And let's get into the word. Second Samuel chapter 19 tonight. We finished chapter 18 last week

and David had just received the news that while they had been victorious, his son Absalom had been killed.

And instead of rejoicing in the victory, David is mourning the death of his son.

I mean really mourning the death of his son. And as we're about to see, it's going to create

some problems for David. Now, it's important to understand. It's going to be germane to our

understanding as we're going to get into this.

But at this point, David only knows that Absalom is dead.

He does not know who killed Absalom.

He does not yet know that Joab is the one who went against his direct command and killed his son, Absalom.

So let's pray and we'll ask God's blessing on our time in his word.

Loving Heavenly Father, we're so glad to be here tonight. This is that place that we can go in the middle of the week,

sometimes after a hard week with just the busyness of life, the issues of life, and what a wild week this has been all over the world.

Lord, it's incomprehensible for us to know how it is that people who don't know you can just bear up under all that's happening without just being

terrified and fearful. Lord, we are not fearful because as we just had sung in our worship, we will not be afraid we will trust in you and we receive from you that peace

and so lord tonight as we get into your word i pray that you'll minister to us speak to us speak into our

lives we pray in In Jesus' name, amen. I was just reflecting on

all that's happened this last week. I don't know if you've been following what took place.

It's quite interesting. I don't know if you realize this or not, but China has, some believe, lost about 40% of its value in their stock market.

One has estimated that it was 15 times the GDP of Greece 15 times the GDP of

Greece and this is very serious there was also that really stunning shutdown of the stock market, the NASDAQ,

and then at the same time there was the grounding of

and the halting of all United Airlines flights

...