2 Samuel 14 - An Imperfect Reconciliation

2 Samuel 14

Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and did not see the king's face. (verse 28)

Message: An Imperfect Reconciliation

Time: Second Samuel is set in the land of Israel during the reign of David and follows the course of his forty years as king of Israel (1011–971 BC). It chronicles the establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the expansion of Israel under God’s chosen leader. 

What the Lord is Saying: Verse 1 of Chapter 14 is unclear. It is not clear from the text if David is yearning favorably or unfavorably for his son Absalom. Joab, leader of David's army, who always seems to be trying to manage King David, sends for a woman to excite David interest in mourning and it seems to be giving David a reason to forgive a murderer. Absalom is currently in exile after killing his half-brother Amnon. David failed to confront sin. I suppose it is hard sometimes to see sin in your children, for you are always championing their best. David gets a woman from Tekoa, a town about 10 miles south of Jerusalem to come and display herself as a mourner. Joab is trying to get a certain response out of David and is setting things up. The woman will basically be Joab's puppet, communicating to David what he wants him to hear. 

The woman starts with the words, "Help me, O King." This is appealing to David's compassion. She mentions that her husband is dead. A woman's place in society at this time was closely tied to her husband and without a husband she then had a great need for compassion. The woman presents a story that is akin to Cain and Abel. Two boys in a field and they get into an argument and their is no one to separate them. One brother kills the other. Capital punishment is expected, taking the live of the one who took a life. And the name of the family or the husband's name on the earth would be extinguished. David feels compelled to act on behalf of the woman, telling her to go home. The woman responds with basically, "Oh no, I can't let you do that for me." But David once again takes charge on behalf of this helpless widow and assures her that he will take over the situation and allow nothing to happen to the woman. So the woman pleads for her son to be absolved from the crime and nothing happen to him. David agrees and promises nothing will happen to him. 

The woman asks David if she can speak again. The woman turns the table on David and now speaks of Absalom wondering why David has not welcomed him home. The woman appeals to preserving the life of his son despite his wrongdoing. She appeals to God's compassion and patience, asking David to restore things with his son Absalom. The woman pronounces a blessing on David, acknowledging that he can discern good and evil. 

David then asks the woman if Joab is behind all of this and the woman answers affirmatively. But the woman appeals again to David to have the wisdom of God in this situation. David grants the requests and asks that Absalom return. Joab falls facedown that he has found favor in King David. Joab then goes to Geshur to bring Absalom back. While Absalom is allowed to come back home to Jerusalem he is not allowed to see King David's face. 

Absalom's appearance is described and it is reminiscent of Saul's great appearance. He had long hair and it would be cut annually. A man's hair reflects the importance of personal appearance and Absalom is in great appearance. Absalom has 3 sons and 1 daughter naming the daughter Tamar in honor of the sister he loved. But the tension remained between him and King David for 2 years he did not see the face of the king. Absalom asks Joab come to act as an intermediary, but Joab doesn't respond. Joab manages things and doesn't seem to want to be a pawn in this situation. To force Joab, Absalom has his field set on fire. Joab asks Absalom why and is told that he wants him to go to King David so that the two of them can reconcile and Absalom be seen again. Joab tells the king, David request Absalom and King David kisses him, symbolizing forgiveness and acceptance. 

Summary: With Absalom away, Joab brings a woman to David to petition through a parable him to bring back Absalom. He does, but takes 2 years before David is appeased to allow Absalom in his presence. 

Promise: When reconciliation is partial or incomplete, other problems often arise.

Prayer: O God, sin has a way of getting in the way of people's lives. It creates a problem always and in this situation with Absalom killing his brother though David did not deal with it he dealt with it by not facing Absalom for quite some time. We can appeal to people's good graces, but we must be careful that we are not manipulating the situation. Lord, you are the King of reconciliation and have brought me into your fold despite my wandering and sinful ways. Thank you for that restoration. Be glorified. You are to be praised and adored. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Genesis 3:15 - Covenantal Intervention

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.

Message: Covenantal Intervention

Time: Genesis is the first book and Moses is credited as authoring. The book spans 2400 years of time. It was originally written in Hebrew.

What the Lord is Saying:

I have always tried to look at the gospel in a very simple way. The basic idea that I see is God created order, man broke that order, and God fixed it. Rather than God fixing it alone most of religion and life think that man is the one who fixes things. The problem I see with this is there is never any peace for man on earth because man is always trying to figure out which formula will result in things getting fixed. It also assumes that man can fix it on his own and eventually goodness will outweigh all of the bad's committed. On the contrary, when God is the one who fixes it, he does it completely and without any error.

