"For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him."
--2 Samuel 14:14 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on May 29, 2013 of Psalm 102:23-28; 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:13; 2 Samuel 13:23-15:12.
David's son Amnon lusted after his brother Absalom's sister Tamar and eventually forced himself upon her. When he found out what Amnon had done, Absalom was filled with rage against his brother. For two years this hatred boiled until Absalom came up with a plan to avenge Tamar. He invited Amnon and the rest of his brothers to Baal Hazor where he had gathered sheep shearers to tend to the flocks. Once there, Absalom ordered his servants to rise up and kill Amnon. The rest of the brothers fled back to Jerusalem. Absalom himself, fearing his father's wrath, fled to Geshur where he lived for three years. As those years passed, David eventually reconciled himself to Amnon's death and began to miss Absalom.
Joab, David's second in command, sensed the king's growing dismay and devised a scheme to allow for Absalom's return. He recruited a wise woman of Tekoa to tell David a story of woe seeking his help and judgement over those who would take and kill her only surviving son, who himself had slain his only brother. David granted that her son should live and ordered no one should touch him. Then the woman turned the table and showed David how he was the one wishing harm and banishment to the son who had killed his own brother, he was the one who would not allow Absalom to return home. David saw the truth in this and sent for Absalom to come home, but would not let him see his face or even be in the king's presence. All of this internal strife, and much more to come, was in fulfillment of God's judgement over David for his sin with Bathsheeba (please reference 2 Samuel 12:1-12).
The most striking point of the wise woman's argument is that God does not take away our life, He does not want us to suffer, He does not want us to be driven away. So He devises the means by which we can be reunited with Him. Yes, we will all die; it is mankind's fate to pass from this life, "like water spilled on the ground", and it cannot be avoided. But it is not God's hand that takes our life. Instead, He provides a way for us to continue living if we only take advantage of it. In Old Testament days, when the children of Israel were taking possession of the Promised Land, God provided for cities of refuge to where someone could flee and live unmolested if they had accidentally killed another. For us today, our Father provided His Son Jesus as our place of refuge, even if our sin was willful. Through His sacrifice we can avoid being expelled from God's presence. Through Him we can have eternal life after we pass from this earth. Praise God for His provision! Praise Jesus for His sacrifice! Amen.
Heavenly Father, thank You so much for providing a means for us to avoid the second death, to escape from exile and return to Your wondrous mansion, to enjoy eternal life with You in heaven. Thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son, and thank You Jesus for taking all our sins upon Your shoulders and leaving them in the grave. You, Lord Jesus, are our place of refuge and You we will glorify! In Your marvelous name, Christ Jesus we pray. Amen.
Joab, David's second in command, sensed the king's growing dismay and devised a scheme to allow for Absalom's return. He recruited a wise woman of Tekoa to tell David a story of woe seeking his help and judgement over those who would take and kill her only surviving son, who himself had slain his only brother. David granted that her son should live and ordered no one should touch him. Then the woman turned the table and showed David how he was the one wishing harm and banishment to the son who had killed his own brother, he was the one who would not allow Absalom to return home. David saw the truth in this and sent for Absalom to come home, but would not let him see his face or even be in the king's presence. All of this internal strife, and much more to come, was in fulfillment of God's judgement over David for his sin with Bathsheeba (please reference 2 Samuel 12:1-12).
The most striking point of the wise woman's argument is that God does not take away our life, He does not want us to suffer, He does not want us to be driven away. So He devises the means by which we can be reunited with Him. Yes, we will all die; it is mankind's fate to pass from this life, "like water spilled on the ground", and it cannot be avoided. But it is not God's hand that takes our life. Instead, He provides a way for us to continue living if we only take advantage of it. In Old Testament days, when the children of Israel were taking possession of the Promised Land, God provided for cities of refuge to where someone could flee and live unmolested if they had accidentally killed another. For us today, our Father provided His Son Jesus as our place of refuge, even if our sin was willful. Through His sacrifice we can avoid being expelled from God's presence. Through Him we can have eternal life after we pass from this earth. Praise God for His provision! Praise Jesus for His sacrifice! Amen.
Heavenly Father, thank You so much for providing a means for us to avoid the second death, to escape from exile and return to Your wondrous mansion, to enjoy eternal life with You in heaven. Thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son, and thank You Jesus for taking all our sins upon Your shoulders and leaving them in the grave. You, Lord Jesus, are our place of refuge and You we will glorify! In Your marvelous name, Christ Jesus we pray. Amen.
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