A Father's Love
Fathers have a special love for their children. I know that it is much different from the tender love of a mother, but it is just as strong when the father is a believer. A father wants what is best for his children. He prays for them, and he tries to lead them to be successful in life by encouraging them to work hard and to live right. When things go wrong, it strikes the heart of the father very deeply. Often, he feels like it was his fault even if it wasn't.
David was the father of many children. Evidently, he loved all of them very much. When Absalom tried to take the kingdom from him in battle, David asked his commanders to go easy on Absalom. However, Joab went against David's request and killed his son. (II Samuel 18:33) The king was overcome with emotion when he heard the news. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. As he went, he cried, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom. If only I had died instead of you. O Absalom, my son, my son."
Losing a child is one of the hardest things a parent ever has to face. It causes great grief because they love them so much, and they want them to have a healthy, prosperous life. It can take a long time for a father and a mother to work through this pain with the Lord's help, but God is good to walk with them through it. This just shows the deep bonds of love between a father and a son that even when the son is rebellious and dies, the father grieves over his son. He even wishes he could have died instead of his son.
I believe this shows us a little glimpse into the love of the Father for us. He loves us so much, even though we are so sinful and rebellious. He didn't want us to have to die in our sins and suffer forever, so He came in the Person of Jesus Christ, the God/Man to die in our place. Of course, the Father loved His Son, as well, so we need to try to feel the anguish and pain God felt when His Son died such a cruel death for us. Then, we need to be thankful for the Father's love that would give so much for our salvation.
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Tomorrow, I intend to read II Samuel 19-23.