Old Testament: 2 Samuel 4:1-6:23
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2 Samuel 4:1-12 Ish-bo-dead
Jonathan was David’s old friend who had died in battle and a son of Saul. He had a son named Mephibosheth who was only five years-old when he was crippled when his nurse dropped him after hearing of the battle.
The King of Israel after Saul, his son Ish-bosheth, panicked when he heard Abner had been killed. There was no one like Abner left to protect him. In fact, two scoundrels who had been in Saul’s command snuck in and murdered him in his bed while he was sleeping. They apparently did not know that those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. They hadn’t heard that one of the enemy had claimed to David that he had killed Saul. David executed him for it (2 Sa. 1:15). And they probably also didn’t realize that David pronounced a curse on another man who had killed Saul’s commander, Abner. So it was no surprise that the two men who killed Ish-bosheth were also executed by David. He had their hands and feet cut off and hung up beside the bodies by the pool in Hebron. But David had the head of Ish-bosheth buried in the grave of Abner in Hebron.
2 Samuel 5:1-16 A House And Kids
The people of Israel came to David and crowned him as king over all Israel. David was only thirty years old when he began his forty year reign, seven years over Judah and thirty-three more over both Israel and Judah.
The King of Tyre, Hiram, sent David a gift of cedar wood and builders to build a house for him. David eventually filled the house with even more concubines, wives and children including Solomon.
2 Samuel 5:17-25 David 2 – Philistines 0
When the Philistines heard David had become king they went up to attack him. David asked Yahweh if he should respond and was told to go ahead and that he’d enjoy victory. So he did and then he did. The Phillies left their idols behind so the Israelites collected them.
The Philistines rallied and formed to strike but David repulsed them once again.
2 Samuel 6:1-11 Uzzah, Oops
David gathered his 30K troops up to Baale-judah along with the ark. Unfortunately, he didn’t check out the book of the law that said that the ark could only be transported on rods through the rings in the ark. Instead, they transported it the way the Philistines would have done it, on a cart. They took it up a hill with David celebrating behind it with all kinds of noisy instruments.
Unfortunately, the oxen drawing the cart almost tipped over so a man named Uzzah reached out to grab the ark before it hit the ground. The law forbid anyone to touch the ark other than a priest so Yahweh struck Uzzah dead (cf. Ex. 25:14; Num. 4:15, 20). David was afraid to do anything after that so had the ark dropped off at Obed-edom, the Gittite’s place for three months.
2 Samuel 6: 12 – 23 Michal The Moaner
When David heard that Obed-edom was being blessed for storing the ark, he figured it was safe to try to continue its transport into Jerusalem. David was dancing behind the ark like a madman and only had a linen ephod on. David finished moving the ark into a specially prepared tent and he offered burnt and peace offerings to Yahweh in thanks. Then he gave away date and raisin cakes to everyone who was there.
Michal, one of his wives, the daughter of Saul, saw him and was really torqued. In fact, she hated David for being so immodest in front of all the young women of Israel. David retorted that he wasn’t trying to entice any of the women but was just dancing before the Lord because he had been chosen to the lead the country. Michal was barren her entire life.
New Testament: John 13:31-14:14
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John 13:31-14:14 Eating Crow
Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment (v. 34) that they should love each other. It would be a witness to the world (v. 35). John would later say in his epistle if anyone hated his brother, he wasn’t a Christian (1Jn. 2: 9) but true Christians show love for their brothers and live in the light (1Jn. 2: 10).
Jesus told Peter he couldn’t follow where He was going at that point but he would follow him later. Peter promised to lay down his life for Jesus but Jesus told him he would cave before the rooster crowed three times that night. Isn’t it reassuring to know that we are following Jesus to Heaven? Nothing can keep us from eternal life once we have trusted Him (cf. John 5: 24; 1John 5: 13). If anyone needed that word, it was Peter at that point. But anyone who tries to minister for Christ will be discouraged by Satan and it is good to have the assurance that nothing can thwart our upward climb.
John 14:1-6 No way! Way!
Jesus knew all that was going to transpire. He told His disciples to stay calm and to continue to believe (literal Greek) in Him. He was going to come and get them and that they knew the way to where He was going. Thomas, later of doubting fame, asked Jesus how they’d know the way. Jesus said He was the way. He was also the truth and life. He said no one could get to the Father in Heaven without going through Him.
John 14:7-14 The Key To Answered Prayer
Jesus told the disciples that if anyone knows Him, they automatically know the Father.
Philip said Jesus should show them the Father. Jesus said, “Seriously? How long have you been with me? I’m not talking out of myself, everything I speak comes from the Father. You should have picked this up from my miracles.”
Jesus told the disciples that they would do even greater miracles than He had done (v. 12). He told them that if they asked for anything to glorify the Father and for the Son’s glory, He would make it happen (v. 14).