Read it: This is an update on Walking the Roof with King David, Day 7.
You may want to go back and read it here!
Thinking it through:
In my “Don’t Wimp Out on Jesus!” post, I told a story about attempting to witness to a medical technician during a long procedure. At the end of the post, I vowed to write her a note and invite her to church. Well…
Read it: This is a look back at the Walking on the Roof with King David Series. You may want to review any notes you’ve made, actions you’ve taken, or prayers you’ve written.
Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
-Proverbs 4:25-27
Think it through:
Was King Solomon thinking of his dad when he wrote these words? Was this wisdom passed down, not just from King Solomon to his son, but first from King David to young Solomon? David certainly had plenty of mistakes and failures to learn from.
Read it!: II Samuel 18
The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”
Ahimassz answered, “I saw great confusion just as Joab was about to send the king’s servant and me, your servant, but I don’t know what it was.”
(vs 26)
Think it through:
Read it!: II Samuel 15
But if he [the Lord] says, “I am not pleased with you,” then I am ready;
let him do to me whatever seems good to him.
(vs 26)
Think it through:
Through II Samuel 15, God seems to be talking to me about surrender.
David hears that his son, Absalom, is trying to take the throne. Rather than fighting in the city, David flees to the country. During the flight, he offers to let a group of six hundred men turn back. Then he tells his priest to take the Ark of the Covenant back to the city. Surrender, surrender, surrender. With bare feet and a covered head, David leaves his future in the Lord’s hands.
Read it!: II Samuel 13
Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur.
But King David mourned for his son every day.
(vs 37)
Think it through:
II Samuel 13 describes a history of absolutely miserable family dysfunction: the sons and daughters of King David committing terrible crimes against one another, from rape to murder. It’s a sad chapter to read, and must have been an infinitely sadder chapter to live as King David. As brave as he was against Goliath and other military foes, David was completely unable (or unwilling) to deal with his family.
Read it!: II Samuel 12
He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept.
I thought, “Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.”
(vs 22)
Think it through:
In II Samuel 12, David’s sin is brought into the open. He is judged and punished in several terrible ways, the worst of which is the death of his son.
How horrible it must have been for David to know that his son’s illness was a direct consequence of his actions. And yet he asked the Lord for grace that he knew he didn’t deserve. He pleaded and fasted and slept on the ground, hoping.
Read it!: II Samuel 11
In the spring at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbath. But David remained in Jerusalem.
(vs 1)
Think it through:
II Samuel 11 is one sad, sad chapter. David makes mistake after mistake, and they’re big ones: adultery, manipulation, and murder. I read this chapter looking for David’s heart for God, and I couldn’t see it. The last verse says that though David got what he wanted (married to a widowed Bathsheba), God was displeased with his actions. This has to be a gross understatement!
Read it!: II Samuel 7
Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and he said:
Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family,
that you have brought me this far?
(vs 18)
Think it through:
David had a great idea. He wanted to build a beautiful, permanent temple for the Ark of the Covenant, which had been housed in a series of temporary dwellings. This idea seemed so right, so true, that he couldn’t wait to get started! But then Nathan, a prophet of God, told David that God said the job needed to wait. Building the temple wasn’t work for David, but for one of his sons.
Read it!: 2 Samuel 6
I will become even more undignified than this,
and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.
But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.
(vs 22)
Think it through:
When I was a child, my Dad and a family friend named Ray performed at various church services as the “special music.” In fact, they still do on occasion! The two of them would sing and play guitar, and one their regular songs was “I’ll Be a Fool for You, Jesus.” (You can check out the lyrics here if you’d like.) The older I get, the more I understand what they were singing about.
