Family Feuds

607 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 19:40 Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel. 41 Just then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, "Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king, his household, and all David's men with him across the Jordan?" 42 So all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "Because the king is a close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the king's expense? Or has he given us any gift?" 43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, "We have ten shares in the king; therefore we also have more right to David than you. Why then do you despise us-were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?" Yet the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel. Some petty jealousy has broken out among the people. Half of the ten tribes that made up what is called Israel were left out of the triumphant procession celebrating the return of David. They were hurt by this and let the people of Judah know about it. Quick reminder for all of us to beware of hurting the feelings of others by not including them, and at the same time a reminder to those who are left out to not take it as the end of the world. You will survive this social snub. When we exclude others unnecessarily, or overreact to being excluded, we set the table for future problems that flow from hard and unforgiving hearts. Look what happened here. Unloving words were exchanged between the two parties and it led to serious trouble. The exchange of words escalated to the point that Judah's words were described as “fierce.” The Hebrew meaning of the term is cruel. Cruel, harmful words, spoken to souls that matter to God because neither side could drop it. My brothers, my sisters, don't let similar circumstances snowball in your own life. Remember the words of the Holy Spirit as recorded in Ro 12:18, “ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” And in ALL circumstances seek to bridle that tongue that James says is capable of kindling roaring fires. Jas 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

Ask Anything In My Name

606 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 19:37 "Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you." 38 And the king answered, "Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do for you." 39 Then all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over, the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place. ( 2 Sam 19:37-39) Chimham is likely the son of Barzillai, and Barzillai asks that David bestow his blessing on him. “Do for him what seems good to you.” Notice how David turns the request around and says, “I will do for him what seems good to YOU!” Then he adds “whatever you request of me (for Chimham) I will do for you! Barzillai then returns to his own place. Barzillai then “returned to his own place.” I cannot help but think of Jesus and how He came to this earth and poured out kindness and compassion on the people during a time when they needed it. “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, (Gal4:4) to give us what we needed. Then Jesus departed, “returned to His own place,” but before He left He told His disciples in Joh 14:12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” David is like our Father God here, and Barzillai like Jesus and we like Chimham. Because of the obedience of Jesus in dispensing mercy and compassion to us, He now sits at the right hand of God forever interceding on our behalf, and if we ask anything of the Father in His name, He will do it, just as David promised to do for Chimham! Chimham was the beneficiary of the goodness and compassion of Barzillai, and we are the beneficiaries of the goodness and compassion of Jesus. And we have this assurance that as we ask Jesus to do what is good for us, and are prepared to trust that He will grant whatever is ultimately good for us, we will receive it from the Father. Father, let us learn to pray with surrendered wills.

Passing the Torch

604 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 19:31-36, “And Barzillai (bar zil' la I ) the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And he had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man. 33 And the king said to Barzillai, "Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem." 34 But Barzillai said to the king, "How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 "I am today eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king? 36 "Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me with such a reward? (2 Sam 19:31-36) Barzillai the Gileadite was an aged loyal subject of David. He did not let his age keep him from showing his approval of the king. He traveled all the way from Mahanaim and crossed the Jordan just to make that public statement. This trek with David said loud and clear to all witnesses, “I believe in this king!” David invites him to stay and serve in his court, but Barzillai graciously refuses, citing his waning faculties that came with old age. He would be more of a hindrance to David and his kingdom than a help. I think about this often in relation to my own service in the kingdom. I have been blessed with the opportunity to work as a radio announcer at a Christian station for many years, but quite frankly there will come a time, when my voice will become feeble, my senses dulled, and perhaps a little out of touch with a youthful audience. There will come a time when my being on the air will actually be a hindrance. (Ah ah ah ah...don't go there!) I pray that I will have the grace of Barzillai and know when to get out of the way. May it be enough for me to finish my years, expressing my approval of my King in all that He gives me to say and do. I also pray fervently that God would raise up spiritual children that this radio ministry may have produced through the years, and that this next generation would pick up the torch and fervently keep it burning on the airwaves. This ministry of the broadcast Word is vital because as Scripture says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God! Father, raise up anointed heralds, that Your Good News may continue to go forth in power and purity.

A Balm In Gilead

604 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 19:31-36, “And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And he had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man. 33 And the king said to Barzillai, "Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem." 34 But Barzillai said to the king, "How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 "I am today eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king? 36 "Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me with such a reward? (2 Sam 19:31-36) Barzillai the Gileadite was an aged loyal subject of David. He was also wealthy and had provided supplies for David and his men over and above what they needed when David was running from Absalom. When I think of Gilead, the old hymn “There Is A Balm In Gilead comes to mind. “There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole. There's power enough in heaven to cure a sin-sick soul.” Barzillai was that Balm to David when he needed it, Jesus is that balm to us. But still another aspect of Barzillai that I want to touch on is his understanding of simply doing his duty for the king. Though blessed by the Lord with power and wealth, he subjected himself to the king. He understood well the relationship between servant and master. He knew his generosity was “just doing his duty. As Jesus said in Lu 17:7 "And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? 8 "But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? 9 "Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10 "So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'" Let us adopt the attitude of Barzillai, and stop patting ourselves on the back or expect immediate rewards for our good deeds. Rather let's just spend our days in generous gratitude and servitude to our great King Jesus.

Let it Go

603 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 19:25-30, “So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, "Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?" 26 And he answered, "My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, 'I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,' because your servant is lame. 27 "And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes. 28 "For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to cry out anymore to the king?" 29 So the king said to him, "Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, 'You and Ziba divide the land.'" 30 Then Mephibosheth said to the king, "Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house." Now we get the story as to why Mephibosheth did not join with David when he left the city the first time. He had ordered Ziba to saddle a donkey for him, but Ziba took that donkey and gave it to David as a present. Then he slandered Mephibosheth, claiming that he had thrown in with Absalom. Taking the donkey of a lame man, and then making a pretension of benevolence to the king, and then slandering his master! How despicable is this Ziba. I don't know about you, but this stirs up anger in me, and I want this Ziba character to be punished. But He isn't! David simply restores the land and the relationship between Ziba and Mephibosheth to what it was before! We never hear about Ziba in Scripture again. What can we learn from this? First lesson is to understand and believe that God says in Ro 9:15, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." This was good enough for Mephibosheth, and it ought to be good enough for you and me! Mephibosheth was thrilled just with the fact that the Lord had returned and welcomed HIM into His kingdom. He was willing to forgive all the wrongs done to him, and to let all his goods go, content to just be with his Lord when he returned. How about you? Are you ready to let go of material goods and unforgiveness, content just to be a part of His kingdom? I am reminded of stanza 4 from Luther's A Mighty Fortress: “Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also. The body they may kill: God's truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever.” A forever kingdom is far better than anything we could hang onto on this earth. Father, help me to seek first Your kingdom.

Fasting

602 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 19:24 Now Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace. We are not privy to how long David was out of Jerusalem. We don't know how long it took for Absalom to arrive at the city, and then to amass his army for the pursuit of David, and even how long it took for David to return to Jerusalem from Mahanaim. What we do know is that while he was gone. Mephibosheth was in deep mourning. He did not trim his facial hair, or wash his feet, or his clothing. I imagine he looked and smelled awful, but let us not dwell on his condition. Let us rather dwell on Mephibosheth's actions while he waited for David to return. His actions ought to cause us to think of this exchange that Jesus had with the disciples of John the Baptist in Mt 9:14,15, “Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?" 15 And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” This is exactly what Mephibosheth was doing, and one of the earmarks of a disciple of Jesus today. (Note the word “will”) We will fast! Will we mourn like Mephibosheth? No! We will fast! And our fasting should be done as Jesus said in Mt 6:16 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 "so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Our Lord is in heaven, seated at the right hand of God the Father, but one day He will return! In the meantime we are to discipline ourselves to engage in fasting. It's funny how we are so resistant to this clear call from Jesus, especially since there is a great promise connected to proper fasting. I mean, what's not to like about God rewarding you openly?

Acknowledge Your Sin and Surrender To Jesus As Lord

601 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 19:18-23, “ Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan. 19 Then he said to the king, "Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, or remember what wrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart. 20 "For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king." 21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, "Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?" 22 And David said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?" 23 Therefore the king said to Shimei, "You shall not die." And the king swore to him. (2 Sam 19:18-23) Who says the gospel is not present in the Old Testament? Shimei, a sinner who had cursed David, comes to him with genuine repentance. “For I your servant know that I have sinned.” Two things are evident in this statement of repentance. We have an admission of sin, and also a declaration to be David's servant henceforth. This is no different than a profession of faith we might see today, as we acknowledge our sinfulness before God and surrender our lives to Jesus. Of course there are those like the sons of Zeruiah who would withhold forgiveness from Shimei, but David, just like Jesus will have no part in it! Because as Jesus said in Joh 3:17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, (Shimei, you, me) but that the world (Shimei, you, me) through Him might be saved.” Let the words of David spoken to the repentant Shimei, speak to your repentant soul today as if they were spoken by God Himself, “You shall not die." And the king swore to him. God's sworn testimony of salvation is all over this Book we call the Bible and He is not a man that He should lie and He says in Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Father may the sweetness of Your gospel ring in the souls of those who hear it today.

The Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

600 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 19:15-19, “Then the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to escort the king across the Jordan. 16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hastened and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17 There were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over the Jordan before the king. 18 Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan. 19 Then he said to the king, "Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, or remember what wrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart. (2 Sam 19:15-19) Let's talk about Shimei. If you recall, he was the one who had cursed David as David was fleeing Jerusalem. As David is preparing to ascend again to the throne, Shimea “hastened” to meet him. He didn't dilly dally, and look what he did! He fell down before the king and begged forgiveness for his sin. I can really identify with Shimei. I remember my own pre-conversion days and the times I literally cursed God. I said pretty much the same things Shimei had said, accusing God of being a blood thirsty tyrant as I blamed Him for every bad thing in the world. “If You were really God, You wouldn't allow these things to happen!” “Why should I bow down to such a tyrant,” I ranted. But then one day God quietly came to me in His mercy and grace, and opened my eyes to His great love for a sinner like me. He assured me that even my speaking evil of Him and Jesus were forgivable sins. And by the sure promises of His Word, I know that He took those sins and all others I have committed and threw them away. Buried in the sea of forgetfulness, cast away as far as east is from the west! Now, forgiven and clean, by His grace, I stand like Shimei free of all my past sins. Can you identify with any of this? Are you holding back because you think that God could never forgive you for cursing Him? Then learn from Shimei. Hasten to Jesus! Don't dilly dally! While you still have breath in your body there is time. The Holy Spirit is calling you here today, to not resist the grace and mercy of Christ. To resist His call and refuse His gift of repentance is the only unforgivable sin. Jesus said in Mt 12:31 "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.

Consider Jesus

599 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 19:11-14, “ So King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, "Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, 'Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house? 12 'You are my brethren, you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?' 13 "And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.'" 14 So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, just as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: "Return, you and all your servants!" (2 Sam 19:11-14) The tribe of Judah had joined with Absalom for the revolt and thus occupied Jerusalem. They were very slow in inviting David back to occupy the throne in their city. David, sends two priests to speak to the elders of Judah and reminds them that he is from their tribe, and to his nephew Amasa, who was the commander of Absalom's army, he offers to make him the commander of his army in place of Joab. These two things swayed the hearts of the people and they invited David back into the city to be their king. This incident should cause us to consider a similar rejection that occurred later on as prophesied by Isaiah, Isa 1:2,3, “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: "I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me; 3 The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master's crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider." This rejection by the flesh and blood of the Son of David (Jesus) was also spoken of in the Gospel of John: Joh 1:11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. It was this this rejection that caused Jesus to weep outside of the gates of Jerusalem: Lu 19:41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. David did not return to reign on the throne until invited. In like manner, Jesus does not barge down the door of our hearts. He awaits a Holy Spirit inspired invitation from the individual, Jew or Gentile. Have you invited Him into your heart? Father, break through to those who are resisting Your Holy Spirit, that they may have life!

