Who is God? And, how can we find God - Bible answers.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/12/02/2-samuel-10-commentary/

Second Samuel 10 Commentary

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It should be easy to say David defeated the Ammonites. In fact, we got this information in chapter 8. Here we have details of what exactly happened. No detail is needless in scripture.

You need to look hard into the scripture to find a moment when the LORD intervened to help the strong. Israel is not strong. The victory is therefore God’s victory. It is a miracle!

It is impossible not to feel the pain of disappointment when a good is not compensated. Good doers are left asking if at all doing good makes sense. For David and his men, being righteous brought them shame. Nothing has changed. For many saints, being righteous is the only offense they have committed for their shame, pain, and suffering.

What we may never appreciate in the moment of trouble is that the LORD is in charge of events. This understanding is a great help when the saint reacts with the usual ‘why’ question.

You would guess the LORD was looking for a spark to ignite the war. At times the LORD allows shame to unsettle the saint but the main objective is a greater victory for the saint. Out of this moment of shame for Israel war begins whose end result the LORD had already determined.

The battles contain details that would help the saint in his battles today. Firstly, no battle is small and inconsequential. Secondly, man needs to summon the God-given courage within him in order to face the mountains ahead. Importantly, and very loudly for many of us, the battle is the LORD’s.

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This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/12/01/2-samuel-9-commentary/

Second Samuel 9 Commentary

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In any given nation or community, there is only one throne. Thrones are isolated places for honor, power, and authority. Unfortunately, on the list is one unwelcome constant presence: loneliness. You would imagine a blessed and settled David thinking about an all-weather friend in Jonathan. Reminiscing.

“Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

So Mephibosheth comes into the picture again. He is the son of Jonathan but lame in both feet. But that shouldn’t be a problem for David. He remembers the kindness and generosity of his father. And for Jonathan’s sake, Mephibosheth is invited to the palace.

This chapter should be celebrating David’s generosity and humanity. But there is something that doesn’t just sit well: Mephibosheth’s plight. How a prince, born to the heir to the throne, gets to this level is shocking.

Sin has far-reaching consequences. Saul’s sons all suffer because of their father’s ungodliness. Mephibosheth’s life presents us with the wreckage of what once was a royal family.

Seeing Mephibosheth at the King’s table reminds us of how the LORD accepts the repentant sinner for Jesus’ sake. We call it salvation. Like Mephibosheth, you only need to say yes to the invitation.

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This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/11/30/2-samuel-8-commentary/

Second Samuel 8 Commentary

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/11/29/2-samuel-7-commentary/

Second Samuel 7 Commentary

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Back in the Garden of peace and tranquility, the LORD blessed man to be fruitful, to prosper, and to have dominion. When things go wrong in Genesis 3, the LORD talks of the seed of the woman.

The saint is invited to bask in this excess love; the world is invited to come, see, and experience the Jesus excess love in salvation.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/11/28/2-samuel-6-commentary/

Second Samuel 6 Commentary

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The sudden switch from joy in the presence of the LORD to anger and cursing is not a good sign for the minister. We think the minister is returning home to bless his family. Instead, we find the minister angering and uttering hurting words. What a minister does when he is right and his wife is wrong is important. David requires marriage counseling here.

But there is another even more important contradiction in this chapter: how a good and godly intention becomes fatally wrong. Incidentally, it is also another switch from joy to anger and sadness. Uzzah’s irreverent act of touching the Ark results in sudden death. The rejoicing is immediately halted. A calamity must be investigated and the LORD is responsible.

This incident is the latest in a series of punishments connected directly with the Ark. Earlier in the Book of Samuel, Eli’s wicked sons Hophni and Phinehas die chiefly because of their irreverence. The captured Ark caused havoc in Dagon’s temple. The Philistine cities of Ashdod and Ekron suffer when they attempt to host the Ark. When the Ark is returned to Israel, the men of Beth Shemesh die when they irreverently look inside the Ark. That is how the Ark ended up at Abinadab’s house for care. His son was consecrated to take care of the Ark at Kiriath Jearim.

In this chapter, David is trying to transport the Ark from Abinadab’s house to Jerusalem. What happens here is a good lesson to one who claims to host the Holy Spirit within their chest. There are strict rules on how the LORD should be hosted and transported from place to place, as you go about your daily activities.

In the Book of Numbers, we found very elaborate instructions on how the Ark was to be transported. We can confirm here that David completely ignored the manual. We can guess all the rejoicing was just entertainment. Heaven wasn’t so happy. The top priests were required to go in and cover the Ark before other priests came in to lift the Ark on their shoulders. Social distancing was a must! We haven’t seen anything like that here.

This should be easy. Irreverence towards the LORD means death. But reverence means life and prosperity. David has seen both. He has seen Uzzah's irreverence punished severely. He has also seen the house Obed-Edom receive blessings because of the presence of the LORD.

We are once again reminded that the worship of the LORD is never to be defined by man. The LORD defines how He is to be worshipped, when and by who.

And back to the small matter of David and his wife Michal. A man should remember not to be so rude when the LORD elevates them. Being all smiles at church and angering and cursing when you return home may be a sign that your religion is more of a show than reality. How can David forget this woman’s love and protection when he was nothing?

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This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/11/27/2-samuel-commentary/

2 Samuel 5 Commentary

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David becomes king over Israel. The chapter records two critical battles with the Philistines which David wins. The capture of Jerusalem and its subsequent occupation is important as Jerusalem becomes the city of the King. The King of Tyre sends materials and labor towards the building of David's palace. We are off to a good start!

It should be strange that we are celebrating David’s conquest of Jerusalem. At what point was this city repossessed by the Jebusites? We know Joshua had conquered and ‘totally destroyed’ everything there. And Israel occupied it. Victor, victim; victim, victor. This cycle would go on and on, endlessly.

They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled – The LORD Jesus Christ, in Luke 21 verse 24.

The seesaw story of Jerusalem is very interesting. It represented Israel as a settled nation in the land of promise. It also represented Israel as a nation under bondage – Remember the blessing of Issachar.

In the meantime, we can sit back and bask in the victories. We have a resemblance of normality here for Israel. Their oppressors are defeated on two critical occasions. The power of the throne is the power of the nation.

He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. Deuteronomy 17 verse 17.

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This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/11/26/2-samuel-4-commentary/

Second Samuel 4 Commentary

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Mephibosheth is introduced but the main focus is on the death of the puppet King Ish-Bosheth. His reign is short and hardly fits the title. Abner's desire to maintain the status quo and his desire to maintain his own position must have motivated him to install Ish-Bosheth as King over Israel. Now that Abner is dead, fear seizes Ish-Bosheth. He is murdered by his team.

The chapter appears to concern itself with two characters: Ish-Bosheth and Mephibosheth. But in reality, we can see that the chapter is actually about King Saul. It's like the Bible is showing us what has become of the once-powerful royal family, in keeping with the word of the LORD via the prophet Samuel.

According to the word of the LORD via the prophet Samuel, we knew Saul’s dynasty would not last. But who would have wanted things to end this way and so fast?

It is very difficult not to think of this verse when you look at the downfall of Saul.

This is truly scary. Let the saint be encouraged by the very next verse, verse 10 of the above scripture.

“but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

The compassions of the LORD outlast His anger. But today we are drawn to the shocking events that marked the end of Saul’s dynasty.

We came to Canaan, the land of promise, expecting rest under the leadership of the LORD Himself. Instead, we have seen fights both within and without. Extreme ungodliness and consequently extreme violence, pain, and suffering are the order of the day. Nothing is working. There is simply no rest.

Saul has failed and his story and dynasty end here; but it remains in print and on our minds for our instruction. Bring it to our times and use it to project your own end.

Now we are looking at David. Let’s see what the new regime brings.

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This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/11/25/2-samuel-3-commentary/

2 Samuel 3 Commentary

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“And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me.” Unrighteousness weakens any establishment. What the cold-blood killers Joab and Abishai did weakened David’s standing weak. In fact, these two brothers had missed the feast held in Abner’s honor because they had gone out raiding. It is this kind of bloodshed that eventually disqualified David from the honor of building the temple.

This chapter is highlighted by treachery, bloodshed, political manipulation, fear, injustice, lies, and misinformation.

True or not, the rumor that Abner had flirted with Saul’s former mistress leads to fear and betrayal. Both Ish-Bosheth and Abner combine to end a working marriage because a greedy David wants to get even. You would guess David’s request for Michal was needless after everything that had happened in between. Look at the weeping husband and you will have difficulties in finding any godliness in David’s request.

Abner is a political manipulator who uses the prophecy concerning David to punish Ish-Bosheth and possibly negotiate a good position in the new administration. Had he genuinely believed this prophecy, he would never have installed Ish-Bosheth as king in the very first place.

So many things are wrong in this chapter. You actually feel for David. How do you go about it? You know you are the anointed king. You know Ish-Bosheth is a puppet king holding on to what doesn’t belong to him. Saints have these questions on a daily basis. How do you get what you feel rightly belongs to you? Engaging the unrighteous Abner doesn’t feel quite right. The starting point should be prayer but as we have seen, it is completely missing from this chapter.

When men don’t seek the LORD in their transactions, a lot of things go wrong. It leaves one in a weak position. Things may appear to have gone wrong even after prayer but you are left in a very strong position. Being with Jesus on the day of his trial may appear wrong but you are always on the winning side. You are always stronger this way, regardless.

Of the sons born to David in Hebron, Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah are important for the role they would play individually in the life of their father, King David. Take note that they are all coming from different mothers.

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This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/11/24/2-samuel-2-commentary/

Second Samuel 2 Commentary

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It should be obvious. Judah should be a safe place. The man who sought David’s life is dead. But not for David. He still wants to get guidance from the LORD. So admirable!

Destination? Hebron. Here at Hebron David is anointed king over the tribe of Judah. It can be a pain to understand why the throne came to David in installments. It is even more confusing when you look at the bloody civil war recorded in this chapter. Should the blessing of the throne cost so much?

The war between the house of David and the house of Saul mirrors the battles within. You would expect the LORD to simply walk in and establish His throne quietly. The reality is different. There is no red carpet. There is no peaceful surrender. Sin resists the rule of God in a man’s life very aggressively. When we shift our attention from the physical to the spiritual, we easily understand why there was war between the two houses.

While Jonathan graciously accepted God’s choice of David as the next ruler of Israel, and supported him, honored him, and wanted the very best for him, the rest weren’t quite similarly opinioned. The saint does well to appreciate that not everyone saw their appointment letter. Not everyone accepted it. Not everyone rejoiced.

Yes, Saul was the problem. But in reality, Saul was simply the shell of the real problem. So his death isn’t exactly the end of the problem. The problem still existed. So the war continues between the choice of God and the other side.

You cannot eliminate foolishness by eliminating fools. Similarly, you cannot eliminate sin by eliminating the sinner. We all know the writer would not be here to write these lines and you would not be there to read them. This thought takes us to Calvary’s grace. David’s throne is shadowing this function but we are yet to see this picture.

David shows his class by thanking the men of Jabesh Gilead for taking care of the remains of King Saul and his sons. There is room for diplomacy in the kingdom!

Zeruiah was David’s sister. Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were therefore David’s nephews. Asahel is killed and buried. The violence in these pages can be shocking! The two opposing commanders, Joab and Abner are playing with human life as one plays with chickens. This is not part of the script. This kind of lack of respect for human life is what made Cain lose his position in the presence of God. We can call it the Cain-spirit – destroying what you didn’t create. The holocaust, the Rwanda massacre; it is the same sad story of sin.

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This episode is also available as a blog post: http://lovingscripture.com/2021/11/23/2-samuel-1-commentary/

Second Samuel 1 Commentary

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Saul is dead. Jonathan and Saul’s other two sons are also dead. The sad news is communicated to David at Ziglag.  It shouldn’t be true but it is. He is devastated. He mourns, weeps, and fasts for Saul, for the army, and for Israel.

David returns to music to express his heart. When we read the psalms of David, we know we are getting into the heart of David. These songs were never produced for commercial purposes in the manner of much of today’s music. The reader is encouraged to pay attention. The context is important but there is much more.

The young David had reacted in holy anger when he heard Goliath insult the living God. The reaction is the same here. David knows the LORD God Almighty is lord over Israel. The death of Saul and his sons, and the heavy losses suffered by the army were an insult to Israel’s status as the nation of the living God. In those days, the strength of the army was measured by the power and standing of a nation’s god. There is something wrong here. David knows it.

The young Amalekite man who delivered the news is believed as for siding with the enemy, or is the enemy himself, or aiding the enemy, and being happy that Israel is destroyed. How can David be happy about this? He is struck down and dies.

David is a shepherd at heart. The LORD deposited this quality in his heart. His concern is for the sheep of the LORD, Israel. He glosses over the fact that Saul had tried to kill him several times. Instead, he focuses on the good of the man and the role he played as Israel’s leader. Things shouldn’t end this way for Israel.

The heart of the song finds its place towards the end of the lyrics. “I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me.”

As is often the case, the LORD may allow those very dear to us to depart in death. David and Jonathan were one in heart and ambition. David would have to forge ahead without the company of the love, encouragement, protection, and support of his best friend. You may find yourself in this situation. You have to move on. Yes, move on in the absence of the best gifts that the LORD once placed in your hands.

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