Daily Bible Reading “David’s Despair” (2 Samuel 12:7-17)

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

David’s Despair

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 12:7-17. In the previous lesson Nathan told David a story about a rich man and a poor man. In this lesson Nathan told David the rich man in the story was him. Nathan goes on to tell David that the LORD was displeased with him and everything the LORD had to say about him.

The LORD told Nathan to tell David, I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives. I made you king over the house of Israel and Judah. If all of that wasn’t enough, I would have given you many more things.

The LORD was upset with David. He asked, Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? You killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and took his wife to be your wife, and had him slain with the sword of the children of Ammon.

Because of this the sword will never depart from your house; because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.

The LORD said, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.

You did your deeds secretly: but I will do this thing before all of Israel, and before the sun.

David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied to David, “The LORD also hath put away your sin; you will not die.”

Because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child that is born to you will die.

Nathan departed to his house. The LORD struck the child that Bathsheba, bare to David, and he became ill.

David sought God in prayer for the child. He fasted. David went in, and laid all night on the ground. David probably would have preferred that God take him than his son.

Even though David’s son and his wife were obtained in a sinful way, he loved them and wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to either of them. David was grieved in his heart about this situation. He probably begged God to spare his child’s life.

The elders of David’s house went to console him. They tried to get David to get up: but he wouldn’t get up. He wouldn’t even eat with them.

Surely David was distraught. Imagine the despair David must have felt. David knew that God was upset with him and his son’s life hung in the balance because of his sin.

God loved David. In fact, in Act 13:22, God called David a man after his own heart. It must have grieved God for David to commit these sins, as it grieves God when we sin.

One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn in the last few years is that there are consequences for our sin. Not for myself, but for people I care about deeply.

God is our heavenly father and as we have to punish our children when they do wrong it is his duty to see that we suffer the consequences of our sin. Does that break God’s heart, I’m sure it does as much or more as it breaks our heart when we have to correct our children.

Even though Jesus died to cover our sins on the cross and keep those of us who accept him as Savior from going to hell, there are still consequences on this earth for our sins. Some of those consequences are hard to accept.

When we disobey man’s laws there are consequences that we have to face and when we disobey God there are consequences that we face as well.

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 12:7-17

7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
8 And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

Things to think about:

Who did Nathan tell David he was like?
What did Nathan tell David the LORD said?
What was David’s response to the LORD’s words?
Is there anything in your life that you need to ask God’s forgiveness?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture we see that David’s sin displeased You. We see David’s despair in the situation. Help us to learn from this story in David’s life. Help us to know that there are consequences for our sins. Help us to consider those consequences before we sin. Help us to look for a way to escape our sin. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: “Before You Now”

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

Featured Book:

New Release

The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and Visions

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and Visions is a Daily Bible Reading study by Deborah H. Bateman. It is a study of Zechariah from the Old Testament of the Bible. Zechariah was a prophet during Old Testament times. He tells of eight dreams or visions he has where the LORD communicates with him.

In the beginning of the book the LORD is beckoning His people to return to Him and He will return to them. The dreams that Zechariah has are dreams that are pertinent to his day as well as dreams about the future.

The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and visions contains twenty-two Daily Bible Reading Lessons that take you through the entire book of Zechariah. Each lesson contains a commentary by the author, the Scriptures for Daily Bible Reading, a few questions for contemplation called “Things to think about,” and a Prayer for the Day. It is a great book for individual or group Bible studies.

Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B00N1ZAOAM
Get your copy now!

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site to receive

FREE Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox

Monday – Friday.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Daily Bible Reading “Nathan Tells David a Story” (2 Samuel 12:1-6)

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

Nathan Tells David a Story

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 12:1-6. The LORD sent Nathan to talk to David. Nathan told David a story about two men who lived in a city, one man was rich and one man was poor.

The rich man was blessed with many flocks and herds. The poor man had nothing except one ewe lamb that lived with him and his children. This lamb was like a member of the family. It ate what the man ate and drank what he drank. It slept on the man’s chest.

