King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Seasons Will Pass
Date: Thursday April 05, 2012
Today's Chapters: 2 Samuel 17-19

Hello My Friend,

How often do you look back at things of your past? It is good to have memories, some are good, some bad, some we would like to do over again, yet some we wish never happened and never want to remember at all. The Bible says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” - Ecclesiastes 3:1-4. Seasons are inevitable, everything must and will come to pass. While we cannot avoid the seasons, we can use them to guide us in the right direction, but we have to be careful not to let the seasons guide us in the wrong direction.

Absalom was David's oldest living son and if he had done everything right he probably would have rightfully been the next king by heir, but he was not willing to receive the crown by learning and growing in God as David did, he wanted it now and he was willing to even kill his father to obtain it. For a while it looked as though Absalom had everything going his way, he even won the favor of David's two most trusted advisers, Ahithophel and Hushai. However, all that was about to change when Absalom asked for advice from Ahithophel, who was just as wicked as Absalom.“Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.” - 2 Samuel 17:1-4.

Notice that Ahithophel's plan, if followed through, would mean that he would get the recognition of slaying the king? Absalom was pleased and the elders too? These elders were the head of each tribe, chosen to make the decisions for their tribes, that meant whatever they decided the others had to abide by. Did you ever wonder why wicked people seem to flock together and have control over everything? Do not take it to heart, they get their way for a time, but it will all come to pass as well. Absalom decided to get another man's opinion, Hushai. “And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time. For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom...And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.” - 2 Samuel 17:7-9,14.

While Absalom was feeding his ego over the fact that he had gotten his father's two top advisers, little did he know that David sent Hushai to join him. Hushai suggested that all the forces of Israel be gathered and that Absalom, the commander-in-chief himself, be at the head of his great army. Doing it this way, gave him a sense that he would gain the prestige of being the conqueror and the rightful king of all Israel while it gave David and his army time to prepare for the battle. God never intended for David to be killed or dethroned, He just wanted to chasten him, but now the punishment was over and it was time that the chastening came to pass. God never lets us suffer too long. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” - Hebrews 12:11.

Like Absalom and Ahithophel, the wicked are often successful for a time and it may even appear that all their plans have been fulfilled and they are prospering. However, there comes a time when God says, “The fun is over, you have deceived my people enough, I served my purpose with you and now justice will be served.” Which is what He had done with Ahithophel and Absalom. Ahithophel, upon finding out that Absalom did not follow through with his plan, hung himself and Absalom was killed during the battle. “And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away...Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.” - 2 Samuel 18:9,14,15.

As David mourned over the death of his son, I am sure he could not help, but remember what Nathan the prophet had said to him about his secret sin bringing public humiliation to him . However, Absalom's death was the consequences of his own sins, Absalom was responsible for the death of his brother, was a traitor to Israel, tried to destroy his father's name, and even attempted to have him killed. God used the wickedness of Absalom to get David to repent, but God never intended for Absalom to be king. Absalom had the chance to repent himself, but never did and his death was the result of his own actions, not David's. Wickedness of any kind does not go unpunished, a person truly reaps what they sow. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” - Galatians 6:7,8.

David's deep grief over Absalom made him incapable of carrying out his responsibility as king. After their victory over Israel, the soldiers returned from battle expecting to be welcomed by a glorious victory celebration, and David returning to the throne. Instead, they heard the king weeping and wailing over the death of his son, it's all he could think about. David's sorrow was so great that he lost all sense of gratitude to God and his faithful followers, but the death of the rebel leader was the only way by which peace could be restored to the nation. “But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.” - 2 Samuel 19:4-6.

Joab had to remind David that he had a job to do, take care of living, not the dead. While it is perfectly fine to grieve, there comes a time when grieving needs to come to pass. We will never forget the death of a loved one, but we have to move forward and get on with life, there are other people in our lives that need us. Jesus responds to those who not move forward, “And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” - Luke 9:59-62.

Today's Psalm: 1:3 - “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Today's Proverb: 22:3 - “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”
Today's Prayer: God, Just as the seasons of the year come and go so do the seasons of life, we will laugh, we will cry, we will find joy, we will find pain, but through it all You are right there with us, leading us and guiding us. Lord, help me to endure the seasons, give me Your strength during storms and the patience to ride them out until it they comes to pass. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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