anitasanecdotes

In 1 Kings 6 and 7 Solomon builds the temple. Everything si covered in gold. He brings in all the things David had dedicated to the Lord.  He also builds his own house.

In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul establishes that only those being led by the Holy Spirit can say that Jesus is Lord. The Spirit gives each follower particular gifts to be used for the body of Christ, the church. No gift is greater than the other. As a matter of fact those gifts that are more behind the scenes should be considered to be of more value and held in great respect.

In 1 Kings 3 Solomon sacrifices at a the high places. These are the tops of mountains. These are the places where sacrifices are made until the temple is built. It was believed that there was a dome that separated heaven and earth. The high places were closest to the dome and therefore closest to God. Therefore the smoke and prayers would have the best chance of reaching God.

After Solomon performs one of these sacrifices God comes to him in a dream and asks what Solomon wants from Him. Solomon asks for an understanding mind, wisdom. He knows he is young and will need this gift to be able to govern his people.

God is impressed that  Solomon asked for something that would help others rather than for himself. God gives Solomon wisdom but He also gives him riches and honor as long as he keeps God’s law.

As soon as Solomon arrives in Jerusalem his wisdom is put to the test. Two women have given birth, one child is alive and one is dead. Both women claim the living child as their own. Solomon threatens to kill the child knowing that the woman who is his mother will try to save him by giving him away. Solomon gives the boy to his rightful mother. All Israel knows that Solomon has been given the wisdom of God.

1 Kings 4 tells about Solomon’s reign. He has great wealth and many holdings. He appoints officers to manage his kingdom. Solomon’s wisdom is known throughout the land and he wrote many proverbs and songs.

In 1 Kings 5 Solomon begins to gather the supplies necessary to build God a house (the Temple). He asks King Hiram, a friend of his father David, for help bringing cedars from Lebanon. Solomon offers to pay for the labor needed to do this work. He also conscripts workers to quarry stone. The work on the temple has begun.

1 Corinthians 11 discusses some issues regarding worship: proper reverence, proper behavior, proper compassion. Again Paul pleads for self control and examination so that everyone who comes to worship may do so in genuine faith.

We have finished 2 Samuel and David’s reign is coming to an end. We are now beginning the reign of the kings that followed David.

In 1 Kings 1 David is getting quite old. His son Adonijah decides he should be king without consulting with his father. He has the approval of Joab and the priest Abiathar, but not of everybody including the prophet Nathan. Nathan and Bathsheba tell David what is happening. David decides to anoint Solomon king. Zadok anoints Solomon king. The people bless Solomon and ask that God make him greater and even more famous than David. When Adonijah hears this he begs Solomon not to kill him because of his presumption. Solomon says that if he proves himself a worthy man he will spare his life.

1 Kings 2 opens with David coming to the end of his life. He blesses his son Solomon and exhorts him to be faithful and obedient to God. David encourages Solomon to deal with Joab because of his deceitful ways. He also lets Solomon know of those who he has pledged to protect. David dies.

Adonijah tricks Bathsheba into making a request for him. Solomon becomes angry and kills Adonijah and Joab for their deception. He banished Abiathar who sided with Adonijah. Solomon spares Shimei at his father’s request on the condition that he remain in Jerusalem. Shimei disobeys this condition and Solomon has him killed. So Solomon’s kingdom is established.

In Psalm 55 David continues to ask for God’s protection against his enemies and for God’s punishment of those enemies.

2 Samuel 23 recounts those who fought in David’s army and some of their battles.

In 2 Samuel 24 God is angry with Israel and tells David to count the people. Joab tries to change David’s mind but he remains firm. A census is taken of all the people. For some reason David believes this is a sin against God. God give David three options of how to pay for the sin. David chooses three days of pestilence. God sends the pestilence on Israel but spares Jerusalem. David erects and altar to God following His directions and offers burnt offerings and offerings of well-being. The plague is averted.

I am not certain what to think about this passage. Did God cause David to sin by counting the people? I couldn’t find a command not to do a census. The idea of being able to choose the punishment is certainly interesting. Then God decides not to harm anymore people but David thinks he is asking God not to do these things. God certainly causes us to act in order for His purpose to be accomplished. Perhaps this is the case in this story.

