Thursday

16-May

2 Sam 23-24; Ps 63; Acts 25

2 Samuel 23: Who were the ‘mighty men’ and why do you think this account is included?  Why do you think David poured out the water that his warriors risked their lives to get for him?  Did you recognize any names?

2 Samuel 24: What sin did David commit and what was the consequence?

Acts 25: What was Festus Porcius’ dilemma?

Journal Prompt: David was surrounded by 37 ‘mighty men’. Which ‘mighty men’ are surrounding you?

Answers:

2 Samuel 23:  There were 37 ‘mighty men’ – these are warriors who were fiercely devoted to David.  I read this excerpt: “They were “a combination of combat commandos, stealth rangers, navy seals, green beret, special ops and Delta forces who had acquired the skills of battle demanded to survive and conquer in hand-to-hand warfare. They engaged in clandestine operations and were often outnumbered by staggering odds pitted against them, yet they stood their ground. Time after time on fields of battle they were the last men standing.” From “David’s Mighty Men”, a book by C.David Jones.

I didn’t really understand why he would pour out something that his men went through enemy lines to get, but upon reading commentaries it appears that David felt unworthy to drink this water because of the sacrifice made to get it, so rather than drink it, he poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord.

Insofar as recognizable names is concerned, there is Uriah the Hitite, Bathsheba’s husband who David arranged to have killed, Ahitophel’s son, Bathsheba’s grandfather’s son (maybe her father?).  It’s interesting the Joab, Abishai and Asahel (brothers and sons of David’s sister Zeruiah) were leaders but not counted in the 47.

2 Samuel 24:  David wanted to take a census of the men of fighting age (pay attention to verse 1 – we will come back to this in about a month.)  Joab advised him against this, but he was forced to carry this order out.  The consequence was three months of pestilence – David chose this of three choices given to him by God.

Acts 25:  Festus Porcius did not want to send Paul to be tried in Caesar’s court without a legitimate reason, and the Jews had provided no evidence that he should have been arrested and held in the first place.