The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 20:2,
"So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri."
Dictionary.com defines the term "fickle" as, "likely to change, especially due to caprice, irresolution, or instability; casually changeable... not constant or loyal in affections."
David was ruling from Jerusalem, his son, Absalom ran him out of town and many Israelites then followed Absalom. Absalom was killed and David returned so the folks return to David. Now Sheba rebels against David and Israelites leave David to follow him. Israel was a fickle people.
Unstable, unsteady, inconsistent, vacillating and capricious. These are all words that describe the nation of Israel. Here it is documented in their lack of loyalty and fidelity to David. Elsewhere in the Scriptures, the fickle nature of the Israelites toward the Lord is often documented.
In speaking of the propensity of the Israelites to abandon the Lord and chase after lifeless idols, the Lord says, "'But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers— would you now return to me?' declares the Lord." Jeremiah 3:1. In calling on his people to return to him the Lord says, "Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the Lord Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the Lord Almighty." Zechariah 1:3. A similar call of God to his people is seen in Malachi 3:7, "'Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,' says the Lord Almighty."
The fickle nature of Israel toward their God-appointed king points to the fickle nature of the Israelites toward their God. And, it is not just Israel. All mankind is cursed with a sinful nature that predisposes us toward a lack of faithfulness and loyalty to our Creator, inherited from man's fall in the garden of Eden.
"So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri."
Dictionary.com defines the term "fickle" as, "likely to change, especially due to caprice, irresolution, or instability; casually changeable... not constant or loyal in affections."
David was ruling from Jerusalem, his son, Absalom ran him out of town and many Israelites then followed Absalom. Absalom was killed and David returned so the folks return to David. Now Sheba rebels against David and Israelites leave David to follow him. Israel was a fickle people.
Unstable, unsteady, inconsistent, vacillating and capricious. These are all words that describe the nation of Israel. Here it is documented in their lack of loyalty and fidelity to David. Elsewhere in the Scriptures, the fickle nature of the Israelites toward the Lord is often documented.
In speaking of the propensity of the Israelites to abandon the Lord and chase after lifeless idols, the Lord says, "'But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers— would you now return to me?' declares the Lord." Jeremiah 3:1. In calling on his people to return to him the Lord says, "Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the Lord Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the Lord Almighty." Zechariah 1:3. A similar call of God to his people is seen in Malachi 3:7, "'Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,' says the Lord Almighty."
The fickle nature of Israel toward their God-appointed king points to the fickle nature of the Israelites toward their God. And, it is not just Israel. All mankind is cursed with a sinful nature that predisposes us toward a lack of faithfulness and loyalty to our Creator, inherited from man's fall in the garden of Eden.
One of the wonderful "gifts" the Holy Spirit brings into our lives when we embrace Jesus Christ in faith is faithfulness itself, as the Spirit desires within us what is contrary to that old sinful nature, Galatians 5:17 and 22.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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