Year 1, Week 39, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 39, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Samuel 15; Psalm 3-4, 12-13, 28.

Today’s reading begins with the record of Absalom's attempted coup against the king, his father David. 2 Samuel 15-20 describes the start of but also the completion of Absalom's rebellion. 2 Samuel 15 notes how Absalom began his attempted rise to power. Absalom, recently granted permission to return to Jerusalem by his father, soon began subtly undermining his father’s leadership: “Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.” Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice” (2 Samuel 15:3-4). Absalom wishes to be seen as someone who cares for the cause of justice for the people. Absalom’s strategy was effective: “So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (2 Samuel 15:6b). With his popularity on the rise, Absalom, on his way to a sanctioned trip to Hebron, made his move: “Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, ‘Absalom is king at Hebron!’” (2 Samuel 15:10). Apart from a few loyal men who will prove valuable later, David orders the evacuation from Jerusalem for himself and his men: “Arise, and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword” (2 Samuel 15:14). Today’s reading also includes five Psalms, all of which are attributed to David, and each of which involve themes consistent with what is occurring with Absalom. In fact, Psalm 3 has a superscription that specifically locates the Psalm expressing David’s prayer while he fled from his son Absalom: “O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God. But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head” (Psalm 3:1-3).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was David’s peace while on the run: “I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around” (Psalm 3:5-6). Absalom is on the rise, David’s reign is under attack, the rightful king has fled Jerusalem, but David can rest at night: “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8). David entrusted to the LORD what only the LORD could accomplish in regard to setting right what had begun to unfold with Absalom’s rebellion: “May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?” (Psalm 12:3-4). David did not take into his hands the things that needed to be in God’s hands. So David prayed to the LORD with great confidence in the LORD: “But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:5-6). This is not to suggest that David didn’t have fears and worries that kept him up at night: “Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken” (Psalm 13:3-4). But it does show that David took his fears and worries to the LORD: “Blessed be the LORD! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him” (Psalm 28:6-7). David felt safe in the presence of the LORD: “The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever” (Psalm 26:8-9).

As the Psalms that coincide with what is occurring during the rebellion show a glimpse of David’s heart, the narrative account from 2 Samuel provides us with some of David’s words and actions. David’s words to Zadok the priest, as he directed Zadok to return to Jerusalem, powerfully reveal David’s perspective on what the future held for him: “Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him” (2 Samuel 15:25-26). David knows that he was in the LORD’s hands, and David knows that the entire situation was in the LORD’s hands. David entrusted to the LORD the outcome of his situation. David accepted the LORD’s verdict whatever it would be. David expressed his hope and desire that he would be able to return to Jerusalem, but he also knew that perhaps the LORD would be pleased to put new leadership. Either way, David confessed, “behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.” David would send Zadok (and the Ark, thus showing he did not treat the Ark superstitiously) back to Jerusalem and in so doing sought to establish a tactical plan that would involve subversion and espionage, so David is not acting passively; but ultimately David submits the the LORD’s will. David acts responsibly with prudent measures that could possibly thwart Absalom’s rebellion, but David truly realizes that none of his tactics and plans will work unless the LORD grants him favor. David realized that he was utterly dependent upon the One whom he saw as completely dependable.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe