Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

David, Bathsheba, and Uriah

May 13, 2020

In the day of King David, the main way to grow your kingdom was to attack another country and take a portion or all their property for yourself. In 2 Samuel 11, this is what is happening. It is the time of year that wars take place. Joab goes and the King stays home. This was the first bad decision that turned into a tragedy for him. The Ammonites are destroyed, and they move onto the next battle.

He sees a beautiful woman bathing on a rooftop. She has just finished her period. David had many wives. He decided he wanted Bathsheba as well. She was brought to him. Mistake number two. Later she let the monarch know that she was pregnant. Her husband was brought home. He was more dedicated to Israel than his King. He refused to go into his house and see Bathsheba.

David makes mistake number three by sending a note to Joab with Uriah. The instructions are to have the messenger die in battle. Not only does he perish, but others are also casualties as well. When word reaches the King, he sends back a message of encouragement to the commander. David not only killed Uriah but these men as well.

After a period of mourning, Bathsheba becomes the King’s wife and the son that is born is considered as David’s, but many knew the truth. Most importantly Jehovah disapproved of this behavior.

Would you like to be the one to tell the King that Yahweh is going to punish him for this sin? 2 Samuel 12 tells about Nathan doing just that. To do so, God gave him a story to tell David. It was about two men. One was wealthy and the other poor. The second man had only one lamb. When the rich man had a visitor arrive, he took the other’s sheep and had it prepared for his guest to eat.

Nathan’s audience became extremely angry when he heard this. He passes the death penalty sentence and adds that he must pay four times what the lamb was worth. “You are the man!” is how the prophet answers the King. All the things that Yahweh gave him are enumerated and then the penalty for David’s sin is given.

The child will die. One of his family will punish him by seizing his wives. Violence will never leave the King’s family and he will be disgraced publicly. The death of the newborn son distresses David and throws the palace into confusion. The bad decisions, like ours, cause irreparable damage in the land. Eventually, another child is born to Bathsheba and David. Even this does not stop the pain of their loss.

The story of David and Bathsheba is not given in 1 Chronicles 20, even though it details Joab’s attack of Rabbah. 2 Samuel 11 lists the attack on Rabbah as the battle where Uriah is killed. The King of Israel celebrates the victory by wearing the crown of Rabbah. Nothing is mentioned here about the affair, pregnancy, or murder.

Again, we have the recounting of the defeat and death of three Philistines that are like Goliath in size. One of them was his brother. The fourth man that was listed in 2 Samuel is deleted for some reason.

Shout for joy to the Lord

May 13, 2020

Psalm 65 seems to be an answer to the plea against foolishness that we saw in the 53^rd chapter. The wise person praises the God who answers prayers. He forgives our sins. The strength and power of the Lord are evident to all those who understand. Yahweh is the one who makes everything grow in abundance and the flocks to multiply rapidly.

When was the last time you shouted? Was it at a ball game, or at your children? Was it for joy, anger, or some other reason? In Psalm 66 we are encouraged to shout for joy to the Lord. Praise is for God and His strength. Again, the parting of the Red Sea is remembered. Praise is encouraged. The refining of His people by crises are accepted. Worship through sacrifice is mentioned. Today we worship through self-sacrifice, not animal sacrifices. Testimony is used by the Psalmist to help us find reasons to follow his example.

Psalm 67 asks for God to be gracious and bless us. This song is one of joy and praise. A good harvest and respect for Jehovah are good reasons to trust Him.

When we feel like we are going under for the third time, we can be like King David in Psalm 69, and ask Jehovah for help. We may feel the waters are up to our necks or that we don’t fit into our own families. Whatever our problem is, Yahweh is the source of rescue.

Verse twenty-one is quoted in the New Testament where Jesus was given vinegar on the cross. Many of the prophetic verses appear to have nothing to do with the Messiah until it is pointed out in the Gospels

We don’t know when Psalm 70 was written by David. It includes two opposing views. He asks for shame and confusion to come on those who seek to destroy him. This happened with Saul, the Philistines, and other nations and even his own son. The opposite is also shown. Those who seek Jehovah should rejoice and be glad. He proclaims himself poor and needy and asks God to come quickly.

