Thursday August 6th, 2015 2 Samuel 18:5-9,15,31-33
"Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!" (verse 33)
I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have a child die, especially in such a violent way. What I can imagine is that the words of David recorded in 2 Samuel don’t even come close to describing his pain.
From the outside, some of us might even think that Absalom got what he deserved. He was spoiled and acted out. He killed his brother. He led a revolt against his father and tried to take over the throne of Israel in a coup.
But to a parent, none of that matters. All that David felt was loss. If David could have died for his son, or taken away Absalom’s betrayal, or traded places with him, he would have.Love like that doesn’t care about what’s deserved or fitting. It only tries to make things right. But even a king’s love has limits.
Only God’s love can look past our sin, betrayal and death to give us forgiveness and new life. God doesn’t just wish for death instead of us, God did die on a cross instead of us out of love.
God of forgiveness and life, give us grateful and loving hearts because of the forgiveness and new life you have given us through Christ. Amen. — JZ
Contributed by Trading Places
I can't even imagine what it would be like to have a child die, especially in such a violent way. What I can imagine is that the words of David recorded in 2 Samuel don't even come close to describing his pain.
From the outside, some of us might even think that Absalom got what he deserved. He was spoiled and acted out. He killed his brother. He led a revolt against his father and tried to take over the throne of Israel in a coup.
But to a parent, none of that matters. All that David felt was loss. If David could have died for his son, or taken away Absalom's betrayal, or traded places with him, he would have.Love like that doesn't care about what's deserved or fitting. It only tries to make things right. But even a king's love has limits.
Only God's love can look past our sin, betrayal and death to give us forgiveness and new life. God doesn't just wish for death instead of us, God did die on a cross instead of us out of love.
