Bible in a Year Blog

2 Samuel 2:12-3:39 + John 13:1-30 + Psalm 119:1-16 + Proverbs 15:29-30
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Old Testament – Today’s Second Samuel readings are quite dramatic!  We start off with the beginnings of what I think you could call a civil war between Judah and Israel in chapter 2 verses 15 through 17: “So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side—twelve men of Benjamin representing Ishbosheth son of Saul, and twelve representing David. Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other’s side so that all of them died. So this place at Gibeon has been known ever since as the Field of Swords. A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the forces of David.”

In chapter 3, it is interesting to see how David got so mad at Joab for killing Abner.  Understandable for many reasons – murder being the main one – but also Abner was working to bring David’s kingship to all of Israel.  Joab’s murder of Abner threatened the civil war between Judah and the rest of Israel to start up again.  To the right below is a wonderful image from an illuminated Bible from the year 1250 of David dining with Abner before the murder.  In the smaller left hand frames you can see David sending Abner back to Israel, and then in the lowest left hand frame you can see Abner stabbing Joab.

And below is an image of David mourning at Abner’s graveside as we read in 2 Samuel 3 verse 32 today: “They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside.”

Bible.org’s commentary on our Second Samuel readings today titled “Two Bald Men, Fighting over a Comb” is at this link.

New Testament – Wow.  Jesus’ teaching in John 13 verses 14 – 17 are so powerful today: “And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. How true it is that a servant is not greater than the master. Nor are messengers more important than the one who sends them. You know these things–now do them! That is the path of blessing.”   Are you on the path of blessing?  What might it mean to “wash other’s feet” today?  Yes, perhaps at times it literally means wash other’s feet.  Could it mean other acts of service as well that perhaps we maybe think we are “too good for” or “above” in any way?  Jesus humbled himself to wash other’s feet.  Are you humbling yourself to serve others in ways that your ego might not like?

Bible.org’s commentary on our John readings today titled “Menial Service” is at this link and commentary titled “Judas” is at this link.

Psalms – Whoo-hoo!  Today we begin Psalm 119, the longest Psalm and chapter in the Bible! This Psalm is a beautiful meditation on God’s Word and how it helps us stay pure and grow in faith. Almost every verse in this Psalm mentions God’s Word.  I pray that this Psalm is encouraging to you as you read through the One Year Bible!

Today in Psalm 119 verse 11 we read: “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Have you hidden God’s word in your heart? So that you might not sin against God? Do you realize that all sin is indeed a sin against God? Are you memorizing Scripture on a regular basis? And, more importantly, reflecting on Scripture?

Proverbs – Proverbs 15 verse 30 today teaches us: “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.”  This is a great reminder to spread good cheer to others and to not hesitate in sharing good news with others whenever possible. It brings joy to the heart and health to the bones!  And, well, no, I don’t think this Proverb is talking about this kind of healthy bone below…  🙂

Worship Video: Today’s readings in John remind me of the Chris Tomlin song “I will Rise:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_2JpQNpSUA

Will you Rise when Jesus calls your name? Click here to Rise!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you are memorizing and meditating Scripture on a regular basis. Pray that you will not sin against God because of His Word and Spirit dwelling within you.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

2 Samuel 2:12-3:39

Something I have wrestled with for years. (You know it is hard to discuss David’s faults or character failures amongst a lot of people: they throw stones at you.). The wives, and they are only the ones he married in Hebron; the failure to restrain his nephews, the wavering between seeking God and allowing God to work to bring about what He declared to pass; but I think there may have been a little seed of vengeance that grew up in him. We see that tendency to drift over into vengeance in his dealings with Nabal. It is “the I deserve it mentality” we get. I call it a spirit of arrogance. It may not manifest itself all the time, but it is akin to the us-four-and-no-more mentality and the “posse” mentality we see in many celebrities. This should be no surprise to the readers because Samuel declared this very thing when he warned them what they would get with their king (1 Samuel 8: 9-18).

