Lame, Shame, and a Dame

LAME

- David's love for his friend Johnathan extended beyond the grave. He called and asked the servant of the Saul's house if they're were any of of Saul's family left that he might show the kindness of God to them. 

- This serves as a wonderful example for what GOD was preparing for us. Saul while he was alive was David's enemy and we too by our very nature being Adam's offspring are God's enemy. Even dispite this "the kindness of GOD" has been offered to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. Romans 5:8 - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

- Mephibosheth was Johnathan's son, Saul's grandson and he was lame in both feet. When he met King David Mephibosheth referred to himself as a dead dog. No doubt because of his disability he felt useless and not worthy to be part of David's family and also to have seat at the Kings table. If we are honest with ourselves, I know I feel unworthy to be called a child of GOD and to be part of his family. Like a "lame duck" do we wonder why we have been given a seat at his table. Revelation 19:9

SHAME

- Continuing on in this vein of kindness David wanted to honor Hanun's father's death by sending condolences to him by servants because King Nahash had treated David with kindness. 

- David's offering of kindness was met with suspicion and his servants were abused, humiliated, and the King's message was rejected. This would eventually lead to a war between David and the Ammonites and also the Syrians who were hired to add to the Ammonite forces. 

- This incident serves as a reminder of the offering of kindness, "the goodness of GOD" toward us by GOD honoring Christ's work on the cross on our behalf. GOD sends his servants, his messangers and in some cases the message is met with suspicion and his servants are also abused, humiliated, and like Christ even put to death. His message, the GOoD news is rejected, but The Day of the LORD is the day decreed for war on all those who have willfully rejected his message, the word made flesh and have abused, humiliated, and killed his servants. Revelation 6:10-11

The day the kindness of GOD comes to and end.

A Dame

Bathsheba, what more can be said about her relationship with David? There are lots of commentaries and reflections dealing with this time in David's life. The one that should stick out is no matter how "good" we think we are or believe someone else is, the truth of the depravity of the human heart cannot be overstated. We are all utterly lost and deserving of death. Mark 7:21-23

 - I'm sure alot of questions have been raised about why David thought he needed another wife, lover? We sometimes have a low opinion of his son King Solomon for his collection of wives, but he obviously came by it naturally. David is afterall Adam's son and the lust of the eyes is not just his problem, it's also ours. (Mine included)

- One point to ponder is that GOD sent the prophet Nathan to speak to David, and not Bathsheba. 

- The roof top experience that David had and his sin gave birth to the situation that we see later in 2 Samuel 16:22 of Absalom's impromptu tent raising on that very same rooftop. 

- Another point of interest is one of David's counselors was Ahithophel, he was Bathsheba's grandfather. In his service to David how often was his family present?

- Ahithophel's son-in-law was part of David's army. Could David not have known who was part of his trusted councilor 's family?

- Did Ahithophel's granddaughter ever spend time at the palace?

- Ahithophel obviously found out about the adulterous relationship and Uriah's at work fatality. This family was made the talk of the town, not the kind of notoriety anyone wants.

- If we return to Eden for a moment and remember that the woman ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and then found out she was naked and instead of Adam stepping up and covering her nakedness he joined her. David made that same choice, instead of covering Bathsheba's nakedness he joined her and like eden someone died for their sin, deja vu.

- What David did was evil, he rightly admits it to Nathan 2 Samuel 12:13 - David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 

- There would still be consequences though because sin hurts people. 

- GOD's loving kindness towards David is also his loving kindness towards us, Christ Jesus who took our punishment and put away our sin, you shall not die. 

My final thought through all this is we like David need to freely admit, “I have sinned against the LORD”, turn and accept his forgiveness and loving kindness and live.

Next - Lost Children