that God is our Father, He will not leave nor forsake us, and yes, He will chasten us just as our earthly parents did, but He will turn in all into a purpose and for good. If you are going through hardships there are plenty of programs and honest people out there that have nothing to do with the government to give us the help we need with no strings attached. In fact, what we ought to be doing is helping for each other, [Romans 12:9-13 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [2 Samuel 15:25-26 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: 26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for Your gift of eternal life, no law is required to be saved from my sins, but that I admit I am a sinner, believe in the Gospel of Your Son, and accept Him as my Saviour. Not only am I saved, I am one of Your anointed. I know that You want me to live the best life I can possibly live until you bring me home, and that includes any chastening in order to keep me repentant and completely dependent upon you through every step I take. Lord, Try me, prove me, and if there be any wicked way in me, lead me in the way everlasting. Fill me with Your mercy, grace, and the power to endure any chastening, whether it be of my own doing or in well doing. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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