Ecclesiastes 1

It took me a couple of minutes to read the first chapter of this book of Solomon. His introduction reminds me of the setting for the movie called "The Mattrix". The idea od the movie is that everything is a generated computer game. Solomon knew nothing of computer games, but he knew a ruse when he saw one. And from a physical perspective that is what life appears to be. If we choose to take God and the spiritual realm out of the picture it's like taking away one of the physical dimensions of this world. But we cannot let the words of Solomon in this first chapter stand on their own. We must listen to the whole story this wise man has to say. Then we can reflect on the fullness of his message to the generation living out their "meaningless" lives.
Stuart

Luke 10-12

It took me 20 minutes to read through this passage.  In the first part of chapter 10 Jesus sends out and then receives back the 70.  His response to their amazement over the power God worked through them is recorded in verses 18-20.  He tries to focus them, and us, away from the events that appear amazing to human eyes and onto the power of God working in our lives that allows him to do such amazing events in our presence.  Healing the sick IS amazing, but what is more important is to recognize that God is at work in the healer’s life making the changes in attitudes and actions that focus on self.  We grow closer to God not by performing miracles, but by surrendering to his leading and his will.

Stuart

Psalm 94

It took me about 3 minutes to read this psalm. This unnamed psalmist sought to remind those who ignore God that he does not ignore them. They speak all sort so evil, forgetting that God made the ear and he hears all things. They commit their selfish acts in private, oblivious to the fact that the creator of eyesight watches over even the sparrows. God know it all. But he is not a blow-hard unjustly demanding our attention, he is the living owner of everything good. Therefore, he deserves all worship, honor, and obedience. These are the attributes of God that we need to remember continually.
Stuart

Psalm 93

In about 2 minutes I read this psalm twice. The first words of the psalm not only summarize the psalm, they also summarize the reality of God's position to our lives. God alone is our king, our only ruler. His commands are to be our focus. We should allow his rule should direct our lives. His words regarding eternity should be our ultimate guide for our lifestyles choices. God is king. Praise to our king.
Stuart

Luke 7-9

It took about 20 minutes for me to read this passage.  In chapter 7 Jesus asked two groups of people about their expectations.  He asked John’s disciples if Jesus was acting as they expected.  When that group left he asked those around him if John had acted like they had expected.  We often forget how our expectations shade our view of the events we witness.  If we expect a great speaker, then a poor sermon results in disappointment.  If John had expected a military leader then Jesus’ healing of the sick, lame, and dead would have left John and his followers disappointed.  If those following Jesus had expected John to be the Messiah then they might find their lives empty.  But when our expectations line up with God’s plans; Oh the joy we will behold.  In chapter 9:23-27 Jesus expands on what expectations Christians should have.  As long as we expect Jesus to lead us anticipating our un-questioning obedience then our lives will be full of joy and hope.  A perspective that will carry us through any situation.

Stuart

Psalm 92

I spent about 2 minutes reading this Sabbath song. The theme of this song was to be the theme for the Jews all through the Sabbath; thanksgiving. I believe that everyday is a Sabbath for Christians, and so the theme for every day is to be thanksgiving. I am indeed thankful for all of the many provisions that God has poured into my life. But I can say that I never considered my words of thanks to God as something that is beautiful. That's how this psalmist opens his song; God sees thanksgiving as a display of beauty. So if we want to live a life of beauty live a lie of thanks to God.
Stuart

Luke 4-6

It took me about 18 minutes to read this passage. Jesus' words in 5:30 are key words that I know I need to remeber; "I cam to invite outsiders....to change from the inside out." That call to change applies to me, 27 years after my submission to Jesus' lordship, as well as to those who have just met him. I know that I need to change, and the Gospel is the mechanism that Jesus wants to use to accomplish that change in me.
Stuart

Psalm 91

It took me about 2 minutes to reasd this psalm.  The psalmist lists promise after promise in this writting. Each one of them displaying an aspect of God's ability to shelter his people. Promises that are just as valid today as they were when the psalm was written.
Stuart

Luke 1-3

It took about 20 minutes for me to read Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth and the other events that happened that year.  Zachariah started out his ordeal as a doubter of God.  I wonder when his faith was changed during his months of silence?  Was it when Elizabeth started “showing”?  Or when she was sick every day?  Where was he the day that Mary showed up and his obviously pregnant wife greeted her with words of joy from God?  There was at least 9 months of wonder and reflection bottled up inside of him.  The first words out of his mouth were focused on God’s work; “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he came and set his people free.”  These words from a man who’s voice had been held captive for nearly a year.  But he knew by then that it was all a part of God’s great plan of redemption. 

