This is the Bible Book Club.

I'm Susan.

And I'm Heather.

And we're in the book of Second Samuel.

Welcome to the club.

Last episode in Second Samuel chapter's 14 and 15, the chain of events led to David's forced evacuation of Jerusalem. Joab began the chain by interfering in David's life. He thought it would be best if Absalom returned as heir to the crown. David didn't want this, so Joab tricked him into it. Joab hired a wise woman to tell the story of a son who murdered another. David then pardoned the

murderer and was then forced to pardon also his own son. Absalom returned and began his campaign for

King. After four years, he planned a coup in Hebron and was successful. David had to run for his

life for the second time in his life.

Exactly. Okay. So I want to talk about this. I want us to not miss the author's focus on

relationships in these last few chapters. Remember, this is the king with a heart for the Lord,

but his heart also gets him in a little trouble. Yeah, he's called a man after

God's own heart, but he's not perfect. He's not perfect because he has this compassionate heart

that then kind of leads to these bad relationships. David's sin is in his relationships with

Bashiba and with his children, and therefore his consequences are relational also. In the last chapter,

Joeb interfered in David's relationship by bringing Absalom back. Then Absalom rebelled first against

Job and then against David. Again, it was a relational thing. The Carithites, Pelothites,

and Gittites, all foreigners are loyal to David.

Zeduk, the priest is loyal. Ahithafal is not loyal. Hishai is loyal. These are all people that either

reject or embrace their relationship with David. With every step in his exodus from Jerusalem, David is confronted

by people who have chosen to be for or against him. It must have been an emotional roller coaster

for a man with such a tender heart. To be accepted would be such a relief, to be rejected would be so much pain. David is still on the

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