There was a traveler who came to the rich man. Instead of the rich man taking one of his flock to prepare for the traveler he took the poor man’s only little ewe and dressed it and fed it to the visitor.

David grew very angry when he heard Nathan’s story. He told Nathan that this man should die for his actions. He also said the man should repay the man four times for his selfish act.

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 12:1-6

1 And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
5 And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

Things to think about:

Why did the LORD send Nathan to talk to David?
Who were the two people that were in Nathan’s story?
What did the rich man do to the poor man?
What did David say should happen to the rich man for his transgressions?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture we see in the story that Nathan told David that the rich man took from the poor man his only possession. Help us not to be selfish. Help us to share with the poor instead of take what little they have. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: “Lamb of God”

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

Featured Book:

New Release

The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and Visions

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B00N1ZAOAM
Get your copy now!

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site to receive

FREE Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox

Monday – Friday.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Daily Bible Reading “David Sent Uriah to the Front line” (2 Samuel 11:14-27)

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

David Sent Uriah to the Front line

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 11:14-27. The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah back to the battlefield.

David told Joab in the letter to put Uriah on the front lines of the battle and leave him there so he will be killed.

So Joab assigned Uriah in a place where he knew there were valiant men to fight the battle. Uriah along with some of Joab’s other men were killed.

Joab sent word to David about the happenings of the war. He told the servant if David got angry and asked why they went so close to the city wall tell him that Uriah was dead as well.

The servant went to David and gave him a report on the battle as Joab had requested.

David sent word back to Joab telling him not to let this discourage him, but to go even harder against the city and overthrow it.

When Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife, heard that he was killed she mourned for him.

When Bathsheba had finished mourning for her husband, Uriah, David sent for her. She became David’s wife and had his son.

David thought he had fixed the problem, but the LORD was not happy with David and his actions.

Have you ever done anything that you knew displeased the LORD? How did it make you feel to know that God was not pleased with you? How do you think David felt?

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 11:14-27

14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
19 And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
20 And if so be that the king’s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?
21 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
22 So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.
23 And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.

24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king’s servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
25 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

Things to think about:

What was David’s plan to get rid of Uriah?
How did David’s plan play out?
What did David do once Uriah was dead?
How did the LORD feel about David’s actions?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we see how David dealt with his sin and we see that You were not happy with him. Help us to think about the consequences of the things we do before we do them. Help us to not only think of ourselves and our own desires, but to think of the others it will affect. Help us to realize that when we sin it grieves You. Help us to consider all these things before we make decisions that we can’t reverse. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: “Need You Now” – Plumb

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

Featured Book:

New Release

The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and Visions

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B00N1ZAOAM
Get your copy now!

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site to receive

FREE Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox

Monday – Friday.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Daily Bible Reading “David Meets Bathsheba” (2 Samuel 11:1-13)

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

David Meets Bathsheba

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 11:1-13. When the year was past and it was time for the kings to go to battle David sent Joab and the men of Israel to conquer the children of Ammon. They destroyed the people of Ammon and took siege of Rabbah. Meanwhile David remained in Jerusalem.

Come evening David got up from his bed and went to the roof. When he looked over he saw a beautiful woman bathing.

David inquired as to who this beautiful woman was. He was told that this was Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, and wife of Uriah the Hittite. Uriah was one of the soldiers in David’s army.

David sent messengers to get Bathsheba. She came to the king’s palace and he slept with her. Then she returned to her home.

Bethsheba conceived. She sent word to David that she was going to have a baby. David messed up and wanted cover his tracks so he sent word to Joab to send Uriah to him. Joab did as David requested.

When Uriah arrived David tried to make small talk with him questioning him about the war. David asked Uriah how Joab did, how the people were doing and how the war was going.

David told Uriah to wash his feet and go to his house. David also sent meat for a celebration feast. But, Uriah refused to go home. Instead he slept with the king’s servants at the king’s door.

When David heard that Uriah didn’t go home he sent for him and questioned him as to why he didn’t go home since he was allowed to come back from the battlefield.

