April 21
2 Samuel 3:6-4:3, 4:5-4:12
Injustice! In a broken, sinful world injustice surrounds us. 2 Samuel 3-4 is filled with unjust killings. Abner is killed as an act of revenge by Joab. Then Ish-Bosheth is murdered by Rekab and Baanah. Much of the Bible describes events rather than approves of what occurs. We see this same thing when David mandates the return of his wife Michal, despite already having at least two wives, and according to 2 Samuel 3, at least six women with whom he had children. Often when people read these stories in the Bible, they think God must be approving of these things, when really these killings and David's sexual behavior fly in the face of God’s commands.
As we read the Bible, it is an important skill to determine what God is calling us to and what God is calling us to flee. If we get this confused, then it is possible to think that revenge killings and polygamy are acceptable practices. Though the Bible does not always condemn actions in the moment, it is important for us to consider the moral teachings of the Bible and think through what God has commanded us to do. The behavior of David, Abraham, or some other Biblical character are not always examples for us. The only person that we can always seek to imitate is Jesus, everyone else is at best a sinner saved by grace.
Father God, thank you for the wisdom and commands you have given to me in your Scriptures. When I am confused, help me to go to you and the godly counsel of others to help me understand how to live. Amen.
Why do you think the Bible often describes sinful behaviors without explicit rebukes or condemnation?
Injustice! In a broken, sinful world injustice surrounds us. 2 Samuel 3-4 is filled with unjust killings. Abner is killed as an act of revenge by Joab. Then Ish-Bosheth is murdered by Rekab and Baanah. Much of the Bible describes events rather than approves of what occurs. We see this same thing when David mandates the return of his wife Michal, despite already having at least two wives, and according to 2 Samuel 3, at least six women with whom he had children. Often when people read these stories in the Bible, they think God must be approving of these things, when really these killings and David's sexual behavior fly in the face of God’s commands.
As we read the Bible, it is an important skill to determine what God is calling us to and what God is calling us to flee. If we get this confused, then it is possible to think that revenge killings and polygamy are acceptable practices. Though the Bible does not always condemn actions in the moment, it is important for us to consider the moral teachings of the Bible and think through what God has commanded us to do. The behavior of David, Abraham, or some other Biblical character are not always examples for us. The only person that we can always seek to imitate is Jesus, everyone else is at best a sinner saved by grace.
Father God, thank you for the wisdom and commands you have given to me in your Scriptures. When I am confused, help me to go to you and the godly counsel of others to help me understand how to live. Amen.
Why do you think the Bible often describes sinful behaviors without explicit rebukes or condemnation?
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1 Comment
I think the Bible wants to show us that the people back then committed the same sins as we do today, but since we serve a loving, merciful, and forgiving God our sins are washed clean by the blood of Jesus. “All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God”.