2 Samuel ends on another hard to understand story. I’d skip it (it’s my blog, I can skip a chapter if I want to!), but there is at least one accessible lesson along with a foundation for the future.

It starts this way:

Once again GOD’s anger blazed out against Israel. He tested David by telling him, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.” So David gave orders to Joab and the army officers under him, “Canvass all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and get a count of the population. I want to know the number.” (2 Samuel 24.1, 2, MSG)

It’s not, “The devil made me do it!” but “God told me to do it.” Weird. And why is it wrong to take a census? The book of Numbers starts with one. But taking a census now for the reasons David did it is wrong, and Joab knew it:

But Joab resisted the king: “May your GOD multiply people by the hundreds right before the eyes of my master the king, but why on earth would you do a thing like this?” (2 Samuel 24.3, MSG)

The Message translator suggests what was wrong with this census:

But when it was all done, David was overwhelmed with guilt because he had counted the people, replacing trust with statistics. (2 Samuel 24.10, MSG, emphasis mine)

“…replacing trust with statistics.” That’s one lesson. Is my trust in God or in the size of my bank account, for example? If I am a “Christian influencer” or want to be, am I in it to advance Jesus or myself?

Here’s a small snippet from a provocative article: How to Be a Christian Influencer Worthy of the Name by Justin Giboney

In John 7, Jesus’ brothers essentially tell him that he’s not maximizing his potential as a pre-digital influencer. He needed to be more outward-facing, they argued, and show off his miraculous works more frequently because “no one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret” (v. 4).

That advice exposed their failure to understand Jesus’ true mission. Even though he’d become a popular public figure, his purpose was much more significant than a few “viral moments.” Jesus wasn’t pursuing influence for its own sake; his message and timing had to align with the Father’s plan of salvation. “My teaching is not my own,” he told his amazed audience. “It comes from the one who sent me” (v. 16).

That text should guide Christians who have a social media ministry and influence the lives of thousands or millions of people. We must never be more concerned with growing our platforms than with stewarding our influence faithfully. God has not placed us in this position to flex and revel in the admiration. Christian influence comes with a cross. Its purpose is far more about self-sacrifice than self-indulgence.

Back to King David who wanted to measure the size of his kingdom. David has to choose a punishment, and he opts for three days of epidemic in which 70,000 people die the first day.

So GOD let loose an epidemic from morning until suppertime. From Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand people died. But when the angel reached out over Jerusalem to destroy it, GOD felt the pain of the terror and told the angel who was spreading death among the people, “Enough’s enough! Pull back!” The angel of GOD had just reached the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David looked up and saw the angel hovering between earth and sky, sword drawn and about to strike Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 24.15, 16, MSG)

The location of the angel is significant, and David buys the threshing floor of Araunah:

Araunah looked up and saw David and his men coming his way; he met them, bowing deeply, honoring the king and saying, “Why has my master the king come to see me?” “To buy your threshing floor,” said David, “so I can build an altar to GOD here and put an end to this disaster.” “Oh,” said Araunah, “let my master the king take and sacrifice whatever he wants. Look, here’s an ox for the burnt offering and threshing paddles and ox-yokes for fuel—Araunah gives it all to the king! And may GOD, your God, act in your favor.” But the king said to Araunah, “No. I’ve got to buy it from you for a good price; I’m not going to offer GOD, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice.” So David bought the threshing floor and the ox, paying out fifty shekels of silver. He built an altar to GOD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. GOD was moved by the prayers and that was the end of the disaster. (2 Samuel 24.20 – 25, MSG)

And there’s the second lesson, as it says in the literal translations: “I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. (2 Corinthians 8.1 – 5, NIV)

Finally, look where Solomon builds the temple (we’ll be there soon in our readings):

Then Solomon began to build the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David. (2 Chronicles 3.1, NIV)

Where have we seen Mount Moriah before? Of course! The place where Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac. And where was Jesus crucified? “Golgotha” – just a few hundred yards from the temple.

Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” (Genesis 22.8, NASB – some believe that this Genesis verse could read, “God will provide Himself – the lamb.”)

I was teaching an adult Bible class once and someone took exception to a military metaphor I had used. I responded, “My brother, I don’t make this stuff up, the Bible is filled with references to the military, and God has great respect for military men.” You don’t think so? The first recorded Gentile convert was a Roman centurion (Acts 10). Bible heroes Joshua and King David were military generals. And most of 2 Samuel 23 is a list and description of some of the exploits of “David’s Mighty Men.” It starts with “The Three:”

This is the listing of David’s top men.

• Josheb-Basshebeth, the Tahkemonite. He was chief of the Three. He once put his spear to work against eight hundred—killed them all in a day.
• Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite was the next of the elite Three. He was with David when the Philistines poked fun at them at Pas Dammim. When the Philistines drew up for battle, Israel retreated. But Eleazar stood his ground and killed Philistines right and left until he was exhausted—but he never let go of his sword! A big win for GOD that day. The army then rejoined Eleazar, but all there was left to do was the clean-up.
• Shammah son of Agee the Hararite was the third of the Three. The Philistines had mustered for battle at Lehi, where there was a field full of lentils. Israel fled before the Philistines, but Shammah took his stand at the center of the field, successfully defended it, and routed the Philistines. Another great victory for GOD! (2 Samuel 23.8 – 12, MSG, emphasis mine, bulleted for clarity)

Those were some tough guys!

Wait! There’s more. It’s not just “The Three,” there’s “The Thirty:”

Abishai brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah was the head of the Thirty. He once got credit for killing three hundred with his spear, but he was never named in the same breath as the Three. He was the most respected of the Thirty and was their captain, but never got included among the Three. (2 Samuel 23.18 – 19, MSG)

He killed only 300 in one day, not 800 like Josheb-Basshebeth, above.

And here’s my favorite:

Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. (2 Samuel 23.20 – 21, NIV)

“In a pit with a lion on a snowy day” is a book by Mark Batterson. I recommend it. The subtitle is, “How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars.” The book encourages us not just to admire these men but to emulate them:

Your greatest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you didn’t chase. You will look back longingly on risks not taken, opportunities not seized, and dreams not pursued. Stop running away from what scares you most and start chasing the God-ordained opportunities that cross your path. In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day is inspired by one of the most obscure yet courageous acts recorded in Scripture, a blessed and audacious act that left no regrets: “Benaiah chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it” (2 Samuel 23:20 -21). Unleash the lion chaser within!

What if the life you really want, and the future God wants for you, is hiding right now in your biggest problem, your worst failure…your greatest fear? – From the Amazon description of Mark Batterson’s book, emphasis his

The text goes on with a list of “The Thirty,” which contains more than 30 names, ending with Uriah the Hittite. (2 Samuel 23.8 – 31)

Dear friends, I’ve dropped everything to write you about this life of salvation that we have in common. I have to write insisting—begging!—that you fight with everything you have in you for this faith entrusted to us as a gift to guard and cherish. (Jude 1.3, MSG)

We’re coming to the end of King David’s life. 2 Samuel 22, which we’ll look at shortly, is a song of praise for God’s faithfulness. Chapter 23 lists his mighty men – definitely worth a look. There’s one more “oops” in chapter 24. The story continues into 1 Kings without a break.

Today: 2 Samuel 22, which is nearly identical to Psalm 18. Many psalms contain an introduction, which appears as an unnumbered verse in most of our Bibles. The introduction in Psalm 18 is verse 1 in 2 Samuel 22, and Psalm 18 starts with the short phrase, “I love you O Lord, my strength.” Otherwise, the two are the same except for the verse numbers. The two screen shots compare Psalm 18.0 – 3 with 2 Samuel 22.1 – 4.

