Skip to main content

March 29 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 88

Now that Israel has one king, it's a good time to consider the role of Israel's messiah.  Check out today's Bible Project video that explains how Jesus fits the narrative of messiah.


DAILY READINGS

2 Samuel 4-8 & Psalm 88

DAILY NOTES

2 Samuel 4-5

  • The murder of Ishbaal, Saul's surviving son, prompts all the people to anoint David king over the entire kingdom.
    • Notice that over the last several chapters, David does not approve of these political murders.
  • The first act of David, as the narrative is concerned, is to stand against the Jebusites.  These are the people Joshua did not drive away (Joshua 15:63).  As a result of their conquest, David makes Jerusalem the capital of the kingdom.  
  • David continues to rise in stature and respect.
2 Samuel 6
  • After establishing Jerusalem as the capital, David's next effort is to bring the ark to the capital.  It is the nation's most sacred object and it belongs in the nation's capital.
  • Initially, the ark proves dangerous.  A man is killed because he reached out his hand to keep it from falling.  Unfortunately, he wasn't ritually apportioned to do that, and he died on the spot.
    • Is David angry at God?  Angry because bring the ark looks like a mistake?  Angry at himself?  The question bears asking because the text merely says "David was angry" (verse 8).  The next verse says that David was "afraid of the Lord that day."
  • David sends the ark away to another place; the people fair well with the ark there so David has it brought to Jerusalem.
  • David offers sacrifices and dances along the route into the city.  Apparently, he looses some clothes along the way.  His wife, Michal, is not pleased with his display.  She lets him know about it.  Is Michal's barrenness supposed to be a consequence of her harsh judgement?
2 Samuel 7-8
  • Capital? Check. Ark? Check.  A new house for God? Let's do it!  
    • David wants to build a house for the ark (God).  Nathan initially approves, but receives a word from God that it is not his responsibility.  
    • As a result, David prays that God would hold true to his promise to establish David's house and "confirm it forever."
  • Chapter 8 is a summary of some of David's military victories.
Psalm 88
  • Notice that this is a psalm asking God why he isn't listening to the psalmist's prayer.  The psalmist is praying to God, asking why God doesn't respond to his prayer.  
    • He has not lost his trust in God or in the ability to pray.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

Just because it's a good idea doesn't mean it's a God idea.

David learned that lesson in today's reading.  It's interesting because several times we read about David asking God whether he should go out against a certain people to fight.  God answers David with a yes or no. 

So, why doesn't David ask God about bringing the ark?  Building a temple?

Was he too caught up in what he was doing that he forgot?  Did he assume these would be things God would want?  

Whatever the answers, it's a great reminder for us to continually seek God's direction for our lives.  "God what do you want me to do today?"  "Lord, is this your will?"  "Holy Spirit, is this your nudging that I feel?"

Stay blessed...john
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

March 31 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 90 David's family situation continues to spiral.  In today's reading, David's family is torn apart by rape.  As a consequence, David's son sets his eyes on his father's throne. DAILY READINGS 2 Samuel 13-15 & Psalm 90 DAILY NOTES 1 Samuel 13:1-14 Amnon was David's first born son (3:2).  That may shed light as to why David seems to deal with him so easily (Verse 21).  Although he does kind of the same thing later with Absalom. Tamar is Absalom's full sister, half sister to Amnon.  Amnon is lovesick with her.  He devises a plan, with the help of a friend, to have her enter his chamber (bedroom).   Since she was a virgin, she didn't go out and about.  She remained in her house, perhaps protected.   Tamar knows what will become of her if Amnon goes through with his wishes; she will be left aside, unable to marry (see Verse 20).  She seems willing to have become married to Amnon, but his lust clouds h...
Post a Comment
Read more

June 18 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 169 DAILY READINGS Jeremiah 4-6 & Psalm 14 DAILY NOTES Jeremiah 4 Perhaps the people swore "As the Lord lives," but they did not do so in truth, justice or uprightness.  That's a sobering reminder that our words about God must match the way we live. Jeremiah (God) wants the people to move from an empty adherence to a covenant behavior (circumcision) to an attitude of praise before God.  In other words, empty religion is not appealing to God. God will ask the people to "wash" their heart "clean of wickedness" (Verse 14). Jeremiah feels as if God has deceived the people (Verse 10).  Maybe God didn't predict the peace Jeremiah was thinking of.  False prophets? Jeremiah 5 The same theme.  There were people who said, "As the Lord lives," because that was the religious thing to say.  But God says there is not one person who acts justly or seeks truth.  The people used the right words, but lived the wrong way.  #Pr...
Post a Comment
Read more

January 27 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 27 We'll be reading about atonement today.  T oday's video helps make sense of that biblical theme. DAILY READINGS Exodus 30-31 & Psalm 27 DAILY NOTES Exodus 30:6 Everything has its place.   Exodus 30:10 Once a year would be Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). Exodus 12-15 The Lord's offering is required of everyone equally (of the appropriate age).  Strangely enough, there is a designation of rich and poor.  Everyone has just come from Egypt.  How has that distinction arisen?   Exodus 31:13 It's interesting to compare how the idea of sabbath here relates to previous mentions of it.   Exodus 31:18 Moses had written the words down.  Now, with merely his finger, God has provided the tablets for all to remember the covenant that has been made.   Psalm 27 Have you ever prayed and prayed and prayed for something?  The psalmist seems to know the feeling.  His final adm...
Post a Comment
Read more