8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Phil 4:8 (KJV)
This is a fairly well known verse that deals with not dwelling on things that are, in a general term, bad. If God didn't want us to think of bad things, why did He put seemingly useless bad things in His Bible? 2nd Samuel 16:20-22 seems to not have a point except for showing how wicked Absalom is. Surely we get the idea that he was really bad because of the way he overthrew his father's kingdom and tried to kill him; is there a different point of this passage?