Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Though I know of no other
place in all of the scripture wherein is recorded for us an
example of such great anguish and heartache by a father for
his son than in his account of the death of Absalom. King David
is the epitome of a grief-stricken father bewailing the loss of
his son. Absalom committed an unspeakable
act of treachery and wickedness by laying with his own father's
concubines, committing incest in the sight of the nation in
order to humiliate his father and secure for himself the kingdom.
Absalom had no thought to anyone but his own desire to be king.
He did everything in his power to destroy his own father and
to build his own reputation at David's expense. Yet through
it all, David still loved him and did not wish to harm him
in any way. Ultimately, David was convinced to arise and restore
his kingdom. Yet even then, in spite of all
that Absalom had done to provoke him, and all that he had done
in complete opposition to David's benefit, David counseled the
army not to harm Absalom. None but a father could understand
why. When others look upon our children, they see them as they
are with all of their faults and failures. Yet as the scripture
says, love covers a multitude of sins. A father's love is able
to see beyond those faults. David's love for his son demanded
that he seek his son's benefit rather than his harm. But alas,
the day came when Absalom reaped exactly what he sowed, and he
was slain. The news was brought to King
David that Absalom was slain, just like all of the enemies
of the king should be. The messenger that was sent to
David was very faithful to deliver the message, and even as a mere
servant could discern the fact that Absalom was an enemy of
the king. Yet David lamented his demise to the point of wishing
that he had died instead of Absalom. In this poignant display, we
are reminded of the great love which our Heavenly Father has
for each one of His elect children. He has loved us in spite of our
rebellion against Him. He has loved us in spite of our
attempts to usurp His authority in our self-serving ways. He
has never sought to harm those whom He has loved with an everlasting
love. having predestined them to be conformed to Christ, marking
out every step of their path to work together for their good.
He has been consistent in his love to us, though we have declared
ourselves to be his enemies. But God commendeth his love toward
us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through him. For if when we were enemies we
were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more being
reconciled we shall be saved by his life. This brings us to
the amazing paradox in the history of the world. The love of God
for his elect children is that which moved him to put his own
son to grief and shame in their behalf. Amazing love, how can
it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Can we fathom the
depths of love between the Father and His only begotten Son? Can
we tell the devotion and desire to do the Father's will which
the Son manifested? And can we grasp the approval
and pleasure which the Father had in His Son when He said,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him.
Yet it was this One, this perfect Son, this One whose greatest
pleasure was to do His Father's will, of whom the Scripture says,
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him, He hath put Him to grief.
Is it any wonder that the light of the sun was darkened, and
the earth trembled and quaked as He gave up the ghost? It was
this One who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, even
when we despised the mention of His name. It was he who sweat
as it were great drops of blood in our behalf, as our sin debt
was laid upon him, and he agonized in the travail of his soul. He
desired to do his father's will, to be always pleasing in his
sight, yet the only way that he could do that was to be judged
by the law a guilty sinner. Is it any wonder that he cried
out, O my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me? He
had no fear of his approaching death, as some have surmised,
but his soul was vexed beyond measure as he contemplated being
cast out of the sight of the only one in heaven and earth
that he desired to please. Has there ever been such grief
as this? Has anyone ever trod through a darker valley or drank
a more bitter cup? The father who loved and approved
his son far more than David was capable of loving Absalom, not
only did not prevent his own son's grief, but designed it
and forsook his own son in the hour of his greatest need. This
is more than mortals can comprehend, beyond the scope of even the
angels to look into. Yet for the great love which
he loved us, he made his soul an offering for sin. Nothing
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.