2 Samuel 21:1

2 Samuel 21:1 says, Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.  After David was returned as king, there was a drought in the land.  David asked God why, or prayed about.  God answered him that it was because of Saul's having slain the Gibeonites.   When we have concerns, we should take them to God in prayer, and He will answer if we are listening.  Verse two adds, And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)  David called out to the Gibeonites, who were not Israelites, but were the descendants of the Amorites, whom the people of Israel had made an agreement with to not harm them, and Saul had broken that agreement.  We as Christians come from different backgrounds, but we need to support one another instead of trying to destroy one another, and w are not called on to destroy others in order to keep Christianity pure.  Verse three continues, Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?  David asked the Gibeonites what he could do for them to make atonement for Saul’s actions.  If we as followers of Christ have harmed others, we need to be the ones to ask what we can do for them to make atonement.  Of course, our atonement with God can only come from putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse four states, And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you.  The Gibeonites told David that they didn't want silver or gold, nor did they want David to kill any Israelites to avenge what Saul had done.  As Christians, we should never look for material reward if someone has harmed us, nor should we want them to suffer.  We should reach out to them with the love of Christ instead.  Verse five adds, And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,  Verse slx continues, Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.  Though they said they didn't want David to kill any man of Israel because of them, they then told Dato send them seven sons of Saul and they would hang them in Gibeah, Saul’s home.  They said they would do this to the Lord.  We cannot seek vengeance against others and claim it is being done for God.  David agreed with their request.  Verse seven says, But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.  David spared Mephibosheth because of his covenant with Jonathan, just as God will spare Christians because of their covenant with Jesus Christ.  Verse eight adds, But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:  Matthew Henry says these were the sons Michal had when Saul had given her as a wife to another man.  Verse nine continues, And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.  David delivered seven of Saul's sons, two from one of his concubines and five of his grandsons from Michal, to the Gibeonites and they were hanged.  These seven may have had nothing to do with Saul's mistreatment of the Gibeonites, but they paid the price.  Jesus has nothing to do with our sinful actions, but He willingly paid the price for them, and if we put our faith in Him as our personal Savior and Lord, then we are forever restored to God.

2 Samuel 20:16

2 Samuel 20:16 says, Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.  As Joab and his men were attempting to tear down the walls of Abel, a woman came to him and asked to speak to him.  Once more, a woman was taking charge, but of course a man coming to them from the city might have been killed before he had a chance to speak.  Woman are still too often having to bear the responsibility for sharing the gospel and doing God's work today.  Verse seventeen adds, And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.  When Joab came near her, she asked if he were Joab and if he would hear her, and he said yes to both questions.  If we are to be forgiven for our sins, we must first know Who Jesus is, and we can be certain that He will always hear us when we call on Him by faith.  Verse eighteen continues, Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.  She said that the city of Abel had long been known as a city of wisdom and people had accepted what was said there as the truth.  Of course, true wisdom only comes from God, so we cannot appeal to Him based on our knowledge.  Verse nineteen concludes, I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?  She aaid she was one who was peaceable and faithful to Israel, as were most of the people of the city, and she asked Joab why he would destroy the city and them.  All Christians are a part of God's family, and we should never be attempting to destroy each other.  Verse twenty states, And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.  Joab said far be it from him to do such a thing.  Verse twenty-one adds, The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.  Joab said that he only wanted one man, Sheba, who had risen up against David and that if they delivered him, Joab would leave the city alone.  She said Sheba's head would be thrown over the wall.  Though we need to remove the enemies of God from the church, we certainly should not destroy other Christians to do so, and it really isn't our responsibility to kill them.  We should always reach out to them with the gospel.  Verse twenty-two continues, Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.   The woman went to the people in the city with the knowledge of what Joab wanted, and they did as she promised him and and cut off Sheba's head and threw it over the wall. It was better for one man who was rebelling against David to die than for the whole city to be destroyed.  Joab sounded the trumpet for the army to retreat and returned to Jerusalem and David.  Though I believe that we should leave their fate up to God, we certainly need to weed out those who are in our fellowship of believers but who are working against God, and when we do, we need to simply continue to faithfully serve Him.  Verse twenty-three says, Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:  Verse twenty-four adds, And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:  Verse twenty-five continues, And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:  Verse twenty-six concludes, And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.  We are then told who was in what position of leadership of those who were serving David.  Of  course, Joab was only in his position because he had killed the man David had appointed.  There are still power hungry people in the church today unfortunately, who put themselves ahead of what God wants.

2 Samuel 20:7

2 Samuel 20:7 says, And there went out after him Joab’s men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.  Joab and his men left in pursuit of Sheba, who was now attempting to take the throne away from David.  Just because one threat to our relationship is Jesus Christ as our King, or even to His authority, dies doesn't mean that another will not immediately arise, so we need to always be ready for the battle.   Verse eight adds, When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.  Joab had a sword sewn into his garment, but as he went along, it fell out.  Sometimes, the things that we may secretly put our faith in may fail us.  That is why we should publicly proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ alone at all times.  Verse nine continues, And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.  Along the way, Joab pretended to care about Amasa's well-being, taking him by the beard as if to kiss him in a friendly gesture. There are still people today who pretend to care about us, but who secretly want to destroy us.  Verse ten concludes, But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. Amasa didn't pay attention to the sword in Joab’s hand, not thinking of him as a threat.  Joab once again murdered someone that he had reason to dislike.  When we put our own desires above those of others, especially if we have reason to dislike them, we often do things that God would not approve of.  Afterwards, Joab and Abishi continued to pursue Sheba as if nothing bad had happened.  We cannot ignore God's law and do evil things and just go on with our life as if nothing bad has happened and be successful as followers of Christ and expect to never be held accountable.  Verse eleven states, And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.  One of Joab’s men called for those who favored Joab and were for David to follow Joab, but the two things were not necessarily the same.  David would not have approved of what Joab did.  We cannot ask people to follow us if they want to be obedient to God if we are doing things against God's will.  Verse twelve adds, And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.  Amasa was bleeding to death in the highway when a man saw people standing still around him.  Even though we were told he was dead, we are also told that he wallowed in blood, so his death may  not have been immediate, and evidently no one was attempting to help him.  If we see hurting people today, hopefully we will do more than just stand and look at them.  Verse thirteen continues, When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.  It seems the only help anyone offered Amasa was to move him out of the highway.  Sometimes, if we are in distress today, all people seem to want to do is move us out of the way so that they will not have to see us.  They then followed Joab as he pursued Sheba.  We need to be careful what leader we follow today.  Joab seemed to be doing whatever kept him in a position of power and making choices that brought him satisfaction over his enemies with no honor or compassion, and some people are still this way today.  We should never blindly follow after them. Verse fourteen says. And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.  Sheba went throughout Israel trying to gather the people to follow him.  Matthew Henry says that Sheba was able to get a few people to follow him, but it was very few.  It seems that there will always be a few people who will follow anyone.  Verse fifteen adds, And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.  Sheba and those following him eventually hold up in Abel, and Joab’s force battered the wall.  We may need to knock down some walls that have been built up against God in order to reach people with the gospel. 

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.