2 Samuel 20:1

2 Samuel 20:1 says, And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.  Sheba opposed the rule of David and blew a trumpet to call attention to his opposition.  After getting the people's attention, he denounced David, calling him the son of Jesse, a shepherd. Matthew Henry says that Sheba was a Benjamite from the house of Saul and would therefore have a grudge against David, and he stated his opposition just as people were starting to return to following David.  We can be certain that Satan will never stop attacking us as we follow the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.  Verse two adds, So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.  The people of Isreal left David and followed Sheba, while the people of Judah followed David.  No matter how many people who profess to follow Christ turn away from Him, if we are truly His followers, we must never allow ourselves to go with them.  Verse three states, And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.  David took the ten concubines that he had left behind that Absalom had taken for his own and set them apart from the rest of the people.  He took care of their daily needs, but they were treated as widows until David died.  Matthew Henry puts some of the blame for their being imprisoned on the women, sayingvthat they easily or willing went to Absalom, but I am not sure they had much choice, the same as they likely had very little choice in becoming David’s concubines.  I don't believe that we should ever blame those who are victims of someone else's sin if it affects them.  Verse four adds, Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.  David told Amasa to assemble the men of Judah and for him to be present with them.  Amasa had been the head of Absalom’s army, but was now named as the head of David's army in place of Joab.  Many people today still flip-flop in their relationship with Jesus Christ because they have never truly accepted Him as Lord of their life.  They are just true to whatever brings them the most reward.  Of course, as Matthew Henry points out, as soon as Sheba began to deny David as the king, the people of Judah should have immediately rallied around David, just as we must rally around Jesus Christ when the people of the world attempt to discredit Him as the only way to salvation.  Verse five continues, So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him. Amasa went to assemble the people of Judah, but he tarried beyond the appointed time to do so. We as followers of Christ must act in His time line and not tarry in doing what He has called usxto do, and the first step is always to accept Him as our personal Savior and Lord.  We can tarry too long.  Verse six concludes. And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.  David turned to Abishai to lead his forces against Sheba, seeing the need to put down his rebellion before he became entrenched and became an even bigger problem than Absalom had been.  We need to be careful that we don't defeat one sin in our life only to allow another to take its place and become entrenched in our life.

2 Samuel 19:39:

2 Samuel 19:39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.  Once more all the people crossed over the Jordan.  Once we cross over into heaven, we will never leave and have a need to return again.  David also sent Barzillai back to his own country with his thanks and blessing.  In this lifetime, we may need to send people who help us back to their own home with our thanks and blessings, hopefully as fellow believers.  Verse forty adds, Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel. When David went oh to Gilgal, all the people of Judah and half the people of Israel went with him.  As Christians, where Christ went, which is back to heaven, should be where we are all looking to go, and daily until then we should walkunder the guidanceof the Holy Spirit.  Verse forty-one continues,  And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David’s men with him, over Jordan?  The rest of the people of Israel came to David and asked why the people of Judah had stolen him away and brought him back over the Jordan.  Matthew Henry says the men of Israel had gone ahead to prepare for David’s return and only the men of Judah had escorted him back over the Jordan and they were angry about it, but we are told that half the men of Israel were with David when he crossed over the Jordan.  Either way, many of the people of Israel were upset.  We as followers of Christ should never be upset if someone else leads someone to Jesus Christ.  Also, not long before nearly all the people had been aligned with Absalom against David.  We have all been aligned against God until we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, so we should never feel more important than any other Christian.  Verse forty-two states, All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king’s cost? or hath he given us any gift?  The men of Judah defended their actions,  The men of Judah said that David was their near kin, and asked why the people of Israel were angry, the implication being I believe that they had more right to escort David back.  We will never be any closer kin to Jesus Christ than any other Christian.  They also said that they had cost David nothing and he had given them no gifts.  We as Christians have cost Jesus Christ His death on the cross, and He has given us all the gift of everlasting life with Him.  He has also given us at least one spiritual gift and we need to discover and develop it without feeling superior to any other Christian.  Verse forty-three adds, And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.  The people of Israel claimed they had a much grater right to claim David and return him to his position as king.  What we need to realize is that no one has a greater right to claim Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord than anyone else, and we don't put Him on the throne, because He is already there.  All we can do is acknowledge Him as our King.  We are also told that the people of Judah were fiercer in their speech, which Matthew Henry says God does not like.  I don't believe that we should ever boast that we are somehow more deserving of God's mercy than anyone else, and we certainly shouldn't do it in a loud and boastful way

2 Samuel 19`31

2 Samuel 19:31 says, And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.  Barazillai a Gileadite went over the Jordan with David, conducting him over.  Matthew Henry said Barzillai had been the most loyal to David of the nobility of Israel and would likely have suffered for his loyalty if Absalom had remained in power.  As Christians, Jesus Christ is our King, and we must remain loyal to Him even if we suffer for our loyalty in this life.  One day, like Barzillai with David and the people of Isreal, we will be restored to a position of peace within God's kingdom.  Verse thirty-two adds, Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.  Barzillai was eighty years old, but he had still provided David with sustenance when he was at Mahanaim.  Barzillai was also called man great man, which Matthew Henry says means he was blessed with a lot of riches.  We as followers of Christ should be willing to support those in need if God has blessed us with riches and we should never refuse to do so out of fear, and we should never think we are too old to do so.  Verse thirty-three continues, And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.  David told Barzillai to come over the Jordan with him and he would eat with David 8n Jerusalem.  David was offering to now meet Barzillai's needs and place him in a position of honor.  As Christians, we need to do all that we can to spread the gospel, and one day God will reward us for doing so by inviting us to dine at His table forever.  Verse thirty-four says, And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?  Barzillai asked David how long he thought Barzillai had to live that he should go with him to Jerusalem.  Barzillai felt that he couldn't do any good for David at his age and questioned why he should be in David’s court.  Of course, we shouldn't allow age to be the determining factor in serving God, but we also must realize that there may come a time when our age will prevent us from doing what we once could.  I don't believe we should ever remain in a position in the church if we believe that age is preventing us from doing it effectively.  Verse thirty-five adds, I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?  Barzillai said he was eighty years old and could no longer think clearly, and no longer could really taste his food or hear the music if it was playing.  He then asked David of what use would he be to the king. As we get older, we don't need seek out honor for ourselves, but we must be willing to allow someone better able to serve in positions in the church.  Verse thirty-six continues, Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?  Barzillai said that he would go a little way over the Jordan with David and asked David why he should be repaid for his kindness.  We should never help others expecting to be repaid for any good that we do for them. Verse thirty-seven states, Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.  Barzillai asked David for permission to go back and die and be buried with his father and mother.  I believe that if we feel that we are too old to serve in the church that we should ask our King, God Himself, for His permission to stop.  Age alone should never be a reason to quit actively serving in the church.  Barzillai then offered a replacement, a man named Chimham, for himself to serve David.  If is always best if we believe that we are no longer capable of serving that we can suggest someone who can replace us.  Verse thirty-eight adds, And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.  David said that he would allow Chimham to go in Barzillai's place, but he would still do all that he could to help Barzillai.  We need to acknowledge that there will come a time when we are physically and maybe mentally no longer able to actively serve in the church, but as Christians God will never stop meeting our needs as long as we remain obedient to Him..

2 Samuel 19:24

 2 Samuel 19:24 says, And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.  Mephibosheth came to David.  He was in a pretty bad condition in his appearance since he had done nothing to keep himself clean since David had gone on the run.  Of course, Jesus will never be on the run, but we can only come to Him spiritually unclean and ask His forgiveness which will wash us clean spiritually.  No amount of attempting to clean ourself up is going to do any good.  Verse twenty-five adds, And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?  When Mephibosheth got to David, David asked him why he hadn't gone with him.  One day, those who reject Jesus Christ are going to be asked why they didn't go with Him.  Verse twenty-six continues, And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.  Mephibosheth told David that Ziba had deceived him by saying he was going to go saddle an ass and go to David for him and then leaving him helpless to do anything because he was lame.  We can never claim that anyone prevented us from coming to Jesus, but Mephibosheth honestly make that claim with David.  Verse twenty-seven says, And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.  Mephibosheth then told David that Ziba had slandered him to David, but then added that David was an angel from God and told him to do with him as he wished.   I don't believe that David had acted anything like an angel from God in this situation, since he had taken Ziba's woed without even attempting to find out the facts.  We need to always seek God's guidance in every situation.  Verse twenty-eight adds, For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?  Mephibosheth said that when he was as a dead man before David that David had set him at his table, and he had no right to ask for more.  As followers of Christ, He has set us at His table forever, and what right do we have to ask for more.  Verse twenty-nine continues, And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.  David asked Mephibosheth why he was still discussing the matter of the land and said that Ziba and he should divide it.  We do not need to be discussing the things of this world as being important since we have everlasting life through faith in Jesus Christ if we have accepted it by putting our faith in Him.  Verse thirty concludes, And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.  Mephibosheth said let Ziba have it all, since his only concern was for David, and he had returned safely.  Our only concern as Christians should be our relationship with Jesus Christ, and we should willingly give up everything in this world to continue to put Him first.

