Sunday, December 28, 2014

King David's payment for God's displeasure

In the 12th chapter of 2 Samuel, the prophet Nathan goes to David and tells a story of a rich man who takes a poor man's only lamb, to serve at a feast, because he did not want to part with one of his own.  King David becomes angry by this and said the rich man must die.

Nathan warns David that the rich man is him, and that he purposefully killed Urial so he could marry his wife.

The Lord was angry by what he had done and said that He would take David's child and have him killed.

David was distraught by it, and no amount of repentance could undo what he had already done.

King David had another child with Bathsheba, a son, whom they named Solomon.  The Lord was pleased with Solomon and the prophet Nathan took him under his wing.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

King David and the woman in the tub

In chapter 11 of the book of 2 Samuel, David stayed in the city of Jerusalem while his officers were out fighting.

He took a nap one afternoon, and afterwards went to the roof and saw a beautiful woman next door taking a bath.  He sent a messenger to find out who she was.  She was Bathsheba (I'm not joking, that was her name - get it?  Bathsheba was taking a bath?) and her husband was one of his officers, Uriah.

David sent the messenger to bring her back.  He made love to her and she became pregnant.

King David sent for Uriah.  He ordered him home and even sent gifts.  But he discovered Uriah stayed away from home, out with his men.  David was perplexed.

After a few more attempts to get Uriah to relax at home with his wife, King David ordered him to the front lines where he was killed.

Bathsheba mourned her husband.

Afterwards, King David married her and she bore him a son.

The Lord, however, was not pleased by what David had done.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

How the Ammonites repaid David's sympathy

In the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 10, King David sent messengers to the Ammonites as their king had died.

When the messengers arrived with David's expression of sympathy, the Ammonites seized the messengers, shaved half of their beards, tore their clothing, and sent them back to Israel.  The messengers were ashamed of how they looked, and David sent word to them that they were to remain in Jericho until their beards had fully grown.

Then, King David turned on the Ammonites and marched his best troops into their lands.  The Ammonites discovered the plot and asked the Syrians for help.  They obliged.

In the end, with the will of God amongst them, Israel won the battle and defeated both the Ammonites and the Syrians.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

King David's generosity

In the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 8, David wins victory after victory, gaining possession and control over all of the lands of Israel.

In chapter 9, he inquired as to anyone of Saul's family who was still alive.  He wanted to show kindness, for Saul's son's Jonathan.

He found Mephibosheth.  He was a son of Jonathan, and he was a cripple.

King David sent for him, and gave him all of the lands Saul had previously owned as well as an open invitation for eating at his table.  Mephibosheth bowed and told David he was not worthy, but David disagreed and told him that he promised the Lord he would take care of Jonathan's descendants.

And so it happened.