David and Absalom: God and Us

I've been reading though 1st and 2nd Samuel and I noticed some things in those passages that I'd like to point out to you.

In 2 Samuel 14 and 15:1-12, we see that Absalom, David’s son, rebels against his father. This is us. We as princes and princesses of the king, but we want more. We want to be ruler. Like Absalom, we people to follow us instead of God. We lead a rebellion against God every time we sin. And we plan things out. We have our followers and our warriors. Sin is saying that your God. The rest of chapter 15 of 2 Samuel 15 is about David running away from Absalom. God doesn’t run away from us, but when we have as big a rebellion as Absalom did, we ignore God and so, God doesn’t flee, it’s more like we flee. We get out of God’s holy presence and grab out warriors. Then we fight. In 2 Samuel 18, Absalom fights.

How much of a fight do we put up? That’s our choice. David wanted his son to come back and return home, but Absalom didn’t. He was so determined to take his father’s place that he died. David mourned his son’s death, even though he died rebellious.

If only I had died instead of you-O Absalom, my son, my son!”

2 Samuel 18:33b

I picture God mourning over the loss of all his children, and then Jesus sees his broken hearted father and say “I will.” I see Jesus saying “I will die instead of you…” Then you fill in the blanks “O _____, my sister/brother my sister/brother!” I’m kind of iffy on if it would be “sister/brother” or “son/daughter” speaking in earthly terms, it would be sister/brother because Jesus is God’s son and we are God’s adopted children.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Romans 8:26

But the groaning language system might work a bit differently. I’m getting a bit off track, though.

So back to the original topic, I thought that David must really love his son after Absalom tried to kill him and all. Then, David was very distressed that Absalom was dead and he mourned a lot.

Just like God mourns a lot when one person rejects him and burns up in hell. We all are Absalom at one point, but as Christian we at least say we’re sorry for attempted murder. That makes us all good, right? (I’ll come back to that question in a bit). So God mourns for every soul maybe a wishes he could burn up for them. God even postpones Jesus’ second coming until everyone has had a chance to become a Christian.

We all are Absalom at one point, but as Christian we at least say we’re sorry for attempted murder. That makes us all good, right? In a way, yes…but Absalom shows through every day. And we need to be forgiven daily of our sins.

Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.

Luke 12:23-24;27-29

But God cares for us by giving us what we need and we all need forgiveness. We all need to forgive too (that’s something I’m still working on). God will give us what we need, but forgiveness comes when we ask for it, so make sure you ask God for forgiveness, and don’t expect it to come whenever you want it to.