Lesson 18: David's Latter Kingdom - Part 5

IX. Unusual Accounts of David’s Life

A. Trial of Famine

Here David has just finished up reaping a lot for his own sin; now he and his country have to reap for someone else’s sin.

It seems like trials can come back to back often. We need to, in the Christian life, when the trials come back to back, to be able to take them patiently.

1. The Famine 21:1-6

There is something that comes to David and the land, and it is out of the blue.

Famines in the Bible were usually were caused by draughts or infestation of insects - but were always grievous to everyone.

a. The reason vv.1-2

Because of Saul’s slaying of the Gibeonites.

In Joshua 9 is the story of Gibeonites fooling Israel into making a Covenant with them lest they be conquered by them becoming their servants. Now, somehow, Saul had apparently broken the covenant with the Gibeonites, and they had kept their side of the bargain being the servants of Israel.

b. The cure vv.3-14

David goes to the Gibeonites and asks them how he can repay them. “How can I get this right?”

They demand seven of his descendants to be delivered to them for hanging v.6

c. The lessons

There are several that we will look at.

1) Paying for the sin of others

Sin always has a price, it must be paid for.

Sometimes we must pay for our sin, we sew, and we reap – but realize that others around us reap because of our sin.

Always remember, that sin is contagious and that sin can run rampant and that sin affects those that are around us.

1 Corinthians 5:6–7 AV

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

2) Promises are important

Keeping commitments does not just show good character – it is a godly thing to do.

Ecclesiastes 5:4 AV

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

3) Prayer in the midst of the trial

Notice here that David is a wonderful example of what we are supposed to do in the midst of the trial.

We are to enquire of the Lord.

2. The Skirmish vv.15-22

Once again, the arch nemesis of David and Israel in his generation was the Philistines.

So we see:

a. The returning enemy

The Philistines though defeated in battle over and over again pop their heads back up again.

It is a reminder that though you think you may have defeated the enemy, you have not, he still lurks around trying to pull you down.

1 Peter 5:8 AV

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

b. The besetting sin

This represented by the relatives of Goliath.

Not only were the Philistines the enemy, but in particular, there was one family of the Philistines that had it out with Israel and chiefly with the house of David.

But we see the family of David, not David himself, defeating the family of Goliath.

His nephew killed one the sons of the giants, and his uncle killed the brother of the giant, there were some of his servants that slew giants as well.

I think this application to our besetting sin that comes back up to haunt us. It has a way of coming back in a different form, but it is out there.

You must be ready by the grace of God to flee from it and to stop it.

Don’t you think that you are immune.

But praise the Lord, if we stay close to Christ, he will help us.

2 Peter 2:9 (AV)

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations...

B. The Songs

1. A Psalm of praise

2 Samuel 22:4

2 Samuel 22:29-36 ,

2. A Psalm of deliverance

2 Samuel 22:1-3, 20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

2 Samuel 22:44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.

3. A Psalm of thanksgiving

The whole Psalm is one of thanksgiving, God praise, deliverance, provision, the hope in the Lord.

2 Samuel 22:50 -51

We see God, as the result of Satan’s provocation and David’s sin, to bring about something very wonderful.

C. David’s Provocation

2 Samuel 24:1-25

The issue at hand is very clearly stated:

2 Samuel 24:1-2

1. The Riling

In 1 Chronicles 21:1 we get an additional view of what is happening here:

1 Chronicles 21:1 AV

And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

God in His vast wisdom allowed Satan to provoke David to number them

a. Why was it a sin? - Conviction

There are no instances about it in the Bible that say it is a sin; they did count the children of Israel in Exodus.

But when the counted them, they gave an offering for each one counted.

Some say that is it was because David was no longer trusting God, but depending on his armies.

I believe that the lesson here is that God smote his heart and he was convicted over what he did.

It may not be written down – it may not be etched in stone, but if something you are doing is bringing conviction upon your soul you’d better stop.

b. The Danger of self-complacency

When things go very well, we tend to be complacent about being devoted and dedicated to God. Oh, we go to church, we go through the motions, but we are not always attentive like we should be, because things are going great.

