"The Bible does not put halos over anyone’s head. David was a man after God’s heart but as a husband and father he was nothing short of a failure. In 2 Samuel 18 we see the end result of a very sad story. We see a pathetic lament of a broken hearted father full of guilt and shame for his negligence toward his son now dead. What regret are in these words!
2 Samuel 18:33 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 I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
I can write two words over this verse: TOO LATE. David was now willing to die for his dead son. It was too late. He should really have said, 'would God I had lived consistently before thee; or taught of you of God’s love, or, communicated with thee?or, would God I had forgiven thee? or would God I had lived for thee!' David has deep regrets over his failed relationship with his son Absalom. May God give us wisdom to learn from David’s mistakes so we do not have to lament with such hopeless regret concerning the relationships we have in our lives.
This passage tells us of a father-son relationship between David and Absalom. Absalom means father of peace but his life was one of bitterness. Absalom was the son of a foreign princess from Geshur. As a boy growing up, maybe he was the envy of his peers; the heart throb of every girl. He was a hunk without a blemish. No pimples graced his face. He was popular, handsome, rich, and famous. His hair was heavy, too. In spite of all this, Absalom went to an early grave. Why? He could not get along with his father. His heart was unforgiving and rebellious toward his permissive dad.
What relationships are you living to regret?"
- notes courtesy of Matt Recker, Pastor,
Heritage Baptist Church, New York City, NY
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