Stuart

Psalm 90

It took me about 2 minutes to read this song that Moses wrote. Moses knew God better than probably any man except Jesus. Moses spoke with God frequently, and even experience the physical presence of his glory. In this psalm Moses asks God to be patient. Time, Moses points out, is meaningless to God. He can complete as much in the span of 1,000 years just as easily as he can finish in a second. So giving people the time to repent is not a tax on God's sense of time. As in the days of Moses, God still give people the time that they need to surrender their lives to his will.
Stuart

2 Kings 22-25

It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage.  In chapter 22 Josiah, the 26 year old king of Judah, heard the words of the Law of Moses.  It is really sad to think that he had never heard the curses proclaimed in God’s revelation before.  Apparently, the teachers of the Law in Josiah’s day proclaimed a message of prosperity regardless of God’s righteousness.  Josiah took God’s words serious; he tore his clothes, wailed before God, and sought the favor of the LORD.  Even after the “bad news”, the confirmation of the coming destruction, was given to Josiah he didn’t give up and wait for the inevitable.  Josiah acted.  He did all in his power to restore God’s earthly kingdom to match God’s plans.  In the span of 1 year Josiah had rid the kingdom of idol worship, and even cleansed the idol worship in lower Israel.  I’m confident the Josiah’s actions upset a number of people in Judah, but the king was serving an audience of one; God almighty.  Maybe Josiah thought his reforms would deter God’s wrath.  There is nothing to indicate that the remaining 15 years of Josiah’s reign were anything but a continuation of his reform.  As far as we can tell Josiah kept his focus on serving God for the remainder of his life.  He knew that God’s punishment was coming, but he was a faithful servant.  He kept to God’s commandments to the fullest.  That is the same path we are to follow.

Stuart

2 Kings 18-21

It took me 21 minutes to read this passage.  Sometimes I feel that God is slow to answer my prayers.  Sometimes it looks like God’s answers to the prayers of his people is always; “Wait.  No yet.”  Many years ago I believed that God always answered the prayers of Christians with one of three answers; “Yes”, “No”, “Wait”.  As Hezekiah prayed on his death bed I don’t know if he expected any answer at all.  He may have been struggling with the death sentence that Isaiah had delivered, or just the saddened realization of finality.  Whatever his thinking, God saw in Hezekiah’s spirit something that led him to change his plans.  I picture Isaiah’s entrance as a sudden, spur-of-the-moment event.  He spoke God’s pronouncement.  Abruptly turned and exited the king’s chamber.  As he walked down the hallway he could hear the wailing of the king’s family.  Some of his children may have even followed Isaiah pleading for him to intercede on their father’s behalf.  But while Isaiah was exiting the palace Hezekiah was pouring his heart out to God.  I think that as soon as Hezekiah finished his peach Isaiah stopped in his tracks as God’s familiar silent voice flooded his soul.  Once again Isaiah turned on his heels and walked back to the king with the same intensity as he had left.  There must have been a number of tear-filled, angry eyes glaring at the prophet has he headed back into the room filled with people whose lives he had just left in turmoil.  He entered the room again.  I see the room growing silent, and they listened to Isaiah echo God’s words: “I’ve listed to your prayer and seen your tears…..”  God’s plans had changed.

Stuart

2 Kings 15-17

It took me over 18 minutes to read this passage. Chapter 16 speaks of king Ahaz, ruler of Judah. He rejected following God. This chapter records two times that the king ordered the treasury of the temple emptied for the kings pleasure. In his arrogance he copied a pagan alter and constructed it in Jerusalem to replace the altar that Solomon had dedicated. The priests followed the king's order rather than risk their lives and obey God only. In verse 19 the writter points out that king Ahaz sought to please the ruler of Assyria rather than pleasing God. Ahaz preferred to b e politically correct rather than holy in God's sight. He died at the ripe age of 36.
Stuart

