JANUARY 16, 2025

 “And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.” (II Samuel 11:2-4)

At this point in 2 Samuel, we read that it’s the time of year when kings and armies traditionally march to war, but King David remained in Jerusalem. He did this despite God’s direction to the contrary, and because of this, he fell into the great sin of being conquered and led captive by his lust. Maybe snooping on Bathsheba was indeed an accident, but he showed a blatant disregard for the commands of the Lord by lingering. Her marital status with Uriah the Hittite didn’t stop David from taking and lying with the woman shortly after. This week, we’ll continue our study of the fallout of this sin by looking at Absalom’s rebellion.

Since David had many wives, Amnon had a different mother (Ahinoam) than his siblings, Absalom and Tamar (Maacah). Amnon’s lust was so great that he violently forced himself upon his half-sister. Absalom was very angry and eventually murdered Amnon, afterward fleeing to a country to the north, where he lived there for three years. After those years, David finally allows Absalom back to Jerusalem, but their relationship remains strained.

Now, if the story could get worse, it does. Absalom quietly plotted to turn people from his father to himself for four years. At the end of these four years, he takes action, rallies some key leaders in Israel behind him, and declares himself to be king, but Israel can’t have two kings, so David knows Absalom will kill him. Leading him to run for his life. This is a somewhat depressing section, but one we must read to see the effects of sin on our lives.

Chapters 15-20 of II Samuel are best understood as the result of David’s sin against Bathsheba and Uriah. Though his reasons for doing so are obscure, David’s flight from the city and his later return provide necessary structural clues for this long segment that consists mainly of meetings, encounters, and discussions between an array of characters:

The story plays out like this: Absalom rebels against David (15:1-12), David flees (15:13-31), David meets with Hushai, Mephibosheth’s servant, and Shimei (15:32-16:14), Hushai faces Ahithophel and then hatches a plan (16:15-17:29), David faces Absalom (18:1-19:15), David meets with Shimei again, Mephibosheth, and Barzillai (19:17-19:38), David returns to Jerusalem (19:39-43), and finally Sheba rebels against David (20:1-22).

All this, of course, is seen as the inevitable working out of the consequences of David’s sin against Bathsheba and Uriah. Absalom’s utter revolt drives much of these chapters and divides the nation as much as it divides David in his conflicted roles as father and king.

Let’s consider David’s mindset while on the run from this usurping family member. Through all of this, David still faced the consequences of his sin. What is going through David’s mind? Is he consumed with guilt and shame? Has his relationship with the Lord tanked after all his sin and its aftermath? We don’t have to wonder what he was thinking because David tells us. He wrote it down and put it to music.

David wrote Psalm 3 during those few insane, dark days when his son was hunting him. Many people in his nation, and many who had served him for years, now doubt him. They taunt him. They quickly abandoned him. They say, “There is no hope for him. There is no future with him.” But, in verses 3-4, we see a remarkable intimacy with God. He sees God as his shield and protector. He knows God is the Glorious One in heaven who will lift his head, sustaining and watching over him. He sees God as attentive to his prayer, the God who cares and who answers David’s cry for help. Though David is experiencing even more fallout from his sin, he is confident that the Lord is still with him. He does have a small band of soldiers to fight for him, but all of Absalom’s army is seeking to kill just one person: David the King. So, when he speaks of “…ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.” (Psalm 3:6), it’s frighteningly accurate. But David is so intimate with the Lord, so confident and trusting that he can lie down and sleep in peace. He will wake again, for God is his sustainer. His protector. His guard. He prays for protection and salvation, for God to defeat his enemies. Then, he prays for all the people under his care. David, the former shepherd boy, still has the heart of a shepherd, and he wants the Lord to preserve his flock. At a time of great stress, he is concerned for his people.

