David’s mourning for his son, Absalom, threatened the unity of Israel. His soldiers and the citizens of Jerusalem heard about David’s profound grief, but didn’t understand how David could mourn the death of their enemy.
The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Samuel 19:4).
Joab had been David’s general for many years. He possibly understood David’s volatile personality better than anyone, and knew he must confront the king’s behavior.
Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your officers who have saved your life today, and the lives of your sons and your daughters, and the lives of your wives and your concubines, for love of those who hate you and for hatred of those who love you.
You have made it clear today that commanders and officers are nothing to you, for I perceive that, if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased” (2 Samuel 19:5-6).
Joab’s logic was sound. Absalom’s coup had thrown the nation in disarray. Soldiers had lost their lives in the defeat of Absalom’s army. David’s mourning for the nation’s enemy was disconcerting, to say the least.
David knew his task, spurred on by his general’s wise advice.
So go out at once and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than any disaster that has come upon you from your youth until now.”
Then the king got up and took his seat in the gate. The troops were all told, “See, the king is sitting in the gate,” and all the troops came before the king (2 Samuel 19:7-8).
God’s Love for His Enemies
As I read about David’s grief over his enemy-son, I think about God’s love for His enemies. In a sense, God took the side of His enemies and against His Son, so He could forgive His enemies and turn them into friends.
Paul understood this fact both personally and theologically.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die.
But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
Much more surely, therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God.
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.
But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation (Romans 5:6-11).
What is our situation before God?
- Weak
- Ungodly
- Sinners
- Enemies
What is God’s action on behalf of us?
- Christ, the Son of God, died for us.
- We are justified by the blood of God’s Beloved Son.
- Jesus was the Father’s gift to save us from the consequences of our sins.
- We are transformed from enemies to friends through the death of God’s Son.
It was divisive for David to continue to mourn in public for Absalom. When it came to God’s own Son, He used the cross to defeat His enemies. He did so by making them His friends.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 