David often describes Jehovah as his fortress and Psalm 59 is one. Those who are after his blood is Saul. The men who waited to kill him as he left his house, used to be friends. Our strength is the Lord. They will betray themselves.

The mistake Ammon made

May 12, 2020

David had created a truce with the Ammonites, but in 2 Samuel chapter 10, their King has died. As is usual, when a new monarch listens to his contemporaries, it is a mistake. They humiliate the Hebrew representatives by sending them back with their beards mutilated and their rears showing through the robs.

The Israelite King is angered enough to return to Ammon and take revenge. The Arameans join forces against Jehovah’s Kingdom. Through great strategy, God gives the battle to Joab and his forces. Both enemies fled and eventually returned to their homelands and remained there for some time.

Have you noticed how little wisdom is shown by people in the Bible? 1 Chronicles 19 is another example of this. The son of the king of Ammon listens to his advisors and sends David’s men away in shame and disgrace. Israel retaliates by destroying the city. Not one of the smartest things they ever did.

Even the Arameans were helping the Ammonites. Joab and the Army showed such wisdom in strategy, they were able to defeat both foes. The wisest thing said in this chapter was that the Arameans did not fight with the Ammonites again when they went to war against God’s chosen people.

King David lists things that he asks Jehovah for the readers of Psalm 20. These include answering us, granting all our requests, sending help, give us the desires of our hearts, and make all our plans succeed. This Psalm includes the famous line, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

Psalms of Asaph

May 12, 2020

We continue with Asaph as our Psalmist in number fifty. The mighty one summons the Earth and the heavens. These same heavens proclaim His righteousness. Animal sacrifices mean nothing to our God. He does not eat and needs no food. Sacrifice does the wicked no good. Their disobedience enslaves them. In the church age, this means that our salvation is due to our acceptance of Christ through faith, not because of anything we can do.

How about a rerun today in Psalm 53 from 14 Psalm? It begins, “The fool says in his heart there is no God.” Many of the words seem to be copied from this previous song. Everyone is corrupt, they are vile, and Jehovah is searching for someone that is seeking him. David and some of his people wanted to obey Yahweh. The same is true today. We still feel overwhelmed by foolishness. Once again, he ends with a cry for salvation from Israel and as we said yesterday, that was in Christ Jesus.

Do you ever put new words to an old melody? David did this in Psalm 60. The preface tells us that this song should be sung to the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” This tune is not one that is even recognized by Jews or historians. We cannot sing it the way it was in David’s time. We can agree with the author that we have times that we feel that Jehovah has rejected us. And when that happens, we accept the power and strength of the Lord as the Shepherd King described when he said that Yahweh raised a banner.

The victory is praised, and God is acknowledged as the savior of His people. Israel’s King recognizes that his armies have failed without the assistance of the creator of the universe.

If we knew what the tune of “Do Not Destroy” was we could sing the 75^th Psalm as the ancient Hebrews did. They sang the praises of God, His name, and His actions. Yahweh judges everyone and everything just as he did in Genesis one and He says, “It was good.” The arrogant are to boast no longer. The wicked are to become peaceful, but the righteous will be exalted.

David conquers the other nations

May 12, 2020

The new King of all of Israel returns to opposing all the enemies that have not been exterminated from the land as they were instructed. 2 Samuel 8 tells about the Philistines, Moabites, Arameans, and others. The horrors of war are illustrated in these passages. Jehovah warned His people to destroy those who worshiped other gods. Even David doesn’t go as far as he might.

The odd thing in this chapter is the final statement that David’s sons were priests. Priests were to be from the Levitical clan. Jesse was a Judean. Appointing his sons as additional priests violated this part of the law of Yahweh. Even a man after God’s own heart violated the Lord’s statutes at times.

Despite his being human, David does something almost Godlike in 2 Samuel 9. He remembers his pledge to Jonathan and asks about Saul’s descendants. Mephibosheth is a cripple and is summoned to the palace. The restoration of the family land is typical behavior for an Israelite king.