This Psalm is stunning on many levels. David’s confidence in the Lord and intimacy with his God are inspiring. We read it and yearn to rely on our Creator as David does. David’s heart is a work of the Holy Spirit, who comforts and strengthens and shows grace, mercy, and renewal – even in the aftermath of sin. In my final article in this series, we’ll consider the whole scope of this story and its practical takeaways.

JANUARY 14, 2025

 “We give thanks to God…For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven.” (Colossians 1:3a, 5a)

Three graces should be always conspicuous in Christians – faith, love, and hope. They are each mentioned by the Apostle in the opening verses of this Epistle. These lovely graces should be so conspicuous in every believer as to be spoken of and consequently heard of, even by those who have never seen us. These graces should so perfume our lives that the fragrance may be perceived by those who have ever gazed on them. So was it with the saints of Colosse. Paul says, “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven…”

We should therefore be rich in faith, which is the root of every grace; and to this end we should daily pray, “Lord, increase our faith.” We should strive to be full, even overflowing with love, which is of God, and makes us like God. We should also abound in hope, even that heavenly hope which causes saints to purify themselves in readiness for the inheritance above. We are, after all, “begotten again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” (I Pet. I:3b, 4)

Note, however, the special character of each of these graces as it exists in the Christian. It is not every faith and love and hope that serve us, for of all precious things, there are counterfeits. There is a kind of faith in all men, but ours is faith in Jesus Christ, faith in Him Whom the world rejects; Whose cross is a stumbling block, and Whose doctrine is an offence. We have faith in the Man of Nazareth, Who also is the Son of God, faith in Him Who having made atonement by His own blood once for all, and is now exalted to the Father’s right hand. This is the faith of God’s elect.

The love of Christians is also special, for while a believer is moved to universal benevolence and desires the good of all men, yet he has a special love unto all the saints, whom the world does not love because it loves not the Lord. The true believer loves the despised and persecuted people of God for Christ’s sake. He loves them as brethren, even those who may hold different views on minor matters. He loves the Lord, and he loves all who share in that love. His love extends beyond Christ Himself to all who are in union with Him.

Our hope is most special as well, because it is laid up in heaven; a hope in which the world has no interest, nor do the worldlings care one whit about it. He hopes that tomorrow might be better than today, and that his life here will become more and more abundant, but he cares nothing for an eternal inheritance where time shall be no more. He hopes for riches and for fame; he hopes for long life and prosperity; he hopes for pleasures and domestic peace. The whole range of his hopes are within compass of his sight: but our hope has passed beyond the sphere of things seen, “for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” The Apostle asks, “…for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Ours is a hope which demands nothing of time, or earth, but seeks it’s all in the world to come.

JANUARY 9, 2025

 “And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.” (II Samuel 11:2-4)

At this point in II Samuel, we read that it’s the time of year when kings and armies traditionally march to war, but King David remained in Jerusalem. He did this despite God’s direction to the contrary, and because of this, he fell into the great sin of being conquered and led captive by his lust. Staying home from the battle merely provided an opportunity for his long-standing lack of sexual restraint and indulgence of passion to display itself, as David likely knew it would. Maybe snooping on Bathsheba was an accident, but he broke a commandment by coveting his neighbor’s wife. Her marital status with Uriah the Hittite didn’t stop David from taking and lying with the woman shortly after. This week, we’ll continue our study of the fallout of this great sin by looking at how it led to Absalom’s rebellion.

Starting in chapter 13, there is a story of sexual assault and revenge among David’s children: Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom. Since David had many wives, Amnon had a mother (Ahinoam) different from Absalom and Tamar (Maacah). Amnon’s lust for his sister was so great that he violently forced himself upon her. Absalom loved his sister and was very angry with Amnon. Hating him for the evil he had done, Absalom’s anger with his brother comes full circle when, two years later, he murders Amnon and then flees to a country to the north, where he lived there for three years.

After these three years, David finally allows Absalom back to Jerusalem but refuses to speak to him for two more years. David’s general, Joab, talks David into seeing his son once again. So, he is finally reunited with his son five years after Absalom killed Amnon and fled. It has also now been seven years since Amnon initially attacked and assaulted his half-sister, Tamar. All of this so far is part of the fulfillment of the prophecy on David. This is all the fallout from his sins, just as the prophet Nathan told him.

David’s family is falling apart. One son assaults his half-sister. Another son kills that son. Now, if the story could get worse, it does. Absalom quietly plotted to turn people from his father to himself for four years. At the end of these four years, he takes action, rallies some key leaders in Israel behind him, and declares himself king. It’s a government overthrow by the king’s son, and David has been none the wiser. But Israel can’t have two kings, so David knows Absalom will kill him. So, David runs for his life (15:14).

The grief. The shame. The heartache. The emotions of this story are beyond our ability to grasp. Can you imagine the agony that David is facing as he goes on the run from a family member for the second time? This is only 5% of the drama that David incurred on himself and his family by his great sin. It’s a somewhat depressing section, but one we must read to see the effects of sin on our lives.

JANUARY 7, 2025

“Unto you therefore which believe he is precious.” (I Pet. 2:7)

To believers of all times and all ages, Christ has been most precious. Christ is indeed precious in every sense of the word. Peter uses this word numerous times in the first two chapters of this Epistle. He speaks of the believer’s faith as precious. (Ch. 1:7) He speaks of the blood of Christ as precious. (Ch. 1:19) He speaks of Christ Himself as a precious Savior. The Greek words translated precious have a range of meanings; actually an accumulative range of meanings. These combine to describe the preciousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. A thing may be considered precious for its rarity. Something may be described as precious for its great value, such as a priceless treasure. The word here includes these qualities, with an added emphasis on honorable. Christ is indeed precious for His rarity, being one of a kind without equal. He is of such great value that one is wise to sell all he has that he might possess this priceless treasure (Matt. 13:44); this “pearl of great price.” (Matt. 13:45, 46) As for the latter meaning, our text might read, “Unto you therefore which believe He is an honor.” (Mar.)

Christ was precious to Old Testament saints. Of Abel it is recorded that God had respect to Abel, and to his offering! Notice, God had respect first to Abel, and then to his offering. The reason why God respected Able, was his faith in the seed of woman who was to come as an offering for sin. It was therefore out of his faith in Christ, that he offered an acceptable sacrifice. To Abraham Christ was precious. When he learned that his seed would bring the blessing of salvation to all nations, he believed, and in believing he was counted righteous. Jesus said of him, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.” (John 8:56) Moses, we are told in Hebrew 11:24-26, “refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter…Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.” King David also saw Christ’s day and called the seed of his own body, “LORD.” (Psa. 110:1)

Christ was precious to those of apostolic times. Many were willing to despise their own life, as it were, and forsaking all, they took up their crosses and follow Christ. The Apostles themselves had willingly forsaken all; their nets, their former life, their positions; some, very lucrative, and follow Christ, counting Him more precious than all else. Not only did they leave their professions; they, as well as many others, counted not their own lives dear compared to the preciousness of Christ. Their blood, along with the blood of countless other martyrs flowed for sake of Christ and the Church.

Christ is still just as precious to all true believers in our day. There are silent sufferers in many places today. To assemble with their brothers and sisters they must be willing to jeopardize their well-being and that of their families. How such examples shame us who forsake the assembly for no reason. Christ is also apparently precious to believers who are bold in their witness for Christ in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation; in the midst of family members, neighbors and friends who love not Christ and His Gospel. Christ is more precious than their dearest earthly ties. Christ is precious to all who give their all for Him. Paul said, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Rom. 12:1)

Should you be asked, “What is thy beloved more than another beloved?” How would you answer? All who love the Lord Jesus Christ will have a ready answer: “My beloved is…the chiefest among ten thousand.” “His mouth is most sweet, yea, he is altogether lovely.” (Song of Sol. 5:9, 10, 16)