Bible in a Year April 18 - Psalms 5-7; 10-11; 13; 17

 

April 18 - Psalms 5-7; 10-11; 13; 17

There are several literary types of psalms included in this book, and each of the ones we read today are considered ‘laments’, which express distress and petitions for God’s help. Thirty-seven of the 150 psalms are laments.

Laments can reflect internal suffering (such as sickness or physical distress) or external forces, like enemies or oppressors. They typically follow a similar structure where the author cries out to God for help, states his complaint, states that he still trusts in God despite his circumstances, asks for deliverance from the situation, and then ends by praising God for who he is and what he has done in the past. Our reading tomorrow also consists of laments – watch for these elements!

Look at Ps 5:7. The word in the NIV is mercy, and in ESV it is steadfast love. These are both translations of ‘hesed’, which we discussed back in 2 Samuel 7:15 on April 7. It also shows up in psalms 6, 13, and 17 – did you find it? What else do today’s psalms have in common?

TOMORROW’S READING: Psalms 41; 43; 46; 55; 61-62; 64

Bible in a Year April 17 - Psalm 30; 1 Chron 25-26

 

April 17 - Psalm 30; 1 Chron 25-26

Glad we had a Psalm to read today because the rest was pretty dry again! I wondered about the intro, though. It said it was written by David for the dedication of the temple, but the temple hadn’t been completed while David was alive. However the Hebrew word here is literally translated ‘house’, which is also used in reference to the tabernacle.  It’s also possible that this was written in advance to be read by Solomon when the temple was completed.

Apparently musicians were set apart and did not have to fight in the military. We see that the three family leaders were under the supervision of the king, and they all prophesied. They were in turn responsible for their sons, who were all trained and skilled in music for the Lord.

We also see that the Kohathites, who were previously responsible for carrying the Ark, are now gatekeepers. I always like the little ‘asides’ that occasionally show up about the people. Obed-Edom was blessed, Shemaiah’s sons were ‘very capable…and strong,” Shimri was appointed as the first although he wasn’t really first born (I wonder why), and Zechariah was a wise counselor.

TOMORROW’S TEXT: Psalms 5-7; 10-11; 13; 17

Bible in a Year April 16 - 1 Chron 22-24

 

April 16 - 1 Chron 22-24

Although David wasn’t allowed to build the temple, God obviously let him participate in the preparation for it. He chose alien residents  in Israel to be stonecutters – apparently there were Phoenicians who lived there and who were great at masonry work, so perhaps that’s who he chose.

I liked the charge, almost prayer, which David gives to Solomon in chapter 22:11-13. What charge would you give your children?

The remainder of today’s reading can be rather dry, and it makes me wonder why such details would be included in the history. Commentaries suggest three reasons:

1) It emphasizes the importance of structure and organization in the worship of God,

2) It demonstrates the importance of each person’s unique role and contribution to that worship, and

3) It emphasizes the importance of obedience to God’s commands for servicing and worshipping him.

TOMORROW’S TEXT: Psalm 30; 1 Chron 25-26

Bible in a Year April 15 - 2 Sam 23:24 - 24:25; 1 Chron 11:26-47; 21:1-30

 

April 15 - 2 Sam 23:24 - 24:25; 1 Chron 11:26-47; 21:1-30

Did you notice that Uriah the Hittite was included among David’s mighty men? And Joab isn’t, even though his brothers Abishai and Asahel are. Maybe it wasn’t necessary to mention Joab since he was the commander of the army. There are more men listed in Chronicles than in Samuel – commentaries presume that these are either men of lower rank or perhaps they replaced some of the original men when they were killed in battle, like Uriah.

The reason David conducted a census of the fighting men is a bit confusing. 2 Samuel says God led David to command it, but 1 Chronicles indicates it was Satan. And why would this be a sin? The Hard Sayings of the Bible states that a census of men of fighting age was essentially a draft notice and basis for taxation. And since David counted all the people, not just men of fighting age, it was considered an illegal act. Another suggestion is this was a prideful act of David, who may have been trying to see how great his kingdom was. The census was obviously seen as a problem by Joab, who tried to talk him out of it.

Satan is only mentioned by name 14 times in the OT, and only 33 in the NT. Of course he is referenced as the serpent, but he really isn’t discussed often. We know God doesn’t compel people to sin, however scholars state that he might compel someone to reveal the wickedness in their hearts which results in a sin visible to others. Others suggest that these two passages could refer to separate events, justifying this perspective with the different number of people counted in both accounts. Regardless of the explanation, these passages can be a struggle to understand.

