A Father's Love

 There can be no doubt that fathers have great love for their children. It is definitely different from a mother's love, but it just as strong. A father can be a strict disciplinarian, but that is a sign for how much he loves his children. Also, a father is quick to make sacrifices to see his children's needs met. All of this is done because of the kind of love that God put into fathers.

David had that kind of love for his son, Absalom, even though Absalom tried to take the kingdom away from his father. In the end Absalom was killed, and the word of his death came to David. (II Samuel 18:33) "Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said thus, "O my son Absalom - my son, my son Absalom - if only I had died in your place, O Absalom my son, my son." That is a picture of a father's love.

David loved Absalom even though he had brought him much grief. He had killed one of his half-brothers. He had conspired to win the hearts of the people away from his father by how he judged the people in the gate of Jerusalem. Then, he had led a rebellion and set himself up as king to usurp the authority of his father. Still David loved his son so much that he would have been willing to die in his place. Does that make sense?

Yes, it does make sense because that is what our Heavenly Father did for us because of His fatherly love for all of us. We have all rebelled against God in some way. We have conspired to get our own way, instead of listening to God. Even though our sins were many, God took on human flesh so He could die in our place, and we could have eternal life. That kind of love is planted in the hearts of earthly fathers because we are made in the image of God. 

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Tomorrow, I intend to read II Samuel 19-21.