Week 8 - Day 5

June 25, 2008
Day 5/ Week 8
If Only

Today’s Treasure: 2 Samuel 18: 33
“As he (David) went, he said: ‘O my son, Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you – O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Read 2 Samuel 18: 1 – 18. Why do you think David might have wanted to lead the battle himself?
A: To protect Absalom from harm
In your own words, why didn’t David’s men want him to go to battle?
A: First of all, to protect David. They knew Absalom was out for revenge and he would make sure David was killed. I am sure they also felt they had a better focus on what needed to be done. They probably thought that David would hinder the success of the battle because of the emotions of fighting against his own son.

Read verse 5 carefully. What were David’s specific instructions to Joab?
A: Be gentle with Absalom for his sake
Who heard David giving this order to each commander?
A: All of the troops
What strange accident happened to Absalom?
A: Absalom was riding on the back of a donkey. The donkey carried him through the brush of the forest and Absalom was caught in the branches by the neck. His donkey was able to continue through the branches because he was so much lower than Absalom; therefore, Absalom was left hanging in the branches.  
How does the soldier represent a direct contrast to Joab in verses 10 – 14?
A: When the soldier saw Absalom hanging in the branches, he informed Joab, his commander. Joab asked the soldier why he did not kill Absalom because Joab would owe him a reward for doing so. The soldier replied that all the money he could give him was not worth risking his life before the king when he found out the soldier killed his son. The soldier respected the wishes that he heard directly from the king’s mouth. He knew that Joab would not stand beside him and protect him if the king asked who killed his son.  
Why do you think Joab killed Absalom even though he had been commanded to spare him?
A: Joab was a very greedy man, and he placed his rank as commander higher than his conscience. He was a killer by nature. He immediately threw his javelins through the heart of Absalom when he saw him hanging in the trees. He probably felt he had no one to fear since he was the commander. He also wanted the victory more than the pleasure of saving the relationship between Absalom and David.

Day 5/ Week 8 (cont’d)
What did Joab and his men do with Absalom’s body?
A: They threw it in a pit in the forest and covered it with rocks
According to verse 18, what had Absalom done during his lifetime?
A: Absalom erected a monument to himself because he had no sons to carry on his legacy

We need to remember that , at one time, Absalom was a compassionate man that loved his sister. His anger began when he did not protect her from the shame she received at the hands of Amnon. He could have chosen to overcome this anger, but he decided to let it overtake him. Life is often not fair, and we must choose to make decisions in our lives that we may not want to make. It is up to us to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit while making these decisions. I can assure you that our human nature is not the place to turn to when trying to understand the ways of this world. We must allow the difficult times in our lives to teach us to be better people. We cannot allow these times to control us and turn us into bitter people.
What have you or someone you care about experienced that you consider the harshest evidence of life’s unfairness?
A: Scott and Tina’s accident was the most difficult example of an unfair situation in the lives of the innocent that I have ever experienced. Scott and Tina are two to the most amazing people that I have ever known. Neither on of them deserved the fate that they met. They met this fate due to an individual that made very poor decisions based on life being unfair to him. All Tina ever wanted was to be a mom to her two beautiful children. She was always willing to do anything to make life easier on her friends. She was just a true and sincere individual…not to mention that she was a blast to be around. Now, she is facing a life of depending on everyone around her to take care of her. She is not able to interact with her children the way I know her heart longs to do. Plus, Jackson and Avery are never going to know the life that they would have had if this man had not taken away their mother and father. This is just about as unfair as it gets.
Have you been able to come to grips with it in any way? 
A: I have to be honest in telling you that I have not been able to see why this happened to them. I just have to believe that one day it will all be revealed to me…
What did the soldiers do after they threw Absalom’s body in a big pit in the forest?
A: They covered it with rocks and went home
Let’s do a little research. Check the context of the following two scriptures and record the circumstances under which stones were heaped:
Joshua 4: 5 – 9 
A: Stones were heaped as a memorial of the covenant of God
Joshua 7: 20 – 26
Achan stole from the plunder. He admitted it to Joshua and this revealed the anger that was brought on Joshua and his people. So, Achan and his entire family and livestock were put to death. Stone were heaped over the place of death to remind others of what happened because of his disobedience.

Day 5/ week 8 (cont’d)
Read 2 Samuel 18: 19 – 33. Why do you think Ahimaaz ended up lying to David in verse 29 after he had been so anxious to carry the news?
A: He was afraid to tell the king that his son was dead. He wanted to share the good news with him, but he was not man enough to share everything.
What did David say when he realized Absalom was dead?
A: David wished he had died instead of Absalom 

Have a wonderful day!!
Love to you all,
Tiff