PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: 2 Samuel 17-18
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“If only I had died instead of you — O Absalom, my son.” (2 Samuel 18:33)
Here we see the broken heart of a father for his son.
Though Absalom would have killed David, David grieves his death.
I sense the broken heart of God for his children as well.
We see this in Jesus, who grieves for God’s wayward children.
“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (John 1:11)
“How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37)
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
In Jesus’s case, he does choose to die instead, for God’s children.
David is a flawed king, yet he points us ahead to Jesus.
Jesus, son of David, also betrayed… he does not send out an army.
He goes himself, facing death at the hands of his betrayer.
And love wins, overcoming evil, defeating sin and death, restoring life!
I am thankful that Jesus died instead of me, so that I can live with him!
PRAYER
Lord, our world is filled with broken hearts and lives. Thank you for being broken for us, so that we would not die but live!
“For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.” What a mess. What a civil war with so many Israelites killed! the curse of sin and the mess it makes. David had hoped for a different outcome for Absalom even though he was the conspirator. But it was not the Lord’s plan. How often is that not the case in our lives too! Men’s plans are limited – our insights are often selfish and self driven – like they were for Absalom. Lord help me to see that and seek your counsel – through your HS!
Whose voice do I listen to?
David did not desire his son to be killed in the fight.
I am the son of the King Who saved me by the sacrifice of His Son. I am safe in His presence to live for Him. May Your Spirit lead me and guide me daily as I live in thankfulness serving Him. That’s the ony way to live – to live for Jesus.
Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
Refrain:
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.