Year 1, Week 39, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 39, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Samuel 16; Psalm 55.

Today’s reading continues with the record of Absalom's attempted coup against the king, his own father David. 2 Samuel 16 notes some of the encounters that David experienced while fleeing from Jerusalem, but it also described Absalom’s entry into Jerusalem and some of his first actions. As David fled, some, like Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant, seem to pledge loyalty to David (but we will have reason to question this in a later reading); but others, like Shimei, who was related to Saul, cursed David and attempted to assault David and those in David’s company. Meanwhile, Absalom has arrived in Jerusalem, where he meets up with men like Hushai, who unbeknownst to Absalom, will function as something of a double agent for David. Absalom is advised to solidify his resolve to not turn back in taking the throne. Ahithophel’s counsel is to sleep with his father David’s concubines: “So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel” (2 Samuel 16:22). Thus, the prophet Nathan’s earlier words came to fruition: “Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun” (2 Samuel 12:11). Psalm 55, a Psalm of David, is also a part of today’s reading. The themes from Psalm 55 express matters consistent with what is unfolding on David’s life as he is on the run from Absalom: “For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend” (Psalm 55:12-13).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the difference that David’s pleas before the LORD make in settling his heart in the midst of the rebellion against him: “But I call to God, and the LORD will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, because they do not change and do not fear God” (Psalm 55:16-19). These words express David’s confidence. David is not self-confident, but he does have great confidence in the LORD attentiveness towards him: “But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you” (Psalm 55:23). It was the LORD who was sustaining David by directing his actions and reactions.

Shimei’s curse wonderfully illustrates the composure and calmness that the LORD was flooding into David’s heart. Shimei came to pick a fight: “And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! The LORD has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood” (2 Samuel 16:7-8). Abishai was ready to end Shimei’s ability to say anything more: “Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head” (2 Samuel 16:9).

Now notice the calmness and composure of David: “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to” (2 Samuel 16:10-11). David knew that he was in God’s hands, and he knew that Shimei’s mouth was also in God’s hands. So David would trust God for the outcome, not ordering a retaliation as a sure and quick solution. David acknowledged that Shimei may be saying what the LORD wanted him to say, so no one should prematurely interrupt what Shimei said. David was confessing that if God wanted to curse him, then let it be so. David continued: “It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today” (2 Samuel 16:12). David was at peace. The LORD had provided peace to David and such peace had shaped David’s viewpoint and words. David supposed that the curses uttered by Shimei might be reversed by the LORD and good could come to David. David was willing to wait, rather than take matters into his own hands. David was sure that the LORD’s designed outcome to what was unfolding would be so much better that any outcome he might have attempted through Abishai’s sword. David’s confidence is still relevant: “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22).

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

Pastor Joe