Vengeance is Mine, and recompense, in the time when their foot shall slide; for the day of their disaster is at hand and their doom comes speedily. (Deuteronomy 32:35 AMP)

Has anyone ever wondered why God requires us to leave vengeance to Him? I believe something happens to us when we seek it, it turns us into little god like idols seeking to direct and control outcomes. David had a relationship with Saul; after all, he had been his father-in-law before David took back his daughter as his wife. (By the way the taking of a sitting kings wife, or even a dead one, was a proclamation in the ancient world that one was claiming the throne-thus the incident with Palti and the rift between Ishbosheth and Abner). David didn’t have a relationship with Nabal, but he had one with his sister and her kids. One should also note that David wasn’t well liked by his brothers so there was more than likely a rift that had built up over time kept them on the outs, thus we don’t really read about his brothers or their off-spring being in the picture.

If one is observant with family dynamics and sibling rivalry, you will find that the one “picked-on” will usually try to show his worthiness to gain some iota of recognition. I am not sure if this a problem per say, but it can lead to doing the wrong thing for the wrong reasons. If we look at David as a type of deliverer, then the One True Deliverer did not try to gain His Families approval when he went about ministering.

Now Jesus went home, and a crowd gathered so that they were not able to eat. When his family heard this they went out to restrain him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” (Mark 3:20-21 NET.)

While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside, asking to speak to him. Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside wanting to speak to you.” To the one who had said this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” And pointing toward his disciples he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! (Matthew 12:46-49 NET.)

There is something that makes what Joab did a particular heinous crime. Hebron was a city of refuge (Joshua 21:13), a city set aside for anyone who had killed someone accidentally. Was Asahel’s death accidental? Wasn’t it done during a time of fighting? Is this something along the lines of, “You can dish it out but you can’t take it,” mentality? I do not believe Abner turned to face Asahel because the butt of the spear took him out not the tip. More than likely Abner thrust the sword attached to his side or even in his hand to try to knock the wind out of Asahel as he chased behind him.

Whatever way the death happened, Joab called Abner back into a city of refuge to kill him, a clear breach of the law.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

====== John:

Foot washing

I would like to comment more on the spiritual side of foot washing. Most commentators do not delve into this symbolism too deeply.

John 13:10
Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”

[“The bath represents salvation and the foot-washing represents restoration. The “bath of salvation” is not something a believer takes every day. It is done once and for all when a person receives Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. From that time onward he is “clean” of sin–his sins are eternally forgiven and he is no longer “dirty” in God’s sight–because of his identification with Christ. This is the “washing of regeneration” that is mentioned in Titus 3:5. The Lord told Peter that he had already received the bath of salvation (v10). He was clean, and so were the rest of the believing disciples–only unbelieving Judas was not clean (v11)…..

….The believer’s permanent relationship to Christ is pictured in the bath. The believer’s daily fellowship with Christ is pictured in the foot-washing. The bath is for UNION–IN Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). The foot-washing is for COMMUNION–WITH Christ (notice the “with” instead of “in” in verse 8). The link of union is so strong that nothing can break it (see John 10:27-29 and Romans 8:38-39). The link of fellowship is so fragile that an unholy walk will always break it (see 1 John 1:6).

How does the Lord wash the believer’s feet? It is accomplished primarily by the frequent application of His Word to our lives. The Word of God is the means by which we get the bath. (See Psalm 119:93, John 15:3, Romans 10:17, 1 Peter 1:23.) The Word is also the way we get the foot-washing. David said, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By living according to Your Word” (Psalm 119:9). Our Lord said that those who believed in Him would be sanctified (kept pure and set apart for God’s use) by God’s Word (John 17:17, 20). Our bath and our foot-washings are both accomplished through the Word of God! In Ephesians 5:26 we read that “Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word.” How important it is for us to read the Bible every day!”] growing christians .org

Ingesting of water is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. External washing of water is representative of the “WORD”.

