David-The Sacrifice that Stopped a Plague

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 24

From David's Notes

The prophet Gad came to me again with a message. "Go build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."

Photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

I didn't ask any questions, I left right away for Araunah's house. 

He came out and greeted me, bowing his face low to the ground. "Why has my lord the king come to my home?"

"I have come to buy your threshing floor.  There I will build an altar to the Lord as He asked in order for the plague among our people may end."

He kept his head low and spoke again. "You may take the threshing floor and offer any sacrifice to Him. Look, I have oxen for burnt sacrifice and tools, and the yokes for wood. You make have all of this. With this I pray God will accept your sacrifice."

I shook my head. "No, I cannot accept these gifts. But, I will gladly buy it from you for a price. I cannot offer a sacrifice that costs me nothing."

We agreed on a price of fifty shekels of silver which I paid right then. After handing him the money I went up to the threshing floor, built and altar, and offered burnt and peace offerings to the Lord God of Israel.

Afterward the Lord was pleased and the plague stopped.

I became quite tired afterwards and went back to the palace to rest. My body was old and I felt sick. I felt a terrible chill throughout my body. The servants brought blankets and hot soup. Nothing warmed me enough. My advisors found a young woman to take care of me, cook food in my room, and bring me whatever I needed.

I knew my days would soon be over and a king would have to be named in my place. For now, I think I will sleep and talk about it again next time.

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1.  What prophet brought God's message to David?
2.  What did God want David to do?
3.  Did David respond right away?
4.  What did Araunah want to give David?
5.  Did David accept Araunah's gift? Why or why not?
6.  What happened after David offered the sacrifice?
7.  David was very old. What did he need to do next?

David-Greed and Pride

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 24

From David's Journal

I don't know why I did it. I shouldn't have.

I called Joab, the captain of my army. He met me in my chambers. "Joab, I want you to go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from the far north corner of Dan to the farthest south in Beersheba and count the people in our land."

photo courtesy of christianimagesource.com

Joab stood silent for a minute. He stoke his beard. "May the Lord your God multiply the people before your eyes as a blessing. Why would you want a census taken? The Lord has blessed us with enough fighting men."

"It is not your business," I answered. 

He didn't bother to argue any longer. He took the other captains with him and went about the land counting all the people of Israel.

After going through all the land, Joab and the other captains returned to Jerusalem. They were gone nine months and twenty days. Joab came to my chamber and reported the numbers he collected: Eight hundred thousand valiant men who could fight with a sword and five hundred thousand men from Judah.

The second the words fell from Joab's lips I knew I had sinned. My heart ached with guilt and forced me to go to the Lord and confess. "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Oh God, please forgive me for I have been foolish."

The next morning the prophet Gad came to me with a message from the Lord. "My lord, God has spoken His judgement against you. He will allow you to choose one of three punishments: 1. seven years of famine will strike the land. 2. you will run from your enemies for three months while they attack you. 3. Three days of plague in the land. Which would you have me say is your choice?"

"This is terrible. Please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great. Do not let me fall into the hands of man like the first two choices would bring."

The prophet Gad took my answer to the Lord. I didn't know how to prepare the people for the next three days.

The Lord sent a plague upon Israel from the morning to the appointed time. From the north in Dan to the south in Beersheba seventy thousand men died. The angel stretched His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, but the Lord stopped the destruction and told the angel to stop.

I cried to the Lord as the angel struck the people, "I am the one who sinned. I have done wickedly. These people of yours, what have they done against You?"


The Lord ended the plague.
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1. What did David ask Joab to do?
2. Did Joab agreed with the command?
3. Did Joab carry out the order?
4. What happened?
5. What did God say?
6. Which punishment did David choose and why?
7. How did David show he was sorry?

The Last Words of David

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 23

photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

The last words of David are quite special. God's Word called David the son of Jesse, the man raised up on high, God's anointed, and was considered the sweet psalmist of Israel.



Here is what David said:

God’s Spirit spoke through me,
    his words took shape on my tongue.
The God of Israel spoke to me,
    Israel’s Rock-Mountain said,
“Whoever governs fairly and well,
    who rules in the Fear-of-God,
Is like first light at daybreak
    without a cloud in the sky,
Like green grass carpeting earth,
    glistening under fresh rain.”
And this is just how my regime has been,
    for God guaranteed his covenant with me,
Spelled it out plainly
    and kept every promised word—
My entire salvation,
    my every desire.
But the devil’s henchmen are like thorns
    culled and piled as trash;
Better not try to touch them;
    keep your distance with a rake or hoe.