Back to 2 Samuel 22: it’s long, 51 verses, filled with a combination of “things were really bad” but “God stepped in and saved me.” I encourage you to take time to read it for yourself. 2 Samuel 22 I’ve linked you to The Message, which I have been reading this year, but you can easily change translations if you want.

Here are a few snippets that jumped out at me:

⁵  The waves of death crashed over me, devil waters rushed over me.
⁶  Hell’s ropes cinched me tight; death traps barred every exit.
⁷  A hostile world! I called to GOD, to my God I cried out. From his palace he heard me call; my cry brought me right into his presence— a private audience!

¹⁵  God shot his arrows—pandemonium! He hurled his lightnings—a rout!
¹⁶  The secret sources of ocean were exposed, the hidden depths of earth lay uncovered The moment GOD roared in protest, let loose his hurricane anger.
¹⁷  But me he caught—reached all the way from sky to sea; he pulled me out
¹⁸  Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos, the void in which I was drowning.

²¹  GOD made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him.
²³  Every day I review the ways he works, I try not to miss a trick.
²⁴  I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step.
²⁵  GOD rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

³²  Is there any god like GOD? Are we not at bedrock?
³³  Is not this the God who armed me well, then aimed me in the right direction?
³⁴  Now I run like a deer; I’m king of the mountain.
³⁵  He shows me how to fight; I can bend a bronze bow!
³⁶  You protect me with salvation-armor; you touch me and I feel ten feet tall.

⁴⁸  This God set things right for me and shut up the people who talked back.
⁴⁹  He rescued me from enemy anger. You pulled me from the grip of upstarts, You saved me from the bullies.
⁵⁰  That’s why I’m thanking you, GOD, all over the world. That’s why I’m singing songs that rhyme your name.

“Every day I review the way he works…” Not a bad reason for our daily discipline!

PS June was just talking with one of the women she’s in spiritual direction with. The woman works with special needs kids in a school and one of her co-workers is constantly harassing her. Verse 7: “A hostile world!” applies. Verse 49 has the promise: “He rescued me from enemy anger…you saved me from the bullies.”

2 Samuel 21 starts weirdly, but it has a fascinating ending.

War broke out again between the Philistines and Israel. David and his men went down to fight. David became exhausted. Ishbi-Benob, a warrior descended from Rapha, with a spear weighing nearly eight pounds and outfitted in brand-new armor, announced that he’d kill David. But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to the rescue, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “No more fighting on the front-lines for you! Don’t snuff out the lamp of Israel!” Later there was another skirmish with the Philistines at Gob. That time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, another of the warriors descended from Rapha. At yet another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jaar, the weaver of Bethlehem, killed Goliath the Gittite whose spear was as big as a flagpole. Still another fight broke out in Gath. There was a giant there with six fingers on his hands and six toes on his feet—twenty-four fingers and toes! He was another of those descended from Rapha. He insulted Israel, and Jonathan son of Shimeah, David’s brother, killed him. (2 Samuel 21.15 – 21, MSG)

More war, and David is too old to fight. There were four giants:

• Abishai killed one in verse 17
• Sibbecai killed another in verse 18
• Elhanan killed a third in verse 19
• Jonathan son of Shimeah killed a fourth in verses 20, 21

My Navigator hero Skip Gray used to say: “Why did David take five smooth stones? Because Goliath had four brothers.”

These four were descended from Rapha in Gath. And they all were killed by David and his soldiers. (2 Samuel 21.22, MSG)

My son David (who shared his observations on 2 Samuel 10 last week) pointed out to me that in 1 Samuel 17 the whole army was terrified by the giant Goliath, and an entire chapter is devoted to David’s taking him on. Now there are four giants, and four different men take them out as a matter of routine. David, the warrior, set the example and trained his replacements.