In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul exhorts the people to remember how the people of Israel behaved while they were in the wilderness and the punishments they receive. He tells them to remember these examples and keep from doing the same things. Paul encourages the people not to worship idols. He continues to speak about doing what needs to be done to protect another’s conscience. If others believe that eating meat that has been sacrificed to idols is tantamount to worshiping idols then don’t do it.

Often, we may know that the thing we are doing is not wrong in God’s sight, but it may still offend another believer or confuse a non-believer. Paul encourages us to show self-control and not to engage in that activity if it keeps others from practicing faith.

2 Samuel 21 and 22 open with a famine. David asks God why there is a famine and God says it is because Saul went against the Gibeonites whom Israel had spared. David gives seven descendants of Saul to the Gibeonites who kill them. He takes their bodies along with the bodies of Jonathan and Saul and buries them in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. God begins to bless the land again.

The Philistines go to war with Israel. Several descendants of the giants are killed by the Israelites. David speaks a song to God about how He has delivered David from his enemies.

In 1 Corinthians 9 Paul justifies paying those who preach the gospel even though he does not require this for himself. He shows self-discipline in order to win different people to Christ. Even though he is free he puts himself under conditions to keep from offending others and causing them to be closed to the gospel.

In 2 Samuel 19 and 20 Joab shames David for mourning over Absalom and bringing shame to his troops when they fought to protect him. David takes his place at the city gates to review the troops.

The people of Israel remember all that David has done for them and now that Absalom is dead they want to bring David back as king.Zadok and Abiathar convince the elders of Judah to bring David back over the Jordan since he is of their tribe. David makes Amasa form Judah his commander in place of Joab. The king, his household, and Judah cross the Jordan. Mephibosheth’s servant Ziba and his household lead the way

Shimei greet David and apologizes for the curses he made against David when he left Jerusalem. Some want to kill Shimei for his actions but David spares him. Mephibosheth greets David. He tells David that he was deceived by those who were against the king, and that is why he stayed in Jerusalem. David grants both Ziba and Mephibosheth an inheritance but Mepibosheth gives it all to Ziba.

The people of Israel are jealous of the tribe of Judah and wonder why David is favoring Judah. Judah explains that they are kin. Sheba a Benjaminite incites the people of Israel to leave David but the people of Judah follow him to Jerusalem. Joab takes some men to pursue Sheba. Amasa joins Joab but Joab kills him. He then builds a siege ramp against the city where Sheba is hiding. The people of the city kill Sheba and Joab and the troops return to Jerusalem.

David shows mercy toward those who have wronged him. This angers Joab who thinks that they should be punished. Joab goes behind David’s back to accomplish his desires. So far he has been successful in his deceit.

In 1 Corinthians 8 Paul discusses another of the Corinthians arguments regarding food sacrificed to idols. For some, because idols aren’t real, the food is able to be eaten. But for others their conscience does not allow them to eat the food because it has been defiled. Paul recommends that in order not to wound the conscience of the weak believers who still place power in the idol sacrifice, the strong should not eat the meat. It is a sin to cause someone to fall.

2 Samuel 17 and 18 describe a battle Absalom wages against David. God arranges for him to get bad counsel from his men. David is warned about the battle. He is counseled to remain at camp while his men go to war. He agrees and tells them to deal gently with Absalom. Absalom goes into battle with the army of Israel. David’s men defeat the army.

Absalom, riding a mule, gets caught in a tree and the mule walks away. Joab, one of David’s captains kills Absalom, against David’s wishes. The king hears of Absalom’s death and weeps.

While the defeat of Absalom is in God’s plan David still feels deep loss at the death of his son. Even though we may know that someone is dying and are somewhat prepared to hear the news it does not diminish the pain of loss.

Psalms 52-54 all deal with battles against those who would do the righteous harm, those who no longer seek God. David recognizes that God is on his side. He will deliver him from those who are out to do evil.

2 Samuel 15 opens with Absalom mounting a campaign to take away David’s throne. He ingratiates himself with a large group of people and becomes king at Hebron. David hears about Absalom’s coup and responds with fear. He flees Jerusalem with most of his household. Many of the people follow David into hiding in the wilderness. Zadok the priest brings the Ark of the Covenant to follow David, but David tells him to return it to its place. If God is favorable toward him he will be back. David and the people mourn the turn of events. Absalom enters Jerusalem.