2 Samuel 19:16

2 Samuel 19:16 says, And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.  Shemei a Benjamite hurried down to meet David with the men of Judah.   Jesus Christ is the Conquering King, and if we haven't accepted Him as our Savior and Lord, we should be in a hurry to do so when He comes near.  Verse seventeen adds, And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.  Along with the thousand men of Benjamin were Ziba and his fifteen sons and twenty servants.  Ziba had deceived David into giving him the land of Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, and now he was quick to at least pretend to show his support for David, even though he had not gone to help him while Absalom was pursuing him.  Some people will always be quick to support whoever is in power, even if they have previously stood with those who were against them.  Verse eighteen continues, And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;   Matthew Henry says that there hadn't been as great of a crossing of the Jordan since Joshua had crossed over.  The Jordsn didn't part, but David crossed over without getting wet on a ferry boat.  One day, we as Christians will all cross safely into heaven and we won't have to struggle to do so.  Shimei, who had cursed David when he was out of power was there to praise him now. We should never be surprised if people of the world switch back and forth between cursing and praising God depending on how those in power treat Him.  Verse nineteen states, And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.   Shimei asked David to not hold him responsible for the things he said when David left Jerusalem.  He said that David shouldn't take what he said to heart.  If we do not accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, one day we are going to be standing before Him asking Him to not take our rejection of Him to heart, but then it will be too late.  Verse twenty adds. For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.  Shimei confessed that he had sinned against David and said he came as one of the first from the house of Joseph to come to him to ask his forgiveness.  All we as sinners can do is to come to God through putting our faith in Jesus Christ and ask God's forgiveness, and it doesn't matter what family we come from.   We can never justify ourselves before God.  Verse twenty-one continues, But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?  Abishai asked if Shimei should not be put to death because he had cursed David, the Lord's anointed.  There are still people today, even some Christians, who would gladly see sinners condemned to hell instead of being forgiven.  Some Christians look down on others proclaiming them to be unfit to be forgiven.  Verse twenty-two says, And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?  David rejected Abishai's suggestion, asking if he, David himself, did not know that he was king of Israel without putting those who had opposed him to death and adding yhat there would be no man put to death that day.  Even though we deserve everlasting punishment, if we confess our sins and come to Jesus asking for forgiveness, He will give us everlasting life with Him.  Jesus will never reject anyone who comes to Him asking for forgiveness, no matter how much they may have fought against Him before, and we as Christians should never believe that some people deserve God's punishment and hope for it to happen.  Verse twenty-three adds, Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.  David told Shemei that he would not die for his actions, but David forgave him and swore to it.  As Christians, we will never be spiritually separated from God and He has already sworn to this when He sent His only begotten Son to die in our place. 

