And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” (II Samuel 18:5 ESV)
Rebellion and Love
Absalom was a rebel against David, his father.
Repeatedly. Read the story (found in II Samuel chapters 13 through 19) and you will see a man was that forgiven many times, and yet continued to rebel against his father.
And yearning for his son’s repentance, David gives Absalom chances and opportunities galore. And shockingly, in the end, when Absalom’s rebellion had reached its final stages, David still loves him.
“Deal gently with him…” he begs the soldiers tasked with ending the rebellion once and for all.
Even at the end… David loves his son, Absalom. Rebel and all.
And remember. God calls David a man after His own heart. (I Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22)
We are more like Absalom than we like to think.
And God is like David.
When that knowledge drives you to repentance and renewal and revival and re-vivification of your relationship with Christ, then heaven rejoices! This is what David hoped for in Absalom.
But when your awareness of your rebellion leads you to panic, insecurity, worry, and unholy fear… then remember how God gives love as the solution to rebellion.
Your rebellion.
The solution is not simply sorrow for your sin… it is sorrow and hope in Christ. The solution is not simply aversion to your actions… it is aversion and faith in Christ. The solution is not simply hatred of the Old Man still in you (Romans 6:6)… it is loving the Son of God, and being loved by the Redeemer, Christ Jesus.
We Absaloms of the world… take comfort in what the first Absalom never did… the love of our Father.
Take the love God gives.