"Soon many others also joined Absalom, and the conspiracy gained momentum."
2 Samuel 15:12b
2 Samuel 15:12b
My Take Aways
Something Old:
Some people will go to great lengths to get what they want and cause trouble. Absalom planned and schemed for 4 years.
Something New:
They took the Ark, then thought better of their decision. The Ark sure travels a lot.
I was moved by David's deep sorrow over the situation with Absalom. As a parent, I can't imagine being at odds with my child.
Something to Do:
Be cautious about the "others" I join. Make sure God confirms my involvement in causes.
26 Comments:
Good morning all,
I was surprised by how hard Absalom worked to carry out his schemes and to turn the people against David.
This part of David's life is so sad to me. He is separated from Absalom, but also he seems to be separated from God. He is going his own way. There is confusion and David is doing what he thinks is best.
I need to remember to seek God in all of my decisions. His ways are best, they lead to order and reconciliation and peace--at this point David does not have these things and it is so sad to see!
My prayers go out to all of you and to Gabriel and his family.
Blessings and peace to you all today.
In Him,
Michelle from VA
"Lovely Ladies ~ The LORD is King! Let the earth rejoice!" (Psalm 97:1).
Morning after morning, I look forward to our time together; thank you Father for bringing this group together – we have much to rejoice about on this beautiful Wednesday morning!
As always, there is much I’d like to say to each one of you, but these little posts can only be so-oo long! The transparency yesterday caused my heart to even swell up more for you all. Beautiful openness makes you just more lovely! Some of what you all have endured breaks my heart, but again, we know God is sovereign. He is working and allowing things to happen in each one for a reason. You are beautiful daughters, princesses of the Most High!
Those of you who have become ‘empty-nesters,’ oh, it’s been good reading about your wisdom. I do believe, we never-ever feel that, “that” day will actually arrive. Jacque, I will be praying for TJ. When I read, ‘extremely rare & very little research, and much uncertainty,” God immediately came to my mind, sweet sister! God is our hope! With Him we are certain!
G & P, had to smile a little thinking about you not making it out of the garage (my husband made it to the driveway, and that was the end of his roller-blading days!)smile…but, you and Amy walking! Oh, my- this brings such a smile to my face. Here’s the secret: if you begin praying and using this ‘exercise time’ a ‘worship time,’ you will not want to miss a day. Talk about the Spirit drawing you in…This will become your favorite time of the day. Before you know it, you will be walking much longer distances, because you will find so much to pray about! Your relationship with become more intimate, and you will be taking fine care of your Temple!
Franny, just like sweet Morgen said, “pray, pray, pray.” Our trials, I’m learning (finally!) give us the privilege to pray to our Father, who wants us coming to Him with our every concern. He desires this, He wants us at His feet, laying our heart completely open to Him… as you pray, the Spirit will guide you and through prayer, I’m finding more and more my own faith increasing.
Brandee, Your post re: Beth Moore yesterday was a w e s o m e !!! I felt like I was right there sitting next to at the conference!! And, I do believe I would have been leaning towards standing up and saying, “Amen!” – too! smile.
PTL for good images yesterday with little Gabriele!
Oh my, I’m going to have to shorten my post so that it all fits in today!
MERCY! Do the consequences of David’s sin ever cease?
Today it’s his son Absalom – he is ready to murder his own father, imagine that?! He wants the kingdom for himself! David is forced to go into running, as he wants nothing to happen to the Ark and the city of God.
No one ever realizes what one night of self-indulgence will bring about!
Even tho, “for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Gal. 6:7), we can be so grateful, for our very own Father, who shows us His mercy: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (I John 2:16).
Praying today for you all, Lori
I thought today's reading made for a great story but was so sad. I didn't want to stop reading to take any notes!
It was interesting that David went to the Mount of Olives when he was distressed, just like Jesus did to pray before he was arrested.