2 Samuel 19:9

2 Samuel 19:9 says, And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.  The people of Israel were at strife about what to do after Absalom was killed.   David had been a successful leader before, but they had turned to Absalom as king.  Though he had been successful in saving them from their enemies in the past, David who could have returned to Jerusalem in peace and safety and reclaimed the city seemed to be in no hurry to do so.  We cannot be content with past successes, but must continue to move ahead by faith if we are to be successful as Christians today.  Verse ten adds, And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?  They also pointed out that Absalom, whom the people had anointed king, though God did not, was dead, and asked why they weren't speaking at all about bringing David the true king back.  If we are Christians, we must follow Christ alone and should never allow anyone or anything to become mote important than Him in our life.  Verse eleven continues, And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.  David then sent Zadok and Abiathar the priests to the people of Judah to ask why they were the last to call for the king to come back to his house.  Judah was David’s own tribe, and Matthew Henry says that they should have been the first to call for David’s return, but they hadn't done so.  If we as Christians have allowed someone else to become our lord instead of Jesus Christ Himself, we need to repent individually and as a group if necessary and ask for Him to return as our Lord.  Verse twelve states, Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?  David pointed out that they were his kinsmen and asked why they had not called for his return.  We need to remember that as followers of Christ we are His kinsmen by adoption into the family of God and if we have strayed away from Him, He is going to be asking us why.  Verse thirteen adds, And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.  David told the priests to ask Amasa if he were not a relative of David, even if he had been the head of Absalom’s army.  We need to remember that we are all a part of the family of God as Christians and if we have been having a dispute with each other, we need to remember that we are all still a part of the same family and make sure that we keep Jesus Christ on the throne as Lord of our life.  Matthew Henry points out that David didn't do Amasa any favor by pointing out his plan to replace Joab, who was becoming increasingly hauty, with him.  This would lead Joab to kill Amasa later.  Verse fourteen continues, And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.  All the people of Judah called for David to return as King.  We as Christians should always be united in keeping Jesus Christ as our King and should let the world know that He is.  Verse fifteen concludes, So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.  David returned to the Jordan and the people of Jordan met him there to lead him back over.  One day, our King, Jesus Christ, is going to return, but it won't be so we can lead Him back into a position of authority, but so that He can lead us, as His followers into His everlasting kingdom.

2 Samuel 19:1

2 Samuel 19;1 says, And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.  Joab was told about David’s deep mourning for Absalom.  Joab and the others who followed him had fought hard to defeat Absalom in his attempt to usurp David, and now all David seemed to be capable of was mourning Absalom’s death.  If we have to cutoff our relationship with some people, even if they later die, we should never allow this to stop us from rejoicing in our salvation.  I believe that David would have been better off privately mourning for Absalom while publicly rejoicing with the people in the victory.  Verse two adds, And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.  Instead of celebrating the victory, all the people began to mourn with David over the death of his son.  As already stated, the people should have been celebrating the victory, just as we should celebrate the victory over sin and death by our faith in Jesus Christ, but along  with David they were mourning the death of the one who had attempted to destroy them.  We certainly can't afford to mourn the death of those things that would destroy us, especially those that affect our relationship with God.  Nothing we give up for God is worth mourning.  Verse three continues, And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.  The people began to move around secretly as they would if they had fled in battle.  In other words, they became ashamed to have been a part of the victory.  We should never allow the world to make us ashamed or our victories over sin today.  Verse four concludes, But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!   David was still covering his face in mourning and continually crying out for Absalom.  We should never allow the loss of anything in this world, even family members, to come between God and us.  Verse five states, And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;  Joab came to David and spoke honestly to him.  He said that David had shamed the people who had saved him and his family by defeating Absalom and his men.  If we are mourning the loss of the things of this world as Christians, we are bringing shame on Jesus Christ Who died to set us free from those things that would destroy us, and we may need a fellow believer to point this out to us.  Verse six adds, In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.  Joab added that David had no regard for those who had been willing to die to protect him and said that he believed had they all died and Absalom lived that David would have been happier.  We cannot be successful in serving God if we mourn the things we think we have lost by following Him more than we rejoice in our salvation.  Verse seven continues, Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.  Joab told David to go and speak to the people, or in other words act like a king and not a grieving father who felt that the death of his rebellious son was all that was important.  We cannot afford to be the same way, mourning for the loss of the things of this world more than we celebrate our victory through our faith in Jesus Christ.  If we ever begin to feel that we have given up too much to follow Him, this is what we are doing.  Joab added that David was going to lose the support of all the people if he continued to act as he was doing.  Verse eight concludes, Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.  David listened to Joab’s advice and went and sat at the gate, and when they heard this the people who had sneaked away began to return to David.  If we have been mourning the loss of anything more than we have been celebrating our relationship with Jesus Christ, other Christians may not want to be around us.  If we have, we need to repent, ask God's forgiveness, and begin to rejoice in the Lord.