It was told Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” (II Samuel 19:1,2 ESV)
Children
David was called a man after God’s heart. (I Samuel 13:14) And while we often look for signs of that heart when considering the life of King David, we see it here perhaps most clearly.
Absalom was hateful towards David. Absalom tried to have David killed. Absalom was a political, familial, and emotional rebel. Absalom took and took and took from David, taking advantage of David repeatedly. Absalom hated David.
But David did not seek revenge. In fact, while most of the nation rejoiced at the rebel Absalom’s violent end, David grieved. David wept. David mourned.
And in the story of this event, we are Absalom, and God is David.
When we rebel, and suffer the consequences, God grieves.
When we take advantage of God and suffer the consequences, God grieves.
When we laugh at God, scoff at God, ignore God, disobey God, rewrite God in our image, mistrust God, put God on the sideline or in our pocket, God should and could join all of Israel in rejoicing when we fall.
But instead, He sent Jesus Christ to die in our place.
Instead, He once again chooses to accept Christ’s sacrifice as our own.
Instead, He once again chooses to accept Christ’s punishment as our own.
Instead, He once again chooses to accept Christ’s death on a tree, like Absalom’s, as our own.
David’s heart was like God’s because David was compassionate towards a rebel, unconditionally loving towards His children, merciful and gracious to those of His people who oppose Him.
That’s some amazing grace.
We are peculiar, we are like Absalom and God like David.