King James Bible Study: Patiently Waiting

King James Bible Study: Patiently Waiting
For: Monday April 11, 2011
Chapters: II Samuel 1-2
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Details of Today's Reading: David mourns the death of Saul and Jonathan, David slays the Amalekite that slew Saul, David received as King of Judah, but Abner, Saul's captain, makes Ishbosheth king over the other eleven tribes, and a civil war begins.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” - John 13:34,35. As Christians we are to love all, we do not have to agree with all, we do not have to fellowship with all, but we are to love all people. We are all sinners and have gotten ourselves into some messes from time to time so it is important to realize that we are no different from anyone else, God is not a respecter of persons, therefore we are not to be either.

The Book of II Samuel is the tenth book of the Bible/Old Testament and contains twenty-four chapters. The author of the book is Samuel and it was first written to the Israelites. The time line for these events took place approximately 1056 BC to 1017 BC. The purpose of the book was to record David's forty year reign as king and how God dealt with him and all His people during that time. What we are to learn from the book is that God carries out His plan through those who are obedient to Him despite the occasional mishaps. We are to remain in the will of God through all our walks of life, even if we fall, God is with us and will pick us back up as long as we repent. “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.” - II Samuel 22:7.

Saul had driven David far from his family, his wife, Michal, his friends, and then into exile as a fugitive from the palace. If anyone was to rejoice over the death of Saul, it was David, but he had a completely different reaction when a stranger came up to him and told him that Saul and Jonathan was dead.

“It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance...And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him... He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord...And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. ” - II Samuel 1:2,4-6,9,10,15.

The Amalekite’s story was pure fiction, probably invented to gain favor with David. Saul was shot with an arrow during a battle with the Philistines, in much pain, he asked his armourbearer to kill him, but he refused and Saul killed himself (See I Samuel 31). The Amalekite probably witnessed the entire act and thought he would get an award for saying he slew Saul since David was to be the next king. However, he soon found out that whether David knew he was lying or not he still faced the consequences of his own death by admitting he killed the king. God decides the punishment and time when a person suffers, not us. When we allow God to handle things under His hand, we save ourselves from a lot of pain, suffering, and perhaps even premature death. “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” - Matthew 7:2.

Now that Saul is no longer the king, David had the right to assume the role of king as all the people knew he was anointed by Samuel to be the next to reign. However, instead of taking the throne right away he asked God what he should do and He sent him to Hebron.

“And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron....And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul...But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.” - II Samuel 2:1, 4,8-10.

I imagine David wondered why he was only king to the house of Judah for two years, but God knew there would be some opposition since the law stated that the kings eldest son would be the next to reign, that being Saul's only surviving son, Ishbosheth, God knew they would reject him as king. However, during those two years the Lord trained up His servant for future honor and usefulness to fulfill His purpose. Everything is in God's timing and we would all be wise to do as David did and seek His advice before stepping into any position. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” - Hebrews 10:35,36.

The greatness of a man is measured by his patient surrender to the will of God. It is not a question of who we are or of what your abilities we have, but whether or not God's hand plays a part in our lives. There are always going to be people who will try and put you down, even fellow Christians. The world delights in discovering and broadcasting the failures of Christians and uses them to excuse their own sins in order to ridicule Christianity and dishonor our Lord. However, as long as we are in the will of God and let Him direct our paths we will always get through the difficulties and see the victory. Of course, we will fall from time to time, but God is still with us and will pick us back up as long as we come to Him and wait patiently for Him to take care of things. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:1,2.

Jesus Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through David's sorrow over Saul's death. He did not dwell upon all his years of suffering at the hand of Saul, but dwelt only upon the pleasant things. Jesus Christ, who forgave His enemies, crying from the cross, said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” - Luke 23:34.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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