June 1

June 1

Absalom's Death -- Absalom's murder & David's mourning.

Today's Readings:

Reading 1: 2 Samuel 18

Reading 2: 2 Samuel 19:1-23

Reading 3: 2 Samuel 12:9-12

We left David trusting God and going out into the wilderness after Absalom's rebellion. Today we see David organizing his soldiers and then staying in the town where they are all sheltering while his soldiers go out to fight Absalom's army. In a misguided show of sympathy for the rebel son, David asks his commanders to spare Absalom in the fight.

God clearly has other plans because David's soldiers beat the Israelite army, and Absalom gets caught by his hair in a tree! Although the soldiers are hesitant to kill him, Joab leads the way, and Absalom is killed. Interestingly, the account tells us that Absalom had erected a monument to himself in the King's Valley. See how pride and rebellion easily intertwine?

Then David reacts by expressing deep grief at the death of his son. Joab has to speak sternly with him to get him to see sense! And this, in turn, leads to confusion and quarreling among the tribes.

Chapter 12 tells us this is all a result of David's sin with Bathsheba. Sin has a terrible consequence, but thank God that after the death of Jesus, we are no longer left with all the results of our own sin in our lives!

Have a great day!

Mark.