The bath is not baptism – baptism is the symbolic dying with Christ and being resurrected to a new life. The bath is symbolic of the one time cleansing of a believer’s salvation. Their is stll a war between the “flesh” and the “spirit”. In our daily walk, our feet get dirty with sin. By staying in the Word, and prayer (instructed by the Word) we can minimize dirt and cleanse what we do pick up on the “worldly” road.

Besides the physical act of servitude and humility, Jesus is telling the disciples (and all future Christians) “you should also wash one another’s feet”. You should be in fellowship and be in the “Word” with each other. You should not do this from a “holier than thou” perspective, but humbly with the attitude of love to help one another. Encourage, exhort, and edify one another in the “Word”. This should be done frequently as our feet get dirty with greater frequency than many (including me:)of us would like to admit.

John

====== Caryn:

======= Jim:

Although kings of Israel were specifically warned against polygamy (“He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray” – Deut 17:17), it was still socially acceptable at the time to help forged alliances with other states. David’s problems, however, were quite considerable with rape (2 Sam 13:14), murder (2 Sam 13:28), rebellion (2 Sam 15:13), and greed (1 Kings 1:5-6). The story of David’s reign is one of great struggles between pride and corruption with reoccurring returns to God. Abner took Saul’s only surviving son, Ish-bosheth, and made him king over Gilead. Abner proposes to Joab (son of David’s sister Zeruiah) when meeting on the battle field that only 12 men fight in order to save the lives of any more Hebrews, but all 24 died and warfare between the two nations ensued. Joab violated David’s commitment to protect Abner, and demonstrated a clear disregard for human life. And yet, even after the killing of 360 Benjamite forces of Abner, Abner ties not to fight the less-experienced brother of Joab (Asahel) in order not to kill him and talks Joab from continuing the battle. Abnor later makes a secret negotiation with David and talks the elders of Israel into rejoining Judah. Joab, who had boasted so well before now sees this relationship as threatening his position and decides to kill Abner (characteristically in the back). Not only did the law of Hebron not permit an avenging murder without a trial (Num 35:22-25), but David’s curse (v 3:29) also indicates that he did not consider Joab actions to be justified. The ensuing long civil war only ends when Ish-bosheth was assassinated by two of his own soldiers.
John’s Gospel also reports more of the content of Jesus’ instructions to His disciples than do the other three Gospels. Chapters 13-17 focus on His teachings on the night of his fateful arrest. Meals were common settings for teaching sessions. He demonstrated the need for humble service by washing their feet (so demeaning that by law even Jewish slaves could not be forced to do it – leaving only Gentile slaves), His teaching, and finally His death. Finally, the treachery of Judas is foretold, naming Judas to Peter. Christ had often spoken of his own sufferings and death with such a troubled spirit now displayed for Judas (see parallel passages in Mark 14:18-21 and Luke 22:21-23). All of our sins are the grief of our Lord. Judas’ treachery speaks to all who would partake of God’s mercies with ingratitude.
There are several especially famous message verses in the Bible, such as Hebrews 11:29-34 on faith and 2 Corinthians 8-9 on giving. Psalm 199 is famous for its message on “The Word.” Common access to the Bible only occurred about 200 years ago and so ancient Hebrews had to memorize and then pass on scripture orally. Psalm 119 was written with each of the 22 8-line sections opening with a different Hebrew letter to aid easier memorization and beautifully conveys the idea that the Word of God contains everything man needs to know along the blessed journey of life. This Psalm expresses that following God’s Law will provide the blessings and benefits of peace, power to resist sin, joy, understanding, strength, freedom (including from shame), hope, comfort, reverence for God, a thankful and worshiping heart, a clean life, and most importantly, a personal revival. In English faith and believe have a common root while in Hebrew truth and faith both come from “emet” and David repeatedly expresses the joy he finds in what he call, “the word of truth.” Today’s reading covers the first two sections (Aleph and Beth) where the author prays for obedience to receive the Lord’s blessing and to be cleansed by the Word.
Jim