They’ll make a glorious bonfire!

The list of men who served under David reads better than a hall of fame list.

Josheb-Basshebeth killed 800 enemy soldiers at one time.

Eleazar fought the Philistines until his hand was weary and stuck to the shelf

Shammah stood his ground in the middle of a field, by himself, defending it and killing th e Philistines. 

During the battle against the Philistines, David stood in the stronghold, overlooking the Philistines. He swallowed and said, "Oh, I wish someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, the one near the gate"

Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah looked at each other then crept out of the stronghold. They broke through the enemy lines, drew the bucket from the well, and poured water into a cup. They transported it safely back to the stronghold and  presented it to David.

David looked at the cup of water and the three mighty men. He considered the risk his men had taken to fulfill his selfish wish. His heart pounded and he lowered his head.  He dumped the water on the ground and said, "I can't. I can't accept this water. Not at the cost of my men who put their very blood in jeopardy to serve me a cup of water."  

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1. What did the Spirit of the Lord say to David?

2. What great thing did Josheb-Bashebeth do?

3. What great thing did Eleazar do?

4. What great thing did Shammah do?

5. What did David wish for?

6. What did Josheb-Bashebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah do to surprise David?

7. Was David happy with their gift?

blah

David-Sings to the Lord, pt 2

By Mary Vee

II Samuel 22

Dear Reader, 

David sings a song to the Lord. It takes fifty one verses in the Bible. Because of its length it will be broken into two posts. As you read, you will see why God speaks so favorably of David. 

If you missed part one click here
Here is the second part of David's song, taken from The Message

image from

christianimagesource.com

You stick by people who stick with you,
    you’re straight with people who’re straight with you,
You’re good to good people,
    you shrewdly work around the bad ones.
You take the side of the down-and-out,
    but the stuck-up you take down a peg.

 Suddenly, God, your light floods my path,
    God drives out the darkness.
I smash the bands of marauders,
    I vault the high fences.
What a God! His road
    stretches straight and smooth.
Every God-direction is road-tested.
    Everyone who runs toward him
Makes it.

 Is there any god like God?
    Are we not at bedrock?
Is not this the God who armed me well,
    then aimed me in the right direction?
Now I run like a deer;
    I’m king of the mountain.
He shows me how to fight;
    I can bend a bronze bow!
You protect me with salvation-armor;
    you touch me and I feel ten feet tall.
You cleared the ground under me
    so my footing was firm.
When I chased my enemies I caught them;
    I didn’t let go till they were dead men.
I nailed them; they were down for good;
    then I walked all over them.
You armed me well for this fight;
    you smashed the upstarts.
You made my enemies turn tail,
    and I wiped out the haters.
They cried “uncle”
    but Uncle didn’t come;
They yelled for God
    and got no for an answer.
I ground them to dust; they gusted in the wind.
    I threw them out, like garbage in the gutter.
You rescued me from a squabbling people;
    you made me a leader of nations.
People I’d never heard of served me;
    the moment they got wind of me they submitted.
They gave up; they came trembling from their hideouts.

 Live, God! Blessing to my Rock,
    my towering Salvation-God!
This God set things right for me
    and shut up the people who talked back.
He rescued me from enemy anger.
    You pulled me from the grip of upstarts,
You saved me from the bullies.
    That’s why I’m thanking you, God,
    all over the world.
That’s why I’m singing songs
    that rhyme your name.
God’s king takes the trophy;
    God’s chosen is beloved.
I mean David and all his children—
    always.

What did David say god did for him? and also will do for you?

David Sings to the Lord

By Mary Vee

II Samuel 22

Dear Reader, 

David sings a song to the Lord. It takes fifty one verses in the Bible. Because of its length it will be broken into two posts. As you read, you will see why God speaks so favorably of David. 

Here is the first part of David's song, taken from The Message

image from
christianimagesource.com

God is bedrock under my feet,
    the castle in which I live,
    my rescuing knight.
My God—the high crag
    where I run for dear life,
    hiding behind the boulders,
    safe in the granite hideout;
My mountaintop refuge,
    he saves me from ruthless men.

 I sing to God the Praise-Lofty,
    and find myself safe and saved.

 The waves of death crashed over me,
    devil waters rushed over me.
Hell’s ropes cinched me tight;
    death traps barred every exit.

 A hostile world! I called to God,
    to my God I cried out.
From his palace he heard me call;
    my cry brought me right into his presence—
    a private audience!

