Hey, friends, due to the nature and content of today's episode, we'd recommend you listen by yourself first and then decide if you'd like to listen with your kids.

Everybody, what is going on? You know what time it is. You're listening to join the Journey podcast with your host, Emma, daughter.

Thanks for joining. Today, we are reading 2nd Samuel 14 through 17. But before we jump in, I have a quick

announcement as we are quickly approaching our 100th day of reading the Bible together this

year. And on Friday, April 25th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., we're going to celebrate. So this is a

casual come-and-go event. It's going to be out by the pond here at Watermark, North Dallas. And you can bring your kids, your roommates, your coworkers. We're going to have field games, a bounce house, and popsicles to hang out, connect with other families or friends who've been reading the Bible together this year. And it's going to be a blast. So we want to see you there. But all of that said, I am in the podcast

studio with faithful watermark member, Sierra Sanchez. Hey, guys, so glad to be here. Glad to have

you back, Sierra. I know. I love being on the podcast. It's always a joy. We got a heavy text

today. So we're just going to jump right in. Would you give us just a high level overview of

where are we in the story and who are these people that we're reading about? Yeah, so a few of the

people that we have kind of read about today is first and foremost King David. And so he has a son

named Absalom. And then he has a wise counselor

that he goes to for all of the counsel that he might need. And his name is Ahithafel. And what you need

to know about Ahithafel, he later betrays David. And he actually helps aid Absalom, David's son,

in just a rebellion to overthrow King David's kingship.

And so he's desiring to take over, Absalom's desiring to take over for his father to seek him out, to kill him, to destroy everything that the Lord has built in David's life.

And so it's just a really sad story because there's so much that has gone on in this family,

in the destruction that has continued to be carried out through this line.

And yet, in the middle of all of this, the Lord prevails.

And the Lord just guides, and even after Ahithafel has given this counsel to Absalom to get these men to go and overtake his father, David, he doesn't listen to him.

He eventually listens to another advisor that King David had sent, Hachai.

And through that, it leads us to this place where now Absalom is no longer listening to this wise

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