Psalm 89

It took about 5 minutes to read this psalm. Verse 14 tells how Right and Justice are the foundation of God's rule. In many ways that is exactly what I want to see in God's rule over my life. I want to be like him and have someone who is consistent in his commands. But in other ways I hope that these are not thew only halmarks of God's kingdom, because I am not always right. What is equally encouraging are the fruits the psalmist mentions from God's right and justice; Love and Truth. I really like the love part when it comes to God's rule over my life.
Stuart

Psalm 88

It took about 2 minutes to read this psalm. Korah writes a psalm that seems to overflow with hopelessness. But the first line of all three stanzas proclaim a hope in God. The begining of the last stanza speaks the clearest. Korah appears to be saying; "Even if everything is collapsing around me, I will not give up my hope in God Almighty." That is a hard statement to live. Job's life is that statement in the flesh. So also was Jesus' life on earth. His prayers in Gethsemene are focused right in line with Korah's. We need to be willing to make that same statement, "I will not give up my hope in God Almighty!"
Stuart

2 Kings 12-14

It took me about 12 minutes to read this passage. After reading of the generations of Israel who repeatedly reject God's law, and looked to gods of their own design, I wonder why God stayed with them. In 13:23 God gives his reason; "..out of respect for his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." God's promises are not at all like the promises people tend to make. I've seen promises made that are based upon continued faithfulness on the part of the one receiving the promise. When that faithfulness is broken the promise maker feels free to give up their promise. God makes his word sure forever. We can take comfort in that truth.
Stuart

Psalm 87

In just 1 minute I was able to read this psalm from two translations. I talk about my hometown often. It is part of what defines me; it is a big part of the foundation of my life. I think that God created us like that, to recall the impact of our home town on our lives, because that is a little like him. Jerusalem, Zion in this psalm, is NOT God's hometown, but it is the picture he chose to use. Jerusalem is a high place, and it is the city where God chose to place his name. How much more like heaven could you want? For Christians it is also a picture of the place where we have been reborn; in the eternal heaven.
Stuart

2 Kings 8-11

It took about 20 minutes to read this passage. There are many times mentioned in the Bible where God comissions a person or nation to punish Israel. Here is one of those cases; when Elisha annoints Hazel to rule Aram. As God's prophet commissions this new king God also reveals to Elisha all the abuse that Hazel will heap on Israel.  To horror moved Elisha to tears. He may have wondered why God was moving in that direction with this man, but he didn't record such a concern.  This passage is a reminder that God will seek to use us for his Kingdom.
Stuart

Psalm 86

It only took a couple of moments to read this psalm attributed to David. There are a few times when the word bodatious fits a situation; I think this is one of those times. In verse 17 David makes a bodatious request of God Almighty; "Show the world how much you love me." We have one display for all of the world to see, which is Jesus on the cross. But would God single out his people to display his grace and favor on them as individuals? He might. He single out Abraham, and still today shows his favor towards his descendant in the flesh and in the spirit. There have been thousands of individual Christians who have stood victorious against all odds, I believe of the bodatious request that David made. If we make the same bodatious request, in the right circumstances, God will make his favor for his people clear. Though it may not be in a way we expect.
Stuart

2 Kings 5-7

It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage.  After Naaman was healed of his leprosy he came back to Elisha changed in flesh and in spirit.  His vow was to worship the God of Israel only for saving his life from a dreadful death.  He knew that he would attend the king of Aram to the worship of a false god, so he asked for God’s mercy.  The God whom he would serve would only be the God of Israel.  That is just another example of how God views us.  He’s not so concerned with the outward display as long as our hearts are totally committed to him.  We don’t know the end of Naaman’s life, but we know the day that his heart was changed.

Stuart

Psalm 85

It took about 2 minutes to read this psalm, and conside Korah's inspired words. In the spring time there is nothing more promising to a gardener then a sprout in the garden. One small sliver of green tells many stories. One story speaks of the power of life over the clutches of the grave; because a planted seed has germenated to become the plant it was designed to be. A plant that will bear fruit. Another story is that of a coming harvest. The harvest will be a time of joy because of the battles fought with weeds, insects, and weather. At the harvest victory is seen complete. Korah refered to truth as this sprout in the garden. It was a figure of speech that everyone in Israel understood. A picture of hope and victory. Truth always produces both.
Stuart