 Earth wobbled and lurched;
    the very heavens shook like leaves,
Quaked like aspen leaves
    because of his rage.
His nostrils flared, billowing smoke;
    his mouth spit fire.
Tongues of fire darted in and out;
    he lowered the sky.
He stepped down;
    under his feet an abyss opened up.
He rode a winged creature,
    swift on wind-wings.
He wrapped himself
    in a trenchcoat of black rain-cloud darkness.
But his cloud-brightness burst through,
    a grand comet of fireworks.
Then God thundered out of heaven;
    the High God gave a great shout.
God shot his arrows—pandemonium!
    He hurled his lightnings—a rout!
The secret sources of ocean were exposed,
    the hidden depths of earth lay uncovered
The moment God roared in protest,
    let loose his hurricane anger.

 But me he caught—reached all the way
    from sky to sea; he pulled me out
Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos,
    the void in which I was drowning.
They hit me when I was down,
    but God stuck by me.
He stood me up on a wide-open field;
    I stood there saved—surprised to be loved!

 God made my life complete
    when I placed all the pieces before him.
When I cleaned up my act,
    he gave me a fresh start.
Indeed, I’ve kept alert to God’s ways;
    I haven’t taken God for granted.
Every day I review the ways he works,
    I try not to miss a trick.
I feel put back together,
    and I’m watching my step.
God rewrote the text of my life
    when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

The second half of the song will be given in the next post

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1. What was David singing about?

David-Giants in the Land

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 21

From David's Notes

photo courtesy of visualbibleimages.com
the city of Gath.

The Philistines went to war against us, again. Some of their soldiers grew as tall as Goliath, one was Goliath's brother. Four wars happened one right after the other.

The first war: I went with my brothers down and fought against the Philistines. All right. I admit it. I no longer had a youthful body. My arms grew tired and I couldn't run as fast as the others. I needed to take a break before I fainted.

Ishbi-Benob stood tall as a giant. He carried a bronze spear weighing three hundred shekels. He ran toward me ready to attack. I would have died except the Lord sent Abishai to save me. Abishai struck the giant and killed him. 

The men gathered around me, very concerned. "My lord, you cannot come to battle with us any more. Stay at the castle and let us fight. We don't want the lamp of Israel to go out."

I had to admit it, they were right. My days of fighting were over.

The second war: The Philistines attacked at Gob. At this battle, I received a report stating Sibbechai killed the Philistine giant named Saph.

The third war: The Philistines attacked at Gob, again. Elhanan, from Bethlehem killed the brother of Goliath. His brother was a giant also, carrying a spear powerful like a weaver's beam.

The fourth war: The Philistines attacked at Gath. Among their soldiers was a tall man, a son of a giant, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He mocked our army.  My nephew, Jonathan burst forward and killed the giant.

After the fourth battle we had peace, and I was glad . . . because I was, and am tired.

Here is a Psalm we sing. You call it Psalm 24

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.

 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully. 
He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah

 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah

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1. David fought in how many of these last four wars?
2. Why didn't he fight in all of them?
3.  What giant died in the first war?
4. What giant died in the second war?
5. What giant died in the third war?
6. What giant died in the fourth war? 

David- Gibeonites Receive Justice

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 21

From David's Journals

A famine struck the land. For three long years, year after year. We had done something to anger the Lord.

I went and asked the Lord what we did. He answered, "It is because of Saul and his blood thirsty family. They killed the Gibeonites."

photo courtesy of visualbibleimages.com
Gibeon

Oh, yes. I remembered. A treaty had been made long ago between Joshua and the Gibeonites to never harm them. While the Gibeonites had been dishonest about the treaty, Joshua and all Israel had to keep their word. 

Saul, while he was king, enjoyed conquering all the nations in our land. One of the nations he fought with a powerful attack was the Gibeonites.

The problem had to be solved to stop the famine.

I asked the remaining Gibeonites to meet with me. I greeted them. "I understand your anger."

Their spokesman answered, "Yes, we had a promise and Saul broke it."

I shook my head. "What can I do for you. How can we repay what has happened to restore the treaty?"

"We don't want silver or gold from Saul or from his house. We don't want any Israelite to die for us."

I stroke my beard and waited, giving them time to think. "There must be something we could do."

"All right then." The spokesman looked at the others then replied. "The punishment we ask is give us seven of Saul's descendants. We will hang them before the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, the one whom the Lord chose."