I have fought the good fight. (Paul to Timothy, 2 Timothy 4.7, ESV)

God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. (Ephesians 6.10 – 18, MSG)

We come to 2 Samuel 21, which contains an odd story about the Gibeonites taking revenge on Saul’s descendants. You can read it for yourself, 2 Samuel 21.1 – 14. I have way more questions than answers:

There are things in the Bible hard to understand:

• I can’t even find the massacre they’re talking about.
• It’s said that God caused the famine.
• The solution is to kill seven of Saul’s descendants, men who had nothing to do with anything: sons, fathers, husbands, grieved by their mother.
• Finally, they take all the remains, including Saul and Jonathan and bury them in the tomb of Kish. Then:

And he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan; and they gathered the bones of those who were hanged. And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father. And they did all that the king commanded. And after that God responded to the plea for the land. (2 Samuel 21.13, 14, ESV)

As it says in The MSG: “That cleared things up…”

I don’t understand anything about this story. For example, “It’s not up to us to put anyone to death,” but “give us seven of his sons to be executed.” Really?

Except, I read in the news recently about deaths from flooding in several places around the world. There will always be death. These seven guys would have died eventually anyway. Maybe in battle at a young age. We don’t know. And overall, I think we’re looking at Deuteronomy 29.29.

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (ESV)

And one more thing as a suggestion:

When you’re reading the Bible and come to something you don’t understand, keep reading until you find something you do understand!

Maybe the close of Peter’s second letter applies:

Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand … But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3.14 – 18, ESV, emphasis mine)

PS When we keep reading 2 Samuel 21, we find that it closes on an upbeat note and answers the question, “Why did David, when fighting Goliath, take five stones?” Stay tuned.

I mentioned last year the clever robins who built a nest on my downspout under the eave right behind where I’m sitting right now. (After you read last year’s article, read the next one on the Berlin Airlift. I needed the review myself.) The robins liked the location so much they came back, and I got a better picture:

And right below the nest, my dandelion removal system is at work:

But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you. (Job 12.7, ESV)

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6.26, ESV)

I need to tell you about my Navigator colleague Heidi Gleghorn, a veritable hero in working with the poor. Here’s what the official site for Navigator I-58 Ministries says about her:

Heidi was homeless until junior high, and her (still homeless) father passed away in 2021 from a drug overdose. Before serving with I-58, Heidi was already working with the homeless because of her upbringing. Now she’s a part of a team! She is currently working with a few different local homeless ministries where she’s made a book of over 200 homeless pictures, names and prayer requests. Heidi also meets with others for about 20 hours per week via Inner Healing. The discipleship she does these days starts with one’s brokenness, and she is the Colorado Springs point of contact for I:58…[She and her husband] have two adopted children, one son of 23 who is now married, and one daughter who just started college.

“Homeless until junior high…” doesn’t begin to tell the story. Most of us  read about hippies, and we saw pictures of tricked out VW buses. Heidi  actually grew up in one on the beaches of Northern California. Her parents  were genuine hippies – ‘homeless’ before homeless was a  thing. Here she is with her father, a few years before his death in 2021 and with her husband, Rob.

Heidi writes:

My life verse Isa 58:10 and 11: If you spend yourself on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness, your night will be like the noon day, and the Lord will guide you always and He will strengthen you. – The name of The Navigators “I-58 Ministries” comes from this verse

I was in a Zoom(R) meeting with a number of folks last week, including Heidi, and she offered a response to someone’s comment about how we might need to take a stand on the LGBT… issue. She said something like this:

John the Baptist took a stand on Herod’s taking the wrong wife, and it cost him his head. Meanwhile Jesus was doing his ministry of showing the love of God.

She went on to talk about one of the local Colorado Springs’ ministries to the poor, a ministry I have done some work with over the years. She reeled off a list of four or five conditions that ministry does not accept (e.g., mental illness), and she encouraged us to reach out to all those in need. It was the most moving moment (for me) in that 75-minute meeting.

You can see her 36-minute story here. The story includes a picture of the van, but, unfortunately, it doesn’t appear in the video.

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4.16 – 19, ESV)

If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. (Isaiah 58.10, 11, ESV)

Absalom is dead, but David is heartbroken, taking the shine off of the victory. As has happened before, Joab talks some sense into David:

But in private Joab rebuked the king: “Now you’ve done it—knocked the wind out of your loyal servants who have just saved your life, to say nothing of the lives of your sons and daughters, wives and concubines. What is this—loving those who hate you and hating those who love you?…Get hold of yourself; get out there and put some heart into your servants!…So the king came out and took his place at the city gate. (2 Samuel 19.5 – 8, MSG)

David proves himself able to both accept counsel and give orders. As they are on their way back to Jerusalem, Shimei, who cursed David when he was leaving comes to apologize. Again, Abishai wants to execute him. Again, David spares Shimei.

Shimei son of Gera bowed deeply in homage to the king as soon as he was across the Jordan and said, “Don’t think badly of me, my master! Overlook my irresponsible outburst on the day my master the king left Jerusalem—don’t hold it against me!…Abishai son of Zeruiah interrupted, “Enough of this! Shouldn’t we kill him outright? Why, he cursed GOD’s anointed!” But David said, “What is it with you sons of Zeruiah? Why do you insist on being so contentious? Nobody is going to be killed today. I am again king over Israel!” (2 Samuel 19.18 – 22, MSG)

Then Mephibosheth, lame in both feet, greets the king and said that his servant Ziba had lied to David as David was leaving Jerusalem.

The king said, “And why didn’t you come with me, Mephibosheth?” “My master the king,” he said, “my servant betrayed me. I told him to saddle my donkey so I could ride it and go with the king, for, as you know, I am lame. And then he lied to you about me…. (2 Samuel 19.25 – 27, MSG)

A good lesson:

The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. (Proverbs 18.17, ESV)

David doesn’t even make all the way to Jerusalem before another rebellion starts:

Just then a good-for-nothing named Sheba son of Bicri the Benjaminite blew a blast on the ram’s horn trumpet, calling out, We’ve got nothing to do with David, there’s no future for us with the son of Jesse! Let’s get out of here, Israel—head for your tents! So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed committed, sticking with their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 20.1, 2, MSG)

We see the beginnings of what will become a permanent split between the tribe of Judah, David’s tribe, and the rest of Israel. It happens after the reign of Solomon. We’ll be there soon – 1 Kings 12.

For now, David has to put an end to this rebellion:

David told Abishai, “Sheba son of Bicri is going to hurt us even worse than Absalom did. Take your master’s servants and hunt him down before he gets holed up in some fortress city where we can’t get to him.” So under Abishai’s command, all the best men—Joab’s men and the Kerethites and Pelethites—left Jerusalem to hunt down Sheba son of Bicri. (2 Samuel 20.6, 7, MSG)

Sheba holes up in the city of Abel Beth Maacah, and David’s army intends to tear down the city’s wall. But a “wise woman,” unnamed, intervenes, explaining to Joab that this is a good city:

…We’re a peaceful people here, and reliable. And here you are, trying to tear down one of Israel’s mother cities. Why would you want to mess with GOD’s legacy like that?” (2 Samuel 20.19, MSG)

Joab explains his objective, and the problem is taken care of:

Joab protested, “Believe me, you’ve got me all wrong. I’m not here to hurt anyone or destroy anything—not on your life! But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba son of Bicri by name, revolted against King David; hand him over, him only, and we’ll get out of here.” The woman told Joab, “Sounds good. His head will be tossed to you from the wall.” (2 Samuel 20.20, 21, MSG)

And they did.

More unrest and discord, fallout from chapter 12’s “consequences.” It only takes one malcontent to mess up a country (or an organization). Joab took care of things, but at the cost of time and energy. And sometimes, you can’t reconcile with an enemy. Sometimes you have to kill them, or, in our case, remove them from the organization.