======= Jeff:

In today’s reading John 14 in verses 16 and 26, we see the Holy Spirit called Counselor. In other modern Bible translations the words Comforter, Encourager, and Advocate are used here.
My Harper’s Bible Dictionary defines Holy Spirit as: the mysterious power or presence of God in nature or with individuals and communities, inspiring or empowering them with qualities they would
not otherwise possess. I like that definition.
To me, the Holy Spirit is a gift that God has provided to enable us to both feel and comprehend in our hearts, minds, and souls His truths. With this power, our abilities in our prayers, in our actions, in our love, in all aspects of our lives is nothing less than extraordinary.
One of the benefits I have received in my growth as a Christian, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is a dramatic increase in my ability and willingness to share my thoughts and feelings openly with others.
What does the Holy Spirit mean to you?
Yours In the Spirit,
Jeff

======== John:

2Samuel 2&3
For those that like detailed information in their commentary, Bob does a god job in the link Mike provides. Especially the two sections profiling Abner and Joab.
Bob also has a longer commentary on 2Sam 2-5 at the link below. One insightful comment that I had never thought of:
[GOD and SATAN]
“I am inclined to think God providentially removes Abner so that David will not become king thanks to Abner, the king-maker, but rather thanks to the King-Maker….Abner’s approach to David seems similar to Satan’s approach to our Lord in His temptation (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-12). Like Satan, Abner claims that the kingdom he offers is really his (compare 2 Samuel 3:12; Luke 4:5-7). Abner wants David to enter into a covenant with him (2 Samuel 3:12), but when David does become king of all Israel, he enters into a covenant with them (the people) “before the Lord” (2 Samuel 5:3). Somehow, I see Abner’s offer as a shortcut, an easier path to what God wants to give David another way. If so, Abner’s death and the resulting delay in David becoming king make sense.”
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=560
[Note: David might have been releuctant to do anything to Joab because David was his uncle. Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were David’s nephews, the sons of David’s sister Zeruiah (1 Chronicles 2:16)]
======================================================
David Guzik has quite a few insightful comments at enduringword.com:
1)Ishbosheth the Son of Saul: Saul had three sons who died with him in battle (1 Samuel 31:6). There is no previous mention of Ishbosheth among the sons of Saul, so it is possible that he was an illegitimate son or the son of a concubine.
i. We shouldn’t forget that David was also a son of Saul by marriage. David married Michal, the daughter of Saul (1 Samuel 18:17-30).
2) There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: This shows how wrong it was for Joab to accept Abner’s appeal for a cease-fire at the battle of The Field of Sharp Swords. The fact was that they couldn’t just get along, and that there could be no peace between the rightful king David and the pretender to the throne, Ishbosheth. The cease-fire seemed to make things better but it only made things worse, and it caused the long war.
i. When we try to make peace between King Jesus and King Self within us, the result is a long, bitter war. It is so much better to simply surrender and submit to the reign of Jesus.
ii. “In the lives of many Christian people today there is raging, literally, a civil war. The flesh – the kingdom of Saul, struggles with the spirit – the kingdom of David, and the conflict is bitter. We do everything we possibly can to hold up the tottering kingdom of self, so that it might exist just a bit longer. If only we could preserve some rights; if only we could have at least part of our own way; if only we could keep this or that at any cost! We feel we must bolster up this kingdom of self, that we cannot let ourselves be crucified with Christ.” (Redpath)
[Regarding Polygamy]
3) Sons were born to David: During David’s seven-year reign in Hebron, his six different wives gave birth to six sons. This shows that David went against God’s commandment that Israel’s king should not multiply wives to himself.
i. David was wrong to have more than one wife. His many wives went against God’s command to kings (Deuteronomy 17:17) and against God’s heart for marriage (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6).
ii. David’s many wives were common. Adding many wives was one of the ways great men and especially kings expressed their power and status.
iii. David was troubled because of his many wives. Some wonder why the Bible doesn’t expressly condemn David’s polygamy here, but as is often the case here the Scripture simply states the fact, and later records how David reaped the penalty for this sort of sin in regard to his family.
[Retrieving Michal]
4) Give me my wife Michal: Why did David do this? Did he really need another wife? David insisted on receiving Michal as his wife again for at least three reasons.
i. David remembered that Michal was simply his wife by both love and right, and that King Saul took her away as part of a deliberate strategy to attack and destroy David.
ii. David wanted to show that he harbored no bitterness towards Saul’s house, and he would show this through his good treatment of Saul’s daughter.
iii. David wanted to give himself a greater claim to Saul’s throne as his son-in-law.
iv. “However distressing it was to take her from a husband who loved her most tenderly, yet prudence and policy required that he should strengthen his own interest in the kingdom as much as possible.” (Clarke)
5) Why wasn’t Joab pleased that Abner had defected and joined David’s side? There are at least three reasons for his hostility.
i. Joab feared Abner was a deceiver, a double agent working on behalf of Ishbosheth, the pretender king.
ii. Abner killed Joab’s brother, and Joab was the avenger of blood for Asahel (as described in Numbers 35:9-28).
iii. As the chief general of the former King Saul, Abner had a lot of top-level military experience. Abner might take Joab’s place as David’s chief military assistant.
[City of Refuge]
6) Joab took him aside in the gate: Joab carefully engineered this murder so the killing was done outside the gate of Hebron. This was because Hebron was a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7), and it was against the law for Joab, as Asahel’s blood avenger, to kill Abner inside the city.
[NOTE: Refuge seems to be once you pass through the city gate (Joshua 20:7). Being in the “midst” of the gate or “aside” in the gate is apparently not “in” the city.]
John

