Bible In One Year-Day 119 (Tuesday, April 29, 2014)

We could see the stink of politics in 2Sam16-18; treachery, betrayal, deception, selfishness, inconsistence, lack of trust, abominations and self-gain. The prayer of David in 2Sam15:31 for God to turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness was answered by God even though it has some political undertakings in it. Ahithophel eventually committed suicide because his counsel was not accepted. These stinks are still in today’s politics. The counsel of Ahithophel to Absalom was to sleep with his father’s concubines openly which was an abomination. This is likened to evil covenants, agreement and rituals done by the politicians in the secret. The major players of the politics in these chapters were Ahithophel who spied for Absalom and Hushai who spied for David, 2Sam15:31-37. It was a serious game but the Lord was interested in the peace of one of the camps; the camp of David. The counsel of Ahithophel was ignored for the counsel of Hushai, David’s friend, 2 Samuel 17:14 “And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.” Unfortunately, Absalom lost his life eventually but not to the joy of David. This is the type of love in father-son relationship. It was the wish of David for Absalom to repent, but it was the wish of Joab for him to die even though he once reconciled them. The war against Absalom was not David’s wish. He wanted to go to war with his people just to make sure his son was safe knowing that Joab was a very brutal man when it comes to war. But the people disallowed him. He, therefore, warned Joab, 2 Samuel 18:5 “And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.” But Joab did another thing contrary to David’s counsel, 2Sam18:10-11,14.

This is the situation with Jesus. He loves us, he came for the sinners to restore. Joab stands for the LAW which condemns and sentence to death, but David stands for GRACE which God has given us through His only begotten son. Just as David ran for his son, so Joseph took Jesus away from Herod’s sword, Matt2. Just as Joab thrust his spear through Absalom’s heart, so did the soldiers thrust their spear in Jesus. If we are assumed to be Absalom, the sinner who was hanging between heaven and earth, then we were guilty of the condemnation, ruthlessness and judgment of Joab (the law), but Jesus received that on our behalf; this is grace and salvation at work; John 19:33-35 “But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they broke not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.” If you understand these chapters very well, you will appreciate Jesus’ death as the substitute for your death. This was something no man could do you. Do you know that David wished he did as Jesus did for you, to die for Absalom? But he could not, 2 Samuel 18:33 “And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Jesus is still calling on the sinner to repent of his sins and come to him because He had paid the price for your salvation and redemption. You need to turn to Him. Our reading for today is 2Sam19-21. Keep the fire burning and alive.

Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Revelation 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.