2 SAMUEL 17:1-29 | JOHN 19:23-42 | PSALM 119:129-152 | PROVERBS 16:12-13
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The story of Absalom’s pursuit of his father continues. Absalom seeks out the advice of two advisors to the king, each giving different advice. David, in the meantime is still on the run and is a king without a kingdom. One of the advisors, Hushai, sends word to David to alert him to Absalom’s plans. It is to be seen what may come of all this and whether Absalom succeeds in displacing his own father David as king of Israel.
Turning to our passage in the book of John, we come upon the gruesome account of the crucifixion of Jesus. After a most horrific ordeal, Jesus breathes his last on the cross. It is indeed a matter of curiosity as to where all his disciples have gone because there is no one to tend to the body; instead, it is two relatively unknown men, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus who ask Pilate for the body and take it away for a proper burial.
Our reading in the psalms continues through chapter 119, the longest psalm. Some verses that are worthy of reflection and emulation are as follows:
130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple. 131 I open my mouth and pant,
longing for your commands. 132 Turn to me and have mercy on me,
as you always do to those who love your name. 133 Direct my footsteps according to your word;
let no sin rule over me. 134 Redeem me from human oppression,
that I may obey your precepts. 135 Make your face shine on your servant
and teach me your decrees.
140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested,
and your servant loves them. 141 Though I am lowly and despised,
I do not forget your precepts. 142 Your righteousness is everlasting
and your law is true. 143 Trouble and distress have come upon me,
but your commands give me delight. 144 Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live.
145 I call with all my heart; answer me, LORD,
and I will obey your decrees. 146 I call out to you; save me
and I will keep your statutes. 147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I have put my hope in your word. 148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promises. 149 Hear my voice in accordance with your love;
preserve my life, LORD, according to your laws.
Finally, two verses from the book of Proverbs pertaining to the true character of kings. One can’t help but wonder if Solomon, king of Israel, had his father David or even himself in mind when he wrote this:
12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.
13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value the one who speaks what is right.
May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.
2 SAMUEL 15:23-16:23 | JOHN 18:25-19:22 | PSALM 119:113-128 | PROVERBS 16:10-11
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There is complete disorder in the kingdom of David. While David the king has had to flee his own land, the insurrection of Absalom, his son, continues unabated. David initially takes the Ark of the Covenant with him, but thinks better of it and sends it back to Jerusalem with the priests.
En route to the Mount of Olives in ashes and sackcloth, David is wondering how it can be that he has become a prey to his own flesh and blood. And he encounters equally puzzling incidents along the way: there is a man from the tribe of Benjamin that heaps curses upon the king as he passes by, and then there is the servant of Mephibosheth, who comes to David with gifts because his own master, the grandson of Saul, now believes that he will soon become installed as king of Israel!
In the meantime, Absalom receives the worst possible advice from the kings’ counselors who have jumped ship onto Absalom’s side. They tell Absalom to sleep with his father’s concubines in a show of domination and power. Woe is unto Absalom!
Turning now to our reading in the gospel of John, we see Pontius Pilate the Roman governor utter these words about Jesus: “I find no basis for a charge against him.” And yet, the crowd that has been instigated by the elders and teachers of the Sanhedrin, the religious body, wants blood—and they want it now. And so, the trial is over, the verdict is in, and the execution is underway.
But Pilate is still unconvinced, and you almost feel sorry for the man—he tries again and again to let Jesus go, but never does find the courage of his convictions to act upon it. The Jewish leaders tell Pilate this: “We have a law, and according to that law he (Jesus) must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” And finally, Pilate gives in.
The other gospels record that he symbolically washes his hands to indicate that the blood of this man called Jesus is not on his hands, but the sad fact is that it certainly was. It was on the hands of Pilate as much as it was on the hands of every single person who called for his death on that day.
But as one last effort to make known his position, Pilate orders a sign to be installed above Jesus’ cross that proclaims: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
For a Roman governor to publicly acknowledge a kingship in a land that is occupied by the Romans and ruled by Caesar, this was indeed a brazenly courageous act. Pilate was jeopardizing his own position in doing this, but he remains unmoved when the Jewish elders come to him and ask that the sign be modified to read that Jesus claimed he was the king of the Jews. Pilate replies, “What I have written, I have written.”
Our journey through the very long Psalm 119 continues. Some verses that stand out to me are these:
114 You are my refuge and my shield;
I have put my hope in your word. 115 Away from me, you evildoers,
that I may keep the commands of my God! 116 Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live;
do not let my hopes be dashed. 117 Uphold me, and I will be delivered;
123 My eyes fail, looking for your salvation,
looking for your righteous promise. 124 Deal with your servant according to your love
and teach me your decrees. 125 I am your servant; give me discernment
that I may understand your statutes.
And finally, a verse from Proverbs that speaks to the constant justice to be found in God’s dealings:
11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.
May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.
2 SAMUEL 14:1-15:22 | JOHN 18:1-24 | PSALM 119:97-112 | PROVERBS 16:8-9
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Every child is precious to its parents. And a child’s wrongdoing, no matter how grievous cannot be forever held against him by the parent. We see this truth play itself out in the story of David and Absalom, the son who murders his half-brother Amnon and flees to another land for fear of his father’s wrath.
But time passes, and David’s grief and longing for his fugitive son remains. This leads to Joab, David’s advisor, to devise a plan to allow Absalom to return from exile. David agrees to this, and in time there is an understanding to allow Absalom to return, and yet, he is not received by his father for a true reconciliation. This greatly irks Absalom, and one is only left to imagine the storm of emotions that he must have harbored in his heart toward his father and his people.
But since Absalom cannot win the favor and love of his father, he begins to make every attempt to win the love and trust of the people. By ingratiating himself with the common folk who come to petition the king on various and sundry matters, Absalom begins to be seen in a new light. So much so, that he soon builds up a following of a band of men, and it isn’t long before he makes his ulterior intentions known: he wishes to be king.
Absalom believes that his good looks and charm are grounds enough to usurp the king and appoint himself as one. What this means is that soon David is made to flee for his life. The king fears that his own son will displace him from the throne and perhaps even kill him. What a sad day it is in the land of Israel!
Turning now to our reading in the gospel of John, we learn of Jesus’ arrest. It is here that Peter draws his sword to slice off the ear of a Roman guard. But Jesus will have none of this and tells Peter to put away his sword, and although John doesn’t mention it, the other three gospels do record the restoration of the man’s ear. The charges drawn up against Jesus are flimsy: blasphemy at best. But the ball has been set to roll, and roll it must…
Turning now to our reading of the psalms, we are still working our way through the longest psalm 119. Here is the entire section titled Nun. May it be that like David, the psalmist, we also strive to make these words real in our lives:
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path. 106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws. 107 I have suffered much;
preserve my life, LORD, according to your word. 108 Accept, LORD, the willing praise of my mouth,
and teach me your laws. 109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
I will not forget your law. 110 The wicked have set a snare for me,
but I have not strayed from your precepts. 111 Your statutes are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart. 112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees
to the very end.
Finally, one verse from the book of Proverbs reproduced here in the KJV which is the one that I am most familiar with:
9A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.
