Sunday, April 8, 2007

April 8 Readings

CHECK OUT THIS SITE FOR LINKS TO ALL THE BLOGS I HAVE CREATED WITH PERSONAL COMMENTS, BIBLE COMMENTARIES AND BIBLE RESOURCES AND FREE BIBLE BOOKS AND SOFTWARE

The Back to the Bible Reading Plans

The Reign of David
Today's reading 2Samuel 14-15
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia Links: 2Samuel 14; 2Samuel 15;


2 Samuel 14
Joab knew David had missed Absalom and that he wanted him back. David felt amger, sorrow and remorse. Joab came up with a scheme where he got a woman to go to David and ask him to help her with a family dispute. This was in a lot of ways similar to David's situation. This was the same type of approach that Nathan had used on David in 2Samuel 12 when Nathan confronted David of his sin with Bathsheba with a parable of a rich man taking a poor man's only lamb.

Guzik on 2Samuel 14

David allowed Absalom to come back to Jerusalem but was not allowed to see David. Absalom schemed on seeing Daivid so he burnt down Joab's barley field. We see Joab and Absalom working out their evil schemes in manipulating to get political control in Jerusalem

2Samuel 15
Absalom conspired to overthrow his father and start a civil war (v. 1-12). David flee Jerusalem with his loyal followers. Ittai was a good man, he decided to stay with David regardless of the outcome (19-21). We need people like Ittai in our lives to be with us whatever the cost. The king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your countrymen. May kindness and faithfulness be with you." But Ittai replied to the king, "As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be." (2 Samuel 15:19-21 NIV)

More on Ittai

Ahithophel was the grandfather of Bathsheba and was one of David's counselor (16.13), he had secretly aligned himself with Absalom in the civil war against David. According to the NIV Study Bible, this was probably in retaliation for his treatment of Bathsheba and Uriah.

Ahithophel




Arthur Pink-The Life of David
Deffinbaugh on 2 Samuel (Series)
Bob Roe on The Life of David

2 Samuel 14, with Commentaries, verse by verse
2 Samuel 15, with Commentaries, verse by verse

Links to Commentaries and other References - 2 Samuel

Bible Study Tools
Jesus Saves
How to Become a Christian

This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.

Saturday, April 7, 2007

April 7 Readings

CHECK OUT THIS SITE FOR LINKS TO ALL THE BLOGS I HAVE CREATED WITH PERSONAL COMMENTS, BIBLE COMMENTARIES AND BIBLE RESOURCES AND FREE BIBLE BOOKS AND SOFTWARE

The Back to the Bible Reading Plan

Today's reading 2Samuel 11-13

2 Samuel 11
It was spring and David stayed in Jerusalem instead of going with Joab and the army to fight the Ammonites. One evening, he saw Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, taking a bath on a roof-top. He ended up having an affiar with her, and from that union had a baby. He covered the matter up by setting Uriah up in the heat of battle, such that everyone retreated and Uriah was killed.

2 Samuel 12
Nathan confronted David of his sin with Bathsheba with a parable of a rich man taking a poor man's only lamb. David was very angry and said that the rich man shoild pay fourfold. Nathan said to him that David was a rich man. David acknowledged his sins and God forgave him but he still had to pay the consequences of his sins. He had to reap what he sowed in his life. He had to pay a heavy price because he was the king. In this passage, the Bible warned us that those who are given more responsibility and privileges from God will be judged more severely. David wrote Psalm 51 in which he acknowledged that it was against God that he sinned. His sins were given but he had to pay the price, he and Bathsheba lost the baby.

.


2Samuel 13
This is the tragic story of Tamar being raped by her step-brother, Amnon (v. 1-22). Absalom, Tamar's sister killed Amnon in revenge for what he did. This heartache and pain came ultimately from David's sin with Bathsheba. Sometimes we are not aware that the consequences of our sins have effect not only on the parties involved but it may affect families and friend and the whole. community.



arthur Pink-The Life of David
Deffinbaugh on 2 Samuel (Series)
Bob Roe on The Life of David

2 Samuel 11, with Commentaries, verse by verse
2 Samuel 12, with Commentaries, verse by verse
2 Samuel 13, with Commentaries, verse by verse

Bible Study Tools
Jesus Saves
How to Become a Christian

This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.

