2 Samuel 1-2 David, his family, and warriors return to their refugee home in the city of Ziklag. They had been there for two days when a young man from the camp of Saul came sporting torn clothes and dust upon his head. In those days that was a sign of grieving and sorrow. Now David and company knew it wasn’t good news, so he inquired of this fellow as to who he was and what the heck happened. 2 Samuel 1: 6 I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, the young man said, and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and riders almost upon him. He ask me to finish him off, for fear of what the Philistine’s would do to him. As to who he is the man explains that he had escaped from the camp of Israel. In other words, when he saw that the Philistines were wiping out the Israelites, he high-tailed it to safety. The dust on his head and torn clothes are merely for show - to let David know that he is on their side”. He was an Amalekite, a nobody in this war, just someone trying to score with the new king. Now you see some truth about this young man’s character. He just happened to be on that mountain that Saul died on? He just happened to be in the middle of a war zone? He just happened to be a looter and a liar? What he found was a dead king. Come on And you killed him right? Yes David I did. I brought you his crown. You are the rightful successor to the throne. Now exalt me to a high position in your kingdom. Sure I will. Now somebody give the head of this lying scumbag, the man who claims to have killed God’s anointed. David and his men mourned for the newly deceased king, and his s on Jonathan. Now, he chants this lamentation, this song of mourning, for Saul and Jonathan, called the song of the bow. The song calls Saul and Jonathan the beauty of Israel, the mighty. David wanted Saul to be remembered kindly, instructing that the sons of Judah should learn this song. David truly loved Saul. His heart is inconceivable to us, not understandable by us, apart from us following the command of Christ to love our enemies. With Saul dead, David didn’t need to live outside of his homeland, Israel. But instead of just packing up and moving out. He sought God’s advice. Now that’s the way to get things done. David ended up in Juda, and became their king. Abner, was Sauls cousin, and commander of Sauls army. He continued to fight the Philistines for five and a half years, finally crowning Sauls last remaining living son Ish-Bosheth as king and successor to Saul, So we have the kingdom divided - David ruling over Judah, and Ish-Bosheth ruling over the rest of Israel. Luke 14:1-24 Jesus continued healing and teaching. One valuable lesson is learned in a parable of our excuses and who is called. A man was having a dinner party. He invited a bunch of people. Let’s just say that man was Jesus. He invited the 1st guy…Luke 14:18 …I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.” He was more concerned about his investment than the invitation. He had bought a piece of the world, and it kept him from a piece of heaven. Jesus says Mark 8:36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? Luke 15:19Another said, I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and Im on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.“ He was more concerned about his occupation than the invitation. His job was more important to him than his eternal destiny. Luke 15:20 Still another said, I just got married, so I cant come.“ He was more concerned with his family obligations than the invitation. Paul writes 1Cor. 7:32-34 …“One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and his interests are divided.” These three excuses betrayed the fact that they were too wrapped up in the things of the world to be concerned with the things of God. As a result, God called us, the Gentiles, the scum of the earth, to attend His dinner. May we never begin to make the same excuses they did - our possessions, occupations, or obligations keeping us from Him.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Apr 2014 09:11:49 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015