I thought it seemed wise of David to leave the city to protect it if he was worried about a big battle there, but wrong of him to leave behind his concubines to be treated as plunder by Absalom's army. Michelle, I hadn't noticed until you pointed it out, but you're right - David doesn't ask God what to do at this point. He's just relying on his advisors' wisdom, and why rely on humans when God is so much MORE?
It is hard to be persecuted by anyone, but to be sought after to be murdered by one's own son ... I can't imagine the pain that must have brought David. Many of us seem to be stressed about our children leaving the nest; how much worse would it be if they returned with an army? An ultimate betrayal ....
Maybe, having seen the drama and trauma in his father's family, this is what causes Solomon/Jedidiah to ask God for wisdom as opposed to worldly goods or women or something like David had acquired. Maybe he watched his family and purposely chose to be different.
My husband is on vacation the rest of the week and we're redoing our son's room to move him into his big boy bed (twin as opposed to crib). Praying for my own wisdom as we work through this major project at home with both kids!
Good morning, GIG's
Another Michelle in the lead off position today. I got confused for a second thinking I had clicked in the wrong day, ha ha ha!
Wendy, as if my own life didn't have be on an emotional roller coaster right now, this week's readings and your incredible teaching is just making that roller coaster ride steeper and longer. HHEEELLLLLPPPP!
Anyway, I've been reflecting this morning as I've listened to Christian music, got ready for my day, walked the dog, etc. I have a few things that I want to discuss, so I'll be back on this afternoon.
Jacque, I so love it when you share the wisdom you've gained over your "short" 60 years, and your years of mothering five (smile).
Off to school. Prayers for all requests.
Peace and Gratitude,
Michelle in New England
Good morning Ladies!
I am in the process of catching up with today's reading and wanted to say thank you all for your comments and encouraging words and prayers.
Thank you for praying for my husband's promotional exam, he finally took it this past Saturday and it is done!!! Thank you also for the prayers of his tinnitis , it has diminished and he still has another f.u appt with his ENT. Lastly, thank you for praying for my job offer and salary negotiation. It is still underway but I know it is in God's hands, His timing is perfect because it has given me the opportunity to truly consider my husband's counsel which at first I did not agree with.
Thank you Lord for your Word and promises that are new every morning. To all you ladies, have a Blessed Wednesday.
I will be back to comment after the reading, I just wanted to say how grateful I am for this group !! ((((HUGS))))) to all of you!!!
Morning, GIGS! I am just hopping by to send you hugs and will back back tonight to read your comments and watch the vlog. Wendy, I'm up your way today! Road trip to Charlotte to the Ikea store! And chick-fil-a for lunch! I don't get out much...can you tell?? Y'all have a great day, and I'll see you tonight after church.
Hugs!
Susan
Good Morning Everyone~
It is sad to see David running again, but we just never know what the consequences of our sins are going to be. God forgives, He heals and He restores and He will use it for our good if we trust Him, but there are affects and there are consequences. Even little things that might seem harmless can turn back around and bite you.
I will give you guys an example that I have just learned this past week from my own life. I have a dear friend that I have known for a couple of years now. We have been close but lately things have been different. You know how we always hear "go to the throne and not the phone," I encourage you ladies to PLEASE do that. So many times I went to the phone to this particular friend and it has now ended up changing our friendship. My own sin of "venting" to her has caused her to have some opinions and views of another person that is causing her to sin as well. It is just a mess and one we are talking through. We each are trying to be Christlike, but the damage has been done and now we both have some things to work through. It has caused some distance in our friendship. We need to do what the Word says! I need to do what the Word says! God's ways work, He has proven that to me over and over again.
Praying over our list and for our spouses today.
Blessings and Love,
Brandee, TN
Oh, the early empty nest, how I remember it. My daughter was the first to fly off, to college she flew. She made some wonderful Christian lifetime friends. The Lord watched over her those 4 years, and even blessed her with a committed wonderful Christian husband from the same college. Meanwhile, back home, mom was crying daily in daughter's room, missing my best girl friend... But we made it through. Now she has 4 little birds in her own nest. Best of all, we're still best friends!
Yes, David's heart must have hurt so much that it felt like someone pulled it out. However, healing save was available.
