In 2 Samuel 18:26–29, imagine King David watching a messenger approach, desperately hoping to hear that his son is safe. Instead, the messenger arrives with words that paint a picture of victory but leave David standing in the dark about the heartbreaking reality, reminding us that a message can sound...

There are days we feel so empty, days we don’t want to look ahead, fearing the truth or the unknown. Days we cannot understand the wayward. We read this in 2 Samuel 18:22–25, where the anxiety of running out of excitement to share a notable message, one that also brings...

In 2 Samuel 18:19–21, after Absalom’s defeat, Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, eagerly offered to run and carry the news of victory to King David, declaring that the Lord had avenged him of his enemies. Joab firmly refused him that day, explaining that the king’s son was dead and that...

Absalom was left hanging between heaven and earth. King David, Absalom’s father, had given instructions to spare his life. No father wants his child or children to predecease him—even with Absalom’s rebellious heart. A father yearns for his child to walk in truth and unity, not separation. Absalom hung without...

Jesus determines our spiritual temperature—hot, cold, or lukewarm—not by looking at our feelings, intentions, or our heart. Jesus sees us as lukewarm by knowing our deeds. We would do well to judge our spiritual temperature the same way, by looking at our actions. When we fail to love the Lord...