683. 2SA 18:33. DAVID’S LAMENTATION OVER ABSALOM

2Sa_18:33. David’s Lamentation Over Absalom

"And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom! my son, my son Absalom! would God that I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!"’972Sa_18:33.

No life could probably be more checkered than that of David. Light and shade’97joy and sorrow’97prosperity and affliction’97peace and war, were alternately in his career’97from his youth up to his dying hour.

His trials were very numerous, and most distressing. They were personal, domestic, and national. They related to his soul, his kingdom, and to the cause of God. He had to contend with Philistines’97with Saul’97with national dissensions’97with treacherous friends, and with domestic rebellion. His heaviest trial, too, came on when he was advanced in years; and this, too, the severest of them all. It was the unnatural rebellion of his son Absalom. This rebellion began by the son insinuating the injustice of his father’s administrations; chap. 2Sa_15:4. He thus stole the hearts of the people, and at length he appeared in direct rebellion, and endeavored to chase his father from the throne, and to seize the kingdom. It was in this wicked conflict that Absalom perished: see chap. 2Sa_18:6. The afflictive event is thus described, in reference to David; 2Sa_18:24, to the text.

Let us look at the expressive grief of David,

I. As that of a father, over a deceased son. In the ordinary course of providence, we expect parents to die, and children to survive. Often, however, parents have to mourn the loss of their children. This is distressing, when they are in infancy; though then there are many consolatory considerations, by which the bitterness of grief may be allayed. But when they rise to maturity’97when they are likely to be distinguished in the world’97when intellectual and talented’97how increased is the sorrow.

Now, Absalom was all this. He was of extraordinary commanding appearance. He was evidently very dear, and much loved by the king; therefore, David’s grief was natural on the ground of parental affection. But,

II. Consider it as grief greatly heightened, by the suddenness and manner of his removal.

In ordinary cases, there is the gradual wasting of the system by disease’97the afflictive premonitions. Thus the mind is prepared’97the event looked for. But Absalom was removed suddenly: as well as usual early in the morning, gay, and lively, and inspirited; in the evening, a corpse,’97died too, by the hand of violence; 2Sa_18:9-14.

Here then were fresh elements of distress to the afflicted David.

But notice,

III. He died in a state of open rebellion to his noble and afflicted parent.

David had experienced a life of conflict and sorrow; and where should he have comfort, and joy, and solace, but in the bosom of his own family? Here he might have been expected to have had the hearty affection of his own children.

Rebellion is a heinous crime under any circumstance. It involves many in sin and peril. It is productive of the direst calamities. But rebellion against a good king’97the anointed of God; and that king a father. David’s generous spirit and delicate heart would feel all these things, and hence the bitterness of his grief.

IV. His son had died in a state of manifest unfitness for eternity.

This was the darkest feature of the whole history. If there were no hereafter’97no God to meet’97no judgment seat’97no retribution, then death, a few years earlier or later, would be as nothing; but after death, then the judgment,’97the solemn truth is, as the tree leans, it will fall; as it falls, it lies.

The death of the wicked is, therefore, the beginning of everlasting sorrows’97of eternal despair. The loss of Absalom’s affection was great’97the loss of his life great; but the loss of his soul the greatest calamity of all. David wept, as a parent over a deceased son,’97as a king, over a rebellious subject,’97as a saint, over a ruined soul. It was especially in the last sense, he might well exclaim, "Would God I had died in thy stead."

The subject is replete with great practical lessons.

Learn,’97

1. The doctrine of personal responsibility should teach us submission under the most distressing bereavements.

All souls are individually accountable to God. Parents have not to answer, in the stead of their children. Parents cannot impart grace. Life is in the hands of God. He will not only do right, but what is really best; therefore, to God should we bow, in submission to his will.

The subject should,

2. Lead parents to be devoutly concerned for the salvation of their children.

Means are ours, though results are not. Hence how important to treat our children as accountable, immortal beings. To labor for their spiritual welfare, by example, by teaching, by prayer, &c. To see to it, that they shall have no just cause to blame us, for their eternal ruin.

3. Let children here see the awful results of opposition to parental authority.

There is a tradition respecting what is referred to, 2Sa_18:18, that all passers-by continued to throw a stone on the heap, to testify their abhorrence of Absalom’s rebellion. There is no hope of rebellious wicked children. One of the greatest sins, is the base ungrateful conduct of children, to their parents. So great, that under the law, it was deemed a sin worthy of death. Let me press the subject on all young persons present. "Honor thy father," &c. Exo_20:12 : which is the first commandment with promise.

4. Let me now address all who are in a state of rebellion against Christ, the King of kings.

How base is this! How ruinous it must be! The end of rejecting Christ, is necessarily death’97eternal death! Who are guilty of this? Let me press repentance, and forsaking of the evil. Return to him by prayer, and penitential sorrow, and faith in his word and thus obtain mercy.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS