O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [email protected] or [email protected] window live messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS
----- Original Message ----- From: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 10:03 PM Subject: Daily Bible reading For Saturday April 4 >2 Samuel 19-21 (The Message) > > 2 Samuel 19 > > David's Grief for Absalom > 1-4 Joab was told that David was weeping and lamenting over Absalom. > > The day's victory turned into a day of mourning as word passed through > the army, "David is > grieving over his son." The army straggled back to the city > that day demoralized, dragging their tails. And the king held his face in > his hands and lamented > loudly, > O my son Absalom, > Absalom my dear, dear son! > > 5-7 But in private Joab rebuked the king: "Now you've done it-knocked the > wind out of your loyal > servants who have just saved your life, to say nothing > of the lives of your sons and daughters, wives and concubines. What is > this-loving those who hate > you and hating those who love you? Your actions give > a clear message: officers and soldiers mean nothing to you. You know that > if Absalom were alive > right now, we'd all be dead-would that make you happy? > Get hold of yourself; get out there and put some heart into your servants! > I swear to God that if > you don't go to them they'll desert; not a soldier will > be left here by nightfall. And that will be the worst thing that has > happened yet." > > 8 So the king came out and took his place at the city gate. Soon everyone > knew: "Oh, look! The king > has come out to receive us." And his whole army came > and presented itself to the king. But the Israelites had fled the field of > battle and gone home. > > 9-10 Meanwhile, the whole populace was now complaining to its leaders, > "Wasn't it the king who > saved us time and again from our enemies, and rescued us > from the Philistines? And now he has had to flee the country on account of > Absalom. And now this > Absalom whom we made king is dead in battle. So what are > you waiting for? Why don't you bring the king back?" > > 11-13 When David heard what was being said, he sent word to Zadok and > Abiathar, the priests, "Ask > the elders of Judah, 'Why are you so laggard in bringing > the king back home? You're my brothers! You're my own flesh and blood! So > why are you the last ones > to bring the king back home?' And tell Amasa, 'You, > too, are my flesh and blood. As God is my witness, I'm making you the > permanent commander of the > army in place of Joab.'" > > 14 He captured the hearts of everyone in Judah. They were unanimous in > sending for the king: "Come > back, you and all your servants." > > 15-18 So the king returned. He arrived at the Jordan just as Judah reached > Gilgal on their way to > welcome the king and escort him across the Jordan. Even > Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down to join the > men of Judah so he could > welcome the king, a thousand Benjaminites with him. > And Ziba, Saul's steward, with his fifteen sons and twenty servants, waded > across the Jordan to meet > the king and brought his entourage across, doing whatever > they could to make the king comfortable. > > 18-20 Shimei son of Gera bowed deeply in homage to the king as soon as he > was across the Jordan and > said, "Don't think badly of me, my master! Overlook > my irresponsible outburst on the day my master the king left > Jerusalem-don't hold it against me! I > know I sinned, but look at me now-the first of all the > tribe of Joseph to come down and welcome back my master the king!" > > 21 Abishai son of Zeruiah interrupted, "Enough of this! Shouldn't we kill > him outright? Why, he > cursed God's anointed!" > > 22 But David said, "What is it with you sons of Zeruiah? Why do you insist > on being so contentious? > Nobody is going to be killed today. I am again king > over Israel!" > > 23 Then the king turned to Shimei, "You're not going to die." And the king > gave him his word. > > 24-25 Next Mephibosheth grandson of Saul arrived from Jerusalem to welcome > the king. He hadn't > combed his hair or trimmed his beard or washed his clothes > from the day the king left until the day he returned safe and sound. The > king said, "And why didn't > you come with me, Mephibosheth?" > > 26-28 "My master the king," he said, "my servant betrayed me. I told him > to saddle my donkey so I > could ride it and go with the king, for, as you know, > I am lame. And then he lied to you about me. But my master the king has > been like one of God's > angels: he knew what was right and did it. Wasn't everyone > in my father's house doomed? But you took me in and gave me a place at > your table. What more could I > ever expect or ask?" > > 29 "That's enough," said the king. "Say no more. Here's my decision: You > and Ziba divide the > property between you." > > 30 Mephibosheth said, "Oh, let him have it all! All I care about is that > my master the king is home > safe and sound!" > > 31-32 Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim. He crossed the > Jordan with the king to > give him a good send-off. Barzillai was a very old man-eighty > years old! He had supplied the king's needs all the while he was in > Mahanaim since he was very > wealthy. > > 33 "Join me in Jerusalem," the king said to Barzillai. "Let me take care > of you." > > 34-37 But Barzillai declined the offer, "How long do you think I'd live if > I went with the king to > Jerusalem? I'm eighty years old and not much good anymore > to anyone. Can't taste food; can't hear music. So why add to the burdens > of my master the king? I'll > just go a little way across the Jordan with the king. > But why would the king need to make a great thing of that? Let me go back > and die in my hometown and > be buried with my father and mother. But my servant > Kimham here; let him go with you in my place. But treat him well!" > > 38 The king said, "That's settled; Kimham goes with me. And I will treat > him well! If you think of > anything else, I'll do that for you, too." > > 39-40 The army crossed the Jordan but the king stayed. The king kissed and > blessed Barzillai, who > then returned home. Then the king, Kimham with him, crossed > over at Gilgal. > > 40-41 The whole army of Judah and half the army of Israel processed with > the king. The men of > Israel came to the king and said, "Why have our brothers, > the men of Judah, taken over as if they owned the king, escorting the king > and his family and close > associates across the Jordan?" > > 42 The men of Judah retorted, "Because the king is related to us, that's > why! But why make a scene? > You don't see us getting treated special because of > it, do you?" > > 43 The men of Israel shot back, "We have ten shares in the king to your > one. Besides we're the > firstborn-so why are we having to play second fiddle? It > was our idea to bring him back." > > But the men of Judah took a harder line than the men of Israel. > > 2 Samuel 20 > 1 Just then a good-for-nothing named Sheba son of Bicri the Benjaminite > blew a blast on the ram's > horn trumpet, calling out, > We've got nothing to do with David, > there's no future for us with the son of Jesse! > Let's get out of here, Israel-head for your tents! > > 2-3 So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of > Bicri. But the men of Judah > stayed committed, sticking with their king all the way > from the Jordan to Jerusalem. When David arrived home in Jerusalem, the > king took the ten concubines > he had left to watch the palace and placed them in > seclusion, under guard. He provided for their needs but didn't visit them. > They were virtual > prisoners until they died, widows as long as they lived. > > 4-10 The king ordered Amasa, "Muster the men of Judah for me in three > days; then report in." Amasa > went to carry out his orders, but he was late reporting > back. So David told Abishai, "Sheba son of Bicri is going to hurt us even > worse than Absalom did. > Take your master's servants and hunt him down before > he gets holed up in some fortress city where we can't get to him." So > under Abishai's command, all > the best men-Joab's men and the Kerethites and Pelethites-left > Jerusalem to hunt down Sheba son of Bicri. They were near the boulder at > Gibeon when Amasa came > their way. Joab was wearing a tunic with a sheathed sword > strapped on his waist, but the sword slipped out and fell to the ground. > Joab greeted Amasa, "How > are you, brother?" and took Amasa's beard in his right > hand as if to kiss him. Amasa didn't notice the sword in Joab's other > hand. Joab stuck him in the > belly and his guts spilled to the ground. A second blow > wasn't needed; he was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai continued to > chase Sheba son of Bicri. > > 11-14 One of Joab's soldiers took up his post over the body and called > out, "Everyone who sides > with Joab and supports David, follow Joab!" Amasa was lying > in a pool of blood in the middle of the road; the man realized that the > whole army was going to stop > and take a look, so he pulled Amasa's corpse off the > road into the field and threw a blanket over him so it wouldn't collect > spectators. As soon as he'd > gotten him off the road, the traffic flowed normally, > following Joab in the chase after Sheba son of Bicri. Sheba passed through > all the tribes of Israel > as far as Abel Beth Maacah; all the Bicrites clustered > and followed him into the city. > > 15 Joab's army arrived and laid siege to Sheba in Abel Beth Maacah. They > built a siege-ramp up > against the city's fortification. The plan was to knock > down the wall. > > 16-17 But a shrewd woman called out from the city, "Listen, everybody! > Please tell Joab to come > close so I can talk to him." When he had come, the woman > said, "Are you Joab?" > > He said, "I am." > > "Then," she said, "listen to what I have to say." > > He said, "I'm listening." > > 18-19 "There's an old saying in these parts: 'If it's answers you want, > come to Abel and get it > straight.' We're a peaceful people here, and reliable. > And here you are, trying to tear down one of Israel's mother cities. Why > would you want to mess with > God's legacy like that?" > > 20-21 Joab protested, "Believe me, you've got me all wrong. I'm not here > to hurt anyone or destroy > anything-not on your life! But a man from the hill country > of Ephraim, Sheba son of Bicri by name, revolted against King David; hand > him over, him only, and > we'll get out of here." > > The woman told Joab, "Sounds good. His head will be tossed to you from > the wall." > > 22 The woman presented her strategy to the whole city and they did it: > They cut off the head of > Sheba son of Bicri and tossed it down to Joab. He then > blew a blast on the ram's horn trumpet and the soldiers all went home. > Joab returned to the king in > Jerusalem. > > 23-26 Joab was again commander of the whole army of Israel. Benaiah son of > Jehoiada was over the > Kerethites and Pelethites; Adoniram over the work crews; > Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was clerk; Sheva was historian; Zadok and > Abiathar were priests; Ira the > Jairite was David's chaplain. > > 2 Samuel 21 > > Famine and War > 1There was a famine in David's time. It went on year after year after > year-three years. David went > to God seeking the reason. > > God said, "This is because there is blood on Saul and his house, from > the time he massacred the > Gibeonites." 2 So the king called the Gibeonites together > for consultation. (The Gibeonites were not part of Israel; they were what > was left of the Amorites, > and protected by a treaty with Israel. But Saul, a > fanatic for the honor of Israel and Judah, tried to kill them off.) > > 3 David addressed the Gibeonites: "What can I do for you? How can I > compensate you so that you will > bless God's legacy of land and people?" > > 4 The Gibeonites replied, "We don't want any money from Saul and his > family. And it's not up to us > to put anyone in Israel to death." > > But David persisted: "What are you saying I should do for you?" > > 5-6 Then they told the king, "The man who tried to get rid of us, who > schemed to wipe us off the > map of Israel-well, let seven of his sons be handed over > to us to be executed-hanged before God at Gibeah of Saul, the holy > mountain." > > And David agreed, "I'll hand them over to you." > > 7-9 The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because > of the promise David and > Jonathan had spoken before God. But the king selected > Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons that Rizpah daughter of Aiah had > borne to Saul, plus the five > sons that Saul's daughter Merab had borne to Adriel > son of Barzillai the Meholathite. He turned them over to the Gibeonites > who hanged them on the > mountain before God-all seven died together. Harvest was > just getting underway, the beginning of the barley harvest, when they were > executed. > > 10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took rough burlap and spread it out for herself > on a rock from the > beginning of the harvest until the heavy rains started. She > kept the birds away from the bodies by day and the wild animals by night. > > 11-14 David was told what she had done, this Rizpah daughter of Aiah and > concubine of Saul. He then > went and got the remains of Saul and Jonathan his son > from the leaders at Jabesh Gilead (who had rescued them from the town > square at Beth Shan where the > Philistines had hung them after striking them down > at Gilboa). He gathered up their remains and brought them together with > the dead bodies of the seven > who had just been hanged. The bodies were taken back > to the land of Benjamin and given a decent burial in the tomb of Kish, > Saul's father. > > They did everything the king ordered to be done. That cleared things > up: from then on God > responded to Israel's prayers for the land. > > 15-17 War broke out again between the Philistines and Israel. David and > his men went down to fight. > David became exhausted. Ishbi-Benob, a warrior descended > from Rapha, with a spear weighing nearly eight pounds and outfitted in > brand-new armor, announced > that he'd kill David. But Abishai son of Zeruiah came > to the rescue, struck the Philistine, and killed him. > > Then David's men swore to him, "No more fighting on the front-lines for > you! Don't snuff out the > lamp of Israel!" > > 18 Later there was another skirmish with the Philistines at Gob. That time > Sibbecai the Hushathite > killed Saph, another of the warriors descended from > Rapha. > > 19 At yet another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jaar, > the weaver of Bethlehem, > killed Goliath the Gittite whose spear was as big as > a flagpole. > > 20-21 Still another fight broke out in Gath. There was a giant there with > six fingers on his hands > and six toes on his feet-twenty-four fingers and toes! > He was another of those descended from Rapha. He insulted Israel, and > Jonathan son of Shimeah, > David's brother, killed him. > > 22 These four were descended from Rapha in Gath. And they all were killed > by David and his > soldiers. > > > Please join us on Skype Monday thru Friday at 8:00 EST for our Morning > Skype Prayer Time. > > > Contact Me At: > Donnie Parrett > 1956 Asa Flat Road > Annville, Kentucky 40402 > Home Phone: 606-364-3321 > Church Phone: 606-364-PRAY > Skype Name: Donnie1261 > Email: [email protected] > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. 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