Chuck Swindoll, in his book
"David", tells us David had 5 sheltering trees, a grove of friends:
1. Ittai, the Gittite, from Gath
He was once an enemy, now a
friend who stands by.
2. Zadok and Abiathar, Levites
They are available to help.
3. Hushai, the Archite
He had no great message of hope
or a scripture, just a hug says
it all.
4. Shobi, Machir, and Barzillari
Here is a group of nobodies who
became somebodies.
5. Joab-He cared enough to
confront David with the
truth.(been around a while)
These friends were with David ministering, encouraging, giving, and supporting.
Don't we all need those kind of friends when others "throw stones"?
Words do hurt and cut deeply.
In 15:14, The king and all who were with him grew weary along the way, so they rested when they reached the Jordan River.
Encourage each other along the way.
It sure helps.
Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
Have a great day, friends.
Linda from Ark.
Good Morning all the way from Las Vegas. I just found your site from an issue of a magazine, so will just hop right in where you are and try to catch up from the beginning in between. I haven't read for the day, as I just opened my email and decided that I'd better post to at least say hi as a way to get started. (trying to hold myself accountable) Now I have to read and come back with the correct post!
Looking forward to sharing Gods word with you.
Just wondering, in four years David did not have a clue what Absalom was plotting and doing. So, what else was happening in his kingdom that he did not know about? No one spoke up and said anything or did David just dismiss it, not wanting to confront and "father" his son? I admit I do not always like it when God "fathers" me, but I know it is needed.
Remembering the many requests, bringing them before the Father.
Enjoy the day that He has made.
Gaylene
Jacque, I love, love, love what you posted last night. Especially this part: "Our kids need to be released with our blessing and love so they can fulfill their own special purposes in this world, and so we can continue with ours." And so we can continue with ours because God did not just create us to be Moms. We are first and foremost, Daughters of the King and we must be about our Father's business.
Welcome, Michelle from VA and Rosalind from LV!
Lori, during my walk last night, I was thinking of how many states & countries are represented in this blog and how privileged we are to be able to lift each other up in prayer. Can you imagine what it's like from heaven's vantage point to see prayers going up like incense, coming from different places? Switzerland, Australia, Arizona, MN, New England, North Carolina, AR, OR, Alaska (Elle Elle who is still MIA), TN, TX, NY, where is Jennifer Renee from?
Will I ever get to today's reading? Yes, yes I will. :) I felt really bad for David, too. Those Psalms just came alive when they are placed in the chronological mode. Someone can probably calculate this but I didn't have the chance to do it: how old he was when this happened? I'm guessing 70? Which would explain why his battle strategy is not physical but mental - leaving an adviser to counter Ahitophel's advise, planting an agent in Absalom's court. I remember reading before and it was confirmed by Jon Courson that Ahitophel switched his loyalties from David to Absalom because Ahitophel is Bathsheba's grandfather. Like Absalom during the 5 years of his semi-exile from David, Ahitophel also had bitterness in his heart for what David did to Bathsheba and Uriah.
I like what Jon Courson said about David's attitude when Shimei was cursing and throwing rocks and dust at David:
"First, he looked up. At this point in his life, David understood that God was in all things...David understood that this attack upon him could not come forth without the Lord allowing it...
"Secondly, David looked about...'I've erred greatly. My own family is in utter disorder.' When someone puts you down, do what David did and look around. See what mistakes you've made, the blunders on your record. However brutal the put down is, it's not even a fraction of what oyou deserve. "In my flesh dwells no good thing" Romans 7:18 It's a pivotal day when you finally realize that there's nothing good in your flesh, for at that point you no longer seek to defend, extol or protect yourself and you're free.
"Thirdly, David looked ahead. 'God's hearing these words of Shimei, he said. 'And maybe He will be kind and merciful to me because of Shimei's cursing.'
Courson compared these to Jesus' silence during his trial.