If faced with the three choices David had to make as a result of his sin, which would you choose?

TOMORROW’S TEXT: 1 Chron 22-24

Bible in a Year April 14 - 2 Sam 20-21; 23:8-23; 1 Chron 20:4-8; 11:10-25

 

April 14 - 2 Sam 20-21; 23:8-23; 1 Chron 20:4-8; 11:10-25

Anyone else a bit confused over today’s text? First, I thought God had told David the land would have peace – it sounds like the battles we read about today were far from peaceful! Yet another attempt at a coup (resolved by a wise woman – too bad we don’t know her name) and additional fighting with the Philistines.

And a famine in the land as a consequence for Saul’s actions nearly a decade earlier? Why would God punish those who didn’t seem to have much involvement in the initial sin? Oh, the heartbreak of Rizpah, whose two sons and five nephews had to pay for their grandfather’s actions. I wonder if Mirab was still alive; we don’t hear of her pain.

Then we learn the names of the famous mighty men of David, who were heroes of the time. Their brave actions helped save the Israelites from disaster. It’s interesting to compare these heroes and their actions to the ‘heroes’ of our world today.

TOMORROW’S TEXT:  2 Sam 23:24 - 24:25; 1 Chron 11:26-47; 21:1-30

Bible in a Year April 13 - Psalm 3; 2 Samuel 18-19

 

April 13 - Psalm 3; 2 Samuel 18-19

Despite all he had done, David still loved Absalom and wanted him treated ‘gently’ by his soldiers. What would have happened if the two had just talked? Or if David had been close enough to his son to know what was happening? Could twenty thousand deaths have been prevented?

We learned back in 2 Sam 14:25-26 that Absalom was an incredibly handsome man who was very proud of his thick hair. It said that he would cut it once per year when it got too heavy, and that when weighed it was equal to two hundred shekels – about five pounds! But that was to be his undoing when it got inextricably tangled in a tree. Can you imagine the pain of hanging by your hair? Probably less than being hit with a bunch of javelins, though.

I was confused when verse 18:18 said Absalom had no son to carry on his name – back in chapter 14:27 it said he had three sons. We have to presume they had died. Some sources say the average life expectancy in 1000 BC (estimated to be the time of David) was only 30 years, and infant mortality was high. One source (ourworldindata.org/child-mortality) suggests that 25% of infants didn’t live through their first year, and almost half died before puberty. I wonder if Tamar, his daughter, was still alive?

As a side note, apparently Absalom’s pillar still exists! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_Absalom).

Why would Ahimaaz lie to David about his son?  And what did you think of Joab’s straight talk coaching of David in Chapter 19? Things get a bit complex through the rest of the chapter – you almost need a playbook to keep everyone straight! It sounds like the aftermath of this civil war took a while to resolve.

TOMORROW’S TEXT: 2 Sam 20-21; 23:8-23; 1 Chron 20:4-8; 11:10-25

Bible in a Year April 12 - 2 Samuel 15-17

 

April 12 - 2 Samuel 15-17

What was Absalom’s motive for wanting to oust his dad? Did he hate him? Did he think he could do a better job? Was he power hungry? He obviously had a long term plan to turn the devotion of the Israelites to himself and he wasn’t devoted to God at the time.

It also seems that he wasn’t allowed to just travel without permission – he had to ask David if he could go to worship at Hebron, the location of the original tabernacle tent. He was obviously very charismatic, because the two hundred men he’d invited from Jerusalem were unaware of his plan yet still ended up supporting him.

And why was David so afraid of him that he had to flee Jerusalem? Did God direct him to do that – we see no evidence of that, however we know that David was very devout. I found it interesting that he carried the Ark of the Covenant with him – I imagine that slowed the procession down quite a bit! He did pray that Absalom’s efforts would be thwarted.

Were you surprised that Ahithophel hung himself? Were advisors to the king required to be correct at all times, or was he just feeling rather useless since Absalom followed someone else’s advice? If Absalom WOULD have followed his advice it may have turned out the way Ahithophel expected, but perhaps he knew that and believed David would eventually kill him for being a traitor.

So many questions.

TOMORROW’S TEXT: Psalm 3; 2 Samuel 18-19