2 Sam 018 Broken Teeth

According to the title of Psalm 3, the substance of that psalm was inspired by the Spirit of God while David was fleeing from Absalom and therefore we can say that it provides an inspired commentary on David's thinking and actions recorded in 2 Samuel 15-18. The confidence of David expressed in Psalm 3 is a point of marked difference between the two portions of scripture; however when 2 Samuel 18 is read with an eye toward Psalm 3, David's confidence in the Lord seems to be what directs David in the Samuel narrative. As David sends his men out to battle in 18:1-5, he sends them out with the full expectation that they will beat down the forces of Absalom, even taking him captive. While that confident expectation was fulfilled in the subsequent battle, the confidence of David turned to deep sorrow and mourning as he received the news of Absalom's death. It turns out that while the victory of David's forces over Absalom meant broken teeth for the rebellion and coup, it also meant broken teeth for David as he mourned the loss of his rebellious son.