September 19, 2025
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 and Acts? 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.……Continue Reading
2 Samuel 19
2 Samuel 19; Isaiah 35
2 Samuel 19
2 Samuel 19 and 20
How good it is to have a friend who knows us and is willing to tell us the truth. David needed to be confronted about his excessive mourning for Absalom and needed to know how the men were being affected. Joab was willing to tell him straight up. And it is a good day for David as he returns to Jerusalem. The people ask him to return (almost trying to divest themselves for the part they had played in making Absalom king), Shimea apologizes for his treatment (maybe trying to save his own skin), and Mephibosheth gives clarity for why he did not go with David and shares that Ziba misrepresented him. And David is also reunited with good friends. In fact, the people are even fighting about who has a bigger part in him. Transfers of power can be challenging for all and it is an important time to purify our motives and be honest about positions we have taken. All things that Jesus makes possible, because He always has our back.
It is time for everyone to get their heads back on straight! David (thanks to Joab) needs to get it together and remember he is king and not just a mourning father and many people who played a role in the attempted overthrowing of their king with his son, Absalom, need to make things right. It is important for us not to get caught up so much in emotion that we neglect doing the right thing, the needed thing and it is important to admit when we have been wrong and make it right! A couple of good, hard lessons can be learned in this chapter.
King David is back in the spotlight and the people are re-establishing their relationship with him. And it’s interesting how everyone is on his side now, begging for mercy and wanting him to reside in their land. But the people of Judah are one step ahead and are more convincing, so that is the place that David settles. And, most importantly, God is faithful to David with his covenant promise to establish David’s lineage forever and to bring forth the Messiah from his descendants.
David returns as king to Israel and Judah.
It is interesting joab’s “get over it” advice to David. David certainly has cause to mourn, but he is carrying on so that he is causing problems for all his people and offending those who served him greatly. I am very much a “get over it” type of person. I feel like our society today could use more “get over it” or “get back on the horse” mentality.