2 Samuel 17 & 18: The Heart Of A Lion
Verse of the Day: (17:10) And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.

1. Heart (17:1-29)
And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father. (17:23)

Ahithophel, David’s former counsellor, was an unfaithful and wicked man as he advised Absalom, David’s son, to sleep with his father’s concubines so as to mock him, and then suggested that he would lead 12,000 men to seek David’s life. However Hushai counselled Absalom that he should lead his own army as David had the heart of a lion, and would not be easily defeated. Hushai’s advice was really to buy time so that David would get a tip-off from him. Absalom and Israel then chose Hushai’s counsel and the proud Ahithophel felt humiliated, and set his house in order, before he hanged himself. Indeed, let us humble ourselves, and seek only after God’s holy heart. (Jeremiah 17:9-10) 
  
2. Heaven (18:1-18)
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away. (18:9)

Though David commanded his 3 generals to spare Absalom, his son, yet Absalom ordered his men to kill his father. David’s men defeated Absalom’s men, and as Absalom tried to escape, his head was caught by a branch, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth. Joab was informed of Absalom’s predicament, and instead of rescuing him, he killed him. Subsequently, God judged and punished Joab and his descendants for their rebellion, while He blessed David and his descendants for their obedience. (1 Kings 2:33) 

3. Hurt (18:19-33)
And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. (18:32)

Though the deepest hurt of a father is when he witnesses his child’s death, yet the greatest comfort is to know that he is in heaven if he believes in Christ. When David heard that Absalom was dead, he cried to God that he should be the one to die. Though Absalom was rebellious, yet David loved him because he was his flesh and blood. Let us ask God for wisdom that we train our children in His Word to serve Him. (Proverbs 22:6)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to have the heart of a lion to do Your perfect will.