Bible in one year 6/5/2022 2 Samuel Chapter 21-24 David’s song, the census, plague By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Bible in one year 6/5/2022  2 Samuel Chapter 21-24  David’s song, the census, plague

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

2 Samuel 21 The Famine was resulted by the sin of Saul, has slain some of Gibeonites

            Chapter 21:1-24:25 This section in a nonchronological appendix to the book and records many events that occurred earlier in David’s reign. David recognized this famine as divine chastening (Deut.28:47-48) and asked God the reason. The sin was that Saul, zealous to exterminate the heathen from Israel, had slain some of the Gibeonites with whom Israel had made a treaty(Josh.9:3-27). David asked the Gibeonites what they would accept as settlement for the injustice. The Gibeonites demanded justice in keeping with the principle of Num.35:31; a life demands a life. In light of Deut.24:16 it is probable that the seven sons were directly implicated in the attack upon the Gibeonites. Be killed and exposed.(v.6) The execution involved the exposure of the dead bodies, a dishonoring and severe penalty. From the barley harvest of April to the early rains of October, Rizpah protected the exposed bodies from scavengers.(v.10). In due time the famine ended and God restored the land of prosperity.(v.14). The rest of the Chapter records David’s exploits against the Philistines.(vv.15-22).

 2 Samuel 22 The Song of David  

            This hymn of praise is almost identical to Psalm 18 and is David’s response to God’s goodness in delivering him from his enemies and from the vicious King Saul. The horn of my salvation.(v.3) The figure denoting power is borrowed form animals whose horns are for protection and defense. David reflected on the circumstances in which he almost lost his life.(vv.5-6). David reported God’s deliverance. God is described as He appeared to Moses at Sinai, with earthquakes, thunder, darkness, and lightning. (vv.7-19). David presented the reasons for God’s condescension and deliverance.(vv.20-28). God promised blessing for obedience and judgment for disobedience (Deut.28:30), and David rejoiced because God blessed him for his obedience. (vv.25-26). Those who insist on devious ways are given up to their perversity(v.27). David described what he could do by the Lord’s enablement the O.T. equivalent of Phil.4:13.(vv.29-46). David closed this psalm of thanksgiving with renewed praise for God’s glorious deeds.(vv.47-50).

 2 Samuel 23 The Last words of David and the Deeds of his might men

            The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the ma exalted by the Most High. Last words(vv.1-7), probably David’s last formal utterance, expressing praise to God, the righteous Ruler and Covenant-Keeper.  David affirmed the divine inspiration of his writings. “ The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; His word was on my tongue.”(v.2). Grant me my every desire(v.5), David expressed faith that God would consummate the covenant established in 7:12-16. David anticipated judgment on the ungodly who persecute Abraham’s seed (Gen.12:3) “But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand. Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie.”(vv.6-7).      Verse 8 David presents the names and achievements of thirty-seven of his bravest warriors. According to 1 Chron.11:10, these men helped David become king. The thirty composed the elite core of David’s mighty men, to which replacements were added as men were killed. The active number was kept at thirty warriors; hence the list contains more than thirty names.(v.24). The thirty-seven include the Three (vv.8:12), Abishai, Benaiah (vv.18-23), the thirty one warriors (vv.24-39), and David’s commander, Joab(v.37).

2 Samuel 24  David’s sin in putting his faith in numbers rather than in God; Census resulted in Plague. David’s sacrificial giving, built an altar to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings, and fellowship offerings. The Lord stopped the plague.

            David’s numbering of the people, usually done for purposes of taxation or military draft, is included to describe the events that led David to buy the ground upon which the Temple would be built. David’s sin was in putting his faith in number rather than in God. Even Joab recognized this as a foolish move (v.3). incited. It was Satan who actually prompted David to number the people (1Chron.21:1-4). After they had gone through Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king. In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able bodied men who could handle a sword. And in Judah, five hundred thousand.(vv.9). Almost ten months passed before David realize his sin. David was conscience –stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, “ I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.” (v.10). The Word of Lord had come to Gad, the prophet, David’s seer. “ This is what the Lord says, “ I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.”(v.12) “ Shall there come upon you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? …” (v.13). David knew God to be more merciful than man and he wisely took the third option.(v.14). So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord was grieved because of the calamity and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “ Enough! Withdraw your hand.” (vv.15-16). Gad went to David and told him to build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. The Lord ansered prayer, the plague on Israel was stopped. (vv.24-25). Here is an important principle of sacrificial give. The threshing floor was on Mount Moriah, a hill in the region of Moriah, where Abraham offered Isaac(Gen.22:2) and where Solomon later built the Temple(2Chron.3:1).

 

Bibliography,

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986