Bible Connect (Week 20 Day 5)

􏰐 Reading 􏰚 􏰊 2 Sam 􏰌􏰌􏰊􏰌2􏰮 􏰌 Chron 20

11- 2 Samuel 11 records David’s lowest moment. A key idea here is the progression of sin, as lust leads to adultery, which leads to deception and murder. Notice how the Bible makes no attempt to cover up or ra- tionalize the sinful actions of one of its heroes. What David did is presented as the darkest possible deed, standing in stark contrast to 􏰨riah’s faithful service (verses 6-13). When 􏰨riah won’t visit his wife David decides to kill him, sending the death warrant by 􏰨riah’s own hand (verse 14). Joab improves on David’s plan and 􏰨riah dies (verse 17). David’s callous disinterest in the battle report is terrible to read (verse 25). This is not the David we know. Verse 26’s wording is very deliberate to emphasize the sinful nature of David and Bathsheba’s relationship. Read literally it says “When 􏰈riah’s wife heard that her husband 􏰨riah was dead, she mourned for her husband.”

12 - 2 Samuel 12 picks up on the last line of chapter 11 to show God’s verdict on David’s adultery. Nathan handily traps David with a parable (verses 1-6) and then bores into him with God’s 􏰠udgment (verses 7-12). This sin, Nathan says, comes from ingratitude and was utterly unnecessary (verses 7-8), showed that David despised God’s word (verse 9), that he despised God (verse 10), and what he did caused God’s enemies to blaspheme (verse 14).

20 - 1 Chronicles 20 covers very much the same material as the end of 2 Samuel 12. There is much speculation as to why Chronicles doesn’t mention David’s adultery. Some think that episode doesn’t fit with the main theme of Chronicles, which is to emphasize the importance of worship and God’s faithfulness. Oth- ers have thought it was left out because God forgave David’s sin and so, from God’s standpoint, the matter was “no more.”

Psalm 51

This the most famous of the penitential psalms. 􏰤enitentials are special laments, and this is David’s cry to God when convicted of sin by Nathan (see 2 Samuel 11-12). What is notable here is that many laments call to God for help and assert innocence. The idea is “I’ve done nothing to deserve the troubles I am here.” There is none of that here. David is keenly aware that this is entirely his fault and he has no claim on God at all. He casts himself upon God’s mercy (verse 1). God is entirely in the right (verse 4). While verse 5 is commonly used to establish Original Sin it simply a figure of speech (note 􏰤salm 5􏰧:3) where David says “I feel like I have been a sinner from the moment I arrived here.” 􏰩erse 􏰥’s term “purge” is simply the word for sin with a negative in front of it - it is literally “un-sin me.” 􏰩erse 9 asks God to “hide” from David’s sin, which catches our eye because usually the psalmist will say “don’t hide from me.” The request for deep inward cleansing (verse 1􏰢) shows us the heart of genuine repentance. The full reference to the Holy Spirit in verse 11 is found only here and in Isaiah 􏰡3:1􏰢-11. David says when he is forgiven and restored to God then, and only then, can he properly worship and sing God’s praises (verses 12-1􏰥), as every forgiven sinner must do. 􏰩erses 1􏰧-19 may be written later and added so that the nation could sing this psalm about national sin.

Psalm 32

This is David’s other penitential psalm, and may be the fulfillment of David’s promise in 51:13-14. 􏰤salm 32 moves from discussion of the blessing of being forgiven (verses 1-2) to the terrors of harboring unrepentant sin (verses 3-4), to a frank confession (verse 5), and then what this episode has taught David (verses 􏰡-11). David’s use of three terms for his sin (verses 1-2) are instructive. He highlights the idea of rebellion (trans- gression), intentionally missing the mark (sin), and iniquity (a crooked or wrong act). He then speaks of being forgiven (literally carried away, the removal of sin), and his sin being covered (atonement), and “counts no iniquity” (where God counts us righteous). That is a comprehensive description of our acts, and God’s acts! 􏰩verse 11 ties it all together, re-connecting back to the theology of verse 1.

27 - Make certain you are consulting a map as you read Luke’s travelogue in these last two chapters. Most Bibles have a map of 􏰤aul’s 􏰠ourneys. The main point of these two chapters concern the difficulties of sea travel, 􏰤aul’s courage and his innocence. Repeatedly Luke mentions little touches like 􏰤aul’s liberty in verse 3 to show his audience that 􏰤aul certainly is not a bad man. Verse 9 dates the voyage, telling us of “the Fast” or Day of Atonement, which would be in October. Some translations have “􏰟uroquilo” or “􏰟uro- clydon” in verse 14. It is simply a north-easter or terrible storm. Verse 17 tells how desperate the situa- tion was. They try to bind the ship up, and they are afraid of the sand bars off North Africa’s coast. If they go aground there the ship will be battered into splinters and they will all die. Verse 28 mentions fathoms, a nautical measure equal to about six feet. Verse 34 shows how 􏰤aul combined faith with practical reality. God would do His part. They must be ready to do theirs.

A􏰄pplications 􏰂rom This Week’s Readings

We have now read 􏰤aul’s conversion story three times. Why is it presented so many times? What proof does it offer for the power of the Gospel to change a person? 􏰤aul was very ready to explain his own conver- sion, from what led up to it to how Jesus changed him. Are you as ready to tell your own story? We do not encounter the Lord in blinding light like 􏰤aul did but we had to have some encounter with Him through the Word. Why did you obey the Gospel? How are you different now for having done so? What is your conver- sion story?

Commentary by Mark Roberts see https://www.fivedaybiblereading.com/