"Jesus died w/o defending Himself, w/o standing up for His rights, His reputation, or His ministry. And we are to follow His steps. The secret of life is death [of the flesh]. When you finally die, the pressure is off. When you truly realize you are crucified in Christ, you won't exalt yourself, protect yourself. The secret of the Christian life is to die to self, to get eyes off yourself and to quit wondering why you're discouraged, why you're depressed why you're not happy." (p. 941) He said instead to seek to bless and reach out to others. Wow. Lots to think about today.
Have a blessed day, everyone!
A broken parent/child relationship brings a heavy heart. It also reveals the strong love between a parent and child. It is so with our Heavenly Fathers love for us. He loves us, but hates our sin. Even though David's son was rebeling against him, he loved him, because he was his son. He gave specific rules that everyone was to "go easy" on him. He did not want him harmed. He wanted to give him another chance. He so mourned when that opportunity was taken. So much about God is revealed to me here. He loves us so, He will forgive us our sins, but there are consequences that will affect us and others. David knew and surrendered his life to God's hand to do whatever He wanted. 2 Samuel 16:9-12
Amen, Grace and Peace!
GIGs, I just got a Caring Bridge update on Gabriel, I thought you might want to praise God with me today! Here is what "He" ;) wrote on the sight about what happened today:
It's me... Gabriel. LeLe hi-jacked my site earlier today but I'm back and I am a force to be reckoned with!
PRAISE GOD!
Mommy and Daddy talked to my doctors today and guess what...?
My liver is clear! The doctors promised that they saw something on the VIBG test results but... they looked at my liver at every angle on the MRI and they couldn't find anything! They said it was a very healthy liver. I could have told them that if they had bothered asking me!
Thank you so much for praying. Everyone was praying that the spots they saw would be gone and... that's exactly what happened. Isn't God good?!?!?!?! He performed another miracle. I am only nine months old and I already have a testimony!
Keep praying... they are going to poke at me again next week to look at the lymph node where they saw something last week. I'm not going to worry though... well.. I am worried about going hungry AGAIN! Empty tummy makes for a growchy baby! Don't get me wrong... I'm still cute (and I know they are just doing their job) but... a little dude has to eat!
I'll let you know as soon as I get on their schedule. I like to keep my peeps informed. And, I know you want to know how to pray.
I've got to go get my praise on now! I'm singing praises to God for one miracle after another. Hey... how about celebrating my good news by telling someone about Jesus today!? Now that's Good news. Hah... did you see what I did there? Pastor Ed... watch your back... I might be doing the sermon real soon :)
XOXOXOXO
Gabriel
WE PRAISE YOU LORD!!!
Good afternoon friends, and welcome Rosalind (what a lovely name :)
All the treachery and betrayal and back stabbing and evil schemes in the past few days of reading has me looking a little bit differently at all the wars I did not enjoy reading about. Hey, at least they were open and above board. "You are my enemy, God has given me the go-ahead to wipe you out, bring it on!" And then it's over an done with.
What's going on at the moment, with the mighty David all confused and seemingly cowardly, the misplaced loyalties and families torn apart, the self-interest and betrayals and misunderstandings -- it sounds too much like real life in 2010. I can identify with some of this, and I gather from some of your posts that others can as well.
What Wendy said, and what many of you have also said, really helped me understand what is going on in our Bible reading, and what goes on in our lives today. Sin will be forgiven by our Lord, but it WILL have consequences. Perhaps some of us are "caught up in" and suffering from those consequences being handed out by the Lord to family members or parents who have sinned. Perhaps we've felt guilt or taken blame that really isn't ours, but theirs. Perhaps we are just bit players in a much bigger story God is telling, and our job is simply to 1) get out of God's way and 2) OBEY HIM so that we never bring the consequences of our sin onto our own innocent families. I think I can hear a few "well, duh, Michelle" reactions out there, but friends, this is a real light bulb moment for me! I feel like I'm on the verge of being set free from several years of confusion and pain. John 8:32 "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Peace and Gratitude,
Michelle in New England
P.S. PRAISE THE LORD! Thank you, Brandee, for the Gabriel update. I am going to go and do a dance for joy to our Heavenly Father! In God we CAN trust!!!!!!
