Chapters 15-18 of II Samuel recorded the awful rebellion of King David’s son, Absalom. For many years Absalom had simultaneously built up his own name and torn his father’s down. Absalom had for years been staging a coup to take over David’s throne and kingdom. In all of this, David’s reign was nearly destroyed and, along with it, the hope of God’s covenant promises.In chapter 19, the death of Absalom comes at the hands of David’s insubordinate, justice-at-all-costs commander, Joab. Absalom was brutally killed and justice served, but it came at the cost of Joab’s sinful rebellion and David’s lost love.Meanwhile, David returned to the throne, but not to Jerusalem. He and the troops began the journey home. They made it as far as Gilgal, but had not crossed back over the river Jordan. God had reestablished David as king, yet David and his followers were still in the wilderness, on the far side of the Jordan, with the promised land ahead.Though the Lord reestablished David as the chosen king and renewed His covenant promises to David and his people, still rebellion, sin, and sadness weighed heavily on all of Israel. David’s attempt to reunite God’s people in justice and love was riddled with conflict. It wasn’t so different than the war David had been fighting within--the war of justice and mercy for the son whom he loved, Absalom.This week, we will meet a new rebel, a sad woman, an old butcher, and a wise woman. This week also concludes the story of the rise, fall, and restoration of the Kingdom of Israel under the rule and reign of God’s chosen, King David. The rest of II Samuel, chapters 21-24, will be an epilogue, concluding remarks to the story of I & II Samuel.How will our story conclude? What will be the condition of the king and the kingdom? Will the kingdom be firmly established, will it struggle, or will it exist at all? Come and see.