The symbolism of eating at the King’s table is significant. Prophecy tells of the marriage supper of the lamb. Feasts were special occasions for Jehovah’s chosen people, just as they are today for Christians. Nothing shows the family connection like sharing a meal. Jonathan’s only surviving child is honored as a member of David’s family.

We receive a list of nations conquered by the King in 1st Chronicles chapter 18. The Philistines, Moabite, Hadadezer, and the Arameans are named. This included many cities and villages that were plundered, and all the occupants captured and enslaved or killed.

What would you do with all the gold, silver, precious metals, and gemstones that he accumulated? They are stored to be used for the construction of a house for The Ark of the Covenant. These were some of the first materials given for the Temple, Solomon would build years later.

Jehovah enthroned over the flood

May 11, 2020

David expressed his trust in the Lord in Psalm 25. He asked Jehovah to teach him how he should live. Yahweh is good, loving. and faithful and all his followers should be also. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways. Keep my paths straight. The Psalmist knows that the Lord will make a way for our salvation.

What was King David experiencing or thinking about in Psalm 29? He mentions the voice of the Lord. It is over the waters, powerful, majestic, breaks the cedars of Lebanon, strikes with flashes of lightning, and twists oaks. This sounds to me like a hurricane, cyclone, or an old-fashioned Missouri tornado. The destructiveness of nature is described by the King. With all the kingdom’s authority and influence, he still must sit inside and wait for this storm to pass. That is why he ends with the Lord sitting enthroned over the flood and blessing His people.

Singing praise is part of most of the Psalms including chapter 33. God’s word is identified as how everything was created. This is also what John 1 tells us. Reverence and fear are two forms of praise to Jehovah. David wanted to build a permanent place for Yahweh to live. Heaven is that place. Because He resides there, we put our hope in Him. Those who have chosen Him and been selected by God are able to accomplish more than anyone who rejects the Lord.

Do you know anyone personally that rejects Jesus as the creator and Lord of the universe? In Psalm 36 the Psalmist David mentions those who have no respect for Yahweh. Selfishness and pride are two of the main ways to discern someone who does not really believe in Christ. The King knew that some of these people try to disguise themselves as believers.

The wicked will be punished eternally while Jehovah blesses those who follow Him. Sacrifices in David’s day and church attendance in our own are not methods to discover our true stance as followers of God and Jesus. Look for those who exhibit the Lord’s love. They are real Christians not just church people.

One of the most difficult things for me is to hold my tongue. In Psalm 39, King David says that he would keep silent if he could. No one knows how long they will live. The Psalmist asks Jehovah to show him the length of his days. He also requests that his sins be forgiven. He knew that the only one who could help them was Yahweh.

A house of stone for God

May 11, 2020

Peace reigns in 2 Samuel 7 and the King talks to Nathan about building a temple for the Ark of the Covenant to be placed in. At first, the prophet thinks it is a good idea. After Jehovah speaks to him, he returns to the King and tells him that he will not be the one to construct God’s permanent dwelling.

It is David who will have a house established for him. He will become the patriarch of a line of Kings in Israel and Judah. Despite the evil done by other kings, he will remain as the most important monarch in the entire history of God’s chosen nation. He acknowledges his love and respect for Yahweh in a prayer of thanksgiving and humility. This prayer reads like one of the psalms.

The book 1st Chronicles in chapter 17 elaborates on David’s contribution to the building of the Temple. At this time, the son who would eventually build the structure to house Jehovah’s presence had not been born. As we read in 2nd Samuel, the prophet Nathan originally agreed with the King. The next day he had to present the words of Yahweh to him. God did not want the sanctuary for the creator of the universe created by a man of war.

David’s desire to honor Yahweh was returned in the form of the establishment of an eternal kingdom ruled by his offspring. The final king also being the Son of the living God.

As usual, the Shepherd King prayed to his Lord. He expressed his humility and gratitude for what had been done for him and what would be done for his family. The man after God’s own heart used words that told how he felt about Jehovah.