April 6 Readings

CHECK OUT THIS SITE FOR LINKS TO ALL THE BLOGS I HAVE CREATED WITH PERSONAL COMMENTS, BIBLE COMMENTARIES AND BIBLE RESOURCES AND FREE BIBLE BOOKS AND SOFTWARE

The Back to the Bible Beginning to End Reading Plan

Today's reading 2Samuel 4-7
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia Links: 2Samuel 4; 2Samuel 5; 2Samuel 6

2Samuel 7
In 2Samuel 7.1-17; 1Chronicles 17.1-15: The Lord gives David REST from his enemies (v. 1). Because David was living in a place and the ark of God was a tent. He told Nathan that he wanted the ark to be better place than a tent. The Lord came to Nathan and told him to tell David that he would create a dynasty for David that would last forever. God was speaking here on tow levels of fulfilment, one was the dynasty that would produce, Jesus Christ the Messiah, and the other would be the Dynasty of kings of Judah. David responds to God in preayer *2Samuel 7.18-29; 1Chronicles 17.16-17). This is what is known as the Davidic Covenant.
The Reign of Saul

2 Samuel 7, with Commentaries, verse by verse
2 Samuel 8.1-14; 1Chronicles 18.1-13
David was victorious over his enemies. He defeated the Moabites (2), and the the Aramaens (3-5). He was victorious because of God. God can give us victories of the enemies of our spiritual life. It may not mean that we are successful financially

2 Samuel 8.15-18; 1Chronicles 18.1-14-17 spoke about the officials of David’s kingdom, among them were Joab, Zadok, Benaiah and David’s sons whoe were advisers.

2Samuel 9 is the story of David treatment of Mephibosheth. David had remembered the covenant he made with Jonathan (1Samuel 20.14-17). He asked if there was any one alive from Saul’s household. He found out about Mephibosheth and he took care of him and he ate at the king’s table. This is a beautiful illustration of Jesus reaching down to us. In this case Jesus is represented by David and Mephibosheth is represented by us who ware sinners. Mephibosheth realized that he did not deserved David’s kindness and he humbled himself before David. He was an enemy of David because of his relationship with Saul who was his grandfather. He was also crippled. Yet despite all of the shortcomings of Mephibosheth, David showed mecry to him just as how Jesus showed mercy towards us while we were God’s enemies.

.

2Samuel 10.1-19; 1Chronicles 19.1-19 is the account of how David defeat the Ammonites. Nahash the king of the Ammonites died. Hanun, his son succeeded him. David thought he would show kindness to Hanun just as how Nahash had showed kindness to David. David sent some of his men to Hanun. Hanum overreacted after hearing the counsel of he nobles of the Ammonites. He ordered that Daivid’ smen have half of each man’s beard shaved, and cut off their garments in the middle of the buttocks, and sent them back to David. In the Middle Eastern culture this was considered an insult of the worst kind. David declared war against the Ammonites. They were soundly defeated, along with their allies the Aramaeans (Syrians). We should leaen not to jump to conclusion without weighing the matter carefully. Let us learn from the mistake of Hanun.


2 Samuel 7, with Commentaries, verse by verse
2 Samuel 8, with Commentaries, verse by verse
2 Samuel 9, with Commentaries, verse by verse
2 Samuel 10, with Commentaries, verse by verse


Links to Commentaries and other References - 2 Samuel

Bible Study Tools
Jesus Saves
How to Become a Christian

This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.

April 5 Readings

CHECK OUT THIS SITE FOR LINKS TO ALL THE BLOGS I HAVE CREATED WITH PERSONAL COMMENTS, BIBLE COMMENTARIES AND BIBLE RESOURCES AND FREE BIBLE BOOKS AND SOFTWARE

The Back to the Bible Beginning to End Reading Plan

Today's reading 2Samuel 4-7
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia Links: 2Samuel 4; 2Samuel 5; 2Samuel 6; 2Samuel 7;