Uriah didn’t think it was fair for him to go home and be with his wife when Joab and the other guys were still out in the field. He also acknowledged that the ark, Israel and Judah were abiding in tents therefore he didn’t think it would be right for him to go home. He refused to do what the king told him to do.

David told Uriah to stay another day in Jerusalem and then he would let him go back. David invited Uriah to eat with him. He got Uriah drunk. Maybe David was hoping if he got him drunk enough he would go home and sleep with his wife, but David’s plan failed. Uriah slept again that night with the king’s servants instead of going to his own house.

Have you ever really messed up and then tried to cover your tracks, but your attempts failed as David’s did?

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 11:1-13

1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
8 And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?
11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.

Things to think about:

What was David’s first mistake in this Scripture?
What was David’s second mistake?
How was David going to try to cover up his mistake?
Did David succeed at attempting to cover his trouble?
What can we learn from this lesson?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we see that David had gotten himself into trouble. His attempts to cover his mistakes failed. Help us to be careful about what we do. Help us to not attempt to cover our sin, but to confess our sins to You and ask for forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: “Oh My Soul Repent for Your Sins”

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

Featured Book:

New Release

The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and Visions

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B00N1ZAOAM
Get your copy now!

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site to receive

FREE Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox

Monday – Friday.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Daily Bible Reading “David’s Kindness Misunderstood” (2 Samuel 10:1-19)

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Deborah H. Bateman

David’s Kindness Misunderstood

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 10:1-19. In this Scripture we learn that the king of Ammon died, and Hanun, his son, took his place as king.

David wanted to express his condolences to Hanun, the son of Nahash, because his father was nice to him. So David sent his servants to comfort him.

When David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon the princes were suspicious. They asked Hanun, their lord, if he believed that David sent his servants as a way to honor his father. They thought David may have sent his servants to search out the city, spy on it, and overthrow it.

Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments, and sent them away. Hanun shamed David’s servants by his actions.

When they told David what happened, he went to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. David told them to stay at Jericho until their beards were grown out then they could return.

The children of Ammon realized that David was angry with them about what they did to his men. They knew there was about to be trouble. So they hired twenty thousand Syrian footmen from Bethrehob and Zoba, a thousand men from king Maacah, and twelve thousand men from Ishtob.

When David heard they gathered their troops, he sent Joab, and all his army to great them.

The children of Ammon came out, and lined up for battle at the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, Rehob, Ishtob, and Maacah, gathered by themselves in the field.

When Joab saw that the battle was formed against him on both sides, he chose all the choice men of Israel, and lined them up for battle against the Syrians.

The rest of the people he assigned to Abishai, his brother, so he could get them ready for battle against the children of Ammon.

Joab made an agreement with his brother. He said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you can help me: but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you

“Be of good courage, let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that what seems good to him.”

When Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians: the Syrians fled.

When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians fled, they fled as well, and went into the city. Joab returned from the battle with the children of Ammon, and came back to Jerusalem.

When the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together.

Hadarezer sent for the Syrians who were beyond the river: and had them come to Helam. Shobach, the captain of the host of Hadarezer, lead them.

When David heard about it, he gathered all the men of Israel together, passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. The Syrians lined up for battle against David, and fought with him.

The Syrians fled from Israel; and David slew seven hundred men from the chariots of the Syrians, forty thousand horsemen, and killed Shobach, the captain of their army.

When all the kings who were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel, and became their servants. After that the Syrians were afraid to help the children of Ammon.

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 10:1-19

1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
2 Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
4 Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
5 When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:
10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.
11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.
12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.
13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.
19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

Things to think about:

Have you ever tried to do something nice for someone only to have them misunderstand your actions as they did David’s?
How did it make you feel to be misunderstood?
How did you react?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we see that David’s kindness was misconstrued and caused a lot of trouble. Help us as we interact with others to not jump to conclusions about their intentions. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video:

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

Featured Book:

New Release

The Book of Zechariah: A Story of Dreams and Visions

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B00N1ZAOAM
Get your copy now!

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site to receive

FREE Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox

Monday – Friday.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah