Today's Video Devotion

Tuesday 2/21/23

Apply Scriptures to Your Life

📺️ 2 Samuel 18 🔊

¹And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds over them.

 ²And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

 ³But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.

 ⁴And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.

 ⁵And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

 ⁶So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

 ⁷Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.

 ⁸For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

 ⁹And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

 ¹⁰And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

 ¹¹And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.

 ¹²And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.

 ¹³Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.

 ¹⁴Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

 ¹⁵And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

 ¹⁶And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

 ¹⁷And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.

 ¹⁸Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.

 ¹⁹Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.

 ²⁰And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.

 ²¹Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

 ²²Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?

 ²³But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.

 ²⁴And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

 ²⁵And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.

 ²⁶And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.

 ²⁷And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.

 ²⁸And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.

 ²⁹And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.

 ³⁰And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

 ³¹And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

 ³²And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

 ³³And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Nathan, Zabud, & Gad 

Date Penned: (930 BC)

Overview: A Record of David's Reign (c 1-24)

Theme: David's Struggles (c 11-24)

Message: Joab Kills Absalom (v 1-33)

2 Samuel 18 Commentary

(18:1) David Experiences Revival - David snapped out of his despondency and took command as he had in former days. In recent years, his life had been characterized by indecisiveness and moral paralysis. At this time he began to take charge and do his duty.

(18:9-14) Absalom Faces His Narcissism - Absalom was blessed with good looks and great hair (14:25-26), and his ambitions and popularity went to his head-he even built a monument to himself (18:18). But his narcissism was his undoing. Ironically, he lost his life hanging by his beautiful hair. If you are in leadership, rein in your desire for self-glorification. Keep in mind that the gifts, talents, and personality you have are from God, so use them in a way that is pleasing to him.

(18:12-14) Joab is Caught in His Hypocrisy - This man mentioned had caught Joab in his hypocrisy. He knew Joab would likely turn on him for killing Absalom if the king found out about it and wanted to hold someone responsible. Joab quickly dismissed the man's plea to spare Absalom's life. Those about to do evil usually do not consider the morality of what they are about to do. They don't care whether it is right or lawful. Don't rush into action without thinking. Consider whether what you are about to do is right or wrong.

(18:29) Ahimaaz is Afraid to Tell David or the Death of His Son - Although he reached the city first, Ahimaaz was afraid to tell the king the truth about the death of David's son Absalom.

(18:33) David is Upset at Absalom's Death - Why was David so upset over the death of his rebel son? () David realized that he, in part, was responsible for Absalom's death. Nathan the prophet had said that because David had killed Uriah, his own sons would rebel against him (12:11). (2) David was angry at Joab and his officers for killing Absalom against his wishes. (3) David truly loved his son. It would have been much better to deal with Absalom and his runaway ego when he was younger.

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter, making application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Today we continue in the book of 2nd Samuel with Chapter 18. In our text, we see we see Joab killing Absalom and David morning his death. David is a principal Bible character because of how his life parallels ours. He has victories, defeats, makes mistakes, and suffers the consequences of his sin - all with the heart of the Lord. In applying, we see a life we pattern after for our lives. The positives of true faith and victory in the Lord, to the negatives of sin, mismanaging it and suffering the consequences of his decision. If we are wise, we will learn from the life of David and avoid the pitfalls of making his poor decisions. How about you? Do you see the life of David as a road map that you can apply to your life? Let us learn from the life of David to see the need to apply the scriptures to our lives.