The same person who was unafraid of Goliath is now fleeing from his own son.

In 2 Samuel 16 Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth shows his loyalty to David by bringing him provisions. A man named Shimei who was one of Saul’s followers curses David saying that God has turned against him. David’s servants want to take care of Shimei but David refuses saying that Shimei may have a point. Shimei follows them continuing his curses and insults. Absalom takes over those remaining at David’s house in defiance of his father.

David is willing to let God’s plan work itself out even if it means his defeat. It is interesting that he didn’t asks God’s counsel before fleeing. Clearly, David is not in conversation with God as before, but he still has faith.

Much of 1 Corinthians 7 deals with issues relating to marriage. Paul exhorts those who are married to be faithful to one another. For those who are married to non-believers he counsels that they do as their spouse desires. If they wish to remain married then they should do so, but if they wish to divorce the believer will not be wrong to divorce. Paul makes the statement that because of the believer the non-believer is made holy. This could bring comfort to Christians who are married to those who do not believe.

Paul believes that the end times are near and so he counsels singles to remain single in order to more fully follow Christ. He does allow those who do not feel they can remain single to marry.

Paul also speaks about those who are circumcised, not circumcised, and slaves encouraging them to leave things as they are.

For the most part, Paul is telling the Corinthians that however they came to the faith they should remain that way. They do not need to change just because they have become Christians. God takes us as we are. He does not require us to change dramatically as long as we are not sinning. God can use us as a witness in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. We need to remain faithful.

In 2 Samuel 13 and 14 the results of David’s sin continue. His son Amnon rapes his daughter Tamar, Absalom’s sister. She is disgraced and lives in Absalom’s house the rest of her life. David doesn’t punish Amnon for his crime. Later Absalom kills Amnon and flees. A few years later Joab sends a woman to plead to David for Absalom. David allows Absalom to come home but does not want to see him. It was two more year before David would see Absalom and forgive him of his crime.

David is now making more and more bad decisions. He is setting himself up for trouble.

In 1 Corinthians 6 Paul admonishes the Corinthians for bringing lawsuits against one another. He brings up two points: 1) if a believer has a problem with another believer the issue should be brought up within the church for judgment; 2) we should be willing to be wronged.

Paul then speaks to the fact that they are committing these sins. He reminds them that they have been sanctified, therefore they should not continue to sin. He is particularly dismayed at sexual sin because it is perpetrated on one’s own body. Our bodies are meant for the Lord and so when we commit sexual sin we are sinning against the Lord. He encourages us to glorify God in our bodies.

2 Samuel 11 and 12 tells a very familiar story. David sends his army to battle with the Ammonites. It is customary for the king to go with the troops, but David didn’t go. He should have.

David sees a woman, Bathsheba, taking her ritual purification bath on her roof and lays with her. She becomes pregnant. She is married to one of his officers. David tries to trick him into having relations with his wife but he refuses since he is a faithful soldier. David has him killed in battle and marries Bathsheba.

The prophet Nathan confronts David with his sin. God is displeased with David’s behavior. God tells David that He had blessed and would have blessed him mightily and yet, David still did evil in God’s sight. David will always be in battle from now on, even his household will rise up against him. Additionally, David and Bathsheba’s child will die.

David confesses his sin. Nathan tells David that God forgives him of his sin but his child will still die as a consequence of that sin. After the child is born it becomes ill and dies within a week. David and Bathsheba have another child a son, Solomon whom God loves.

Again, God’s judgment seems harsh. We must remember that David hid his sin from God and others. He covered it up by sinning even more. He only confessed after being confronted with the sin. God was just as displeased with the fact that David had not come forward in confession as He was that David had sinned.

There are always consequences to sinful behavior. It affects our relationships, our decisions, our way of life.

We are blessed by God in immeasurable ways and yet we always want more. Sometimes we want what we should not have. When we act on these desires, against God’s plan for us, we sin. We are accountable for our decisions even though God forgives us as we confess our wrongdoing.

Psalm 51 is the song David wrote after Nathan confronted him for his sin with Bathsheba. David acknowledges his sin against God. He asks God to purify his sin and make him right again. He recognizes that God wants a contrite heart.

This is a good prayer to remember when we remember our sins.