June 2: 2 Samuel 19:11-20:13; Psalm 120; Proverbs 16:16-157 John 21



Overview

            2 Samuel: David rebuked Judah for being the last to bring him back as king so they came to the Jordan to bring him back. David also made Amasa commander over his army instead of Joab.
            Shimei, who had cursed David, came and asked for forgiveness for his sin. Zeruiah wanted to kill him but David said no one would be put to death because he knows he is now still king.
            Mephibosheth also came with his clothes torn and unkempt from the day David departed. David asked why he didn’t go along with him. Mephibosheth answered that Ziba deceived him and left without him then slandered him to the David. He asked David to do what seems good to him. David told him that was enough talking about who did what to whom. David divided all of Mephibosheth land between him and Ziba.
            Barzillai, who had brought supplies to David was eighty years old and very wealthy. David wanted him to come and live with him in Jerusalem. He told David that he was too old to enjoy the pleasures of the palace. Instead, he had Chimham go with David in his place.
            Israel then came and were upset because Judah had taken David back without them. They had a big argument but Judah out yelled them.
            A worthless man, Sheba, blew a trumpet and sparked a revolt. The men of Israel left and followed him. Judah followed David. When David returned to Jerusalem, he sequestered the concubines whom Absalom had violated. They lived out their lives like imprisoned widows.
            David told Amasa to gather the army of Judah within three days. But he took longer than three days. So, David told Abishai to go after Sheba because he would do more harm than Absalom. Joab’s men and other might men also followed Abishai. When they met up with Amasa, Joab went to greet him but killed him instead. Then Joab and Abishai went after Sheba.
            Psalm: David asks for help from the Lord in his distress. He is tired of people lying about him. He would like to shoot them with flaming arrows. He is getting tired of living out in the boonies with people who would rather fight than make peace.
            Proverbs: Wisdom and understanding is much better than riches. An upright person steers away from evil, preserving his life.
            John: After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to the Disciples by the Sea of Tiberius while they were fishing. They didn’t recognize him on the shore. They hadn’t caught anything so he told them to cast on the right side of the boat. When the did, they couldn’t haul it in because of the great number of fish. John said it was Jesus so Peter jumped in the sea while the others dragged the net to shore. Jesus already had a fire and some fish cooking but he had them bring some of the catch also.
            While eating, they wanted to ask him who he was but they also knew he was the Lord. Jesus took Peter aside and asked if he loved him three times. Each time Peter said yes and each time Jesus instructed Peter to take care of his sheep. The last time grieved Peter. Then Jesus told him how he would die then told Peter to follow him.
            Peter asked Jesus about John. Jesus told him it was none of his business even if John wouldn’t die until Jesus came back. Peter must do what Jesus asked and follow him.
            People misunderstood Jesus to say that John would not die so he corrected that. Jesus did much more and if all he did was written it would be so much that all the books in the world couldn’t contain it all.

What Stood Out

            2 Samuel: “Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart” (2 Sam 19:19).
            Psalm: “Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace” (Ps 120:6).
            Proverbs: “How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver” (Prov 16:16).
            John: “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me” (John 21:22)!

Insight

            2 Samuel: Forgiveness is a powerful thing. Shimei’s actions were treasonous, insulting, humiliating, and seemingly unforgivable. But David had just been spared from his own death. He forgave Shimei and showed much grace to him. This is the way we should forgive others. We should remember how much the Lord has forgiven us and then treat others in the same way (Eph 4:32). Jesus demonstrated that forgiveness by dying for us. How can we not forgive for much lesser offences?
            Psalm: David was surrounded by people who were malcontents when he first fled from Saul. He kept them in check but he even had to make his living by raiding other nations. It was distressful for him when he would rather have had peace.
            We sometimes feel the same way, living in the world but wanting to see it under the rule of our Lord. We are in a battle as Ephesians 6:11-12 states. But we must remember that this battle is not against people but the powers in the heavenly realms. One day it will be over, but until then, we need to be strong and steadfast putting on the armor to do the battle (Eph 6:13-18). Even so, we know we can call on the Lord when it seems overwhelming.
            Proverbs: What are your goals in life? I’m asking about the highest goal that directs and guides all your other planning. If your goals are acquiring wealth, then you are on the wrong path. If your goal is to gain wisdom and understanding by your relationship with the Lord, then you will be able to get on the right path which leads to eternal life. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and yields understanding (Ps 111:10). Any lesser goal is not fitting for one who claims to be a disciple of the Jesus. Once this goal is established, there are many other goals that all should support this one supreme goal.
            John: After denying Jesus three times, Peter needed some reassurance that he was still able to do what Jesus wanted. The three times Jesus asked Peter about his love and his commands to take care of the sheep did this. The first two times, Jesus asked Peter if his love was agapaoo love. This love is defined by Thayer's Greek Lexicon, “When used of love to a master, God or Christ, the word involves the idea of affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, grateful recognition of benefits received.” This is quite different from what we most often hear preached about agape in 1 Corinthians 13 (note the slight spelling difference) being unconditional love that God has for us and we should have for one another. However, in context, this definition from Thayer’s makes senses. Jesus isn’t asking Peter to have some lofty love that is impossible to achieve. Yet Peter responded with fileoo love, which is defined by Thayer as, “1. To love; to be friendly to one 2. to kiss … 3. to be kindly disposed to one, wish one well.” Finally, Jesus asked Peter if he had this fileoo love for him the third time. This grieved Peter.
            Imagine a man and woman talking to each other. She asks if he loves her. He answers that he likes her. Then she asks if he likes hers. He takes this to mean that she doubts that he even likes her. This was a real soul-searching time for Peter. It makes him consider exactly where he is with the Lord.
            We should have the same kind of soul-searching conversation with the Lord. Do we really love him with either agapaoo or fileoo love? Do we have affectionate reverence? Do we have prompt obedience? Ae we grateful? Are we kindly disposed to the Lord? Are we even kindly disposed to Jesus?

Application

             One way of loving the Lord is to forgive others as he forgave us. That should be obeyed promptly. Another is to feed his sheep and that may be family members, children, or others. It should be obeyed as well. It’s time for some soul-searching.

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