Archive for month: December, 2024

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Samuel 15:17-37.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 

2 Samuel 15:17-37 (NIV)
17  So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at a place some distance away.
18  All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.
19  The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland.

On verses 17-37:  In verse 30 we see David, in response to his betrayal by Absalom, going up the Mount of Olives weeping, with David’s most devoted followers in tow and weeping as well.  I can’t help but think forward to when Jesus the Son of David, in response to his impending betrayal by Judas, would go up the Mount of Olives, weeping in one of its gardens, with his followers in tow.  In both David’s case and Jesus’ case, we have a king who has voluntarily left their throne to be rejected and exiled.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Samuel 14:21-33.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 

2 Samuel 14:23-33 (NIV)
23  Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.
24  But the king said, “He must go to his own house; he must not see my face.” So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the face of the king.
25  In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.

On verses 23-33:  After some dramatic persuasion orchestrated by Joab, King David finally agrees to bring his son Absalom back from exile.  But although Absalom is now back living in Jerusalem, King David insists that Absalom must not see his face (v24).  So Absalom lives two years in Jerusalem without seeing David’s face, on top of the 3 years he was exiled in Geshur.  That’s 5 years without seeing his dad’s face or hearing his dad’s voice. 

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Samuel 13:23-39.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

2 Samuel 13:23-35 (NIV)
23  Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons to come there.
24  Absalom went to the king and said, “Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his officials please join me?”
25  “No, my son,” the king replied. “All of us should not go; we would only be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he still refused to go, but gave him his blessing.
26  Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us.” The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?”

On verses 23-35:  Sometimes you’ll hear people say, “Time heals all wounds.”  It doesn’t.  We see that in Absalom’s case.  Two years had passed since Amnon raped Absalom’s sister Tamar.  During those two years, Absalom’s bitterness toward Amnon did not subside; rather Absalom held onto the grudge which eventually led him to mastermind Amnon’s murder.