Southern Cross Presbyterian Church

2 Samuel 12:1 – 14:24

We hit the 3month mark! 90days into reading the bible in a year and we reach the rebuke of Nathan and the consequence of David’s sin – the death of his son and the calamity falling upon his household.

I always find it difficult to read the story of rape of Tamar because it was so treacherous and so calculated by her own half brother. How could he do that? How could David do nothing to bring justice for his daughter? It was a big reminder to me of the depth of human sin and the rebellion against God’s good direction and purpose. David’s sin (adultery with Bathsheba) had consequences – his sons followed his example of failing to live for God under His rule, His Lordship.

The big difference is David’s reaction to rebuke. David humbled himself and repented, throwing himself on the mercy of God, knowing he deserved to die for the adultery and murder he had committed. (This is a slight aside but I found it interesting that one of “payments” for David’s sins was the death of his son. The payment of our sin was the death of God’s son…) but his son’s failed to model his humility and repentance and David failed as a father to instruct them and bring them to justice – why? Maybe because his sin was fresh in his mind and he may have thought that he was in no place to judge.

I guess in that, David was right – he wasn’t able to judge righteously as he was consumed with sin, like the rest of us… BUT God is not. Jesus is the righteous, perfect judge without sin, who knew that we would receive the penalty that our sin deserved – death… Yet he came and took that penalty on himself by dying on the cross – which is what we celebrate over Easter, Jesus’ death and resurrection. Easter is such a great opportunity we have to share the good news of Jesus to those around us!

2 Sam 3:22-6:23

What a story of scandal, murder and deception.

The plan of Abner with David. Then he is murdered by Joab in revenge of his brothers death. Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth gets run through while he is having an arvo power nap. In all these David keeps his hands clean from blood shed and grieves the loss of these men.

David is now established as Israels King.

God has been faithful to his promises as the people acknowledge in 5:2:

And the LORD said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’

At each turn God is governing the affairs.

He is the one who makes kingdoms rise, fall and prosper.

1 Samuel 30-31 & 1 Chronicles 10:1-14

The final chapter of 1 Samuel describes the sad end to the life of Israel’s first king. Israel’s leader, who we were first introduced to as being “a head taller than all the others” (9:2), is cut down to size – quite literally! 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 provides a very helpful summary of the life and trials of Saul, king of Israel:

Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord, and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not enquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

Why was Saul such a miserable failure as a king? Because he didn’t do the one thing that was required of Israel’s king…

When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:18-20)

The king’s job was to listen to God and do what he says – to “keep the word of the Lord”. It’s pretty simple really. How are you going at listening to God and doing what he says?

1 Samuel 23:1 – 25:44

This mornings readings are a little strange. I find it hard to know what to make of David creeping up behind Saul and cutting of a corner of his robe. I can’t help myself thinking why didn’t David just kill him because he seems pretty happy to kill other people? I know David’s says how can he kill God’s annointed but God’s spirit has left Saul.

Anyway maybe part of the answer is that God just seems to be in complete control of the situation, protecting David and handing his enemy over to him. God has chosen his new King and he will be King – even Saul acknowledges that. But I find it hard to answer the key question this morning – how do these chapters point to Jesus?

Any thoughts?