Bad Times

2 Samuel 19-21

Monday, April 6, 2026 l Pete Rigali

Where do we go for wisdom? For me, it brings back summers at my grandparents’ house—simple moments shaped by quiet truth.

Reading 2 Samuel, I’m struck by David’s emotional weight. He is mourning a son who betrayed him. Absalom’s rebellion forces David into an unthinkable place—a father facing the loss of the one he loves. It’s hard not to see a reflection of the grief God feels when His own creation turns against Him.

David’s world is unraveling. Betrayal, division, and criticism surround him. Joab confronts him. Sheba rises in rebellion. The kingdom feels fragile, and the consequences of David’s past sins seem to press in from every side. The shepherd boy, now a weary king, carries a crushing burden.

Yet David keeps going.

He still leads. He still seeks the Lord. During a three-year famine, he pursues God’s direction, even when it leads to difficult and costly decisions. And in the middle of judgment, grace appears—Mephibosheth is spared. A reminder that mercy still has a place in the story.

Even in the chaos, God reminds David: I chose you.

As the chapter closes, descendants of Goliath fall—echoes of past victories, proof that God’s faithfulness has not changed.

Like David, we all face moments that feel overwhelming—some caused by others, some by ourselves. It’s easy to forget what God has already done.

But the truth remains: Goliath is still defeated. And we, like Mephibosheth, are recipients of undeserved grace—safe in the care of the King.

So let’s live like David—fixing our eyes not on failure, but on God’s faithfulness, fully revealed in Jesus.