======= Vance:

John 13 (NKJV)
15
For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
16
Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
17
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
~~
Note: Note that we are to follow the example of the Lord Jesus expressed clearly in verse 5 (NKJV): “After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”
I am amazed that Jesus washed ALL of the disciples’ feet—including Judas. Jesus knew that “the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him” (verse 2).
Jesus washed Judas’ feet. Jesus washed the feet of His betrayer—knowing that Judas was to betray Him.
From a natural point of view, a question comes to mind: “Why would Jesus do such a foolish thing?”
Because Jesus loved the Father, and because Jesus loved you and I so much that He gave His life for us as a blood covenant, as a willing sacrifice for our sins. Because though Jesus could have legitimately judged us for our sins, He did not.
Jesus wants us all to come to repentance and find life.
It is staggering to me that the so-called “discovery” of the “lost gospels” of Jesus, (i.e., Gnostic gospels) are being taught by some professors as the original gospels and that the New Testament documents are the heresies.
The Gnostic Jesus (a false version of Jesus), as well as people first-century Gnostics in the first century believed the human body was evil. This worked in either one (1) of two (2) ways:
1. Since the human body was evil and had no spiritual importance, it was all important to remove the human body to be pure.
2. Since the human body was evil and had no spiritual importance, it was OK to freely follow sexual desires as the spirit was the most important thing.
However, contrary to the so-called Gnostic “gospel of Judas”, Jesus did NOT ask Judas to hand him to the Roman authorities so that Jesus could be free of his “evil” and “defiled” human body.
Also, contrary to the so-called Gnostic “gospel of Philip”, Jesus did not have sex with Mary Magdalene or with other women because he viewed his body as not important.
Psalm 119 (NKJV)
9
How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
10
With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11
Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
12
Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes.
13
With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth.
14
I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.
15
I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.
16
I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
~~
Note: I really pray verses 10 and 12 for myself in this paraphrase:
“Lord, do not let me wander from Your commandments. I cannot seek You with my whole heart without Your knowing, praying, and obeying Your Word. Blessed are You, Lord! Teach me Your statutes!”
Worry, television or some other distraction are the gods of the flesh and of comfort.
We really need each other to follow the Lord Jesus with a pure and holy heart.
Vance