As I read all four passages today I see so many themes that run through them all and have no idea where to start…
Humility/ Arrogance
Obedience /Disobedience
Justice
Mercy
War /Peace
Warning / Accountability
Glory
Forgiveness / Second (and third) chances
In Psalm 75 we are warned against boasting and reminded that it is God who judges and exalts (warning… arrogance….)
In Psalm 76 we are reminded of the greatness of God and that He alone is to be feared (glory…).
In 2 Samuel 19 we see the foreshadowing of a king that gives forgiveness to those that show humility and honor him. The arrogant “older brother” types are insulted, but David reminds them the he is the king and he chose to forgive (second chances…). In Chapter 20 we see a leader that is put off by this forgiveness and commands his subjects to reject David and go their own way (disobedience… arrogance… ), which turns out to be a very bad choice (justice…). We also see one of David’s subject’s disobedience and the gruesome price he paid for it (more justice….).
In Ezekiel 27 we see a warning against Tyre. We read verse upon verse about their wealth (arrogance…), then we read verse upon verse about their destruction and we are reminded about the fragility of wealth as the world provides (warning… justice…).
In 2 Corinthians 13 Paul says that he has warned the Corinthians about their sins twice and has chosen to warn them a third time by letter before he arrives (third chances…) so that they have time to correct themselves before he arrives. He closes his letter urging them to rejoice, and to ”strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”
King David “won over the hearts of the men of Judah so that they were all of one mind.” (2 Samuel 19:14a). If Jesus would truly win over our hearts, then maybe we will be of one mind and live in peace as Paul tells us. This is my prayer today.
Sixty-six books in a year 