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Primary TuesdayTuesday, February 5, 2008
2 Samuel 18:9-19:3 He hung between heaven and earth while the mule he had been riding ran off. Someone saw this and reported to David's General Joab ... who, taking three pikes in hand, thrust for the heart of Absalom, still hanging from the tree alive. Now David was sitting between the two gates, and ... a messenger came in and said, "Let my lord the king receive the good news that this day the LORD has taken your part, freeing you from the grasp of all who rebelled against you." But the king asked him, "Is young Absalom safe?" The messenger replied, "May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rebel against you with evil intent be as that young man!" The king was shaken, and went up to the room over the city gate to weep. He said as he wept, "My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!"
Joab was told that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom, and that day's victory was turned into mourning for the whole army when they heard that the king was grieving for his son.
But for David, the battle was always between armies, never between him and his son. He must have learned the nature of unconditional love from God after committing his own deadly sins with Bathsheba and her husband seven chapters earlier. His son had many faults, but so did he. God loved him all day and into the night, and he would do the same for Absalom. Civil war tears at the deepest ties we have with one another. Ideas take hold of our throats. Friends claim us for their side. Conflicting loyalties clash and crush us in their grip. Self-righteousness infects everyone. So there was no peace for David and his family. War and hatred slithered in through the castle drains. In his older age David wanted to enjoy his children, but Absalom turned him away. When Absalom was swallowed by the battle, David could only groan and weep without consolation. His son was lost. Show me your unfailing love, Lord. Make my heart soft toward your love, and let me give it away. |
One of the saddest stories in the Bible. David loves his son, but his empire-building comes between them. Perhaps Absalom was born with an ambitious, selfish nature ... maybe he just wanted to be like his father. Maybe his father was too busy with affairs of state and Absalom wanted to get his attention. Absalom's love for David somehow became hatred, and he built an army to bring battle to his father's house.