Dealing With Moral Failure

598 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 19:8-10, “ Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, "There is the king, sitting in the gate." So all the people came before the king. For everyone of Israel had fled to his tent. 9 Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king saved us from the hand of our enemies, he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled from the land because of Absalom. 10 "But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?" (2 Sam 19:8-10) This is a mess. Joab has snapped David out of his mourning for his son Absalom with some very strong words, so David responds by setting up shop in the city gate. This was a strong message to the rebels and David's loyal followers that he was ready once again to govern. But the people aren't so sure they want him to govern. All the people were in dispute about it! Some reminded others that it was David who had delivered them from the Philistines, others were saying, Yea, but, what about this Absalom thing, which was a direct result of all of David's moral failures? Still others were saying, well Absalom is dead. It's over and done, let us move on with David returning as king. Like I said...it's a mess. Moral failures of spiritual leaders always are....a mess. So David waits in the gate to see what the people will do. Maybe it would be better to head to the temple and see what the Lord will do! As the prophet Isaiah says, “To the law and to the testimony! Let's see what the Word of God says about handling the moral failures of their leaders! Unfortunately, in this case, it seems more to be a matter of popularity among the people. This is dangerous to say the least. When popularity wags the tail, spiritual leaders are not held to the standard of 1 Tim 3:2, which states they must be without reproach. I pray that no church ever has to deal with the moral failures of their leaders, but if they do, I also pray that they will first of all seek the restoration of the fallen leader to the kingdom through repentance, and then, search the Scriptures prayerfully for follow-up procedures. Father, guard our leaders from moral failure, and if it occurs help us to clean up the mess according to Your Word.

Jesus Must Be Number One!

597 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 19:5-7, “ Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, "Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines, 6 "in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well. 7 "Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now." ( 2 Sam 19:5-7) David has been grieving the loss of his son Absalom. So much so that the victory that should have been celebrated by the people was replaced with a national pall. Why, it appears to the people that David would've been happier with being defeated! Joab tells David to get a grip on his misplaced priorities, or the evil that has befallen David in his life up to this point will pale compared to the evil that will come his way. David needs to put the kingdom above his own flesh and blood. This is the lesson for all of us. Jesus sternly reminds us in Mt 10:34-39, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 "For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 36 "and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' 37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Jesus and His kingdom must be number one in our lives. He must be more important than ourselves and our families. Love Jesus first, and let Him work out the love of family. Jesus, help me to give You the proper place in all my relationships.

Only God Knows the Heart of Faith

596 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 19:1-4, “And Joab was told, "Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom." 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, "The king is grieved for his son." 3 And the people stole back into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, "O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!" (2 Sam 19:1-4) Joab and the army of David have won a great victory. The rebellion has been quashed. David may return to his beloved Jerusalem and resume the God-ordained rule of his people. This should have been a great time of celebration for the army and the people, but David is weeping and mourning uncontrollably, and instead of having a parade of victory, the army and the people sneak back into the city like an army that is ashamed of a defeat. And instead of a proclamation of jubilation from the king such as “Well done thou good and faithful servants,” the people hear this wailing from David, “ "O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!" This is not the first time we have heard David wail over the loss of a child, but there is a big difference. In the first case, when his infant child passed away, he said with great confidence, that he would one day be reunited with him, not so with the rebel child Absalom. This is the lament of every believer who has suffered the loss of an unbelieving child, or family member, or friend. I've been there. I know your pain. I know your uncertainty. I know your wailing, “O Absalom, Absolom!” Where is our solace in such circumstances? We grasp at all sorts of straws hoping to find evidence of a spark of saving faith. For the Lord Himself said that, “he will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick, Mt 12:20. We also know that it is appointed for men to die once and then the judgment. (Heb 9:27) So all we can do is trust that God alone knows the heart of faith. God alone is the judge, and He is extremely loving and patient. In the meantime let us resolve to not leaving ourselves or others guessing. Let us surrender our lives to Jesus today! And let us play for the lost while there is still time.

Lamenting the Lost

595 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 18:29-33, “The king said, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about." 30 And the king said, "Turn aside and stand here." So he turned aside and stood still. 31 Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, "There is good news, my lord the king! For the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you." 32 And the king said to the Cushite, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" So the Cushite answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like that young man!" 33 Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: "O my son Absalom-my son, my son Absalom-if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!" (2 Sam 18:29-33) David asks Ahimaaz if Absalom is safe, and even though Joab had told Ahimaaz that Absalom was dead, he sidesteps the question. He speaks as an eyewitness. All he saw was the tumult, he wasn't there for the actual slaying. David commands Ahimaaz to stay put until he has to hear what the other runner has to say. David, now knowing the outcome of the battle, asks the Cushite (who likely was with Joab when Absalom was killed) if he has any news about Absalom. The Cushite doesn't mince words, “may all the kings enemies be as Absalom is”.......in other words, Absalom is dead. There is a tenderness and sensitivity in the answer given by Ahimazz and a coldness in the answer of the Cushite. Davids immediate response is a deep lamentation for his son reminiscent of God's own lamentation over the falling of Lucifer: Isa 14:12b, “O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!” Yes, the wicked, those who reject Christ, will spend eternity in hell, they get what they've got coming, but this fact should never be greeted with a coldness of heart! God says in Eze 18:23 "Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?” And so we pray with Jesus on the cross, and Stephen as he is being stoned, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Father grant the gift of repentance to those who continue in rebellion against You, before it's too late!

