old testament LIBERTY HOME BIBLE INSTITUTE Lesson 15 ACCELERATED LEARNING PROGRAM Unit 1 United Kingdom Stage The Story of David: Epilogue

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1 old testament LIBERTY HOME ACCELERATED LEARNING PROGRAM Unit 1 United Kingdom Stage The Story of David: Epilogue

2 Second Samuel IV. David, the Submissive: It will be remembered David s reaction to Nathan s parable was that the guilty man would first make a fourfold payment to the poor farmer and then be put to death. Apparently God imposed upon David the king his own sentence. While he would not die, David would, nevertheless, pay back fourfold for his sin against Uriah. The brokenhearted monarch now humbly submits to the chastening hand of the Lord. A. First sin payback: sickness and death (12:15-25) 1. The departure of Bathsheba s first son a. David s travail (12:15-16) b. David s testimony: Upon hearing from his servant that his son had died, the king responded (12:22-23). Question: Where do little children go when they die? Answer: They go where David expected to go when he died. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever (Ps. 23:6). 2. The arrival of Bathsheba s second son: And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him (12:24). B. Second sin payback: incest (13:1-21) 1. Amnon deceived his half-sister Tamar. a. Amnon, son of David, and half-brother to Tamar, David s daughter, burned in his lust towards her. b. Acting upon the advice of a crafty friend, Amnon feigns sickness and requests from David that Tamar be sent to nurse him. 2. Amnon defiles his half-sister Tamar. a. When they are alone, Amnon rapes Tamar. b. He then compounded his vicious crime by refusing to marry her. c. Instead he literally has her thrown out of his bedroom. d. David was furious upon hearing this, but does not punish Amnon for it. C. Third sin payback: murder (13:22-39) 1. After planning for two full years, Absalom, David s son and full brother to Tamar, arranged to have his half-brother Amnon murdered. 2. Absalom then fled to the land of Geshur where he would remain for three years. 3. Again, David seemed helpless, and could do nothing but mourn over the loss of one son and absence of another son. D. Fourth sin payback: rebellion (14-20) 1. The reconciliation (14:1-33) a. A mother, sent by Joab, tricked David into bringing back Absalom from exile. b. She sought the king s favor, pretending she had two sons, one of which had killed the other. c. David reassured her that upon his return the rebellious son would not be punished. d. The woman then immediately applied the lesson parable to David. e. Absalom was allowed to return, but for two long years his father refused to see him (14:28). It is usually assumed that Absalom s problems were caused by his indulgent father who spoiled him, giving in to the boy s every demand and desire. But this verse seems to indicate just the opposite. The truth is, David had probably spent too little time and demonstrated too little love concerning Absalom. 171

3 f. Finally, after burning a barley field to get attention, David agreed to meet his son. g. The king and Absalom were reconciled. 2. The revolt (15:1-12) a. The person involved: After being reconciled to his father, Absalom began preparing a revolt against him. (1) The description of Absalom: (a) He was extremely handsome (14:25) (b) He had fast growing and thick hair (14:26) (2) The deception by Absalom (a) He built himself up by parading around in a beautiful horse-drawn chariot, and hiring 50 men to run ahead of him (15:1). (b) He stood by the road leading to the main gate in Jerusalem, met the people, listened to their needs and stole their hearts (15:2-6). b. The place involved: After a four-year period of preparation, Absalom went to the city of Hebron, blew a trumpet, and declared the revolt against his father. 3. The retreat (15:13-17) 4. The resolve (15:18-22): At the edge of the city, David suddenly noticed that his foreign friend Ittai, who had been visiting Jerusalem from the Philistine city of Gath was accompanying the king along with the 600 Gittite warriors who served under him. a. David s advice: What are you doing here? Go on back with your men...for you are a guest in Israel...Should I force you to wander with me...? Go on back.. and may the Lord be merciful to you. b. Ittai s answer: And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be (15:21). 5. The remorse (15:23, 30) n Some ten centuries later, in this exact area, the Son of David would also weep (Matt. 1:1; Luke 19:41; Matt. 23:37). n Note the contrasts and comparisons: l In the Jerusalem rejected its earthly, human king. l In the New Testament Jerusalem rejected its heavenly, divine king. l Both rejections were temporary. I Israel later received David as its king (19) I Israel will some day receive Christ as its King (Zech. 12:10; Rev. 1:7). 6. The reflection (15:24-29) 7. The ruse (15:31-37;16:15-17:23) a. Upon learning that his former advisor Ahithophel had joined Absalom s revolt, David ordered another loyal advisor, Hushai, to pretend to sell out to Absalom also, that he might frustrate and counter Ahithophel s counsel. (1) He may have been the grandfather of Bathsheba (11:3; 23:34). (2) One of David s top 30 men was Eliam, son of Ahithophel (23:34). b. This plan worked exactly as David hoped it would. (1) The correct advice of Ahithophel (17:1-2) (2) The crafty advice of Hushai (17:7, 11) c. The vain Absalom decides upon Hushai s counsel, thus unknowingly allowing David time to mobilize his troops. d. Upon having his advice refused, Ahithophel went home and hanged himself (17:23). Ahithophel can be compared to Judas Iscariot. n Ahithophel l He was closely associated with David. l He betrayed David and later hanged himself. n Judas l He was closely associated with the Son of David. l He betrayed the Son of David and later hanged himself (Matt. 27:3-5). 172

