Mon.’s Devo - David’s Victory

Read: 2 Samuel 18:1-19:10; John 20:1-31; Psalm 119:153-176; Proverbs 16:14-15 David divided his army into three parts and put Joab, Joab’s brother Abishai, and Ittai in charge of the three groups. They refused to let David go to battle with them because if he died, their cause would die with him. *** David’s men defeated Israel’s army and killed 20,000 on the first day. They fought in a thick forest which killed more men than the sword. *** Absalom was caught in the thickets by his hair which was a huge source of his pride. One of Joab’s men saw him hanging from the tree and reported it to Joab. Joab wanted to know why he didn’t kill him and the man said he had heard David tell them not to harm Absalom. Joab shot threw three javelins into Absalom’s heart and his body guards finished him off. ** Joab blew a trumpet meaning the war was over and they had won. Joab took Absalom’s body and threw it into a pit and put stones over his body. All Israel fled to their homes. *** Sadly, the only thing Absalom had to remember him by, since he had no sons, was a pillar he had had erected which he named “Absalom’s monument.” *** Ahimaaz, the priest wanted to carry the news to David, but Joab wouldn’t let him. Instead he sent a Cushite runner with news they had won and Absalom was dead. Ahimaaz begged to go after him and finally Joab let him. *** Ahimaaz took the short cut and got their first. He told David they had won, but didn’t tell him Absalom was dead. The next runner told him Absalom had been killed. David was so upset over Absalom’s death that he couldn’t rejoice over the victory. David’s army heard of David’s mourning and crept into the city in shame. 
 *** Joab rebuked David for caring more for his rebellious son who wanted to kill him than all the faithful people who had risked their lives to save him. He warned David that if he didn’t go out and congratulate and thank his troops, it would be worse for him than ever before. David heard him, went out to sit in the gate and everyone came to hear what he had to say. *** Meanwhile, back in Jerusalem the people argued about why they had not brought David back to be their king since Absalom was dead. *** In John, on the third day after Jesus had been crucified, Mary went to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been rolled away and Jesus body was gone. He ran to tell Peter and John. They ran to the tomb but Peter got their first. He saw that the only thing in the tomb was the linen garments they had wrapped Jesus in and the face cloth. When John saw it, he believed what Jesus had said about rising from the dead. *** They went back home, but Mary stayed weeping outside the tomb. She saw two angels sitting where Jesus had been laid, one at the head and one at the feet. They asked her why she was weeping. She told them that someone had taken Jesus body and she didn’t know where. Then Jesus asked her why she was weeping. She though he was the gardener and answered him the same. When Jesus called her name, she recognized him and ran to hug him. He told her that she couldn’t touch him because he hadn’t gone to heaven yet. Mary ran and told the disciples what she had witnessed. *** That evening, Jesus stood among them and showed them his hands and his side. He blessed them with peace and told them to receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus told them they now had power to forgive sins and withhold forgiveness of sins. That evening would have made it the 4th day which was exactly when Jesus went and brought Lazareth out of the grave and revealed him to the disciples. *** Thomas was not with them and when he heard they had seen Jesus, he remarked that he wouldn’t believe unless he had seen the place where they put the nails in his hands and see his side where they struck him. *** Eight days later, Thomas got his chance. Jesus came right through the locked door and offered Thomas to put his finger in his hands and in his side. Thomas believed and blessed those who believed with out having to see the proof. *** John let us know that he only recorded a few of the many miracles that Jesus did. He wrote the ones he did so that we who read them might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and in believing in him, we have eternal life. *** Lord, we believe though we haven’t seen. We thank you for the Holy Spirit who has revealed the truth to our hearts. We do see though the eyes of our spirit. Thank you for putting on the hearts of your disciples to write down everything they saw in their books so that we can read them and have understanding. May we use the power of the Holy Spirit to believe, to witness, to forgive and to reveal Jesus to the world.