2Samuel 4
When Ish-Bosheth, the son of Saul found out that Abner had died in Hebron, he became afraid and all Israel became alarmed. Now Saul’s two men, Baariah and Recab, went to Ish-Bosheth’s house when he was taking the noonday rest and cowardly murdered Ish-Bosheth when he was sleeping. They chpped off his head and took it to David at Hebron, expecting a reward. David ordered his men to kill Baariah and Recab for murdering an innocent man while he was sleeping n his bed..
Arthur Pink Life of David on 2Samuel 3&4 more

2 Samuel 5
2Samuel 5.1-3; 1Chronicles 11.1-3: All the tribes came to Hebron, David made a compact with them and they anointed him king over all of Israel, David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years in all.
Arthur Pink Life of David on 2Samuel 5
Arthur Pink Life of David on 2Samuel 5 more
King David

David captured Jerusalem (2Samuel 5.6-10; 1Chronicles 11.1-9) from the Jebusites and called it the City of David. Notice verse 10 stated that David became more powerful because the Lord God Almighty was with Him. In 2Samuel 5.11-16; 1Chronicles 3.5-9; 14.1-7, there is a description of the children born to David.
When the Philistines heard that David was king over all Israel, they launched an attack against Israel. David inquired of the Lord wheteher he should attack the Philistines and whether God would hand them over to him. God told him to go and attack. The victory was David. And he defeated them. We remembered Saul and before his tragic death, he inquired of the Lord but there was no answer, that was when he had contacted the witch of Endor and things went bad for Saul and he died.
Arthur Pink Life of David on 2Samuel 5 - Capture of Zion
Arthur Pink Life of David on 2Samuel 5 - Defeat of the Philistines
Arthur Pink Life of David on 2Samuel 5&6 - Bring of the Ark

2Samuel 6
In 2Samuel 6.1-11; 1Chronicles 13.3-14, David and his men went to get the ark of God. They set the ark on a new and brought it from the house of Abinadab. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart. David and Israel were celebrating before the Lord with songs, and harps lyres, tambouriness sistruths and cymbals. When they reached the threshing floor of Nacan, the oxen had stumbled and Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark to prevent it from falling on the ground. The Lord’s anger burnt against Uzzah because of the irreverent act and he killed Uzzah. David was angry with God because he killed Uzzah.

Uzzah Smitten
David became afraid of the Lord that day. Although Uzzah had good intention to prevent the ark from falling on the ground, there was specific instructions in the handling of the Ark (Exodus 15.15; Numbers 4.5-61.5; 1Chronicles 15.13-15). God had shocked everyone there to remind them that He is a holy God and his commandments must be obeyed. We need to remember that He is a God of love but the one attribute that separate our God from other gods is His Holiness. And excellent book on this subject is the Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul.
In 2Samuel 6.13-19; 1Chronicles 15.25-16.3, David was afraid of God, that he was unwilling to take tha ark back to Jerusalem. It stayed at the house of Obed-Edom. Three months later David and the people went doen to take the ark back to Jerusalem. He had sacrificed a bull and fattened calf immediately. He danced before the Lord
with all his heart.
Arthur Pink Life of David on 2Samuel 6 - Bring of the Ark
Arthur Pink Life of David on 2Samuel 6 - Bring of the Ark cont'd


When Michal saw David dancing before the Lord with all his heart, she despised him, God made Michal barren to the day of her death.
Arthur Pink Life of David on 2Samuel 6 - Condemnation by Michal

2Samuel 7
In 2Samuel 7.1-17; 1Chronicles 17.1-15: The Lord gives David REST from his enemies (v. 1). Because David was living in a place and the ark of God was a tent. He told Nathan that he wanted the ark to be better place than a tent. The Lord came to Nathan and told him to tell David that he would create a dynasty for David that would last forever. God was speaking here on tow levels of fulfilment, one was the dynasty that would produce, Jesus Christ the Messiah, and the other would be the Dynasty of kings of Judah. David responds to God in preayer *2Samuel 7.18-29; 1Chronicles 17.16-17). This is what is known as the Davidic Covenant.
The Reign of Saul

2 Samuel 4, with Commentaries, verse by verse
2 Samuel 5, with Commentaries, verse by verse
2 Samuel 6, with Commentaries, verse by verse
2 Samuel 7, with Commentaries, verse by verse

