0207. His Broken-Hearted Father

His Broken-Hearted Father

"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 I Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!" (2Sa_18:33).

No matter how sinful Absalom had been, David loved him. David loved him unto death. He felt keenly every step of Absalom’s downfall. Perhaps, he felt that he was, in part, to blame for his son’s sins.

The people blamed David for weeping over Absalom’s untimely death. They saw in Absalom a traitor, and such he was. David knew this,–and yet, Absalom was David’s son, as well as the one who had sought to take David’s kingdom.

Illustration: The story is told of a father who had a wicked son. "The old man had often prayed and wrestled with God on his behalf. But he became worse and worse. Never did the father close his doors against him. One day one of the father’s neighbors addressed him with considerable severity, saying, ‘Why harbor that reprobate son of yours? Why don’t you turn him out of doors and banish him from your house?’ ‘Ay, ay,’ said the aged saint, his grey locks trembling with emotion, ‘you can all turn him out of doors but his own father.’"

David’s armies were victorious, the kingdom was saved, and yet David mourned.

Illustration: A story is told that may help us to understand the heart of David in this sad hour.

"A general whose troops won the battle in a hotly contested conflict was called after the victory that the praise and reward worthily his might be given. But he could not be found. After a long search his staff officers finally located the general in his tent, with his arms folded in utter dejection. The officers congratulated him upon the brilliant work done under his leadership, adding: ‘The commanding general wants to see you at once. He is waiting to give you your brevet and promotion. We are all proud of you today.’

"’Oh, no,’ said the poor general, ‘don’t congratulate me. I can’t bear it. Tell the commanding general that I cannot come. Tell him that I care nothing for promotion.’

"The officers replied: ‘You should know we cannot go back with any such answer. You are all right. You haven’t even a scratch or a wound.’

"Then came the agonized reply: ‘Oh, I am wounded. I am mortally wounded. I am shot through the heart.’ Then he walked over to a corner of the tent, turned back a blanket and exposed the body of his only son, who rode with him through the battle and had been shot through the heart. For that father the shouts of victory seemed like mockery. His poor heart was broken and crushed in the death of his precious son."

Let those who sin stop and consider, not alone the end of sin, as far as it touches themselves, but the woes their sinning brings upon others.

No one can live to himself. If he will, he can gladden the hearts of his parents, or if he will, he can sadden and break them.

Illustration: I saw a mother weeping over her son as he died without Christ. She pled with me not to let him die, because he was not prepared to die. How she wept, and prayed and yet the young man died unconscious of the agony he had brought to his dearest friend.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR