Today my brother Todd had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back that has been causing him some pretty severe pain. While I grabbed a bite to eat in Ball Memorial Hospital, I discovered that they had some computers, so I actually got through five chapters and started my blog while Todd had his surgery. He came through well, and was very pleased that his leg and hip pain were gone. He'll have to lay low for a few weeks, but should be fine.
I had an email from my college roommate today. We roomed together for four years at Johnson. you know how it is when you hear from someone whom you were once really close with but haven't seen for awhile, it seems like it was just yesterday and you're comfortable immediately? I felt that way with Danielle, and long to see her again. She's in Tennessee with her husband Allen, a Youth Minister and their two children. I jotted back a few lines and really wish I had more time to catch up! But, I'll have to wait for a lazy day or wait 66 days until this challenge is complete!
After I read to Grace tonight, she asked me if I had my homework done. I told her I had the chapters read, but I had to write the report....
- We find out that Ishbosheth, Saul's son who made king over the tribes except Judah, only reigned two years, and he is killed. David is not happy about his murder.
- Why was Jerusalem chosen for the location of the tabernacle location?
- Mephibosheth is introduced.
- 5:13 -more wives & concubines and children for David - you can tell that women will be at the root of his downfall
- The ark is finally moved from the location where it has been for 20 years since it placed in it's temporary location after it came wandering back from the pHILISTINES.
- 6:5 - Uzzah buys it on a technicality, and David gets too nervous and parks the ark for three months before really moving it into town. Why did he park it in obed-edom?
- imagine the celebration described in chapter 6 when the David brings the ark back. He must have been a dancin' fool, and his first wife was embarrassed. Perhaps she never really wanted to be with David. Her father Saul gave her away as a prize, then took her back, then she married someone else whom it seems really loved her, then she is returned to David. Her bitterness causes her to never have children with David.
- why did David wear the ephod - where were the priests?
- God wants David to build a permanent temple (chapter 7) - if David does: 7:12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom." Is this also Messianic?
- Chapter 8 - the kingdom grows; gathering wealth and booty (likely to be used in temple?)
- David is not only the king, but the chief judge
- Mephibosheth's story is recounted in chapter 9
- What is with the "dog" refrences used in an insulting way. It seems to have started with Goliath - "what am I, a dog that you come at me with sticks?" This is the third or fourth dead dog reference. 9:8
- David sent sincere sympathy at the death of a neighboring king, but it was interpreted as a spy maneuver.
- Chapter 11 - begins the adultery with Bathsheba. Rather than live up to his responsibility of getting her pregnant, he gets her husband home from the battle field and tries to get him home for a congugal visit, but Uriah won't accept special treatment while his buddies are on duty. David's next try to solve the problem could be deemed successful - he has Uriah placed in harm's way on the battlefield and he is killed. David takes Bathsheba as his wife. The country may have been fooled, but the Lord is not pleased.
- The Lord sends Nathan (not David's son, a different Nathan) to tell David of the consequences of his sin: the son born to him and Nathan will die, a son will rise up against David, he will be publically humiliated, and the time of peace under his rule is over. David's response is a sincere "I have sinned" - Psalm 51. The consequences of David's sin are paid by an innocent child.
- As a sign of His forgiveness, the Lord allows David and Bathsheba to have another son, Solomon, who will rule over the kingdom at the height of the empire.
- Chapter 13 - All these half-related children in David's family make for an family tree with many branches. Absalom, who will become the child who rises up against David, shows his true colors. He suggests to his half-brother Amnon a way that he can try to seduce Absalom's sister Tamar, whom Amnon loves (and is half-sister to). The seduction becomes a rape. Absalom turns on Amnon, tells Tamar to keep her mouth shut, and kills Amnon. Nice guy. When Absalom doesn't get his way, he acts out in violence. It's also interesting that Absalom names one of his children Tamar. (14:27). He remindes me of a slimy politician in chapter 15 as he gains favor.
- 15:26 - foreshadowing - discussion of Absalom's hair
- David flees from his son who is trying to usurp the throne. See Psalm 3.
- Hey, whatever happened to David being all gung-ho about fulfilling God's desire for a temple in Jerusalem?
- Chapter 15 & 16 - oh, the political intrigue! Spying, double-crossing, traitors
- David's public humility described by Nathan occurs when Absalom comes into Jerusalem, and rapes David's concubines.
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