Their request was reasonable, considering how many Gibeonites died under Saul's hand. "I will give them to you."

I considered which seven to send. I wanted to spare Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son. Seven men from the house of Saul were sent to the Gibeonites and hung on the first days of the barley harvest.

Rizpah, the mother of some of the men stayed by their bodies to keep the birds from attacking. 

After I heard what she did, I had the bones from Saul, Jonathan, and the seven men from the house of Saul who had been hung by the Gibeonites buried in the tomb of Kish, Saul's father.

When all the work ended. The Lord was pleased and He ended the famine.

Here is a Psalm we sing. You call it Psalm 21

The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord;
And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
 You have given him his heart’s desire,
And have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

 For You meet him with the blessings of goodness;
You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
 He asked life from You, and You gave it to him—
Length of days forever and ever.
 His glory is great in Your salvation;
Honor and majesty You have placed upon him.
 For You have made him most blessed forever;
You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.
 For the king trusts in the Lord,
And through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.

 Your hand will find all Your enemies;
Your right hand will find those who hate You.
 You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger;
The Lord shall swallow them up in His wrath,
And the fire shall devour them.
 Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth,
And their descendants from among the sons of men.
 For they intended evil against You;
They devised a plot which they are not able to perform.
 Therefore You will make them turn their back;
You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their faces.

 Be exalted, O Lord, in Your own strength!
We will sing and praise Your power.

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1. What happened in the land for three years?
2. When David asked the Lord what was wrong, what did He say?
3. David called the Gibeonites to meet with him. What did he ask?
4. What punishment did the Gibeonites ask for?
5. Did David grant their request?
6. Who's life did David spare and why?
7. What was the last job needed to stop the famine?

David- Sheba Rebels Against David

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 20

From Joab's Journal

photo courtesy of visualbibleimages.com
Abel of Beth Maachah

David led us, all the soldiers and families who went with him to escape Abaslom, back to Jerusalem.

In the meantime, Sheba, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, the same tribe Saul, Jonathan, and Mephibosheth came from, led a rebellion. He wanted the ten tribes of Israel to join him in a fight against David.

David didn't wait to act for even one minute. He sent his army to capture Sheba before he hid inside a city. 

We chased after him, but unfortunately he hid in Abel of Beth Maachah. The city had fortified walls surround it. 

I ordered the men to set up a siege mound against the city. They battered against the wall, pounding to knock it down. 

Surprisingly, a woman stuck her head out a window and called out to us, "Wait, wait. Please call Joab to me that I may speak to him."

I went closer to the wall and listened. 

She called out, "Are you Joab?"

"Yes," I answered.

"Good. Will you listen to me?"

"Yes. I'm listening."

"It has been said about our city men will seek guidance at Abel. So men would come to end disputes here. I am one of the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you try to harm something that belongs to the Lord?"

I answered, "I would never want to harm or destroy. But a man from the mountains of Ephraim, his name is Sheba, has rebelled against king David. If you give him to me I will leave the city."

The woman said, "Stand watch. HIs head will be thrown to you over the wall."

Apparently she went to the city people, told them the problem They found Sheba, chopped off his head and flung it over the wall toward us. Since she kept her word, I blew my trumpet, ordering the battle to end and for all soldiers to return to Jerusalem.

This ended the rebellion and brought the kingdom back together. 

Here is a Psalm we sing. You call it Psalm 17

Hear a just cause, O Lord,
Attend to my cry;
Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.
 Let my vindication come from Your presence;
Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.

 You have tested my heart;
You have visited me in the night;
You have tried me and have found nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
 Concerning the works of men,
By the word of Your lips,
I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.
 Uphold my steps in Your paths,
That my footsteps may not slip.

 I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
 Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,
O You who save those who trust in You
From those who rise up against them.
 Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
 From the wicked who oppress me,
From my deadly enemies who surround me.

 They have closed up their fat hearts;
With their mouths they speak proudly.
 They have now surrounded us in our steps;
They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth,
 As a lion is eager to tear his prey,
And like a young lion lurking in secret places.

 Arise, O Lord,
Confront him, cast him down;
Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword,
 With Your hand from men, O Lord,
From men of the world who have their portion in this life,
And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure.
They are satisfied with children,
And leave the rest of their possession for their babes.

 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;
I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

*****************

1.  Who rebelled against David?

2.  Who did David say was worse than Absalom?

3.  David told his men to hurry and find _______ before he _____

4.  Why did the woman call out to David's army?

5.  What did she give to Joab?

6.  Why did she help Joab?