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us… (3 John 1.9, 10, ESV)

I’m passing this work on to you, my son Timothy. The prophetic word that was directed to you prepared us for this. All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we’re in. There are some, you know, who by relaxing their grip and thinking anything goes have made a thorough mess of their faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two of them. I let them wander off to Satan to be taught a lesson or two about not blaspheming. (1 Timothy 1.18 – 20, MSG)

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. (Matthew 18.15 – 17, ESV)

We left David on the run from Absalom’s coup attempt. Absalom’s counselor, Ahithophel, advises quick action to take David out:

Next Ahithophel advised Absalom, “Let me handpick twelve thousand men and go after David tonight. I’ll come on him when he’s bone tired and take him by complete surprise. The whole army will run off and I’ll kill only David. (2 Samuel 17.1 – 2, MSG)

This plan might have succeeded, but Absalom also consults with Hushai, David’s embedded spy counselor (2 Samuel 15.31 – 37). Hushai buys David some time:

The counsel that Ahithophel has given in this instance is not good. You know your father and his men, brave and bitterly angry—like a bear robbed of her cubs. And your father is an experienced fighter; you can be sure he won’t be caught napping at a time like this. Even while we’re talking, he’s probably holed up in some cave or other. If he jumps your men from ambush, word will soon get back, “A slaughter of Absalom’s army!”…Here’s what I’d advise: Muster the whole country, from Dan to Beersheba, an army like the sand of the sea, and you personally lead them. We’ll smoke him out wherever he is, fall on him like dew falls on the earth, and, believe me, there won’t be a single survivor. (2 Samuel 17.7 – 12, MSG)

Hushai’s quick-thinking works:

Absalom and all his company agreed that the counsel of Hushai the Arkite was better than the counsel of Ahithophel. (GOD had determined to discredit the counsel of Ahithophel so as to bring ruin on Absalom.) (2 Samuel 17.14, MSG)

Hushai gets the word to David via the spy network David left in place, and David crosses the Jordan. He’s met by some little known friends who “prepare him a table in the presence of his enemies” as David recounts later in Psalm 23:

When David arrived at Mahanaim, Shobi…and Makir…and Barzillai brought beds and blankets, bowls and jugs filled with wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey, and curds and cheese from the flocks and herds. They presented all this to David and his army to eat, “because,” they said, “the army must be starved and exhausted and thirsty out in this wilderness.” (2 Samuel 17.27 – 29, MSG)

It’s nice that the Bible often records the names of little-known actors, people who move God’s story along. On the strength of that meal, David’s army, under the command of Joab defeats Absalom’s army:

The army took the field to meet Israel. It turned out that the battle was joined in the Forest of Ephraim. The army of Israel was beaten badly there that day by David’s men, a terrific slaughter—twenty thousand men! (2 Samuel 18.6, 7, MSG)

Joab, against David’s explicit command (2 Samuel 18.5), kills Absalom:

Joab…grabbed three knives and stabbed Absalom in the heart…Joab then blew the ram’s horn trumpet, calling off the army in its pursuit of Israel. They took Absalom, dumped him into a huge pit in the forest, and piled an immense mound of rocks over him. Meanwhile the whole army of Israel was in flight, each man making his own way home. (2 Samuel 18.14 – 17, MSG)

The Absalom rebellion is over except for David’s grief, which we’ll look at tomorrow along with David’s return to Jerusalem.

A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.
¹  O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
²  many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah
³  But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
⁴  I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
⁵  I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
⁶  I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.
⁷  Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.
⁸  Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people! Selah (Psalm 3, ESV)

2 Samuel 16 records three disparate events involving David’s fleeing Jerusalem and Absalom’s occupation.

First, Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant, meets David with food.

