2 Samuel 18:28-33: a reflection

28Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, “All is well.” He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, “Blessed is the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king!” 29The king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, even me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I don’t know what it was.” 30The king said, “Come and stand here.” He came and stood still. 31Behold, the Cushite came. The Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king, for the LORD has avenged you today of all those who rose up against you.” 32The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you to do you harm, be as that young man is.” 33The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”

David's son Absalom had rebelled against him, raised an army, and sought his father's life and throne. Now word comes that the rebellion is crushed and Absalom is dead. It should be a victory; David's kingdom is saved, his enemy defeated. But David does not rejoice. When he hears that Absalom is dead, he is overcome with grief, and goes up weeping, crying out, O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!

Notice the depth of David's grief for a son who had wronged him. Absalom had betrayed him, turned against him, sought to kill him; and yet David's love for him was not extinguished by his rebellion. He grieves not with the satisfaction of a victor over a defeated enemy, but with the anguish of a father over a lost son, even wishing he could have died in Absalom's place. His love outlasted his son's rebellion.

That grief is a faint picture of a greater love. David wished he could have died in the place of his rebellious son, but could not; God the Father gave his Son to die in the place of rebels like us. David's love for a son who had turned against him shows something of the love God has even for those in rebellion against him, a love that grieves over the lost and gives everything to save them. If a human father could love a rebellious son so deeply, how much more does God love us, even in our rebellion, and give his Son to die in our place. Rest in a love that outlasts our rebellion, the love of the Father who did what David only wished he could: gave his Son to die that rebels might live.

Lord, though Absalom had rebelled against his father and sought his life, David did not rejoice at his death but grieved with a father's anguish, crying, would I had died instead of you, my son. Thank you that his grief is a faint picture of a greater love. David wished he could die in the place of his rebellious son but could not; you, the Father, gave your Son to die in the place of rebels like me. David's love for a son who had turned against him shows something of your love even for those in rebellion against you, a love that grieves over the lost and gives everything to save them. If a human father could love a rebellious son so deeply, how much more do you love me, even in my rebellion, and give your Son to die in my place. Help me rest in a love that outlasts my rebellion, the love of the Father who did what David only wished he could, and gave his Son that rebels might live. Thank you for so great a love.