As is the case throughout the story of Absalom, God doesn’t intervene dramatically. Absalom isn’t struck by lightning. There’s just a ‘chance’ meeting in v9. Absalom ‘happened’ to meet the servants of David. But of course, God is overruling it all. Absalom doubtless tries to get away, and suddenly his head is caught fast in an oak tree. Now it […]

In this chapter we have a civil war. Some people want Absalom to be king of Israel instead of David, and other people want David to stay king. This war is only going to end when either Absalom or David are killed. But when it comes to the decisive battle, it’s covered in only 3 verses (verses 6-8). It’s civil […]

Praise God that the chapter ends with three people who committed themselves to God’s chosen king when his cause looked weak. In verse 27, Shobi is a former pagan, Machir was once loyal to Saul, and Barzillai is senior citizen. But when it matters, we find them here, standing beside God’s chosen king. If Jesus were to ask us, as […]