The Bible Study Podcast, episode 260. Today, the Bible Study podcast continues the study of 2nd Samuel with chapter 19.

Welcome to the Bible Study podcast. I'm your host, Chris Christensen. As you may recall in the story of David in 2nd Samuel chapter 18, David's son Absalom, who had rebelled against him, was defeated. This is good news, but David took it hard. This is bad news for him because he was hoping that his son could be spared.

He was, first of all, a father, and second of all, a king. And so this is not good behavior for a king,

although it might be good behavior for a father. Second Samuel 19. Job was told,

The king is weeping in mourning for Absalom. 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. The men stole

into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle. The king

covered his face and cried aloud, O my son, Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son.

Then Joab went into the house to the king and said,

Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons

and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines. You love those who hate you

and hate those who love you. You have made it

clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased

if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the

Lord that if you don't go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall.

This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come on you from your youth till now.

So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the men were told, the king is sitting in the gateway they all came before him meanwhile the

Israelites had fled to their homes joab is a gift to david it is a gift to have friends who will look

us in the face and tell us what needs to be told joab isn't telling david this to be mean he is telling

this to david because dav David needs to hear it.

It is the truth. What David has done to his people, to the people who have been faithful to him, is he's turned this time that should be a celebration into a time of mourning.

And now they feel bad about what they have done. They feel bad about this victory.

...