Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: II Samuel 16-18
II Samuel 18:33
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
Yes, Absalom was a traitorous son, he tried to steal the throne of his father, and if given the chance would have killed his dad. But he was David’s son. As any loving father would, the king (David), mourned the death of his son. It is not natural, given any circumstance, that a parent should bury one of their children. It is a hardship for which no one is prepared. It is one thing for a child to bury their parents, after all, parents grow old, become frail, and ill. Sooner or later time catches up to all, everyone knows this, it is the natural span of life and the ultimate event called death. Children are prepared for the loss of their parents, but parents are not prepared for the loss of a child.
No matter the damage done to David by Absalom, David mourned his death. This is reminiscent of Saul and David. Saul desired to kill David, but David so much as did not lift up a hand, or a tongue, against Saul, his king. This reminds one of the natural man and the spiritual man. The natural only looks to self and winning, and will do anything for those two imposters. While the spiritual man looks to benefit others. Words like service, faithfulness, loyalty, and sacrifice are only used by the natural person in regards to others. While a spiritual person takes those words on as a creed, a purpose for which to live.
Every person that is highlighted in the Bible had the same opportunity to make the same decisions every person alive today faces. Which is, “Will I live for others, or will I live for myself?” No doubt these two juxtaposed positions overlap in every life, but the preponderance of the evidence of a life will reflect the overall choice each made. If a person chooses to live for others, it will be known. If they choose to live for themselves that will also be known. David lived for others, although he had his selfish moments too. Moses lived for others, like David he too suffered for his own wrongdoing. Joseph lived for others and suffered greatly for it. Daniel did too. Paul did, Peter did, John did, Stephen the first deacon did, Mary too. Each of these and so many more that are probably, universally, remembered with great respect and honor prove that perhaps it is worth it all, this thing of living for others!
When we get to Heaven, let’s ask them. Then let us find Jesus Christ, the Lord, the Son of the Living God, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Lamb of God… let’s find Him and ask Him if living for others was worth it. Anyone that knows Him will already know the answer. Yes, living for others is worth it.
David was often misunderstood because most individuals think of self first and others last. David often turned this around. With Saul and Absalom at least, he thought of them first. No wonder he is the only person in Scripture wherein it is recorded that he was a man after God’s own heart.
Dr. William T. Howe
Comments