COMMENTARY

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
David's rebellious son, Absalom, sought to gain the kingship from his father. He gathered an army to fight David's servants. David divided his army into three sections with a general over each. As they left to fight Absolom, David commanded his generals to deal gently with his son. David's army took Absalom and his men by surprise. They fled through a forest-jungle where many were exhausted from the struggle with the thick underbrush, and some fell in pitfalls. Absalom, in his fight, ran his head into a fork of a low-hanging branch. His mule kept going and he was hanging by his neck. Joab thrust three spears into his heart and he died.

Epistle: Ephesians 4:25--5:2
Paul continues in this pericope to give ethical directions. The Holy Sp…