4 e. Hushai then sent messengers warning David to cross the Jordan River and to prepare his men for battle. 8. The rendezvous: During the interval before the battle, David met with several individuals. a. His meeting with Ziba (16:1-4). Ziba the chief steward of Mephibosheth (Jonathan s crippled son) approached David with both food and a falsehood. (1) The food: He brought two donkeys loaded down with bread, raisins, grapes, and a barrel of wine. (2) The falsehood: Ziba slanders his master, saying Mephibosheth was in Jerusalem hoping David would be defeated so he could get back his grandfather Saul s kingdom. David (at first) seemed to believe Ziba, and gave him the estate he had previously awarded to Mephibosheth. Later, however, the king would refuse this. b. His meeting with Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai (17:27-29) These three men, all non-israelite friends of David, met the king and brought him mats to sleep on, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley flour, parched grain, beans, lentils, honey, butter and cheese. 9. The reviling (16:5-13) a. The malice involved: Shimei, a member of Saul s family encountered David and hurled both curses and rocks at the king (16:7-8). b. The mercy involved: Abishai, one of David s soldiers, sought permission to kill Shimei for his insults. (1) The request (16:9) (2) The refusal (16:11-12) 10. The rout (18:1-8) David s seasoned troops met Absalom s inexperienced soldiers at the battle of Mount Ephraim. a. The concern prior to the battle (1) The people s concern for their king (18:2-3) (2) The king s concern for his son (18:5) b. The casualties resulting from the battle (1) Twenty thousand of Absalom s soldiers were killed by David s men. (2) Even more than this number died by hunger, exposure and exhaustion as a result of being scattered throughout the desolate and hostile countryside of Ephraim. 11. The reprisal (18:9-18) a. In fleeing from the battle on his mule, Absalom s head was caught by the thick branches of a large oak tree, leaving him hanging in midair (18:9). b. Joab found and killed him by plunging three javelins in his heart (18:14). c. His lifeless body was then thrown in a forest pit and covered by some rocks (18:16). d. He was not buried in the pillar he had previously prepared for himself in the Kings Valley in Jerusalem (18:18). 12. The reprimands (18:19-19:7) a. David s anguish (18:33) b. Joab s anger (19:5-7) 13. The return (19:8-20:26) a. The king on the east bank of the Jordan (19:8-43) (1) David and Zadok: Both Zadok and Abiathar the priest were sent to the elders in Judah that they might create some interest for the king s return. It seemed all the other tribes except his own wanted this to happen. (2) David and Amasa: David appointed his nephew Amasa to replace Joab as military commander-in-chief. Amasa thereupon convinced Judah s elders to urge David s return. (3) David and Shimei: David spared the life of Shimei who met him and begged for forgiveness. (4) David and Mephibosheth: Jonathan s lame son explained to David that Ziba had slandered him, falsely accusing him of treason. David, apparently not quite sure who to believe, divided Mephibosheth s estate equally, giving half to the lame son and half to Ziba. (5) David and Barzillai: David urged this 80-year old Gileadite who had previously befriended him to come to Jerusalem and live in the king s palace. But the old friend respectfully declined, pleading old age. (6) David and the men of Judah: The king was met by those from his own tribe who accompanied him across the River Jordan. b. The king at Jerusalem: At long last David had returned home. But two more bloody events would occur before peaceful conditions prevailed. (1) The murder of Amasa (20:4-10) 173

