Thursday, December 22, 2011

A King's Grief

Reflections on 2 Samuel 18:19-33
Use the frame on the left to read these Scriptures.

If only I had died instead of you-O Absalom, my son, my son!
-- King David, 2 Samuel 18:33 NIV

The agonized sobbing of David as he climbed the stairs to the room over the gateway to the city of Mahanaim is one of the most memorable scenes in the life of David. It evokes both pity for the man who had been a great warrior and king, and perhaps even contempt for his weakness and failure. Yet, in the scene, there remains a hint of the divine love that would characterize his son, Jesus.

INCONSOLABLE. The messengers brought the good news that David's enemies had been defeated, but when David understood that Absalom was dead, David's body trembled uncontrollably, and he left sobbing, "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom." His inconsolable grief stands in stark contrast to his reactions to both the death of Jonathan and the death of Bathsheba's first son. In the first case, he composed a tribute to his friend and taught the song to Israel, and in the second case, he rose from his mourning, washed himself, worshiped the Lord, and ate. Why was David so inconsolable in this case?

ALIENATED. David grieved because he had alienated his son. David had not provided justice for Absalom's sister, Tamar, when Amnon raped her. After Absalom avenged the rape of his sister by murdering Amnon, he fled to Geshur where he lived in exile for 3 years (2 Samuel 13:38). David eventually recalled Absalom from exile, but he still refused to see Absalom for two more years (2 Samuel 14:28). Absalom finally forced an audience with David (2 Samuel 14:33), and David kissed him, but the effort was too little and too late. Absalom's resentment continued to grow. David had not treated either him or his sister fairly. Absalom felt he was more capable of providing justice than David (2 Samuel 15:4). Alienation led to resentment and rebellion, and rebellion had led to death. Death cut off the possibility of reconciliation forever. David mourned for this reason.

UNRECONCILED. Reconciliation escaped David because he learned the depth of reconciling love too late. His love was too shallow to make him willing, even eager, to forgive in order to achieve reconciliation. Recalling Absalom from exile yet refusing to see him did not communicate that willingness. Furthermore, his love was too shallow to seek forgiveness by confessing his own offense. David had not confessed his own failure to punish Amnon for raping Tamar, and his failure remained a hindrance to reconciliation. But now, too late, he understood that he desired reconciliation so much that he would have been willing to die in Absalom's place. "If only I had died instead of you-O Absalom, my son, my son!"

No comments:

Post a Comment