Sometimes God puts allows things to wake up our spiritual consciousness again.

c. The Danger of self-sufficiency

It is not only a self-complacency problem, but also a self-sufficiency problem. We have been doing our way for so long and we feel like we are doing so well that we do not have to seek God’s face anymore. Then God sends reminders that He is alive and well.

2. The Reproving

24:3

Yes, it was Joab, that enigma of the kingdom, of David’s cabinet, the guy who has something over on David has kept again in the position of general of his armies, even after slaying three men in cold blood.

Joab, once again, surprises us and gives the king good counsel.

Here, almost being an enemy of David, and at least being a tremendous hindrance, Joab speaks truth to David.

a. Consider the counsel

Now here is something we need to consider – the counsel even of Joab. It is a hard pill to swallow, but we need to.

You have heard peoples say, “I can learn something from anyone.” And so we can even in counsel.

If counsel is good even from a bad source then it ought not only to be heard but followed.

And sometimes God uses counsel from strange sources

Joab had a lot of inconsistencies, but he called this one right on.

It is strange that a lost man far from God like him could actually be used of God.

How many times have we had lost people who taught us righteous living.

How many times have we been rebuked by some lost person who would say, hey, Christians are not supposed to do that.

It is wise to heed good counsel even from a bad source.

b. Check our heart

The Bible says in Matthew 7:3 that we ought to consider our own problems – and get our lives right with the Lord.

Do we automatically get defensive when someone gives us counsel? Do we get angry on the inside or start picking them apart for all of their problems?

2 Timothy 2:7 AV

Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

3. The Reckoning

vv. 4-9

The numbering itself took 9 months and twenty days.

In all thee wre 1,270,000 soldiers that were ready for war.

In itself it seems to be an innocuous undertaking, until we come to verses 10-11.

1 Chronicles 21:7 AV

And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.

Still we do not see the importance or the sin, but we see next:

4. The Realization

2 Samuel 24:10-12

a. Conviction comes from the Word of God

Jeremiah 23:29 AV

Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Hebrews 4:12 AV

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

b. Conviction should result in repentance

If our hearts are soft enough to feel the conviction from the Holy Spirit, we should have sense enough to turn from that sin.

2 Corinthians 7:10 AV

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

5. The Reaping

2 Samuel 24:13-16

David had several choices on how he would reap.

seven years of famine

to flee ninety days before his enemies

a three-day pestilence

Wisely, he chose the three day pestilence

a. Forgiveness does not negate justice in this life

Though God put away David’s sin with Bathsheba, his child still died, his daughter was raped; two of sons were killed and the kingdom was stolen briefly.

Here, though he had repented and had been forgiven – there is still a price to pay for his sin.

It ended up costing the lives of 70,000 men.

b. The law of sowing and reaping

Galatians 6:7 AV

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

6. The Reconciliation

In order to be forgiven and to enjoy the mercy of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, there must be a reconciliation. Someone must to what is necessary to rectify the situation.

Here it is David, who is representing Christ that show us reconciliation that we would all one day enjoy.

2 Samuel 24:17-25

a. An offering to God always cost something –v.24

b. There had to be an blood offering – v.25

Hebrews 9:22 AV

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

7. The Reason

Why this whole ordeal?

In 1 Chronicles 21:18-22:1 we read how David went out to make a sacrifice unto God at the threshing floor of Ornan.

After David purchases, builds and sacrfices here is what happens in

1 Chronicles 22:1 AV

Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel.

By the sovereign plan of God, he used this whole situation to choose a place for the temple to be built under the reign of King Solomon.

How exciting is that?

This place of where man’s sin was judged, where an altar was built, where a blood sacrifice was made.

It had a history of this already, notice

Genesis 22:2 AV

And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Genesis 22:8 AV

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

The temple is likely the very spot where Abraham made this pronouncement.