Father Mike Schmitz hosts this Bible in a Year podcast episode, reading from the Revised Standard Version, 2nd Catholic Edition using the Great Adventure Bible Timeline structure. The podcast is produced by Ascension and guides listeners through the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation over the course of a year.

Day 138 covers three distinct biblical passages: 2 Samuel chapter 20 detailing Sheba's rebellion against King David, 1 Chronicles chapter 25 describing the organization of temple musicians, and Psalm 39 which is a prayer for wisdom and forgiveness attributed to Jeduthun, one of the chief musicians mentioned in Chronicles.

Sheba's Rebellion and Human Fickleness

Sheba, a Benjaminite from the same tribe as former King Saul, declared rebellion saying 'We have no portion in David, and we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, O Israel.'

The tribes of Israel who had just competed to honor David crossing the Jordan immediately abandoned him to follow Sheba, demonstrating what Father Mike calls 'the fickleness of the human heart.'

'This is us. This isn't just way back when. This is completely us... someone promises more. Someone promises better' - Father Mike on human tendency toward rebellion

Joab's Violent Power Grab

When David appointed Amasa as army commander, Joab murdered him by pretending to greet him with a kiss while stabbing him in the gut, 'shed his bowels to the ground without striking a second blow.'

Joab's assassination of Amasa allowed him to reclaim his position as David's military leader, showing how 'violence begets violence, and evil doesn't stop with us' - Father Mike

The wise woman of Abel negotiated with Joab to spare her city by delivering Sheba's head, saying 'I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city which is a mother in Israel.'

Temple Musicians and Worship Organization

1 Chronicles 25 details how David organized temple worship with 288 skilled musicians under three chief leaders: Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who 'prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals.'

The musicians were divided into 24 groups of 12, with duties assigned by casting lots 'small and great, teacher and pupil alike.'

Father Mike notes the connection between Chronicles and Psalm 39, which is 'a psalm of Jeduthun' - one of the three chief temple musicians just described.

Consequences of Sin on Innocent People

David's ten concubines were 'shut up until the day of their death, living as if in widowhood' after Absalom's public assault on them, though 'they did nothing wrong.'

'How often do others suffer because of my sins? How often do others suffer because of your sins?' - Father Mike's key reflection question

Father Mike emphasizes that facing the truth of how our sins affect others requires God's grace: 'We can only actually face the truth of our brokenness with God's help, or else it's too much.'