God had determined the exact place of this battle, as He does all of our battles. There is always a reason why you and I face struggles at a particular place and time; God has plans that we don’t know about, and as we look to Him we watch Him employ supernatural means to give us the victory. “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
As we will see in this story, the battle took place in a forest, for a reason:
2 Samuel 18:9 (NIV) Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s hair got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going.
Absalom’s hair, which had previously been his pride, now became his downfall, as it got caught in a tree. God had orchestrated this battle, where it took place (the forest), and now had caught Absalom by his pride and left him hanging. Here’s what happened next:
2 Samuel 18:14 (NIV) Joab...took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree.
So there was Absalom, the king’s son (and the king’s enemy), hanging in a tree with spears plunged into his heart, and he subsequently died (2 Samuel 18:15 NIV) right there in the tree.
Friend, God has ways to fight for you, to bring you the victory supernaturally as you walk with Him and look to Him. As you rise in the morning, look to the Lord in His Word. Read it and pray it back to Him, looking to Him to give you plans for victory that day. He sent Jesus to die on the tree for you; He will give you the victory through the Lord Jesus Christ. Your enemies of porn and sexual impurity will be defeated when you follow the battle plan that God gives you!
Question 5. How was this battle won supernaturally; that is, how do we know that the Lord won this battle for David?
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As we close this lesson today, consider the outcome of this battle:
Four times in this passage, the phrase “good news” is connected with the man, Absalom, hanging in the tree, with spears in his heart:
As David saw a runner coming toward him to convey Absalom’s death, David said, “he must have good news” (2 Samuel 18:25 NIV).
As David saw a second runner coming toward him, he said, “He must be bringing good news, too” (2 Samuel 18:26 NIV).
As a watchman told David the name of one of the runners, David said, “He’s a good man,” ... “He comes with good news” (2 Samuel 18:27 NIV).
As the runner came to David, he said, “My Lord the king, hear the good news! The Lord has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you” (2 Samuel 18:31 NIV).