By the middle of 2 Samuel the reign of King David appears to have reached its height of success with Israel’s enemies defeated and a major empire established. From that point on, however, this starts to unravel as David’s adultery with Bathsheba initiates a series of events which bring more and more disaster upon his kingdom. During this series we will conclude our study of 2 Samuel by looking at the rebellion of David’s son Absalom and the further misfortunes that befell Israel during the reign of her greatest king. As we study these stories, we’ll seek to understand more of the way in which, with all their bloodshed, folly and treachery, the events they record nonetheless formed part of building for the arrival for ‘Great David’s greater son’ in Jesus Christ.