Shortly after David passed the crest of the hill, Mephibosheth’s steward Ziba met him with a string of pack animals, saddled and loaded with a hundred loaves of bread, a hundred raisin cakes, a hundred baskets of fresh fruit, and a skin of wine. The king said to Ziba, “What’s all this?” “The donkeys,” said Ziba, “are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and fruit are for the servants to eat, and the wine is for drinking, especially for those overcome by fatigue in the wilderness.” (2 Samuel 16.1, 2, MSG)

I heard a pastor say that the phrase in the second half of Psalm 23 could be referring to this incident (or a similar one a few chapters later):

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies… (Psalm 23.5, ESV)

Unfortunately, Ziba also lied to David:

The king said, “And where is your master’s grandson?” “He stayed in Jerusalem,” said Ziba. “He said, ‘This is the day Israel is going to restore my grandfather’s kingdom to me.’ ” (2 Samuel 16.3, MSG, compare 2 Samuel 19.24 – 30)

The second incident involves Shimei:

When the king got to Bahurim, a man appeared who had connections with Saul’s family. His name was Shimei son of Gera. As he followed along he shouted insults and threw rocks right and left at David and his company, servants and soldiers alike. To the accompaniment of curses he shouted, “Get lost, get lost, you butcher, you hellhound! GOD has paid you back for all your dirty work in the family of Saul and for stealing his kingdom. GOD has given the kingdom to your son Absalom. Look at you now—ruined! And good riddance, you pathetic old man!” (2 Samuel 16.5 – 8, MSG)

David’s men know what to do!

Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “This mangy dog can’t insult my master the king this way—let me go over and cut off his head!” (2 Samuel 16.9, MSG)

But David spares Shimei now when leaving Jerusalem and again when he returns as we’ll see later.

But the king said, “Why are you sons of Zeruiah always interfering and getting in the way? If he’s cursing, it’s because GOD told him, “Curse David.” So who dares raise questions? Besides, my own son, my flesh and bone, is right now trying to kill me; compared to that this Benjaminite is small potatoes. Don’t bother with him; let him curse; he’s preaching GOD’s word to me. And who knows, maybe GOD will see the trouble I’m in today and exchange the curses for something good.” (2 Samuel 16.10 – 12, MSG)

Finally, the scene switches to Jerusalem, and we see what kind of man Absalom is as well as his trusted advisor Ahithophel:

Then Absalom spoke to Ahithophel, “Are you ready to give counsel? What do we do next?” Ahithophel told Absalom, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, the ones he left to tend to the palace. Everyone will hear that you have openly disgraced your father, and the morale of everyone on your side will be strengthened.” So Absalom pitched a tent up on the roof in public view, and went in and slept with his father’s concubines. (2 Samuel 16.20 – 22, MSG)

God’s word to Nathan has come true:

This is GOD speaking, remember! I’ll make trouble for you out of your own family. I’ll take your wives from right out in front of you. I’ll give them to some neighbor, and he’ll go to bed with them openly. You did your deed in secret; I’m doing mine with the whole country watching! (2 Samuel 12.11 – 12, MSG)

Nasty stuff. We can read the whole story in a few minutes, and we know that David’s forces defeat Absalom, and that David returns to Jerusalem, but it wouldn’t have been easy to live through. Sin has consequences even when God forgives:

Then David confessed to Nathan, “I’ve sinned against GOD.” Nathan pronounced, “Yes, but that’s not the last word. GOD forgives your sin. You won’t die for it. (2 Samuel 12. 13, MSG)

Nathan had already pronounced God’s blessing on David’s offspring even knowing they would sin, too:

I’ll be a father to him, and he’ll be a son to me. When he does wrong, I’ll discipline him in the usual ways, the pitfalls and obstacles of this mortal life. But I’ll never remove my gracious love from him, as I removed it from Saul, who preceded you and whom I most certainly did remove. Your family and your kingdom are permanently secured. I’m keeping my eye on them! And your royal throne will always be there, rock solid.” (2 Samuel 7.14 – 16, MSG)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1.9, ESV)