Brandee,
Thanks for pasting the update on baby (or is it Pastor?) Gabriel. PRAISE THE LORD!!!! Tears of joy! Thank you for hearing our prayers, Father. Thank you for the privilege of taking part in yet another miracle. How mighty and awesome are your works. We know You hear us so we continue to lift the needs of each and everyone of us: spouses, teenagers, health, job issues. We lay everything at Your feet, Father. Thank you.
Hey, Brandee,
Thanks for the Gabriel update! I was feeling rather sorry for myself and kept thinking about what Wendy said the other day about praising to confuse the enemy, and you gave me just the news to snap me out of my funk. Thanks!
I'm so happy that his test came back with good news attached! Now, let's pray for the next one!
Amy
Amen, Amen Michelle for truth that sets us free! That is what this journey is about. It is about God meeting us where we are and speaking to our individual hearts. I praise the Lord today that He is revealing Himself to you :)
Good Wed afternoon to everyone!
Praise God for Gabriel’s good news—thanks for the update Brandee!
I found a tiny verse in today’s reading that I kept going back to. Abishai and others were inciting to kill Shimei--cut off his head--for cursing David. But I loved how David’s pride was not threatened, he responded with humility:
2 Sam 16:10-11 “If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, 'Curse David,' who can ask, 'Why do you do this?' " … Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to."
Do we listen to other people and follow their advice without thinking about consequences? David was full of God’s grace when he passed over a chance to react to get revenge for the insult.
I couldn’t help but read on, and the fact that David showed mercy on Shimei was returned with blessings on his way back to Jerusalem:
2 Sam 19:18-20 …When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king and said to him, "May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first of the whole house of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king." David forgave.
These men were at peace because they admitted their guilt and allowed God to do the judging and punishing. This allowed healing between the two without pride or anger clouding the relationship. They were blessed.
Am I guilty of jumping to conclusions and secretly wanting revenge for things in my life that I think are not fair? What right do I have to ask, “ ‘Why do you do this?’ ” God is the Master of my life, and if I step out of His grace to question and take on a wrong myself, there will surely be a consequence to pay in the end. Am I also guilty, like Abishai, of inciting others to react? Allowing God’s plan to play out with humility and faith is how we bring the greatest blessing and peace to ourselves and to those around us.
Praying for and blessing you all,
Jacque
Okay, I am totally in sync with Carol today regarding the reading. Seeing how the child is treating the father is such a direct correlation of how we treat our Father God.
We don't obey; we do things our way; we get prideful; we don't trust; etc.....
Thank you Lord for showing us the meaning of Your Holy Words.
Praising and praying
Morgen
Praise the Lord GIG!
Rejoicing with you all for prayers being answered for Baby Gabriel!
Praying for our husbands and unsaved love ones today.
If David's life would have been any different we would not have all the beautiful Psalms he wrote. Whether he was celebrating a victory or repenting of a sin, there is a Psalm you can identify with in most seasons of life.
Oftentimes out of our deepest sorrows comes the most sincere thirst for an intimate encounter with our Savior.
To all the empty nesters. My daughters are 25 and 22 and I can testify that the Word of God spoken over them and the Sacrifice of your time on their behalf is a sweet reward as you see them blossom into young adults. The mother in you will always have concerns, but faith in the God you serve will bring you peace when the storms of life surface.
In yesterday’s reading we saw how David’s indiscretion about Amnon led to Tamar being rape. Those of you with young children, male and female, please keep a watchful and spiritual eye out for your children. Never let your guard down especially around church folk and relatives. It’s sad to think most abuse cases are not caused by a stranger. If you have a war in your spirit about a person and their relationship with your child, don’t reason it away. I know of many young people who were abused at church and because the abuse was by the pastor no one wanted to confront him because he was a “Man of God”. This silence made the abuse continue until the death of that Pastor. It only takes a second for one bad judgment to cause a nightmare for so many.
Walking Crowd: I started walking my dog around my neighborhood last year and I agree with others, it is a special time to listen and see the handiwork of our Father each day. Not to mention I lost 30pounds in the process. :-)
Welcome to all our new posters!
Debbie – North Carolina
Ladies, Just had to pop in and say, PTL! Oh, the miracles He performs! What a mighty & powerful God we serve! Thank you, Brandee, for sharing!
Also, to my walking buddies...I just HAVE to share with you a quote from Beth, that really got me first thinking about walking and praying. I heard her say this and that very next weekend we got a dog. So, it was a God Moment for me, for sure.
(See Romans 12:1-2)
"The most transforming and freeing way we can approach the care of our physical bodies is making fitness one way we worship God."
Does the light bulb go off, like it did in my head? smile!!!
Boy, you guys dug up some treasures today - I'm going to re-open my Bible and look up the scriptures again. Thank you, ladies, you just keep bringing on the blessings!
Now, I was not going to share one of my on-going prayers, but today I just felt something in me, a bit different. Then, when I read your comments Linda, from Ark. I knew I was meant to share.
You wrote: "These friends were with David ministering, encouraging, giving, and supporting."
Jennifer Renee, as I was praying for you this morning a verse came to me: "let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Heb. 10:25). I praised the LORD for you on our blog and for your openness, and I thanked Him that He was pursuing you. That, it's clear to all of us, that you are seeking Him with all of your heart and desiring to be close to Him. Well, it's my belief that we were made to be in community. Made to share His goodness, face-to-face with friends. I, so want you to have a special Godly-Christian woman, one that you can trust with all of your heart. I believe each of us needs this, and this is exactly what God would want us to have. A special friend that we can meet with, offer up praises with, share God-moments with, AND, also pick us up whenever we've fallen down and skinned our knee! Many times we need a friend to turn us back to God...to point us back to His truth. Now, you know we have that here on this blog. That's why we all keep coming back. Our desire is to know God more. To share His miracles. To pray for one-another. But, sister, I do believe that we also need a GIG in our life, a special friend that we can call and talk to. So, I know this burden has been placed on my heart, for a reason. I know God has a friend in mind for you. The miracle is going to be, for all of us to witness how He does it! Because it won't be ordinary! God is too big for that. I anticipate the day you will share it with us. And, all of us here on the blog, well, what can I say, "our faith will just be increased another notch!"
And, if there are others' following along on this journey and those that may not have a Godly Christian, GIG, that you can count on to pray with...well then, begin requesting one.
God listens.
God delivers.
God blesses.
Hugs coming all over the world to find you wherever you are! Lori
Praise God for doing a miracle in baby Gabriel and for answering our prayers for strength and encouragement for his parents.
Have a blessed evening!
Paola from Long Island, NY
Thank you Michelle and Morgen for your kind words yesterday. My sister (who is too shy to post - Hi Geri!) gave me the very same verse in regards to our son.
I read in my commentary today regarding David crossing the Brook Kidron, he was a rejected king,running to save his life. Nearly a thousand years later Jesus would cross the same valley to Gethsemane, en route to giving His life a ransom for many, myself included.
Good night all,
Franny
Hi,everyone,
I have been following the readings and Wendy's video for the past 2 weeks, well I just figured out were to get the reading list. Thanks, for the email Wendy!
I have been reading the past few day, watching the video and reading the blog.
I thought it is about time I introduce myself.
I am mom of 4. 2 have left the nest, 1 left and came back and the other is a junior in HS.
I enjoyed reading everyone's comments. It was amazing to see such wisdom coming through. I am still learning and very glad to be apart of this group. This is one group I want to support and join. I have been lead to this site by God.
I am so so thankful to read about Baby Gabriell's tests coming out so miraculously. My youngest daughter (now 17) had been diagnosed with cancer at age 14. She did not have a good prognosis.
I told God, I need your help. This is too big, too important for me to try on my own. And, He has been in control and taken charge of my daughter's life. She has had 1 relapse last year. We pray that she is through with cancer for ever.
Spring is coming to Wisconsin.
Susie
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