May 15

II Samuel 16-20 We are in the Nation Stream today and will discover what happens to the battle between King David and Prince Absalom. We are reading from the Common English Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis <blockquote> <div>Lord, you preserved David through these difficult years, and we are comforted by your preservation of the King.  We also gain reassurance knowing that you do the same for us.  Amen.</div> </blockquote> <p>We are in the heart of David's troublesome years. I think the Absalom factor cut David the deepest. Absalom was not in line for the throne, though there may have been generational priority over Solomon. I mean, really, Solomon was the son of Bathsheba - a wife obtained through illicit processes but... Be that as it may, David's affections for his womEn [plural] had created a sequence of events that birthed chaos and pained David the rest of his days.  So here we are in the thick of the skirmish caused by his "pretty-boy" son who felt he deserved even more than was due him.  A strong motif today is seen in how David treats each and every-one.</p> <div>16 - The revelation of loyalties v.s. disaffections, the treachery and the intrigue of today's reading unfolds as a very high stakes, life and death chess game. We never can tell what each person's next move is going to be.  David is still enroute fleeing Jerusalem -namely Absalom; his rebel son, when he encounters Mephibosheth's aid; Ziba. M- was Saul's grandson whom David was endeared to and took him in. David still honors them despite the national tension. Then Shimei appears. He was a relative of Saul's.  Shimei is a agitated soul and curses David. This was extremely foolish since David is guarded by warriors who could kill Shimei at any moment. Oddly enough David halts any possible retaliation and lets Shimei yap away. This seems to reveal that DAvid is still feeling guilty --> Seriously, the king being treated this way (and musing about it being God's doing) jus