David and Joab have entirely differing viewpoints on the outcome of the battle.

Click here for our sermon discussion questions or see them listed below. We highly encourage you to listen, think, and talk about the sermon. These are questions you can reflect on yourself, with your family, or with your small group.  

Discussion Questions

1. How would you explain David’s overwhelming grief over the death of Absalom - his son who not only tried to depose him as king but also sought to kill him?  How would David’s understanding of eternity as well as his own guilt contribute to his debilitating sorrow?

2. When was the last time you sat and wept over the reality that those who do not turn from their sin and turn towards Jesus Christ will perish forever?  How should this impact your relationships with unbelievers?

3. Joab has a completely different response to Absalom’s death than David.  Joab, the effective, pragmatic, battle hardened warrior was more than willing to take Absalom's life, in order to bring peace to the nation. In your opinion, was Joab right in killing Absalom for the sake of Israel? 

4. As a Christian, do you find yourself so focused on the reality of a future hope in heaven that you lose touch with the pain and sorrow of this present life?  Or are you a Christian who is so absorbed with social causes and movements, that you’ve lost sight of humanity’s ultimate end?  How can you balance keeping an eternal perspective on life while at the same time continuing to love your neighbor and weeping with those who weep?  

5. Our country and many other countries around the world are struggling with injustice, hatred, division, riots, and fear.  How does it help you as a Christian to know that in spite of the fact that God sees and understands all of this turmoil (with much more clarity than you do), John 3:16 still rings true?