In 2 Samuel 2 we are told that David was told by God to go to Hebron. He took his two wives and band of men and went to Hebron - the burial place of the patriarchs: Abraham and Sarah; Isaac and Rebekah; Jacob and Leah. This city was the city which spoke of fellowship with each other and with Almighty God: Hebrews 11:8-16. It is in Hebron that the men of Judah anoint David as their king. Verses 5-7 says that David immediately sought reconciliation with the house of Saul by informing them that Judah has anointed him to be their king. David assures Israel that he will show his faithfulness as he has always done in the past. From verses 8-11 Abner, who was the captain of Saul's army, sought to keep the kingdom and influence in Saul's family. Ishbosheth is therefore anointed as king over Israel. Ishbosheth was a weak man who, no doubt, could be Abner's puppet king - so it would seem. Ishbosheth's tenure as king lasted for only two years. David's reign in Hebron continued for seven and a half years. Verses 12-32 describe the battle at Gibeon. It began with the senseless waste of twenty four young lives who died on a bridge for the entertainment of Abner and Joab - the generals of Israel and Benjamin: the ruling tribe of Israel's ten tribes. Later that day a fierce battle followed between the two armies. When it was clear that the Israelites were losing Abner fled on foot. Abner was pursued by David's young nephew Asahel - the youngest brother to Joab and Abishai. Asahel was fast but no match in battle for the wily Abner. Abner counsels Asahel to arm himself before trying to fight against him. Asahel foolishly does not do this. Abner knowing that he has no alternative but to slay Asahel reluctantly kills the youth. He knew that in doing this he would become the object of Joab's fierce and unrelenting hatred. Asahel wallowed in his own blood where Abner has struck the young man with the butt end of Abner's spear. Everyone from Judah's host stood and were horrified by the sight. However Joab and Abishai continued to pursue Abner. Abner rallied his forces around him on a hill. Here they stood resolute in their defence knowing that they were fighting for their lives. Eventually Abner proposed a truce which Joab accepted. Abner and the remnants of his force marched all night until they came to the relative safety of Mahanaim on the eastern side of the Jordan River. A tally was made of those who had died. David's army had suffered nineteen deaths, but the Benjaminites had lost four hundred soldiers.
Jeremiah 8:1-3 outline the extensive destruction that will come by Judah's overthrowing by Babylon. The carnage will be so great that the bodies of the slain will be left like dung on the ground. In verses 4-6 Judah's Sovereign says that the nation stubbornly maintains their rapid slide into a likely oblivion. Verse 7 reveals that the birds of heaven obey the rules of the natural order which the Creator has appointed, but it is not so with God's people. Verses 8-9 shows that Judah's wise scribes claim to know what they are doing. But the reality is they don't have any idea. So the LORD says in verses 10-13 how they will do at the time of their calamity. Jeremiah reveals that Judah would resemble a vine without grapes; or, a fig tree without figs; and even on those trees the leaves would be totally withered. Verses 14-15 tells us that Judah is completely dispirited and resigned to her fate. Verses 16-17 says that the Babylonians are eager to destroy Judah and will not stop until this has been completed. In verses 18-21 the prophet laments the deplorable state of Judah. In verse 22 the prophet asks the rhetorical question: can no healing balm be found in Gilead? That was the region which was known for the production of fine healing balm. If there was no balm in Gilead then there was no hope for Judah!
In Matthew 19 we have one of the topics that is greatly debated among religions - divorce. In the contemporary Jewish society of Jesus' days divorce was so rife that men were divorcing their wives for every reason eg she burned my meal. In the time of Moses divorce, or putting away was regulated; but even then, only for sexual impurity. God's mind on this has always been clear. Yahweh hates putting away (Malachi 2:10-16). Jesus tells us that the Father's declared will from the beginning was that man and woman should cleave in love to each other as man and wife to the exclusion of all others. This union is the only basis of stable family life and is a prefiguring of Christ's union with his bride the ecclesia of faithful believers (Genesis 2:23-24; Ephesians 5:22-33). Difficultlies do arise within marriage, but both parties must persevere with each other. We must not assign blame to each other. Rather we need to exercise love and patience with each other and humbly submit to each other in order to live in peace and harmony. Although we will not compromise on principles we must try as much as we can to make our marriages harmonious behaving as our Lord Jesus Christ would have done.
The chapter tells us about an incident involving children which provided an opportunity for the disciples' learning humility. The chapter concludes with a rich young ruler approaching our Lord. We are told that Jesus deeply loved this man because of his undoubted sincerity. Nonetheless our Lord was greatly saddened by the man's incapacity to overcome his covetousness. If that man could not enter the kingdom who then can be saved? So thought our Master's apostles! These apostles were amazed as they believed that salvation must be a hard and costly thing. Jesus, knowing of their perseverance in following him promised them rulership and thrones in his coming Kingdom. Read aloud and think about that promise in verses 28-30.
Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org
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