Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 25 May 2018

Happy Friday.
Perhaps more later:  my mind is a jumble now.


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Today, chapters 19 and 20 of 2nd Samuel.
David was quite a guy.  Not perfect, by no means.  But neither am I.
His life was  marked with nearly constant battles, intrigue including palace intrigues, and truly awful behavior in his own family among his own offspring.
Now, some of that  just comes with the territory.  I've never been around a king, czar, duke, etc.  But I have been around some very very powerful people.  The gut-cutting, scheming, machinations, etc. that go on seem to always be awful, and it's not "just" a matter of the stakes and the power to be gained.  A commentator on our world, Ann Coulter I believe, once wrote about a particularly nasty power struggle , "the fights are so nasty because the stakes are so low".  Ever see the machinations around leadership in a PTA, a kids' sports team support group, or, Lord forgive us, a women's group in a church?  I have.  Nasty.  This was too.
Added to that propensity is the family arrangement.  Many of us have observed at close range that squabbles between kids in a single family.  In David's case, as was the case in virtually all kings and princes of that era  (and the Moslem lands even today), you had one king and half a dozen or more official wives, plus numerous concubines.  What we used to call droit du seigneur was -- and probably still is -- the practice in most places.  So you had more than a few would-be inheritors of the crown.  By the way, the losers in that struggle for power, even if they'd never competed, could expect to die as soon as the new king took  over.  (Hasn't ended:  look at the power struggles going on today in Saudi Arabia, and the current king is still -- barely -- alive).  And, as here, more often than not, the would-be heir began that effort while the old king was still breathing.  Sometimes, as we've seen here with Absalom, he wouldn't wait for the funeral.
David was quite a man.  But not a good father.

2nd Samuel 19

1  And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

2  And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.

3  And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

4  But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

5  And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;

6  In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

7  Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the Lord, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.

8  Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.

9  And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.

10  And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?

11  And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.

12  Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?

13  And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

14  And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.

15  So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

16  And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

17  And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.

18  And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;

19  And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

20  For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

21  But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed?

22  And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?

23  Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

24  And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.

25  And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

26  And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.

27  And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.

28  For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?

29  And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.

30  And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.

31  And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.

32  Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.

33  And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.

34  And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

35  I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

36  Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

37  Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.

38  And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.

39  And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.

40  Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.

41  And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?

42  And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?

43  And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

2nd Samuel 20

1  And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

2  So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

3  And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.

4  Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.

5  So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

6  And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.

7  And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

8  When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.

9  And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.

10  But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

11  And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.

12  And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

13  When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

14  And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth–maachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

15  And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth–maachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.in the trench: or, against the outmost wall

16  Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.

17  And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

18  Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

19  I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?

20  And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

21  The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.

22  Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.

23  Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:

24  And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:

25  And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

26  And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.

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Psalm 105

1  O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

2  Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.

3  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

4  Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

5  Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

6  O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.

7  He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth.

8  He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

9  Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;

10  And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:

11  Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:lot: Heb. cord

12  When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.

13  When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;

14  He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;

15  Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

16  Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.

17  He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:

18  Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron

19  Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him.

20  The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.

21  He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:

22  To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.

23  Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.

24  And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.

25  He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.

26  He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.

27  They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.

28  He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.

29  He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.

30  Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.

31  He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.

32  He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.

33  He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.

34  He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,

35  And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.

36  He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.

37  He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.

38  Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.

39  He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.

40  The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

41  He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.

42  For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.

43  And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:gladness: Heb. singing

44  And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;

45That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the Lord.

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Today, chapter 16 in the Acts of the Apostles.  This is part of the explosive growth of the early church.  Going forth.
I read a brief article this morning that related that some 93% of American Christians never tell anyone about the Lord.  Never.

Acts 16

1  Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

2  Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

3  Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

4  And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

5  And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

6  Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

7  After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

8  And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

9  And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

10  And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

11  Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;

12  And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.

13  And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

14  And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

15  And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

16  And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

17  The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

18  And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

19  And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

20  And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

21  And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

22  And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

23  And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

24  Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

25  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

26  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

27  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

28  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

29  Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

30  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

32  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

33  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

34  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

35  And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

36  And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.

37  But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

38  And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

39  And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

40  And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.