2 Kings 1-4

It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage.  Because of his vigilance Elisha received a double portion of the spirit that God had placed on Elijah.  He walked and spoke in the confidence of his teacher and the power of God.  He had learned to speak with God and listen to God.  When the Shunammite woman’s son had died the woman came to Elisha is great distress and sorrow, but God was silent (4:27).  Elisha was also a very wise and compassionate man.  As the woman sobbed at his feet he must have been struggling with God asking for divine guidance.  But this time God would allow his providence to speak to his prophet.  After the woman spoke a few words Elisha knew the source of her pain.  As he began his journey to the son, he sent his servant to run ahead and begin God’s work of restoration.  I wonder what Elisha prayed on the path from Carmel to Shunem?  Did he spend the whole time in intercession for the boy’s life to return?  Did he question God why he had been silent?  We’ll never know, but Elisha completed his journey, and then completed the wonderful work of restoration for this woman’s son’s life.

Stuart

Psalm 84

It took about 1 minute to read Korah's psalm of praise. I wonder when God first drew Korah's attention to the birds at the temple. The temple was a busy place from sun up to sun down. The priest were always about the work of sacrificing and leading the people in worship of God. I picture a quiet moment when he watch a bird who had build a nest in a crevise of the temple building. And he begab to observe all that this family of birds witnessed; sin offerings, thanks offering, always backed up by a chorus of singers praising God's greatness and provision. They saw the lines of people bringing their sacrifice. Oh the joy, Korah must have felt, to be a bird that chose to live in the temple, always in God's presence. In reality Christians are very much like those birds. Because God's spirit in us always, so we are always before the throne of God.
Stuart

Philemon

It took me about 2 minutes to read Paul's impassioned letter to a friend and convert of his ministry. The life of Onesimus displays the powerful work of God's providence. We don't know exactly how he came to hear Paul preach. Yet we do know that the slave must have been tired of living life on the run, always looking over his shoulder. Maybe it was Jesus' call to find rest as his follower. It may have taken months to heed the call to return to slavery, but he did. Surely Onesimus was fearful for his life, but he realized that in Christ he now had something of greater value then his earthly freedom. Surely if Paul could speak of joy while in prison, Onesimus could live out the joy of Christ while enslaved.
Stuart

Psalm 83

It took a couple of minutes to read and ponder this psalm. I think I picked up the idea that Asaph sought to convey. He hid the nail on the head in verse 12; those who seek to steal God's inheritence and empty braggarts. There is no force to their claims but wind. The force is only their breath. They are nothing compared to God. And in his time and his way he will bring them to their end. But, even there he'll seek to lead them to repentance. He is always a god of second chances.
Stuart

Jonah

It took me about 15 minutes, in two settings, to read this book. There are two charactors in this story to whom God gave commands; Jonah and the fish. Both were obedient the second time God spoke to them.  But the first time there was a drastic difference in responses. The fish was completely obedient with the first command. Jonah was not nearly as consistent. We may refer to fish as dumb animals, but from God's perspective they are more consistent in odedoence. But God would rather have one human heart that is willing to turn to him than 1,000 obedient fish.
Stuart

Psalm 82

It took just a minutes to read this psalm. This psalm should be on the hearts of everyone who pursues a judgeship. It is a reminder that judges are accountable to God. He has set up the position of judge to be a reflection of his nature of justice. There are many judges who have no fear of the one who will judge their actions. With no one to hold them to account, at least that is what they feel, they are in jeapordy of falling under the same comdemnation of which Asaph writes. To be judged and found wanting be the Lord God Almighty.
Stuart

1 Kings 20-22

It took me nearly 20 minutes to read this passage.  This passage retells some of the events in Ahab’s life after God showed his power on Mount Carmel.  Ahab was a man of many moods, but most of the time it looks he sulked until somebody else gave him what he wanted.  Many times Jezabel acted in his name.  But God continued to use him to glorify the name of the LORD.  Twice God defeated the armies of Aram because that king had defied God.  Even when we are fighting against God he can make us an agent of his glory.  Because of the few times that Ahab did respond to God he was spared some of the violence God planned for his family, but Ahab never fully surrendered to God.

Stuart

Psalm 81

It took me 2 minutes to read this psalm. Asaph seems to have written this to be sung at Passover. In verse 4 he explains why God set aside feasts; so the people will take time to remember what God did to set them free. Holy-days are intended to be days of reflection towards events and people who actions in the past have had a good effect upon our lives today.  That is what the feast of Israel were intended to accomplish. But every day is to be a day of reflection during which we consider to effects of the cross on our lives. How each day should bring about another change in our lives as we grow closer to the reality of Jesus living in us.
Stuart

1 Kings 16-19

It took me 20 minutes to read through this passage.  In chapter 17 we are introduced to the prophet Elijah.  A man who took God at his word and did everything he was told to the letter.  His confidence in God grew through three years of drought, while God hid him from Ahab’s searchers.  He learned to depend upon God to provide, and God always did.

