Today’s Chapters: II Samuel 16-20
Pete’s Thoughts:
II Samuel 16
This chapter shows us that not everything is fine in David’s kingdom. Absalom may have returned home but there was a strong under current that was moving things in the background. And it is all about to come to the surface.
II Samuel 17
Advice is an important thing in life. It allows you to gain wisdom from the life experiences and mistakes of others. The most important thing about receiving advice is that you get it from a good source. In this chapter much advice was given and very little of it was right. When you are given advice, how do you know what to listen to? If you know the Bible, you can weight it against the ultimate source of truth.
II Samuel 18
A father is always concerned for the well-being of his children. That is why David is so torn to pieces upon hearing that his son is dead. In spite of all that Absalom put him though, he still loved him and still desired him to do well.
II Samuel 19
It is important not to get carried away and make decisions you will later regret. David is a prime example of this. When he returns to Jerusalem, he deals with various matters with grace and justice, displaying what it means to be a righteous king under the authority of a righteous God.
II Samuel 20
Sometimes grudges run deep. This chapter relates the details of the rebellion of a man named Sheba. The important thing about this rebellion in relation to grudges is the tribe from which Sheba descended – Benjamin. He was from the same tribe as Saul and obviously wanted the kingship to return to his tribe.
