What I Noticed Today (2 Samuel 21-22)
2 Samuel 21-24
The last four chapters of 2 Samuel are like an addendum. They are additional information about David’s reign, though not tied chronologically to the rest of the book.
2 Samuel 21
In verses 1-10, a three-year famine in the land caused David to inquire of the Lord, and God told him the famine was a result of Saul having killed some Gibeonites (who were descendants of the Amorites).
- The Gibeonites had remained in the land since the days of Joshua, and the Israelites had promised not to kill them (Joshua 9:3-17).
- Yet, Saul had not honored the oath.
- The Gibeonites demanded that seven of Saul’s sons be turned over to them to be hanged.
- David complied, saving Mephibosheth as he had promised Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:15-16).
- The Gibeonites hanged Saul’s sons in Gibeah (Saul’s home town) during the barley harvest (early spring).
In verses 10-14, David gathered together the bodies of the seven sons, and the bones of Saul and Jonathan and buried them in Saul’s father’s tomb. After this, God lifted the curse on the land in answer to David’s prayer.
Note: I wonder why David endured three years of famine in the land before he inquired of the Lord.
In verses 15-22, the Philistines continued to wage war against the Israelites.
- One of the Philistines, a giant, was about to kill David, but David’s nephew Abishai killed the Philistine.
- Because David was no longer a young man, his men asked him to stay out of the battle so he would not be killed.
- Another battle with the Philistines occurred at Gob, and another battle occurred at Gath.
2 Samuel 22
2 Samuel 22 is a psalm of thanksgiving to the Lord that David offered sometime after the initial battles to claim the land and after Saul had died.
Note: This passage bears striking similarities to Psalm 18. The psalm seems to be a look back over his life as David gives God credit for many military victories, and for sustaining and protecting him through many years of trials and suffering.
Note: Deliverance is a key aspect of this psalm. The word “deliver” is used six times (vv. 1, 2, 18, 20, 40, 49). The image of David’s many years spent in the wilderness is seen in his references to God being his rock, his fortress, and his deliverer. David speaks to the Lord’s faithfulness (vv. 26-28), how the Lord guided and empowered him to fulfill his calling (vv. 29-43), and finally how the Lord had established David in the land (vv. 44-51).
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- At times, David was very close to God, and at times he seemed to lead on his own power. But in the end, David recognized that without the Lord guiding and leading him, he would never have been able to achieve what he had for the people.
- We would do well to be that kind of leader in our family and our businesses. We would do well to insist on that kind of leadership in our governing agencies. If we had men and women of God faithfully following Him, we wouldn’t be experiencing some of the difficulties we are facing today!
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