Shout to the Lord for Joy

May 11, 2020

Jehovah’s love is the theme of Psalm 89. David acknowledges that his throne will be established forever. God is praised for the covenant He made with David and his descendants. Verses 26-27 are prophetic when they say, “He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also, I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.”

David declares in Psalm 96 what he often did for the Lord. “Sing to the Lord a new song.” He is one of the most prolific of the Psalmists. Many new songs were written and sang to proclaim salvation and His glory for everyone. Here, as throughout scripture, Jehovah is declared to be the only true creator God. Strength and holiness are His alone. He reigns and will judge all humans. Even creation rejoices and praises their creator.

We should shout for joy to the Lord according to the one-hundredth Psalm. Worshiping Him with joy in our songs as our creator and shepherd. His goodness and love deserve our praise and thanks.

David sings of the love and justice of Yahweh in Psalm 101. He wants to be blameless and far from evil. The King pledges to discipline those who lack wisdom. He will watch everyone in Israel. If he does what he says he will, everything in the land will be as Jehovah wishes it to be.

We continue to sing praise to Yahweh in Psalm 105. His name means I am that I am. Do you understand the significance of who He is? When no one else existed, He was. In all three of His forms, He was here before anyone or anything. That is why we can rejoice and worship him.

He made a covenant with Abram, Isaac, Jacob, and all of Israel. He instructed them not to harm God’s prophets even though they did not do it. All the miracles that He performed for and through His people are repeated. The Plagues on Egypt are remembered as is His presence in the wilderness. All of this was to remind the Jews who He is.

While the One Hundred and Thirty Second Psalm was not written by David he is remembered here. The Shepherd King’s desire to give a permanent home to the God of Israel is worthy of praise. Jesse’s Son brought the Ark to Jerusalem after it became the capital of Judah and Israel. The Davidic Kingdom was to last while his descendants followed Yahweh. An eternal kingdom ruled by Jesus will be established. We read in Deuteronomy that Moses told his people that Jehovah would select His own location to dwell. He chose the city that is still known as Jerusalem. Salvation clothes the priest. That is why we believe in the priesthood of the believer.

Walk with the Lord

May 10, 2020

Are you blessed because you do not walk with the wicked as is stated in the first Psalm? We delight in the Lord and His law. A tree planted next to water gives us the inspiration to think about what that means to the Christian that loves His God. The yield of fruit is greater and his or her life is always full and flourishing. Yahweh is watching His own but is less concerned with those that take advantage of or hurt others.

Why do those who oppose God try to plot against Him and His children? This is laughable to the Creator of the universe in Psalm 2. His Son will be the ruler of that creation and overpower those who are enemies of the family. He is our refuge and the worst nightmare of those who refuse to honor Him.

Who will live in Heaven? The righteous is what Psalm 15 says. All the answers repeated here are like the questions on Jeopardy. The problem is that David knows none of us fit this scenario. Our only way to meet Jehovah’s requirements is to have faith in Him to provide for us.

Psalm 22 contains a phrase that was used by Jesus at the crucifixion. “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus took David’s sin as well as yours and mine with Him when he died on that cross. “I am a worm and not a man” is also in this song. An old hymn had the words “for such a worm as I.” They have been removed by modern man.

We also would like to ignore the fact that “They cast lots for my garments.” This again refers to an actual event during the death of Christ. This scripture also refers to the mocking and the taunting that our Lord suffered.

The Psalmist refers to Yahweh laying him in the dust. In the twenty-third psalm, he speaks of his cup overflowing. This is the opposite of that image. The power, majesty, and strength of the Lord are emphasized once again. Even those to come will be told of Jehovah. That is us.

This Psalm, the 23rd is very familiar. It is studied, loved, and memorized by thousands. Remember that it begins with the name Jehovah, which is written “The Lord”, because of the fear of taking God’s name in vain. He is described as David’s shepherd. Let us make a list of things that He does as The Shepherd.

