From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Thu, Oct 20, 2022 at 4:54 AM
Subject: 10-20-22 THOUGHTS
10-20-22 THOUGHTS
David’s sin with Bathsheba resulted in all kinds of grief in consequence. A handsome son, Absalom, was the greatest source of that grief. David’s greatest love and David’s greatest grief came from the same source... Absalom. Many of David’s grief psalms spring from this son, who manipulated the Kingdom from David and sought to kill David on numerous occasions. David’s faithful warriors finally turned the tide and Absalom was killed. The reading below is most pitiful. Those who won his victory are stunned that David is sad about the death of his enemy (his son). David’s heart is an open sore and an internal hemorrhage. David is again Israel’s rightful king, and no one seems to want to bring him to his place as king. As you read psalms where David cries out to the Lord for help, think of this terrible time in David’s heart. Surely Saul’s chasing him around prior to his being king would also qualify.
2Sam 19:1-14 Then it was told Joab, "Behold, the king is weeping and mourns for Absalom." 2 The victory that day was turned to mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day, "The king is grieved for his son." 3 So the people went by stealth into the city that day, as people who are humiliated steal away when they flee in battle. 4 The king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, "O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!" 5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, "Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who today have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, 6 by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have shown today that princes and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. 7 "Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, surely not a man will pass the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now." 8 So the king arose and sat in the gate. When they told all the people, saying, "Behold, the king is sitting in the gate," then all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled, each to his tent. 9 All the people were quarreling throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled out of the land from Absalom. 10 "However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now then, why are you silent about bringing the king back?" 11 Then King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, "Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the word of all Israel has come to the king, even to his house? 12 ‘You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 13 "Say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.’" 14 Thus he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, saying, "Return, you and all your servants."
My Prayer:
Lord, bless us with simple lives and single devotion. May our love be for You and your saving Son. May we declare that we are strangers to this world. We seek You only. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
Pray for Heather