May 30 – Fog of War? The frenzied exit from Jerusalem

May 30
2 Samuel 15:23-16:23
John 18:25-19:22
Psalm 119:113-128
Proverbs 16:10-11

2 Samuel 15:25 – From Matthew Henry:

David is very careful for the safety of the ark. It is right to be more concerned for the church’s prosperity than our own; to prefer the success of the gospel above our own wealth, credit, ease, and safety. Observe with what satisfaction and submission David speaks of the Divine disposal. It is our interest, as well as our duty, cheerfully to acquiesce in the will of God, whatever befalls us. Let us see God’s hand in all events; and that we may not be afraid of what shall be, let us see all events in God’s hand.

2 Samuel 15:30 – Almost 1,000 years later someone else went up the mount Olivet, sweating drops of blood. David and Jesus both prayed to God on that mountain.

2 Samuel 16:4-5 – “Fog of War” is a phrase that applies. Ziba seems to be a devout follower of David, but then we read in 2 Samuel 19:24-30 Mephibosheth’s account. Interestingly it is difficult to tell what really happened. We hear Ziba’s account here, and Mephibosheth’s account later. David doesn’t seem to sure either and just tells them to split the land (2 Samuel 19:29), but Mephibosheth anticipates the wisdom of Solomon and tells David that Ziba can take it all. Or is Mephibosheth just glad to be alive? Either way David made a good call on the important issues (sending the Ark back, not killing anyone rashly, and building an informer network in Jerusalem).

Meanwhile Shimei bashes David, David spares him, then we’ll see Shimei along with Mephibosheth later (2 Samuel 19:16).

2 Samuel 16:22 – This action with the concubines of David is seen as a political statement, and possibly what Islamic ‘zina’ refers to. Zina (adultery punished by stoning) requires 4 witnesses, and depending on the school of thought, the witnesses must be to the very explicit act. Very rarely does one have 4 witnesses to a generally private act, so possibly Mohammed was referring to the political implications of such an act, seeking to prevent one of his sons from rebelling in like manner to Absalom.

John 18:30 – Not exactly a clear charge that the prosecutors have before the judge Pilate.

John 18:33 – In John’s account he does not record the Jews accusing Jesus of claiming to be King of the Jews.

John 18:36 – Jesus challenges Pilate’s jurisdiction. Pilate is only worried about terrestrial threats to Roman domination, and Jesus is not an earthly threat.

John 18:40 –  A great movie on Barabbas was produced by Unusual Films called Wine of Morning.

John 19:7 – Just a week earlier they shouted Hosanna. Now they have rejected His claim to be the Son of God. They rejected him six separate times (John 18:40, John 19:6, John 19:7, John 19:12, John 19:15a, John 19:15b).

Psalm 119:113 – The law is my love (Psalm 119:119, Psalm 119:127), my hope (Psalm 119:114), my safety (Psalm 119:117), and my instruction (Psalm 119:124).

Proverbs 16:11 – Don’t tell the Freedom from Religion Foundation, but virtually every state has government officials on government payroll doing the work of the LORD, a very religious task!