A recap of the chapters of 2 Samuel Clif has discussed so far.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   We are in the middle of our study through the book known as Samuel, and we find ourselves in 2 Samuel 14 this morning. For somewhat of a broad overview, the whole story of Samuel begins in the time of the judges, when everyone did what was right in their own eyes, and there was no king in Israel, no true national leader to protect the people or point them to the living God. The priestly system was mostly corrupt and the worship was less than stellar. God brings to the nation of Israel the man Samuel who restores the word of God to a better place among the people. They listen to him, but they also see that his time was limited, and since they didn’t trust his sons too much, they begged him that they could have a king like the other nations had. This request made Samuel very angry and very disappointed. God had been leading quite well, why in the world would they not trust him further. But God instructs Samuel to allow them to choose for themselves a king. And they choose Saul, a man who was muy guapo. In fact, the text tells us in 1 Samuel 9 that there was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he, AND he stood head and shoulders above the people. But it didn’t take long to figure out that good looks and height do not a king make. Saul was not the right type of king. He would not listen to God, but instead acted according to his own ways. As such, God promised that he would rip the kingdom, in due time, from Saul. While that was going on, we watched the rise of another young man, who wasn’t tall or carrying an impressive king resume. The young man was a shepherd, but he loved the Lord and was quick to respond to the Lord’s leading. And it would be this young boy, young David, who would eventually become the King over Israel. And 1 Samuel is the account of this fall of Saul and rise of David. So 2 Samuel begins with David’s taking over the throne of all of Israel, gaining the trust and acclaim of the people. And when the dust settle on David’s military battles, David decides that he wants to honor God by building God a permanent temple, a forever resting place. But God would have none of it, and instead, God promises to build David an everlasting dynasty, house, lineage, kingdom. And this is what is known as the Davidic Covenant. So David is riding the wave of the promise of an eternal kingdom. How could things go wrong at this point? God has poured out blessing upon blessing on David. Who in their right mind would name the sermon series over these events, “When Misery Meets Mercy”? THere is no misery to be found. That is until we reach 2 Samuel 11, the infamous account of David and Bathsheba. Misery knocked on the heart of David, disguised as entitlement. David’s adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Bathsheba’s husband set us on the course of events that we find ourselves encountered with today in the text. Since the affair with David and Bathsheba, Bathsheba had given birth to a boy, and Nathan the prophet confronted David, with the result of David confessing and repenting of his sin, being forgiven, but having to deal with the consequences of his sin, and that being losing that baby boy, and also the ongoing turmoil that will ravage his family. Chapter 13 begins with Absalom and his sister and half-brother. It is important to note that the chapter begins with Absalom, even though he plays a minor role in the events of chapter 13. It begins with Absalom because even though he is a minor player in chapter 13, he is a major player in chapters 13-18. So Absalom’s step brother, Amnon, has fallen in love with Absalom’s full sister, Tamar. Or rather, Amnon is being driven mad by lust, by wanting someone who shows no interest in him. This leads Amnon to rape and then hate Tamar, leaving her destitute. Once Absalom hears about this, he goes to Tamar and hides her away, leaving no way for Amnon to repent and restore the relationship, and leaving no room for King David to require recompense from Amnon. Instead, Absalom seethes and strategizes, waiting for the perfect opportunity to take vengeance into his own hands. Two years after the events of Amnon and Tamar, Absalom plans a party, invites Amnon, with whom he has never let on that he is boiling with hatred towards him, and then commands his servants to murder Amnon. As a result, Absalom goes on the run, and hides away at his grandfather’s (his mother’s father) house.