DBG - April 14 - II Samuel 20-22

In this chapter Joab puts down Sheba’s rebellion.

vs. 1-3 – Before David can even return to Jerusalem, a wicked man named Sheba (“an oath, seven”) leads a revolt of the northern tribes against David. Because Sheba is a Benjaminite, we assume some jealously at the loss of the throne from Benjamin to Judah. Judah remains faithful to David. Included as a side note in vs. 3, David cares for the concubines that Absalom defiled. These are taken care of for the rest of their lives but are no longer concubines to David.

vs. 4-13 – David tasks Amasa, not Joab, with quelling the revolt. Joab appears to have lost favor because of his killing Absalom. When Amasa delays, David again bypasses Joab by sending Abishai. Joab does not sit idly by but goes with David’s bodyguard and his mighty men to the join the other forces. Joab had not forgotten the slight against him when David replaced him with Amasa. That is deepened in that Amasa had been with the enemy before David’s return. Joab makes a show of stumbling and losing his sword. When Amasa draws near Joab makes as if to greet him but instead kills him. Joab then asserts himself as commander.

vs. 14-22 – Joab besieges the stronghold of Abel (“breath”)25 on the far north of Israel in the territory belonging to Naphtali. There Sheba has gathered his supporters to make a stand against David. Joab works to overcome the city’s defenses. There appears to be a trench or moat that he fills to cross. He then begins battering the walls. There was a “wise woman” in the city, perhaps the only inhabitant that had any sense in the situation. She appeals to the city’s reputation as a place where wisdom could be found and asks if Joab truly desired to destroy the city of his fellow Israelites. Joab replies that all he wants is Sheba. The woman promises his head and delivers it. Joab leads his forces back to Jerusalem,

vs. 23-26 - We last saw David’s administrators in Chapter 8, about 20 years before this. Joab is still over the military and Benaiah over the bodyguard. Jehoshaphat is still the recorder. Zadok is still high priest but is now paired with Abiathar instead of Ahimelech. A new office appears here over the tribute received by David, filled by Adoram. Ira is the “chief ruler”, replacing David’s sons in that role.

In this chapter, one of the strangest in the Bible, David brings justice to the Gibeonites.

vs. 1-11 – After a three-year famine, it is revealed that the cause is a lack of justice against Saul’s house for crimes against the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites were descendants of the Amorite people that tricked Joshua into a peace treaty (Joshua 9). They became slaves to Israel, were support staff for the Tabernacle (Joshua 9:27) and settled with Benjamin (Joshua 21:17). When Saul killed the Gibeonites in violation of the treaty of Joshua 9 is not known. The best assumption is they were killed during the attack on Nob in I Samuel 22:17-19 roughly 40 years before. To make restitution for the crimes of Saul, the Gibeonites request that seven men of Saul’s family be slain. They would be killed and then “hung” in shame as a sign of the reproach of Saul’s house. This appears to go against the principle of Deuteronomy 24:16 that children should not be put to death for the sins of their fathers.  David spares Mephibosheth from this fate, but delivers two sons of Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, and five of his Merab, Saul’s daughter, which were been raised by Michal. These were executed by the Gibeonites in the spring and left hanging from spring to fall. Rizpah showed her motherly devotion by watching over the remains

vs. 12-14 – David appears to have been moved by Rizpah’s devotion. He buries the remains of the seven hanged by Saul, along with the remains with remains of Saul and Jonathan, in the family tomb of Kish.

vs. 15-22 - The Philistines make another offensive against Israel. David is almost slain in battle by a giant named Ishbibenob (“he that dwells at Nob”), who had a spear weighing 7½ pounds.35 Abishai comes to his aid and slays the giant. David is now 64 years old and the trials of his life have taken their toll. However, his men follow in the footsteps of their leader and become giant killers themselves. Joining Abishai in those ranks are Sibbechai (“a weaver”) who slew the giant Saph (“tall”), Elhanan (“the grace of God”) who slew the brother of Goliath named Lahmi (“warrior”), and Jonathan who slew the giant with 12 fingers and 12 toes.

In this chapter we have one of David’s greatest psalms.

vs. 1 - This chapter is essentially identical in content to Psalm 18. The differences between the two are almost all minor wording changes that practically never affect the meaning of the phrases. The appearance of this Psalm does not appear to be chronological. Reese places the writing of this Psalm to when David sought refuge in Gath in I Samuel 27:2-4. Spurgeon writes that the two appearances of this Psalm “suggests the idea that it was sung by David at different times when he reviewed his own remarkable history, and observed the gracious hand of God in it all.” Why is this psalm included here? We are coming into the final few years of David’s life and chapters 22 and 23 are largely retrospective. Of all the psalms to include, this one must have had special meaning to David. I think we can assume it was something of a “theme song” to his life, written in his youth while running from Saul and repeated many times over the course of his reign.

vs. 2-7 – The first section of this psalm sees David in distress.  God is his refuge and God responds to his cry for aid.

vs. 8-20 – The second section of this psalm is God in action.  Note the poetic descriptions of God’s might and power.  It reminds of us of the “shock and awe” military tactic that completely overwhelms the enemy.  Through this display of God’s strength, David is rescued and secured.

vs. 21-31 – The third section of this psalm is an examination of David’s character and God’s response to it.  David claims righteousness in his actions on the basis that he was faithfully obeying God.  His faith is recognized and rewarded by God.

vs. 32-46 –  The fourth section of this psalm is David in victory.  Not only has God delivered him from certain doom, but now David is empowered to conquer his foes. 

vs. 47-51 – The fifth section of this psalm is David praising God.  It is the natural and proper response to seeing God act that we should pour out His praises in thanksgiving.

Though David’s physical and political strength have both weakened, his faith in God has not.  The man may have been wounded and even broken, but God remained ever faithful.  This is one of the keys to understanding David’s success.  Though he could fall, he always sought God through repentance.  Though we may fail, God never will.  Trust in His strength and His care.

Our hymn today is “Thee Will I Love”.  It was originally written in German in 1657 by Johann Shefler under the pen name of Angelus Silesius.  This translation is by John Wesley and appears in early Methodist hymnbooks. 

Thee will I love, my strength, my tow'r,
Thee will I love, my joy, my crown;
Thee will I love with all my pow'r,
In all my works, and thee alone.
Thee will I love, till the pure fire
Fill my whole soul with chaste desire.

Ah! why did I so late thee know,
Thee, lovelier than the sons of men?
Ah! why did I no sooner go
To thee, the only ease in pain?
Asham'd I sigh and inly mourn,
That I so late to thee did turn.

In darkness willingly I stray'd;
I sought thee, yet from thee I rov'd;
Far wide my wand'ring thoughts were spread,
Thy creatures more than thee I lov'd;
And now if more at length I see,
'Tis thro' thy light and comes from thee.

I thank thee, uncreated Sun,
That thy bright beams on me have shin'd:
I thank thee, who hast overthrown
My foes, and heal'd my wounded mind;
I thank thee, whose enliv'ning voice,
Bids my freed heart in thee rejoice.

Uphold me in the doubtful race,
Nor suffer me again to stray;
Strengthen my feet, with steady pace,
Still to press forward in thy way;
My soul and flesh, O Lord of might!
Fill, satiate with thy heav'nly light!