Meditation Points

2 Samuel 21

• New governments often inherit problems created by their predecessors. Saul ordered his own version of ethnic cleansing; and the resulting judgment was not felt until the reign of King David (v 1).
• Only after the atrocity was publicly recognized and punishment meted out was God entreated for the land (v 14).
• The men of Gibeon would not be satisfied with financial remuneration; by man was their blood spilled, and only the spilling of that man’s blood would atone for his crimes. As Saul was long dead, 7 of his descendants were executed in his place (v 4-9).
• David ordered that the remains of Saul and Jonathan, along with the bodies of the recently executed be buried with respect (v 12-14).
• The Philistines once again presented a giant problem to Israel; and once again David and his people slew the giant (v 15-22).

2 Samuel 22

• The similarity of this psalm with Psalm 118 cannot be ignored. Is it the same psalm, revised in David’s later years for publication?
• Our earlier notes on Psalm 118 can be found here.
• This psalm’s great devotion is born out of the troubles in David’s life and God’s delivering him out of them (v 1). Men often turn to God when they are in great trouble. Indeed, where else can we turn?
• David has great cause to praise the God who delivered him from his troubles; and David intends thus to praise God (v 2-4).
• Shall we catalog the troubles of our lives as David did? If, in so doing, we exalt the God of our salvation as David did (v 5-20), then let us start the list now.
• God saves us inside and out (v 21-29).
• God is unique (v 30-34)
• God empowers his people to gain victory over their enemies (v 35-46). How, then, can we be defeated by bad habits?
• To God be the glory, great things He has done (v 47-51).

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Meditation Points:

Psalm 128

• Blessed is every one that fears the Lord, that walks in His ways (Psalm 128:1)
  • You shall have food
  • You shall be happy
  • You will have a wife and children
  • You will see the good of Jerusalem
  • You will see your grandchildren

Psalm 129

• Why do some children assert their strength and abuse smaller ones? Why do some nations assert their strength and abuse smaller ones?

Psalm 130

• If the Lord should indelibly mark iniquities, who among us would be able to stand?
• The psalmist says, “My soul waits for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning” (Psalm130:6). Do you long for the presence of God in your life?

Psalm 131

• David said that he behaved and quieted himself as a weaned child (Psalm 131:2). How many quiet children do you know?

Psalm 132

• I will not sleep until I find a place for the Lord (Psalm 132:4-5). Have you found a place for the Lord in your life? If not, how can you sleep?

Psalm 133

• This psalm could not have been written in a clean-shaven society.
• Joab abused the custom when he took Amasa by the beard and killed him (2 Samuel 20).

Psalm 134

• Even night watchmen should praise the Lord

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Meditation Points:

2 Samuel 20

• Saul was a Benjamite; and his relatives refused to submit to David’s authority (v 1-2)
• When David ran from Jerusalem he left 10 concubines behind, and they were abused by Absolom. When David returned to the throne, he confined the women; and they lived the rest of their lives in “widowhood” (v 3). Some have suggested that the major difference between a wife and a concubine was that the concubine had no inheritance rights.
• Amasa, a relative of David, was appointed commander of the army in the stead of Joab (v 4-7). Was this because Joab had unceremoniously executed Absolom?
• Joab killed Amasa, too (v 8-10).
• A wise woman interceded for her city, and urged the city to be rid of the rebellious Sheba (v 16-22)

Psalm 120

• A song of degrees. 15 psalms bear this inscription. They do not all have the same author. They do not all have the same subject matter. They do not all of the same intended audience. They are mostly short psalms, notably so as they follow the longest psalm, number 119. Yet there is is profit in God’s scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
• I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war (Psalm 120:7). Blessed are the peacemakers.  Are you blessed?

Psalm 121

• My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2). If He who made heaven and earth is on your side, who dare be against you? How can you worry and fret?
• He that keeps you will not slumber (Psalm 121:3). Soldiers who sleep while they should be vigilant are considered treasonous. Be sure that the commander-in-chief of creation never sleeps.

Psalm 122

• I was glad when they said, Let us go into the house of the Lord (Psalm 122:1). Do you enjoy joining others in worship?
• Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee (Psalm 122:6). Much foreign policy has been influenced by an errant understanding of this verse.

Psalm 123

• As servants stand looking to their masters for care and direction, so we should standing looking to God for mercy.

Psalm 124

• If it had not been the Lord who was on our side…(Psalm 124:1-2). IS God on your side? If so, what has He done for you lately?

Psalm 125

• Some men have “crooked ways” (Psalm 125:5). God will punish them.

Psalm 126

• He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him (Psalm 126:6).

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A father’s grief over a wicked and rebellious son

• The father: David
• The son: Absolom
• The wicked rebellion: usurping his father’s throne
• The grief: “Would God I had died for you, O Absolom”

Meditation Points:

1. Children, like their fathers, are born sinners
2. Children bring joy to their fathers; but
3. Children also bring sadness to their fathers.
4. Fathers love their children; and
5. Fathers grieve that their children live in sin
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