Thoughts from my personal time with God.
While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates, the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked out, he saw a man running alone. The watchman called out to the king and reported it.
The “internet” of the day! And to think communication now is instantaneous, transmitting in the blink of an eye both information and disinformation…
…The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”
2 Samuel 18:19 – 19:31 Read More »
…When one of the men saw what had happened, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.”
Joab said to the man who had told him this, “What! You saw him? Why didn’t you strike him to the ground right there? Then I would have had to give you ten shekels of silver and a warrior’s belt.”
2 Samuel 18:10 – 18 Read More »
When David arrived at Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash, from the city of Rabbah in Ammon, and by Machir son of Ammiel, from Lodebar, and by Barzillai, from Rogelim in Gilead.
Shobi from Ammon – a foreigner. How David had a positive influence on others outside his world. May I likewise have such an influence, Lord.…
2 Samuel 17:24 – 18:9 Read More »
Absalom and all the Israelites said, “Hushai’s advice is better than Ahithophel’s.” The Lord had decided that Ahithophel’s good advice would not be followed, so that disaster would come on Absalom.
How this reminds me of Micaiah and Ahab (1 Kings 22:19-23). Through all of his scheming, Absalom held all the cards, had an unbeatable hand and yet… May I not anxiously look about me, Father (Isaiah 41:10).…
2 Samuel 17:14 – 23 Read More »
Any advice that Ahithophel gave in those days was accepted as though it were the very word of God; both David and Absalom followed it.
So how was Hushai going to defeat a sure thing? The same way Satan does to us! While God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3) and equiped us to persevere and conquer (Ephesians 6:14-18), Satan tries to convince us otherwise and/or push us to fight in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:9-10; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5).…
2 Samuel 16:23 – 17:13 Read More »
Absalom and all the Israelites with him entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with them. When Hushai, David’s trusted friend, met Absalom, he shouted, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
Absalom’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:7-11)… All of what follows is going to be about Hushai and his ability to exploit the character flaws in both Absalom and Ahithophel.…
2 Samuel 16:15 – 22 Read More »
…When King David arrived at Bahurim, one of Saul’s relatives, Shimei son of Gera, came out to meet him, cursing him as he came. Shimei started throwing stones at David and his officials, even though David was surrounded by his men and his bodyguards. Shimei cursed him and said, “Get out! Get out! Murderer! Criminal! You took Saul’s kingdom, and now the Lord is punishing you for murdering so many of Saul’s family.
2 Samuel 16:5 – 14 Read More »
When David was told that Ahithophel had joined Absalom’s rebellion, he prayed, “Please, Lord, turn Ahithophel’s advice into nonsense!”
This had to have been the low point for David and he turned to you, Father – just like he did in 1 Samuel 30:6. May I forever do the same.
…When David reached the top of the hill, where there was a place of worship, his trusted friend Hushai the Archite met him with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head.
2 Samuel 15:31 – 16:4 Read More »
…As the king and all his men were leaving the city, they stopped at the last house. All his officials stood next to him as the royal bodyguards passed by in front of him. The six hundred soldiers who had followed him from Gath also passed by, and the king said to Ittai, their leader, “Why are you going with us?
2 Samuel 15:17 – 30 Read More »
…Absalom went on, “I want you to arrange for me to see the king, and if I’m guilty, then let him put me to death.”
So Joab went to King David and told him what Absalom had said. The king sent for Absalom, who went to him and bowed down to the ground in front of him. The king welcomed him with a kiss.
2 Samuel 14:29 – 15:16 Read More »