Links to Commentaries and other References - 2 Samuel

Bible Study Tools
Jesus Saves
How to Become a Christian

This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

April 4 Readings

CHECK OUT THIS SITE FOR LINKS TO ALL THE BLOGS I HAVE CREATED WITH PERSONAL COMMENTS, BIBLE COMMENTARIES AND BIBLE RESOURCES AND FREE BIBLE BOOKS AND SOFTWARE

The Back to the Bible Beginning to End Reading Plan

Today's reading 2Samuel 1-3
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia Links: 2Samuel 1; 2Samuel 2; 2Samuel 3

2 Samuel 1
In verse 1-15, A messenger who was an Amakelite came to give David the news of Saul's death. David hears of Saul's death. (2Samuel 1.4-12; 1Samuel 31.1-13; 1Chronicles 10.1-12). The Amakleite lied to David because he expected David to reard him. David, instead ordered his death. He had still viewed Saul as the Lord's anointed (verse 14) . He had all the opportunities to kill Saul but he had not, instead he left it in God's hand. In verse 17-26, He mourned over Saul and his good friend Jonathan.

Arthur Pink Life of David on 2Samuel 1

2Samuel 2
David, after waiting for many years, waiting on God instead of seizing an opportune moment, finally became king over Judah. We need to learn to wait upon God for thiongs to happen in our lives instead of making them happen with our efforts.



There was a civil war between the Houses of David and Saul (2Samuel 2.8-3.5)
In verse 8 Abner made Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, king in Israel (The other 11 tribes).

OT Gateway Links on 1 and 2 Samuel
Introduction to 2 Samuel by Malik
Malik Argument of 2Samuel
Deffinbaugh: A Study of 2 Samuel
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Pink on the Life of David
Spurgeon on 2Samuel
Biblebb.com Website

Arthur Pink Life of David on 2Samuel 2
Arthur Pink Life of David on 2Samuel 2 more

In 2 Samuel 3
The sons born to David are listed in 1Samuel 3.2-5; 1Chronicles 3.1-4.

Abner goes over to David (v. 6-21) and Joab murders Abner (v. 22-38)

Arthur Pink Life of David on 2Samuel 3 more


2 Samuel 1, with Commentaries, verse by verse
2 Samuel 2, with Commentaries, verse by verse
2 Samuel 3, with Commentaries, verse by verse

Links to Commentaries and other References - 2 Samuel


Bible Study Tools
Jesus Saves
How to Become a Christian

This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.

Monday, April 2, 2007

April 3 Readings

CHECK OUT THIS SITE FOR LINKS TO ALL THE BLOGS I HAVE CREATED WITH PERSONAL COMMENTS, BIBLE COMMENTARIES AND BIBLE RESOURCES AND FREE BIBLE BOOKS AND SOFTWARE

The Back to the Bible Historical Readings Plan

The Reign of Saul
Today's reading 1Samuel 25-27
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia Links: 1Samuel 25; 1Samuel 26; 1Samuel 27

In 1Samuel 25, David sent some young men to speak to Nabal, Abigail's husband. They were to say that they did not mistreat Nabal's men and sak Nabal to show them some kindness by offering David whatever, he could find for him. Nabal got upset and drove the young men away. He was not showing hospitality that was expected at that time. Nabal's servant went to Abigail who got provisions, food and water, and brought them to David, apologizing for her foolish husband, knowing that David could kill the whole family. Abigail intereceded for Nabal and spared his life. David praised the Lord for Abigail having such wisdom and tact in handling that particular situation. Abigail told Nabal what had happened and within ten days the Lord struck Nabal and he probably died from a stroke. David met his second wife Abigail under God’s intervention and Abigail’s intercession.

In 1Samuel 26 The Ziphites betrayed David to Saul. Saul sent his men to capture David but David and his men hid from him. David knew where Saul had camped, so he went down with Abishai into Saul's camp. They found Saul asleep. David had another opportunity to kill Saul, yet he spared his life again. David said that Saul's life was in God's hands not his (v. 9-11). They took Saul's water jug and spear which was at Saul's head. Notice God had put everyone in Saul's camp into deep sleep.

David called to Abner, Saul's commander and ask for Saul. He showed him the water jug and the spear. Saul realized that David could have killed him but he spared his life. He told David that he sinned, trying to kill David. Saul went home. We do not know how sincere Saul was but we know that David trusted God to deal with Saul in His own time.

