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October 15, 2021

Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.

Reading along with us in 2 Samuel? Here’s today’s reading:

2 Samuel 19 (NIV)

1 Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle. 4 The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”.........Continue Reading

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This Post Has 8 Comments
  1. Thank goodness for Joab once again! He wakes David up from his place of depression and reminds him that he has a family and country to think about.
    David finally gets back to work and clears up many issues such as the one with Shimei and rewards those that helped him in his time of need like Barzillai

  2. Although Joab has made mistakes, his sometimes misguided desire to do good for David shines through. It is good to have people in our lives who can show us our short sightedness and let us know how others are internalizing our actions. And is good that because of that, David thinks of others more than himself. And it is interesting to see, as David returns to Jerusalem, many of those involved in his leaving resurface here. Shimei sees the errors of his ways and apologizes for his actions and humbles himself before David. It is certainly better when people come to those conclusions themselves rather than have it come from us, but what patience this must have required.

    It is also good to get clarification about what was going on with Mephibosheth. It is always challenging to be in a he said, he said situation, but what he relates to David makes more sense than what Ziba had said after all David had done for Mephibosheth. But it reminds us that often we need to be wise like serpents and meek as doves. We take people at face value but reserve final judgement until all perspectives can be shared. David has done a little back and forth in this particular situation but I think he was constrained by the circumstances in his own life to then make proper judgements in other’s situations.

    And how interesting it is to see how deep the distrust and competition that existed between the Northern tribes of Israel and Judah. It is no wonder when it comes to the kingdom dividing that those are the lines that are drawn. The seeds of the conflict are seen in this chapter and even before….

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