Stuart

Psalm 80

It took me a little more than 1 minute to read this psalm. At first glance I was baffled by this psalm; Asaph spoke of God returning his favor, but there is no mention of repentance in the psalm. How can God return to a people who have not returned to him? But the I remembered Job and his test; would I stay faithful to God even if it looked like he turned his back on me? That may be Asaph's perspective. The tears in verse 5 may be of sorrow, repentance, or reverance. But they display a desire by the people to surrender to God. Just to see God's smile truely is our salvation.
Stuart

1 Kings 13-15

It took me about 15 minutes, in two settings, to read this passage.  Five kings are discussed in this passage; three in Judah and two in Israel.  Only one of those kings sought to follow the God of Israel.  Rehoboam and Jeroboam lead both of their people away from God by building and worshiping idols.  The entire land of promise was full of corruption; worse than in the times of the judges of Israel.  Chapter 13 tells the story of an unnamed prophet who confront Jeroboam with the offense of his sin.  This prophet’s life was in danger from the kings wrath, but God protected him.  Jeroboam acted like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar, but he didn’t repent of his evil ways.  The prophet delivered God’s message and headed home in obedience to God’s word.  But for some reason he stopped to rest.  That was the beginning of his undoing.  He had seen God deliver him from an unholy king, and he had the orders to not receive anything from anyone is Israel, but he stopped and rested. Maybe he was tired.  Maybe he was hungry or thirsty.  God had provided for his journey, but the prophet wanted more.  Then he walked into disobedience and it cost him his life.  I am thankful that the blood of Jesus covers the sin in my life when I want more than what God has given me the provisions to complete.

Stuart

Psalm 79

It took just a couple of minutes to read this psalm, a psalm where Asaph repeats the lesson that taught through David: that it is God who handles revenge. We can't judge rightly but he always will. Therefore, we need to turn over every difficult problem to God, and let him dish out the punishment. Only then can we be sure the justice is being served.
Stuart

1 Kings 10-12

It took me about 15 minutes to read  these six stories.  The first four of these stories deal with Solomon, two that show how God blessed him, and two that show Solomon’s poor response to God.  The last time that God spoke to Solomon it was with a warning, recorded in 11:11-13.  The first two times God spoke to Solomon he offered his encouragement and the challenge to pursue God like his father David.  The last time God spoke to Solomon it was as an angry father correcting his rebellious son.  We don’t know how Solomon responded to God, but the fact that the kingdom was divided leads me to believe that Solomon did not change his ways.  God always seeks to bring us up to his level, but we do have the opportunity to lower ourselves into the depths of this world.

Stuart

1 Kings 7-9

It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage.  Solomon had two bronze pillar set up in front of the temple.  He called them Security and Stability.  It was a reminder to everyone who came to the temple that God provides both.  God has always been faithful to those who have surrendered their lives to him, by granting them security in him and stability in their relationship.  That reminder is for Christians as well.

Stuart

1 Kings 4-7

It took me about 17 minutes to read this passage. The writer of the book of Kings summarized what God had done in Solomon's life. Chapter 4 describes the details of God fulfilling his promise to Solomon in 1 Kings 3:10-14. Three of the four promises are detailed: wisdom, riches, and doom for the enemies. God was not slow in keeping his promise to Solomon, nor is his slow in keeping his promises to us. We will recives the wisdom for which we ask, the riches of the Gospel, and to doom of our enemy Satan. God is not slow, his timing is perfect.
Stuart

Psalm 78

It took me about 5 minutes to read this song of Asaph. This is the Hebrew song that is equal to the hymn "Count your Many Blessings". That hymn is a reminder to list all the thing that God have provided for us! Then he reminds us that he has given to us all that we possess, and that he is the one who has an even greater inheritence being prepared for us right now. That is a blessing that far exeeds anything that we can have now.
Stuart

1 Kings 1-3

It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage. When God appeared to Solomon in the dream the new king was asked to make a request of God. Solomon had acted wisely already as king, but he knew that he lacked the experience to lead the people well. So in 3:9 he asked for a heart like David's and the wisdom to lead. That is a prayer that every leader should bring to God's throne.
Stuart

