David’s love for his son

“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!” – 2 Samuel 18v33

The study of David is an amazing character study. We see his human weakness, but we also see some prevailing attitudes that permeate his life. One of those, after the situation with Nabal, was his ability to overlook the attacks and violence of others against him.

Absalom’s rebellion just kept growing. Civil war had broken out and Absalom turned the hearts of Israel against David. Absalom and his army were in open warfare with David and his men, but suddenly Absalom was killed in battle. Joab saw him hanging by his hair from a tree and killed him with his arrows.

A messenger ran to David with what he assumed would be good news. When he told David that his enemy Absalom was dead David, instead of rejoicing, mourned at the death of his son. He was not an enemy, but his own child.
David had the ability to trust God in the face of his enemies. This only comes when we trust God completely with the results and learn to take our hands of f of difficult circumstance and human opposition.