So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, there was no one left who had not crossed the Jordan. Sermons
"In peace will I lay me down and straightway sleep; "I laid me down and slept; I. BESET BY FEROCIOUS FOES; numerous, powerful, and crafty (2 Samuel 15:12, 13; 2 Samuel 16:15; vers. 1-3); seeking to take away his crown, his honour, and his life; by fraud, treachery, and violence. His trouble represents that of the persecuted and afflicted servant of God in every age. 1. The feeling of trouble is usually intensified with the approach of night, the season of peril and emblem of distress. 2. The good man in trouble seeks relief in God (Psalm 121:4); whilst acknowledging his sins, he is conscious of sincerity, trusts in Divine mercy, and derives from his experience of former mercies an argument for his prayer. 3. He regards his adversaries in no vindictive spirit: and, although he desires their overthrow as the enemies of God, still more he desires their conversion. "The address is directed to the aristocratic party, whose tool Absalom had become" (Delitzsch). "When I cry, answer me, O God of my righteousness, II. AIDED BY FAITHFUL FRIENDS, who sympathize with him, strive to defeat his enemies, give him useful counsel, and share his dangers (2 Samuel 15:15, 21, 23; vers. 7, 15, 17). 1. A time of adversity tests the fidelity of friends; and manifests it, as the night brings out the stars that were unseen by day. 2. It also makes their aid peculiarly precious; and is a sign of the favour of the Eternal Friend. 3. When friends begin to despond in a time of trouble, it is the part of a good man, "strong in faith," to encourage them, by directing their thoughts to the Divine Source of consolation, his own "exceeding joy." "Many say, Who will show us good? III. DELIVERED BY DIVINE FAVOUR; shown in his preservation, the salutary warning received during the night, the safe passage of the Jordan, so that "by the morning light," etc. (ver. 22), and the complete defeat of Ahithophel's counsel (vers. 14). 1. In their hostility to the good, wicked men rely on their own wisdom and strength alone, ignoring God; but "the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly," etc. (2 Peter 2:9). 2. Often when a good man is despised as one abandoned of God, he is taken into closer fellowship with him and more signally protected and delivered. 3. In the morning light of every day he perceives fresh tokens of Divine favour. Whilst God "giveth songs in the night" (Job 35:10), "his mercies are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:23; Psalm 5; Psalm 30:5; Psalm 143:8). "Jehovah, how many are mine adversaries! IV. INCITED TO VICTORIOUS CONFIDENCE; by the contemplation of what God is to him and has done for him (Genesis 15:1); as, having now escaped his most immediate peril, he travels on "by the morning light" toward Mahanaim (ver. 24). Troubles do not always "pass away with light." Enemies still threaten (Psalm 3:1), and with each returning day the servant of God has to begin the conflict afresh (2 Samuel 5:22, 23). But: 1. Even when most formidable, they do not terrify him whose hope is in Jehovah. 2. They are regarded as if already overthrown. 3. And to Jehovah alone is the victory ascribed. "I will not be afraid of ten thousands of the people
The counsel of Hushai the Archite. Hushai saw that it was essential to gain time, "in order," to quote the words of Tacitus, "to give the disaffected time to repent, and the loyal time to unite: crimes gain by hasty action, better counsels by delay." His scheme was cleverly devised to appeal to Absalom's vanity and love of display. It seemed safe and easy: it was a far more attractive idea for Absalom to march in person against, David at the head of an immense army than for him to let Achithophel complete the revolution by a decisive action at once. His vanity proved his ruin. He forgot that s general levy would involve no slight delay: he forgot that the rising was by no means certain to be general, and that when the first surprise of the insurrection was over many would return their allegiance to David. But Absalom and his counsellors were blinded by a divinely-ordered infatuation.(A. F. Kirkpatrick, M. A.) People Abiathar, Abigail, Absalom, Ahimaaz, Ahithophel, Amasa, Ammiel, Ammonites, Arkite, Barzillai, Dan, David, Hushai, Ithra, Jesse, Jether, Joab, Jonathan, Machir, Nahash, Shobi, Zadok, ZeruiahPlaces Bahurim, Beersheba, Dan, En-rogel, Gilead, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Lo-debar, Mahanaim, Rabbah, RogelimTopics Crossed, David, Dawn, Daybreak, Jordan, Lacked, Lacking, Missing, Morning, Pass, Passed, Riseth, TillOutline 1. Ahithophel's counsel is overthrown by Hushai's15. Secret intelligence is sent unto David 23. Ahithophel hangs himself 25. Amasa is made captain 27. David at Mahanaim is furnished with provisions Dictionary of Bible Themes 2 Samuel 17:22Library "The King Kissed Barzillai. " 2 Sam. xix. 39And no wonder, for David could appreciate a real man when he saw him, and so does David's Lord. I.--LOYALTY IS PRECIOUS TO THE KING OF KINGS. In the days when the son of Jesse had but few friends, it was a precious thing to be treated in the style Barzillai and his neighbours entertained him (see 2 Sam. xvii. 27-29). They were rich farmers, and had land which brought forth with abundance, so were able to act with princely hospitality to the fugitive monarch. But plenty may live with avarice, and … Thomas Champness—Broken Bread The Nations of the South-East Barzillai Continued. David and Jonathan's Son Mr. John Bunyan's Dying Sayings. Letter xxxvi (Circa A. D. 1131) to the Same Hildebert, who had not yet Acknowledged the Lord Innocent as Pope. King of Kings and Lord of Lords Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire from 745 to 722 B. C. Samuel Links 2 Samuel 17:22 NIV2 Samuel 17:22 NLT 2 Samuel 17:22 ESV 2 Samuel 17:22 NASB 2 Samuel 17:22 KJV 2 Samuel 17:22 Bible Apps 2 Samuel 17:22 Parallel 2 Samuel 17:22 Biblia Paralela 2 Samuel 17:22 Chinese Bible 2 Samuel 17:22 French Bible 2 Samuel 17:22 German Bible 2 Samuel 17:22 Commentaries Bible Hub |