Upon the Arrival of News

594 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 18:24-28, “Now David was sitting between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate, to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a man, running alone. 25 Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, "If he is alone, there is news in his mouth." And he came rapidly and drew near. 26 Then the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, "There is another man, running alone!" And the king said, "He also brings news." 27 So the watchman said, "I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." And the king said, "He is a good man, and comes with good news." 28 And Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, "All is well!" Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, "Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!" ( 2 Sam 18:24-28) Here's David, the deposed king and estranged father and he waits in the gate of the city for news of the battle and news of his son. Imagine what is going through his mind as he waits. How about you? What goes through your mind during those times of waiting in your life. We all have them. We wait up all night with the porch light on, hoping to hear the sound of the car that held your son or daughter returning safely to the driveway. Or perhaps it's in the hospital awaiting word from the doctor that the operation went well. Maybe waiting for the results of a biopsy, a pregnancy test, a job promotion. Let's face it. There are many times in this life when we are forced to wait for news. The watchman reports to David that he sees a runner, and then another. From the standpoint of being the commander in chief, this is apparent good news. Solo runners bring good news about the battle. Many runners indicate flight from the battle and a rout! The good news of the battle is affirmed as Ahimaaz, out of breath calls out from a distance “All is well.” Then he rightly falls on his face and says, “Blessed be the Lord!” A simple prayer, Lord help me to remember it whenever anticipated news comes to my door. Let me be quick to acknowledge Your Sovereignty in every situation.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

593 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 18:19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies." 20 And Joab said to him, "You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king's son is dead." 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran. 22 And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, "But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite." So Joab said, "Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?" 23 "But whatever happens," he said, "let me run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite. The trumpet has sounded, the rebellion is over. Absalom is dead. Someone has to take this news to David. Ahimaaz, the son of the priest Zadok, who has a good reputation as a runner volunteers to bring the news to David. But Joab is concerned about how David will take the news of the death of his son and decides to send the Cushite. But Ahimaaz is persistent and Joab allows him to run to David as well. This race between Ahimaaz and the Cushite has got the hand of God's providence all over it. God has arranged for Ahimaaz to get there first and the first thing he says to David is “All is well, blessed be the Lord thy God.” Why is this important? Because Ahimaaz puts the focus on the blessedness of God in this situation. This is a helpful reminder for all of us as we live out our lives in this vale of tears. Bad news comes to us in all sorts of different ways, and we need to be reminded that God is still in control and He is still blessed. It is as Job said after he received the news that he had lost everything including his children, Job 1:21, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD." Yes beloved bad news arrives, and when it does, may God send messengers who turn our focus on Him. Let our souls sing: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.” God send comfort and perspective to those who need it today.

The End of Uncorrected Rebellion

592 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 18:17,18, “And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and laid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel fled, everyone to his tent. 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King's Valley. For he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom's Monument. (2 Sam 18:17,18) Absalom. So handsome. So powerful in his own eyes. So proud. Ends up buried in a pit with stones heaped upon him. As we shared last time, this is not an honorable burial. Here we also read that Absalom, like Saul, in his lifetime had set up a monument to himself that was meant to warn people that he was a very powerful man. (See 1 Sam 15:12) It's all he had for a legacy. His sons having preceded him in death. It is interesting to note that Absalom's monument exists to this day, although it certainly is not the original one. It is set up in the Kidron Valley near Jerusalem. Why would God even allow such a monument to continue to exist? Why keep the memory of Absalom alive? The monument is mentioned in the writings of Josephus and for centuries, it was the custom among passerby’s – (Jews, Christians, and Muslims) to throw stones at the marker. Residents of Jerusalem would bring their unruly children out to see the marker using it as an object lesson to teach their children the end of rebellious children. The Old Testament children knew that they could be stoned to death for rebelling against the authority of their parents and this visit to Absalom's Pillar was a grim reminder of the seriousness of the sin. Christian children today have a gentler reminder set before them by the Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians: Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: 3 "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." Children. This is a precious promise from God! Believe it! Live it! Because uncorrected rebellion always leads to a bad ending. Just ask Absalom.

The Final Trumpet

591 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 18:14-17, “ Then Joab said, "I cannot linger with you." And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom's heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree. 15 And ten young men who bore Joab's armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him. 16 So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people. 17 And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and laid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel fled, everyone to his tent. (2 Sam 18:14-17) Joab thrusts three spears through the heart of Absalom. Then his armor bearers added insult to injury brutally finishing the job. With the death of Absalom, there was no need to continue fighting, so Joab blows the trumpet signifying the end of the conflict. Absalom's body is taken from the tree and cast into a pit where a large pile of stones was heaped upon him. Absalom's burial and the heaping of stones serve as a reminder that this grave would be memorable because the person who was buried here deserved to be stoned. The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary puts it this way, “The people of the East indicate their detestation of the memory of an infamous person by throwing stones at the place where he is buried. The heap is increased by the gradual accumulation of stones which passers-by add to it.”....Wonderful. The sounding of the trumpet and the burial in the pit should cause us to think of the next supernatural heavenly trumpet that we will hear. In 1Th 4:16, we read, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” The Last Trumpet will be the one that signifies the war between Christ and Satan is over. The rebel Lucifer and his followers will be tossed into the pit of eternal torment. The question for all of us is simply this. Will we be counted as the ones rising to meet Christ in the air, or will we be left behind to join Satan in the pit of eternal damnation? The answer to that question is found all over the Scriptures, for starters you might want to read Jn 3:16, or Mark 16:16. Father, thank You for saving us from the pit. Help us to look forward to that final trumpet because of grace granted faith in Christ.

Three Deadly Darts of Satan

590 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 18:14-17, “ Then Joab said, "I cannot linger with you." And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom's heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree. 15 And ten young men who bore Joab's armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him. 16 So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people. 17 And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and laid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel fled, everyone to his tent. (2 Sam 18:14-17) The soldier who found Absalom hanging in the tree had reminded Joab that the king gave strict orders to take him alive. But Joab says, “I don't have time for this” and thrust Absalom through with three spears. Then his armor bearers added insult to injury brutally finishing the job. With the death of Absalom, there was no need to continue fighting, so Joab blows the trumpet signifying the end of the conflict. Absalom's body is taken from the tree and cast into a pit where a large pile of stones was heaped upon him. The first thing that catches my attention here is Joab's use of three spears to pierce the heart of Absalom. Why three? My thought is that Absalom was ultimately done in by three things: The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. We read about these three deadly fixations in 1Jo 2:15-17, “ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. Absalom gave place to all three and let them take the place of what should have been the love of his father. In the end Absalom is tossed into the pit, and that is the end for all who reject the love of our heavenly Father through the refusal to receive His Son Jesus Christ. This world has many attractions, but we must fight to never give them the space that rightly belongs to the Father.

Obey the Commander In Chief

589 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 18:10-13, “Now a certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, "I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!" 11 So Joab said to the man who told him, "You just saw him! And why did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt." 12 But the man said to Joab, "Though I were to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king's son. For in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 'Beware lest anyone touch the young man Absalom!' 13 "Otherwise I would have dealt falsely against my own life. For there is nothing hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me." (2 Sam 18:10-13) This incident strikes me as rather bizarre. One of David's soldiers is engaged in mopping up operations in the forest of Ephraim and he stumbles across the general of the rebel army. He's still alive but hung up in the terebinth tree! What would you have done? Wouldn't you have tried to untangle him and take him prisoner? Maybe the soldier thought he would need some help and so he seeks out Joab. Joab, ever the man of war says, 'you saw him and didn't kill him? What's wrong with you boy! This is war! I would have rewarded you handsomely for your service! But the soldier replies, “Did you not hear the commander in chief's instructions? He specifically told all three of his generals to take him alive!” This dressing down of a superior officer took an awful lot of courage on the part of this “certain” soldier. Not only that, but even the promise of financial reward was not enough to keep him from disobeying his commander in chief! This incident should remind us that as Christians we have One commanding officer, and when push comes to shove we need to obey Him rather than men. It's what Peter and John courageously did when they were called before the “generals” of the ruling council in Jerusalem. It's what many more of us may be called to do as our nation is seemingly becoming less and less guided by Christian principles. We may have our very freedom taken away from us, or suffer financial penalty for our insistence on following our Commander in Chief rather than obeying men. May God help us to be courageous!

Meet Me At the Cross

588 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 18:10, “Now a certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, "I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!" (2 Sam 18:10) I love the tiniest of details we often find in Scripture. Absalom's hair did not just get caught in a tree, it got caught in a terebinth tree. What's so special about the terebinth tree? It was at a terebinth tree that God met Abraham: Ge 18:1 Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. It was at a terebinth tree that the angel of the Lord met Gideon ( Judges 6:11) Both men warmly welcomed the Lord with a meal. They desired fellowship with Him. Absalom's pride kept him from desiring fellowship with God and his meeting at the terebinth tree didn't turn out well. Terebinth trees are given specific mention as meeting places for God in the Old Testament, some good meetings, (in the cases of Abraham and Gideon,) and some bad in the case of Absalom. There is another type of wood at which we meet God, it is at the cross, and how appropriate to consider this meeting on Good Friday. It is at the cross that sin is judged and mercy is extended for all the world to see. It is what we do with the cross that determines our fate. Abraham and Gideon met God at the terebinth tree with humility and faith and a desire for fellowship, and were blessed. Absalom met God at the terebinth tree with pride and hardness of heart, and he was cursed. That's why Paul encourages us to “preach Christ crucified!” (1 Cor 1:23) Because it is at the cross that we meet God. Those who reject His Son are damned, and left hanging like Absalom, but those who receive Him as Lord and Savior are given a ticket to paradise. There were two thieves crucified next to Jesus on the cross. Their meeting with God on Calvary could not have been more personal. One sneered at God in hard-hearted pride, the other submitted to Him in humble worship. The latter was rewarded with a promise to be in paradise with the God whom he met at the tree. Do you want to meet God? Then ask Him to lead you to the cross. It is as the song says: Lead me to the cross where Your love poured out. Bring me to my knees, Lord I lay me down. Rid me of myself, I belong to You. Oh lead Me to the cross. It is at the cross that you will see the penalty of rebellion and it is at the cross that You will see the love of God for you. Receive Him and live!

He Weighed His Hair?

587 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 18:9, “Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on. (2 Sam 18:9) Apparently, the Holy Spirit can't say it enough. Pride is a deadly sin. How proud Absalom was of his hair. We know he made a big deal about it because of the special mention we read of in 2Sa 14:26, “And when he cut the hair of his head-at the end of every year he cut it because it was heavy on him-when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king's standard.” He weighed his hair? This one verse is a graphic picture of the end result of pride, but there are many more examples of God's displeasure with pride. Isa 13:11 "I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. In Job 40:11, “ Disperse the rage of your wrath; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.” Pr 16:5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished. With these warnings about pride ringing in our ears, perhaps we need a deeper understanding of pride. Simply stated, pride is thankless godlessness. It is a failure to acknowledge God for anything that could be perceived as good about us. Those fancy follicles of Absalom, couldn't grow an inch without God, and every one of them were numbered, just as sure as Absalom's days were numbered, along with all others who exalt themselves above God. Isa 2:11,12 says, “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, And the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. 12 For the day of the LORD of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up-And it shall be brought low-” Oh Lord, help me to stay out of the trap of pride, humbly looking to You and acknowledging You for all things.

Entangled By Sin?

586 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 18:6-9, “So the people went out into the field of battle against Israel. And the battle was in the woods of Ephraim. 7 The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand took place there that day. 8 For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. 9 Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on. The battle evidently turned into a route for the forces of David and Absalom along with his troops fled into the woods of Ephraim. Biblical scholars tell us that this was a terrible place to be when on the run. There were pits and bogs and dense underbrush and vines. Just imagine trying to outrun someone in those conditions! The advantage in such a case always belongs to the pursuer. These snares and pitfalls were brought on by the rebellion of the Absalom and his men. It is the same for you and I. When we rebel against God, we often wind up in the same situation. Trapped in the pit of wrong choices we have made. Ensnared in sin that entangles us, and if not extracted through repentance, confession, and the deliverance of Christ, we are doomed! 2Pe 2:15-20 says, “They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.” Brother! Sister! Entangled by sin! Wake up! There is still time to escape! Turn to Jesus, let Him untangle you and live!