He provides what is needed physically. He leads where we need to go. He gives us what we need spiritually. He makes us courageous by protecting us like a human shepherd would with his rod and staff. His provision is not hampered by those who oppose us. David ends by stating his belief that Yahweh will never forsake him.

“The earth is the Lord’s” is the way Psalm 24 begins. Everyone who lives here is also His. Who can enter heaven? Only those who are pure. They will receive vindication. The rest of us need Jesus’ salvation. But none are righteous, not even David. Through our faith, we can be forgiven. God is referred to as the King of Glory many times in the final words of this song.

Psalm 47 is not for Baptists. They do not often clap their hands in Church. Israel had been successful at subduing other peoples. Jehovah is high above everything. The applause is to show joy and praise Him. Praising the Lord is Baptist. Exalting His name is also in line with our doctrinal beliefs.

Have you ever watched a candle as the flame burned and the wax below the wick melted? The Shepherd King likens this to what Jehovah should do to his enemies in Psalm 68.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, He rides on the clouds, and He leads the prisoners with singing. Did you notice that the lives of the Israelites did not have much singing and dancing before David’s reign? He is the one who praises Yahweh with music. He left a heritage for all of us. Our God is an awesome God.

God moves to Jerusalem

May 10, 2020

The presence of Jehovah was what David desired most in his life. In 2 Samuel 6, he attempts to bring the Ark of the Covenant, which represents the presence of the Lord, to Jerusalem. They have difficulties on the road, and it is left with a Levite.

What did they do wrong? They put the Ark on a cart. Yes, it was a new cart probably built just for the purpose of transporting this precious item. That was not the command of Yahweh. He told Moses that it would be carried by the Levites with the specially made poles. Then the King was angry with God for taking the life of the man who tried to protect it. Moses recorded that no one was to touch it.

David is depressed because he was not able to accomplish what he set out to do. He failed because, this time, he did not listen to God. In the Law, the procedures for carrying the presence of God is given. David, like many of us, did not bother to consult the Word before attempting what he wanted to do. Obed-Edom cared for it while the Israelites regrouped.

After a while, they try again. This time the Word of the Lord is followed. Another problem comes about when Micah, David’s wife, criticizes him for dancing and celebrating as the Ark is brought into Jerusalem. She is ostracized and left childless because of this.

How often have you been disappointed with God? In chapter thirteen of First Chronicles, King David is disappointed, when his attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem ends in failure. When we read this story in Second Samuel, we saw that one of the priests died because he touched the Ark.

We mentioned the errors that the King made in the transportation of the presence of Jehovah at that time. Mistakes are made by everyone. Often, they are due to the lack of information that is easy to attain. God’s will is often as close as The Bible. You just need to read it.

The interesting thing about 1 Chronicles, is the stories that are shortened from the other books about the rulers of Israel. In the fourteenth chapter, David begins the construction of his palace and continues the war with the Philistines. Remember that in Second Samuel we read about his hiding in Philistia for a while. That is not mentioned here.

Again, I will ask you to note the fact that David goes to Jehovah for advice before most of the battles. We pray when everything falls apart. To follow this example, we would pray before every test, business meeting, or any other event in our lives. Prayer is the first thing we should do, not the last.

David has done more research and in 1 Chronicles 15, he decides to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. A place for the Tabernacle is cleared. The Priests and Levites are prepared. Each has an assigned duty. They are consecrated for their service.

Do you ever notice names in the Bible that remind you of something? There used to be a cartoon called the Masters of the Universe. The main character was Heman. Heman is one of the musicians that served in the sanctuary.

David is so excited about having Jehovah’s presence in Jerusalem, he dances in the street with the Levites. His wife, Michal, sees this display and does not like his less than majestic behavior.

Who is better prepared to establish the worship of Yahweh in Jerusalem? 1 Chronicles 16 gives all the names of those charged to lead music and songs at the Tabernacle.

An example of the words that were sung by the people is given. Praise music was here as much as at any modern church. That is why many of our current praise songs include verses taken directly from the Psalms. In addition to music, there are sacrifices to be offered.

Walk With a Servant