In 1Samuel 27 David was convincd that Saul would eventually kill him, He fled to the Achish of the Philstines again. David had a spiritual victory in 1 Samuel 26, but in this chapter he fled to Israel's enemies as refuge. Achish trusted David and thought that he would be his servant for ever. This is a bad situation when you run to the enemies of God for refuge instead of running to God. God still preserve David and kept watch over him.

Links to Commentaries and other References - 1 Samuel

1 Samuel 25, with Commentaries, verse by verse
1 Samuel 26, with Commentaries, verse by verse
1 Samuel 27, with Commentaries, verse by verse

Bible Study Tools
Jesus Saves
How to Become a Christian

This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.

Saturday, March 24, 2007

March 24 Readings

CHECK OUT THIS SITE FOR LINKS TO ALL THE BLOGS I HAVE CREATED WITH PERSONAL COMMENTS, BIBLE COMMENTARIES AND BIBLE RESOURCES AND FREE BIBLE BOOKS AND SOFTWARE

The Back to the Bible Historical Reading Plan


Samson
Judges 16-18
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia Links: Judges 16; Judges 17; Judges 18;
Micah and the Danites

Judges 16
Samson slept with a prostitute, fell in love with Delilah. The Philistine leaders wanted to find out the secret behind Samson's strength, and offered Delilah money to find out the strength of Samson. After several false answers that Samson gave Delilah about the secret of his strength, he finally gave in and told her the secret of his strength which was the shaving of his hair with a razor. she betrayed him, they gouged out his eyes. Samson died by pulling down the pillars of the temple and killing many more when he died than when he was alive.

What do we learn from the life of Samson. God uses even the sinfulness of man to accomplish his purpose to bring glory to His name. The Holy Spirit was involved in the the life of Samson when he had exhibited these great strength in killing the Philistines. Samson was a slave to his lust, he chose the wrong women in his life and that was his downfall. Despite all of Samson's weaknesses and faults he was listed among the heroes of the faith (Hebrews 11.32). The important lesson to learn is God can use sinners who are willing to be used by Him.

Judges 17
The action of one family can influence a nation for good or bad. We have seen this with the Billy Graham's family. The action of that one family has brought glory to God's name and has brought many into God's Kingdom and has influenced the nation for good. There are may examples of bad families that has influenced the United States. But today, we are looking at the family of Micah. This family was devoted to idolatry. The man, Micah created idols, his mother encouraged him to make idols and out of her mouth came blessings and curse (James 3.9-10). She care more about money than her son! Micah had hired a Levite. This Levite should know better because all Levites were consecrated to God and he knew the Law. He was only wanted money, he definitely was not a servant of God.

Judges 18
The Levite compromised himself further by going to the Danites because they offered him more money. From this corruption in the one family spread to a clan then to a tribe and this affected the whole tribe of Dan. The Danites had sent our spies and discovered this Levite, hired him as their seer, and took his idols with them. Micah and his neighbors overtook the Danites, tried to recapture the Levite and the idols but failed. To make matters worse, the Danites attacked Laish In the process, where innocent people died, and burned down their city. They renamed the city Dan and made the city a center of worship for their idols. The irony was that they were living in 'a place that lacks nothing whatever' yet there was one thing they lacked and it was God's blessing on their lives.

What do we learn from the life of Micah. Sin is like yeast, a little of it makes the dough rises. The Levite, of all the people should know better. Sometimes we compromise ourselves instead of standing up for what is right. The Levite sold himself for money just as Judas Iscariot sold his soul for thirty pieces of silver.

Judges 16, with Commentaries, verse by verse
Judges 17, with Commentaries, verse by verse
Judges 18, with Commentaries, verse by verse

Division of the Land
Tribal Lands
Pett on Samson
Pett on Micah
Division of the Land
Tribal Lands


Other Links
OT Gateway Links on Judges
Introduction to Judges by Malik
Malik Argument of Judges
Israel's Dark Age by Deffinbaugh
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Zeisler on Judges, scroll down
Spurgeon on Judges
Biblebb.com Website
Ritchie on Judges - 9 sermons


Jesus Saves
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.