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2 Samuel 17:15-29; Psalm 3; Psalm 63; 2 Samuel 18-19:30<\/strong><\/span> Interesting readings in Second Samuel today!\u00a0 The dynamics between Ahithophel\u2019s advice and Hushai\u2019s advice is fascinating. Hushai plays smartly to Absalom\u2019s ego and insecurity with the advice he gives. Ahithophel seems to realize that he\u2019s lost his status in Absalom\u2019s kingdom \u2013 and I wonder if maybe perhaps Ahithophel realized this kingdom of Absalom\u2019s would soon fall?\u00a0 And thus decided to kill himself?\u00a0 It was probably more of an ego \/ pride \/ status thing though that played into Ahithophel\u2019s tragic decision.\u00a0 Ahithophel, a betrayer of David, ended up taking his life in the same manner Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, does.\u00a0 (Not to be morbid here, but just fyi that there are 7 suicides documented in the Bible \u2013 you can view this list of 7 on bible.org <\/span>at this link<\/span>.)\u00a0 It does make me very sad to read about suicide, even in the case of Ahithophel or Judas.\u00a0 I know obviously suicide happens still in our world today at alarming rates, which makes me incredibly sad.\u00a0 I just feel like all of us can have some serious down times in our life and maybe sometimes feel like just giving it up completely.\u00a0 I pray that if ever we really do get that down in our life, that we always remember there is redemption.\u00a0 There is hope.\u00a0 There is love.\u00a0 There is forgiveness.\u00a0 There is Jesus.\u00a0 No matter what we\u2019ve done or what we\u2019ve failed to do, let us not every give up on the everlasting hope that is Jesus in our lives.\u00a0 Jesus saves.\u00a0 Jesus even saves us from ourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n For some reason the readings today about Hushai trying to get a message to David reminded me of the 1st Lord of the Rings movie when Frodo & crew are leaving the Shire and traveling on foot trying to avoid the wraiths.\u00a0 Maybe it was Ahimaaz and Jonathan hiding in the well that triggered this for me.\u00a0 Seems like hiding in the well is something Frodo & crew would have done!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/p>\n Wow.\u00a0 Intense readings today.\u00a0 As could be expected from Absalom\u2019s pursuit of his ego and pride the past few chapters, his sin catches up with him.\u00a0\u00a0One commentary\u00a0had the interesting point that Absalom\u2019s \u201cpretty head & long hair\u201d (as you\u2019ll recall from <\/span>2 Samuel 14:25-26<\/span>) ironically ended up being his undoing as his long hair got caught up in a tree.\u00a0 This seems very symbolic of how pride and ego can be it\u2019s own undoing.\u00a0 This image I think it sums up well where unchecked pride and ego can ultimately lead\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n Well, Absalom did incorporate some long term ingenuity in his pride & ego \u2013 like the Egyptian Pharaoh\u2019s of old, Absalom decided to make sure he built a monument to himself! as we read about in verse 18 today: \u201cDuring his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument to himself in the King\u2019s Valley, for he had said, \u201cI have no son to carry on my name.\u201d He named the monument after himself, and it is known as Absalom\u2019s Monument to this day.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Below is an image of Absalom\u2019s Monument (Pillar) \u2013 <\/span><\/p>\n While on one hand I do appreciate David\u2019s grace and love for his son Absalom, I have to say that I really do appreciate Joab\u2019s boldness & wisdom in rebuking David in verses 5 through 8: \u201cWe saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed, as though we had done something wrong. You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that we mean nothing to you. If Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased. Now go out there and congratulate the troops, for I swear by the LORD that if you don\u2019t, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than you have ever been.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 That is quite a speech by Joab to David!\u00a0 And I believe he was right.\u00a0 David\u2019s love for his son was admirable in one sense \u2013 but it also could be seen as selfish in another sense.\u00a0 David seemed to care more for his son than for the nation of Israel, and Joab called him out on this.\u00a0 It is interesting how sometimes our love for one person can cloud everything else going on in our lives.\u00a0 Love for one person is a beautiful thing.\u00a0 But it seems that we should also be cognizant of others around us too \u2013 and love them.\u00a0 And sometimes, like David, we may need to realize that there is a greater good \u2013 a greater love \u2013 than the singular love we have been focusing on.\u00a0 This is not easy to discern of course\u2026\u00a0 \u00a0hopefully this makes some sort of sense or doesn\u2019t sound too harsh?\u00a0 Below is a portrait by artist Guy Rowe of David mourning for his son Absalom with Joab in the background giving his speech in the verses above:<\/span><\/p>\n Second Samuel 19 is great!\u00a0 David returns to Jerusalem!\u00a0 I love the entire flow of today\u2019s readings as David crosses the Jordan River toward Jerusalem and shows incredible kindness to Shimei, Mephibosheth, and Barzillai along the way.\u00a0 However, don\u2019t forget the name Shimei just yet \u2013 the \u201crock thrower & curser\u201d when David fled Jerusalem a few chapters back\u2026\u00a0 On David\u2019s deathbed, later in our readings in <\/span>First Kings 2:9<\/span>, David will pass along to his son Solomon these instructions: \u201cBring his (Shimei\u2019s) gray head down to the grave in blood<\/em>\u2026\u201d\u00a0 But, this day was not a day of bloodshed, but a day of amnesty, as David exclaimed in 2 Samuel 19:22 today: \u201cThis is not a day for execution but for celebration! I am once again the king of Israel!\u201d<\/em> An image of Mephibosheth, Saul\u2019s grandson, meeting David on his return to Jerusalem is below:<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s Second Samuel readings titled \u201cThe Darkest Days of David\u2019s Life\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and \u201cDavid\u2019s Return to Jerusalem\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Our readings today in 2nd Samuel reminded me of Casting Crowns\u2019 song \u201cWhat if His people prayed:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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