Thus the idea of God's grace or rather God delivering man is quite foreign to man's thinking. As a reminder, the first covenant of the Bible between God and man marked the idea that man's works would inherit eternal life. But, this was a covenant that came about before man ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Thus, the covenant of works was possible when there was no knowledge of good and evil. But when Adam and Eve broke the covenant of works, pain and futility entered the picture and men and women face great sorrow and hardship.

Man became bent toward disobedience. Before Adam and Eve ate from the tree they had a desire to do those things pleasing to God, but sin twisted this and on our own we can't ever truly seek truth. So we need God to intervene. God's intervention is now known as God's grace. God redeems His creation. God does the work. God intercedes for man. This verse in Genesis 3:15 marks what is known as the first gospel or the protoevangelion. It is the first revelation of the covenant of grace. Under works, blessings come from doing good works. The problem is God's acceptance is based upon perfect obedience, not simply doing more good than bad. Grace is focused instead on faith not obedience. When people understand this grace and the gift of God, they naturally want to live good lives, but all the time they are forgiven by God whenever they sin.

Paul speaks of this in Romans 4 where he talks about Abraham becoming righteous apart from the work of circumcision. He was credited with righteousness while uncircumcised. We are made righteous apart from works.

In Genesis 3:15, God is in the middle of addressing the serpent (v. 14) and he remarks a conflict between the serpent and the woman. The serpent has a conflict with mankind, but it is most clearly seen toward the woman. I think this is evident as we see the power men often have over women and the damage of things like pornography which has convinced the woman the value she has is not who she is but what she looks like. And the difficult she has to work with the man instead of being independent of the man is a chore. We in society, we as men have not done a good job in this either.

But the point of this message is that the seed of the serpent or wicked man will be bruised by the seed of the woman. Thus, the seed of the woman is to be the Christ child. God will bruise the head of Satan through Jesus. God will provide grace to man through the work of His Son on the Cross. He pronounces to Satan the work that He will do.

Promise: The Lord graciously intervened to give His people the will to resist Satan and God pledged to send the Savior to do all the work needed to save us.

Prayer: Thank you God for the salvation that you have given to me this day. I pray that You would strengthen me against the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with April being about salvation by grace alone and how the Lord never fails to save the one whom He has purposed to save.

Romans 11:13-15 - The Jews and the Resurrection

Romans 11:13-15 - ¹³ But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, ¹⁴ if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

Message: Jealousy and the Jewish people; Paul sought to reach the Jews by reaching the Gentiles.

Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome.

What the Lord is Saying:

In the same chapter, Paul states he is an Israelite, but also an apostle of Gentiles. This is a somewhat simple passage, it would seem. Jealousy continues to be a theme though. Paul mentions it here. Romans 10:19. Paul introduced the idea based upon Deuteronomy and the Israelites provoking God to jealousy by serving other gods. And then Paul talking about how God went out to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. 

Paul sought to reach the Jews by reaching the Gentiles. 

In verse 15, Paul mentions the reconciliation of the world, meaning all Gentiles everywhere. Paul had confidence that the number saved would be large. 

The Table Talk reading for today was quite poignant. It defended the argument that the Reformed theology, though it speaks of the sovereignty of God and that the Creator has only chosen some for salvation, reminds us of the zeal Paul had in his ministry to reach the lost. It is clear then that the Lord works through means of all sorts, including our or my preaching of the gospel. He uses us to bring about the ends He has ordained. 

Ezekiel 37:12-14
“Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.

“Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people.

“I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’ ”

Promise: Many will be saved.
 

Romans 5:10-11 - Saved by the Life of God's Son

Romans 5:10-11 - 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Message: To be reconciled with God through Jesus Christ

Time: The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. Persecution of Christians wouldn't begin until AD 64. The church was experiencing times of relative peace. From where he wrote, Corinth, was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idol worship.

What the Lord is Saying:

Set-up
In these verses, Paul continues through the benefits of righteousness. Chapter 4 gave illustrations of righteousness, primarily through the witness of Abraham, though David was also mentioned briefly. But, Abraham more specifically was shown to be righteous apart from works, apart from circumcision, apart from the law; thus, overall, he was declared righteous by faith. Romans 3:21 got Paul started off on this complete description of righteousness by faith and God imputed Jesus' righteousness to man when man believed in Jesus, that he lived, died and rose from the dead; this places our faith in Christ, in accordance with grace. Our sins are not counted against us anymore. Christ died for us.

Chapter 5 then starts to give us benefits. We have peace with God and we have joy in tribulation. And then, starting verse 9, we have salvation from wrath. The wrath of God will come down on man at some time. Maybe it is the tribulation wrath. Maybe it is the wrath at the judgment seat. No matter when, wrath will come. And the point of these verses, 9-11, is to show that man has been saved from this wrath.

Wrath has also been described in chapter 2. The Jews were told they would be judged according to truth, by their works, and with impartiality from verse 1 to 16. The wrath of God is inescapable.

In verse 9, Paul more clearly shows me that I have been justified by Jesus blood. Blood was the means by which Old Testament saints were declared free from sin. Their sin was paid for by the blood of an animal, through a sacrifice. But, Christ's ultimately and completed covers the sin of the called out ones.

Reconciled when we were enemies
Verse 10 is a sobering truth for Paul clearly puts forth that when not in Christ, we are enemies of God. We are contrary to the ways of God. With God, it is either/or. There is no middle ground. The fact that God is impartial shows us that all people are judged fairly and consistently and all people have the same need for salvation.

Verse 6 stated that I was helpless. Verse 7 I was hardly a righteous person (I was not righteous). Verse 8, I was a sinner. But, Christ died for me. As an enemy, God did something incredible and reconciled me to God through the death of Jesus, God's son. I was not reconciled to God through Jesus while I was a good person or moving toward goodness or practicing good works or possessing church disciplines and ordinances, but I was reconciled while I was God's enemy, a sinner.

Saved by His Life
Verse 10 states another "much more then." This phrase came up in verse 9 as well. To me, it is a statement of "wait, there is more." It's a phrase that makes sense coming from Paul because Paul is all about clarifying His points and confirming them over and over.

So, now that we are reconciled. Again, belief in God resulted in being reconciled. This is a past event and a permanent event. This is a done deal. This isn't something that can just suddenly go away. This is God's covenant to man. I think people struggle with this principle because we now have so few good examples of covenants. The covenant of marriage is fleeting. It has been for 50 years as a person has clearly been show to fall in and then, out of love. What has been clearly shows is the importance of a right foundation. And so without good examples of covenants, we start to think that being reconciled to God through Christ is a revolving door rather than a known certainty. But, in verse 4 and 5 of this chapter, I saw hope being confirmed through a tribulation. We have a certainty that we are in Christ. So, I am reconciled.

I am saved by the life of Jesus. This is a future event. I will be saved by his life. Throughout Paul's explanation, there are 3 main points.

1. We have been reconciled to God. We have been declared righteous. Our belief in God imputes righteousness to us.
2. We have hope. This hope is a confidence in a future event. Right now I have hope. 
3. We will be saved by His life in the future. When the wrath of God comes, in the future, I will be saved by the life of Jesus. 

Thus, past, present, and future. Jesus lived a perfect life, and thus He became the perfect substitution. Throughout the Old Testament, substitution were made for sin, but they weren't perfect. Man's sin was being written off by an animal. In Jesus, man's was reconciled by the work of another man. There was a likeness of the same kind. I am saved by the life of Jesus.

I am rich because Jesus has reconciled me
"And not only this." Again, Paul cracks me up. No, wait, there is more. Paul testifies of more truth.  In verse 2, Paul uses the word "hope" to describe the peace we have with God in that we exult or boast in God. We have a lively and triumphant joy because of the faith that we have. We are certain of our future with the glory of God. In verse 3, I exult or have lively and triumphant joy in tribulations. I can now look at tribulations in a new light. They confirm my faith. And now here in verse 11, I exult or have a lively and triumphant joy in God through Jesus because I have been reconciled.

By faith I receive reconciliation. I was an enemy of God (verse 10). I am now reconciled (verse 10). I am a friend of God. It's a declaration of praise: "I am a friend of God."

The result of being declared righteous, of justification:

• Peace with God through Christ (Romans 5:1)
• Access into the grace & presence of God through Christ (Romans 5:2)
• Experience of Exultation and Joy in tribulation (Romans 5:3)
• The love of God poured out in our heart (Romans 5:5)
• The indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5)
• Deliverance from future wrath of God (Romans 5:9)
• Present continuing salvation in Christ our life (Romans 5:10)
• Reconciliation through Christ with God (Romans 5:11) 

Promise: From Tabletalk, April 8: The position we enjoy in Christ today ensures that we will fully experience all of His benefits tomorrow.

Romans 4:9-10 - A Double Transfer

Romans 4:9-10 - 9 Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” 10 How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;

Message: How was righteousness credited?

Time: The date of the book is probably 60 A.D. written from Corinth on Paul's third missionary journey. The church in Rome seems to be established and Romans does not speak of any one error in the church that he is addressing. The church had a large Jewish element, but also filled with Gentile converts from paganism, both free as well as slaves. 

What the Lord is Saying: Paul continues in these verses to explain how justification by faith is not a new concept invented by him or by anyone else in New Testament times, but has been around and was around in the Old Testament. He takes his audience back to Abraham and David, his two witnesses to this truth and has shown thus far that a person who has faith in Jesus Christ, who believes that he took our punishment, was our ransom for us, that God credits that man with righteousness and all of that persons sins are now forgiven.

For the Jew in chapter 2, Paul addressed two core beliefs for the Jew in that they believed (1) because they were called a Jew and were a Jew that they had special privileges and had been collectively grafted into salvation for the Law had been given to them and (2) through the act of circumcision, a commandment given only to the Jew that by practicing this circumcision they had the components necessary to be seen as accepted by God. Paul addresses each of these in the latter half of chapter 2 bringing attention to the Jew that (1) though they have the Law they have not practiced it and have transgressed and (2) clarifies that circumcision is a commandment that is given by God, but circumcision in and of itself doesn't save a person, but is something that exhibits our faith.

On the heals of the message of David and the quotation of Psalm 32:1-2 which stated, "How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!", Paul once again states to the Jew that circumcision does not make a person righteous but righteousness comes about when a person is really uncircumcised.

Verse 9 states, "Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also?" Blessing is being reckoned or credited with righteousness apart from works. So, is the blessing of being credited righteousness apart from works there once the requirement of circumcision has been performed. In essence, does this blessing come with it an expectation of an act being performed? But also what is being asked is whether or not the blessing is limited to Abraham's descendants. Abraham and David's examples have been given, so is their now a connecting between the descendant or Jew and circumcision and thereby the blessing? Must a person be a circumcised Jew to inherit the blessing of righteousness being reckoned apart from works?

Paul here anticipated what his Jewish readers would be thinking.

This is an example of how it is important to understand the beliefs of the person we are speaking with about the Gospel. It is important to understand what they believe because a component of sharing truth is exposing false truth.

Verse 10 states, "How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised." This is really simple and logical. How was Abraham credited with righteousness? Was it while he was a Jew or while he was a Gentile (not circumcised)?

This text is really important because many people are told that God accepts them and they consider themselves to be religious because they have been baptized (sprinkled) or go to church or grew up going to church. Or even because they simple confess their sins once or twice a week to a priest. What makes us a Christian is not what we do, but what Christ has done for us. This is a foreign concept to many and expresses why it is so important for true followers of Christ to preach the good news of Jesus Christ.

Promise: Faith is the Lord's chosen means of transferring the grounds for His declaration to our account. Abraham was declared righteous before He was circumcised.

Ephesians 2:17-19

10/28/12 Message by Erik Christensen

And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
(Ephesians 2:17-19 ESV)

There is a uniqueness in us. We are His representatives.
1. The proclamation of the Gospel
2. The position of the believers
3. The privilege of the saved

1. The proclamation of the Gospel

• Preach = tell something good
• In verse 17, the word is "Preach" - evangelize; to proclaim or to tell; to tell something good, more specifically to tell the Gospel
• to those who are far off (Gentiles) and to those who are near (Jews)
• What are we preaching? Peace rather than conflict; reconciliation "I have peace because of grace."

"Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the LORD,
“and I will heal him."
(Isaiah 57:19b ESV)

• Peace provides healing (reconciliation = right relationship with God)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Romans 5:1 ESV)

• Peace provides justification; (justified = as if you had never sinned)

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
(John 1:17-18 ESV)

At the incarnation Jesus preached peace; Jesus explained God

• The Gospel message comes from Jesus

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;
(Galatians 1:15-16 ESV)

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
(Galatians 1:8-12 ESV)

The Gospel cannot be changed; he didn't receive it from someone else giving it... (Not Joseph Smith)

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
(1 Peter 3:15 ESV)

[What an incredible verse; this verse has it all]
Be ready to give an accurate reason

2. The position of the believers

• Our access to royalty

Example - Erik gave an example of places he couldn't go by himself, like KAFB. But, when he is in the same car with someone, he can go right in. [Also sunport landside vs airside]

• Jews and Greeks have the same access
• We are one body

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 12:12-13 ESV)

3. The privilege of the saved

• "No longer strangers" -  [Once saved, always saved; We are brought near]
• "Fellow citizens" [Bound together with another in terms of their political identity]

We are of God's household; of His family

• Our citizenship is in heaven

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
(Philippians 3:20 ESV)

Hebrews 2:17

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
(Hebrews 2:17 ESV)

Jesus became like man in every respect. This was essential. Nothing was to be left out. As such, the descendants of Abraham are his brothers. Mercy is not giving someone what they deserve. With a nature like ours, his compassion extends to us all the more because he knows and understands the trials we experience. Yet, his service (unlike ours) was always marked by faithfulness and this means we are safe. He surpasses the Jewish High Priest. "The Son of God became a man, that he might so fully enter into the feelings of the people as to be faithful, and that he might be qualified, as a high priest, to perform the great work of rendering God propitious in regard to sins." Before God, we now have favor and success.