5 (a) His appointment by Absalom: He was David s nephew who was appointed commander-in-chief by Absalom during the rebellion (1 Chron. 2:16-17; 2 Sam. 17:25). (b) His agreement with David: After the death of Absalom, Amasa agreed to help David regain his throne (19:11-15; 20:4). (c) His assassination by Joab: He was murdered by Joab (David s commander-in-chief) as a potential rival (20:9, 10). David regarded this as an act of cold-blooded murder until the day of his death (1 Kings 2:5). (2) The malcontent of Sheba (20:1-3, 14-22) (a) The foolish act of Sheba: He was a troublemaker from the tribe of Benjamin. (20:1). He instigated a second revolt against David immediately after the king had put down the rebellion led by Absalom (20:1, 2). Of all the tribes, only the tribe of Judah remained true to David (20:2). David ordered his commander-in-chief Joab to crush Sheba s revolt (20:6-7). (b) The fatal act of Sheba: He took refuge in the city of Abel, located north of the Galilean Sea at the base of Mount Hermon. This city was famous for the wisdom its citizens possessed (20:14,18). Joab and his troops surrounded Abel, but upon conferring with a wise old woman within its wall, he agrees to withdraw if the city would deliver up the head of Sheba (20:15-21). This was done and the city was saved (20:22). V. David, the Statesman (21:1-14) A. He surveyed a problem. 1. There was a famine that lasted for three years and David spent much time in prayer about it. 2. Finally, God told him the famine was a divine judgment upon Israel because of the sins they had in the past committed against the Gibeonites. 3. In Joshua 9, Israel had made a covenant with these pagan people that they would not be harmed, but Saul, and his family had murdered many of them. B. He solved the problem. 1. David negotiated with the Gibeonite leaders, and they determine that justice could only be done by allowing them to execute seven of Saul s sons, all of whom doubtlessly participated in the former Gibeon massacre. 2. This was done and the plague was stayed. 3. The life of Mephibosheth was, however, spared. 4. Later David ordered a decent burial be given to two of these sons, upon learning that their mother had watched over their bodies during the entire harvest season, driving away the vultures and wild animals. VI. David, the Statistician (24; 1 Chron. 21) A. The project: David commanded Joab his military commander to conduct a census throughout the land that he might know the population of Israel. Two factors led to this action: n The who factor: Satan himself was behind it. And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel (1 Chron. 21:1). n The why factor: Normally this would not have been wrong, but for some unrecorded reason God had apparently forbidden David to count his troops at this time. But David, perhaps acting out of pride or lack of faith in God to protect Israel, had disobeyed. B. The protest 1. Joab objects to the project but David insists it be carried out. 2. At the end of nine months and 20 days Joab gives David the figures (24:9). C. The perception: Soon David realized this census was highly displeasing to God. D. The plea (24:10) E. The punishment: God allowed David to choose from one of three possibilities what his punishment would be: 1. A period of famine 2. Flee 90 days before his enemies 3. A three-day pestilence F. The plague: David chose the third punishment (24:14-15). G. The pardon (24:16) 174

