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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
<a href="tel:253-517-9195" target="_blank">253-517-9195</a> - Email:
<a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">October 6, 2012</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
<br></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
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</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>JUN
2 - 2 SAMUEL 13-20 - DAVID: HOUSEHOLD JUDGMENT</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>1.
13:39 (13, ESV) DAVID: REAPS DEEP FAMILY TROUBLE. <font size="3">“And
the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom, because he was
comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">This
is a terrible situation, yet it is direct prophetic judgment for
David’s own sin. David did </span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">not</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
heed when he was at the acme of success, and in his carelessness,
</span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">fell</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">!
And Absalom was not worthy of his love. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Hallowed
be your :name.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">2.
14:33 (14) DAVID: RECONCILED TO ABSALOM THROUGH JOAB. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Then
Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he
came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before
the king, and the king kissed Absalom.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Joab’s
“head and shoulders” stratagem of the natural m</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">an</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">,
did no good to David the spiritual man. It was a further step in the
working of Your judgment, Father. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:kingdom come!</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">3.
15:31 (15) DAVID: REAPS THROUGH REBELLION AND CIVIL STRIFE. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">And
it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with
Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of
Ahithophel into foolishness.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Could
Ahithophel’s betrayal be revenge for the defilement of his
granddaughter Bathsheba by David? Yet, it is much what Judas did to
Jesus! Yet in Your mercy Father, You had given David Hushai as a
friend and counselor. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">4.
16:23 (16) DAVID: REAPS THROUGH ZIBA, SHIMEI AND ABSALOM. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Now
in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one
consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel
esteemed, both by David and by Absalom.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Indeed
the counsel of Ahithophel against David was strong and powerful. And
the judgment on David was just. O forgive us Father, for failing so
often to remember that Your judgment is always tempered with mercy.
</span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Our :daily
:bread Give us this day.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">5.
17:14 (17) DAVID: HUSHAI SAVES HIM FROM AHITHOPHEL. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">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
ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD
might bring harm upon Absalom. </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">David’s
thought concerning Hushai and You, O great Jehovah Father, was well
placed. For </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">You</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
do not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able to bear, but
You make a way to escape! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">6.
</span><span style="text-decoration:none">18:3 (18:1-19:8) DAVID:
SADLY DEFEATS ABSALOM. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">But
the men said, “You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not
care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But
you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore it is better that you
send us help from the city.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">What
sorrow is in all of this! Yet unworthy Joab did have the right word
to bring restoration of the king. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
bring us not into temptation.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">7.
19:10 (19:9-20:26) DAVID: RESTORATION OF HIS KINGDOM. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“But
Absalom, whom we anointed over us is dead in battle. Now therefore
why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">David
narrowly averted civil war in the process of bringing back the king.
Joab again is his enemy. Yet over all of these testing</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">s</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">,
You are the Sovereign Ruler, Father! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">But
deliver us from the evil </span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">one!</span></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><u><b>NOTE</b></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>:
20:22 (19:9-20:26) DAVID: SAVED BY THE WISDOM OF A WOMAN. </b></span><b><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Then
the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the
head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. So he blew
the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, every man to his home.
And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Here
a wise woman saves a city by her wisdom. See Ecclesiastes 9:13-18. </span></span></font></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">May
we always be open to </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">receive</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
lessons from Your Word, Father; not just an accumulation of
knowledge. This passage has many though sad, such lessons. </span></span></font></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">We
should well remember Galatians 6:7 (6:7-10) - </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">“</span><u>Be
not deceived</u><span style="text-decoration:none">; God is </span><u>not</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
mocked: for </span><u>whatever</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
a man sows, </span><u>that</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
shall he </span><u>also</u><span style="text-decoration:none">
reap.” </span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">This
section above in the life of David abundantly makes this clear. </span></span></font></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Some
may say - O, God will overlook this in me - He will not do to me what
He allowed to come upon David! Again - </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">“Be
not deceived</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">!”
- This is foolish thinking, and the entire Bible, both Old and New
Testaments confirm this, as illustrated in the life of David. Even
though he was a man after God’s own heart - and he </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">was</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
- yet God would have been unrighteous had He not visited upon His
servant the judgment</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">s</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
listed in this passage.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">There
are many Christian leaders who can testify to the truth of the above
emphasis!</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Then
see the great help David’s friend Hushai was to him in a time of
great need! His wisdom overturning the counsel of Ahithophel - no
doubt saved David’s life! May God give </span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">each
one of us close and wise friends like Hushai on our behalf.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">And
finally, the wise woman of Abel of Beth-maacah. By her wisdom she
delivered a city. And the words of Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 wonderfully
confirm the value of wisdom over against “might”! Here a poor
wise man did much for his people, even though he was soon forgotten!
But </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">God</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
sees, records, and does </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">not</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
forget. Rewards for faithfulness are not just for us down here! They
will be recognized up there.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">The
whole book of Proverbs, a father’s counsel for his son - is much in
line with these two. We need to spend much time in this book, and as
fathers, much time sharing it with out children.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">For
today - Proverbs </span><span style="text-decoration:none">2:10-12a
(2) THE VALUE OF WISDOM. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“For
wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to
your soul; </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">11
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">discretion
will watch over you, understanding will guard you, </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">12a
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">delivering
you from the way of evil.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Here
is Your clear condition for deliverance, Father. It is through Wisdom
Personified and Understanding! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Hallowed
be Your :name!</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
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