April 7, 2022: Day 75 – II Samuel 16-18 and Psalms 4 and 5 and 7

There were a lot of names mentioned in these three chapters and even I found it a bit difficult to keep them straight.  Let’s set the stage.  One of David’s prophets, Hushai, had gone back to the king’s palace where David’s son, Absalom, had taken over and was now reigning while David was hiding out with his men.  Hushai gave advice to Absalom that he could then pass on to David and let him know what Absalom would do as far as his next step in pursuing David.  He was basically a mole in Absalom’s court.  It worked, and the Israelites under Absalom fell to the Israelites under David.  

Notice the last message that David gives his generals which is be gentle to Absalom since he still loved him.  When the battle is over and David hears that Absalom has been killed David mourns with the famous line: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom!  If only I had died instead of you – O Absalom, my son, my son!”

The psalms that we read reflect this crying out of David to God as he is being pursued by his enemies.  In this day and age Psalm 7:9-10 is a good one to hear: “O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.  My shield is God Most High, who save the upright in heart.”