6 H. The purchase 1. David was commanded to build an altar at the place where the plague stopped. 2. This he did, but not before buying the threshing floor of Araunah (also called Oman) the Jebusite. 3. It was upon this spot where Abraham had once offered Isaac (Gen. 22:2) and where the temple of Solomon would later be built (2 Chron. 3:1). 4. God approved of David s offering by sending down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice (1 Chron. 21:26). n This marks one of at least five occasions in the where God s fire fell from heaven toconsume a sacrifice. The other four events involved: l Moses and Aaron (Lev. 9:24) l Gideon (Judg. 6:21) l Solomon (2 Chron. 7:1) l Elijah (1 Kings 18:38) n It should be noted that several apparent discrepancies occur in regards to the census taken by David. l The problems I 2 Samuel 24:1 says God told David to number Israel, while 1 Chronicles 21:1 states that it was Satan who prompted the king. I 2 Samuel 24:9 says there were 800,000 warriors in Israel, while 1 Chronicles 21:5 says there were 1,100,000. I 2 Samuel 24:9 says there were 500,000 warriors in Judah, but 1 Chronicles 21:5 lists this number as 470,000. I 2 Samuel 24:13 states the famine would last seven years, but 1 Chronicles 21:12 says the duration would be three years. I 2 Samuel 24:24 gives the purchase price of the Jebusite s threshing floor for 50 shekels while I Chronicles 21:25 says it cost 600 shekels of gold. l The proposed solutions I It may be God allowed Satan to tempt David, knowing the king had already made up his mind. If this be true, a similar situation had once occurred some four centuries before this, in the days of Balaam. Balaam was a greedy prophet who was offered repeated bribes to accompany Israel s enemies to Moab for the purpose of cursing God s people. The Lord at first told him not to go (Num. 22:12), but later allowed him, knowing the covetous heart of the prophet (Num. 22:20). I The 800,000 of 2 Samuel 24:9 may not have included the 300,000 listed in 1 Chronicles 27:24. I The 470,000 of 1 Chronicles 21:5 may not have included the 30,000 of 2 Samuel 6:1. I It may be 1 Chronicles 21 had in mind the worst part of the famine, namely, the final three years. I The 50 shekels of 2 Samuel 24:24 may have recorded the price for the threshing floor alone (Heb. goren), while the 600 golden shekels of 1 Chronicles 21:25 may have been the price for the entire area surrounding this floor (Heb. magom). VII. David, the Sponsor (1 Chron ) Note: This aspect of David s life is placed here in the outline even though not found in Second Samuel for it records the final accomplishment of the man after God s own heart. A. The background involved: David was then nearly 70 years old. When he was but 37, he determined to build a temple for God but was forbidden to do so (1 Chron. 22:7-10). B. The purpose involved: It was to provide a home for the ark of God (1 Chron. 22:19) and the other vessels from a temporary tabernacle, which was located at Gibeon (1 Chron. 21:29). The original tabernacle of Moses had been set up at Shiloh (Josh. 18:1; 19:51; Judg. 18:31; 1 Sam. 1:9; 3:3) but was destroyed along with the city of Shiloh by the Philistines (see Ps. 78:60; Jer. 7:12,14; 26:6) in 1 Samuel 4. C. The cost involved (1 Chron. 22:14,16) 1. One hundred thousand talents of gold, one million talents of silver, plus untold tons of bronze, iron, and timber went into the building of the temple. This would equal several billion dollars by today s standards. 2. David himself contributed millions to the project (1 Chron. 29:3-5). D. The workers involved: David appointed 38,000 Levites for the temple construction (1 Chron. 23:3-5) ,000 were to oversee the work 2. 6,000 were to function as officers and judges 3. 4,000 were temple guards 175

7 E. The music involved 1. 4,000 were appointed as singers and musicians (1 Chron. 23:5). 2. To this number David then appointed 288 special master musicians (1 Chron. 25:7-8). F. The priests involved: At this time David divided the priesthood into 24 divisions (1 Chron. 23:6; 24:1-3) (compare 1 Chron. 24:10 with Luke 1:5). G. The army involved: David had an army of 288,000 men, consisting of 12 divisions of 24,000 warriors (1 Chron. 27:1-15). H. The blueprints involved: David gives Solomon the temple building plans which God had given him (1 Chron. 28:11-12,19). Thus, the blueprints for both the tabernacle of Moses (see Exod. 25:9) and the temple of Solomon were prepared by God himself. I. The challenge involved (given by David) 1. The recipients of his challenge a. Solomon (1 Chron. 22:11-13; 28:9-10, 20) God had said similar words to Joshua some four centuries previous to this. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Josh. 1:9). b. The resident aliens in Israel (1 Chron. 22:2,5) c. The religious, military, political, and financial leaders in Israel (1 Chron. 22:17-19; 28:1-8) 2. The results of his challenge (1 Chron. 29:6-9, 20, 21) a. Concerning the princes of Israel (1 Chron. 29:6) b. Concerning the people of Israel (1 Chron. 29:9) J. The prayer involved (1 Chron. 29:10-19) 1. David s description of God (1 Chron. 29:10-16) Some ten centuries later Jesus would employ a section of David s prayer here during His Sermon on the Mount. Note: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen (Matt. 6:13). 2. David s desire from God (1 Chron. 29:19) Tragically, David s prayer here concerning a perfect heart for Solomon would not, in the final analysis, become a reality. Note: For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father (1 Kings 11:4, 6). VIII. David, the Spirit-Filled (23:1-4) 176