Psalm 77

It took me about 2 minutes to read this passage. Asaph needs what I need; a reminder of what God has accomplished. So in the middle of dispair he chose to recount the works of God's hands, the beauty of his creation, the troubles from which he rescued. When Asaph took a look at those truths he quickly concluded, "No god is great like God." There is no god who devise a plan of restoration and reconciliation like our God. No god willingly gave his son to purchase back the people that he loves. I have to agree with Asaph.  Thanks for the reminder.
Stuart

Colossians 1-4

It took about 20 minutes to read this letter of Paul to the church in Colosse.  When Paul was trying to word the encouragement that God had for all of us who are in Christ he pointed them away from the failures and separations of their past and focused their attention on the cross.  Sometimes I forget all that God did there.  The Message has a clear way of presenting what Jesus accomplished on the cross in chapter 2 verses 13-15;

“All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s Cross.  He stripped al the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.”

Paul shows that everything bad that happened to Jesus on Good Friday was in actuality placed upon the sinfulness of our lives. 

The crimes of which we were guilty were named to the cross with him.

When Jesus was stripped naked and paraded through the city it was our sin nature that was humiliated.

Our selfishness and defiance was with him on the cross, emptied of any authority we thought we had.

Everything was a victory for God’s redemption and our sanctification on the day that Jesus died.

Stuart

Psalm 76

It took about a minutes to read this psalm, attributed to Asaph. In the last stanza of the psalm Asaph calls God by the title; The One Who Watches. That title speaks volumes with regard to God's nature. Not only does he keep watch for those who violate his comands, but he is equally vigilant over those who adhere to his standards. His eye of judgment is on the rebellion at the same time he observes with joy the submission of the godly. He look with sympathy on those who are hurt, he is moved with compassion for those who he sees are in need. God keeps his eyes equally on the sparrow and those cast asside by their society. God scouts the way for the feet of his saints, while looking for ways to slow down the malice of the arrogant. He is indeed the God who Watches.
Stuart

2 Samuel 21-24

It took me about 20 minutes to read through this passage.  The last chapter recounts a situation where David chose to follow a path of error and count the number of fighting men in Israel.  When God told David of his sin the king was given three choices to make; all of which punished the people he ruled.  In 24:14 David threw himself on the mercy of God.  A mercy through which he had received mercy and grace numerous times.  It was because of this act of surrender that David was shown the place where God would make his name dwell; the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

Stuart

Psalm 75

It took about 1 minute to read this psalm. The beginning of verse 7 in The Message is a good summary for this psalm of Asaph; God rules. Because he rules he can do as he wished, but one of his first wishes is that he will coherse no one to come to him. Some he lifts us and tears down regardless of their faith, but if it involves a choice they are still given free reign. There may be millions of sick or dead people who have never chosen to turn their situation over to God's contol. Regardless of how any person chooses, God is able to use any desicion to feed into his ultimate will for his greatest glory.
Stuart

2 Samuel 18-20

It took me about 12 minutes to read this passage. The stories here seem very jumbled and disorganized. Yet I believe that there is one underlying theme; God's desire for unity among his people. God moved the people to call David back to rule, yet there persisted fighting between the denominations of Israel. But God continued to move his people toward unity; serving only one king in one city. That is a message we as the church need to comprehend as well.
Stuart

2 Samuel 14-17

It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage.  Absalom was a conniving man; shrewd in his dealings with people.  He did not refrain from using many schemes to persuade people to his favor.  He plotted for 2 years to murder Amnon because of the rape of his sister.  During his three years in exile he must have plotted his return.  When he returned to Jerusalem he was not allowed to see the king for two years; this must have heightened his anger.  He then spent 4 years putting on a display for the people of Israel through lies and deception.  Finally he declared himself king in Hebron, and more people began flocking to him.  Whether David understood this to be the pronounced judgment against him or not is unclear to me, but David turned the situation over to God.  He knew to stand and fight would lead to the death of many who were innocent of rebellion, and make David appear desperate like Saul had been.  So he left Jerusalem.  He submitted to every abuse as if it were God’s punishment, but did not give up his faith in God’s justice and absolute control.  God did provide David with protection, and provisions; he was still God’s anointed king.

Stuart