June 1
2 Samuel 18:1-19:10; John 20:1-31; Psalm 119:153-176; Proverbs 16:14-15
David is in exile. Absalom has taken his throne. Armies are mustered and David’s and Absalom’s men square off in the forest of Ephraim. This was dangerous terrain for a battle—low hanging trees, pits, and rugged terrain—the topography in which well-trained troops have the advantage. The terebinth tree, often translated oak or elm, grew native in Israel and grew to 35 feet. In this setting, Absalom, seeing David’s men, turned coat, caught his long heavy hair in a branch and was thrashing midair while the mule continued to careen through the woods. Joab found Absalom, and even though David had given direct instructions in the hearing of all the soldiers to “(b)e gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake,” Joab thrust three javelins into Absalom’s heart. Quickly, ten of Joab’s armor-bearers, the men who carry Joab’s equipment and fight with him, surrounded Absalom and completed the kill. Perhaps this was done so no one man could be punished for killing Absalom.
Finally the news of the victory and Absalom’s death reached David. “The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went he said: ‘O my son Absalom! My son, my son, Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!” One cannot read this without feeling the heart stir. He knew Nathan’s prophecy had struck home (2 Sam. 12:10). His sin with Bathsheba ever loomed before him. Perhaps all the guilt and loss punched him that day.
David tenderly loved his son. But where was David all those years when his children misbehaved. He was ruling as a king and leading in battles. He wrote psalm after psalm praying for deliverance from the Philistines and Saul. He sang a lament when his friend Jonathan died (2 Sam. 1:17-27). In multiple psalms he pours out his heart in worship to God and asks for forgiveness. However, the only prayer we have recorded for his family was for his son with Bathsheba not to die. Was not one of his wives or any of his children worth a psalm of prayer? As we read about David’s sons, we see they harbored deep rooted feelings. We just celebrated Mother’s Day and are coming upon Father’s Day. We may have deep rooted feelings about the way we were treated as a child, teenager, or adult. Or, we may wish we were told we were loved. We would have liked to have felt our best was accepted and enough.
I recently found this saying from Cheryl L Friar.
“You May Want to Forgive Your Parents for: Raising you through their own unresolved trauma. Not being able to understand you, because they did not have the capacity to. Not being able to teach you certain skills, as nobody taught them. Being emotionally unavailable, as their parents were emotionally unavailable. Doing the best they could with what they knew and had. Following cultural norms that they were surrounded with. Raising you through their own struggles, worries, pain, and fears.”
David was not the ideal parent. Nor were our parents. However, today can be a day we realize our parents may have been dealing with much more than we knew. We can release the timeworn, submerged feelings and let God restore forgiveness, peace, and love.
Abba Father, thank you for your perfect example of a father—perfect love, prefect wisdom, perfect acceptance, and perfect peace. Make this a day when we can give you any bitterness, anger, and resentment of our parents and be flooded with forgiveness, peace, and love. For those who do not have these issues, may they regularly pray for their families. Amen.
Question of the day: Are there any issues you need to take to God or perhaps discuss with someone who can help free you from past wounds?
Gena Duncan
David is in exile. Absalom has taken his throne. Armies are mustered and David’s and Absalom’s men square off in the forest of Ephraim. This was dangerous terrain for a battle—low hanging trees, pits, and rugged terrain—the topography in which well-trained troops have the advantage. The terebinth tree, often translated oak or elm, grew native in Israel and grew to 35 feet. In this setting, Absalom, seeing David’s men, turned coat, caught his long heavy hair in a branch and was thrashing midair while the mule continued to careen through the woods. Joab found Absalom, and even though David had given direct instructions in the hearing of all the soldiers to “(b)e gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake,” Joab thrust three javelins into Absalom’s heart. Quickly, ten of Joab’s armor-bearers, the men who carry Joab’s equipment and fight with him, surrounded Absalom and completed the kill. Perhaps this was done so no one man could be punished for killing Absalom.
Finally the news of the victory and Absalom’s death reached David. “The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went he said: ‘O my son Absalom! My son, my son, Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!” One cannot read this without feeling the heart stir. He knew Nathan’s prophecy had struck home (2 Sam. 12:10). His sin with Bathsheba ever loomed before him. Perhaps all the guilt and loss punched him that day.
David tenderly loved his son. But where was David all those years when his children misbehaved. He was ruling as a king and leading in battles. He wrote psalm after psalm praying for deliverance from the Philistines and Saul. He sang a lament when his friend Jonathan died (2 Sam. 1:17-27). In multiple psalms he pours out his heart in worship to God and asks for forgiveness. However, the only prayer we have recorded for his family was for his son with Bathsheba not to die. Was not one of his wives or any of his children worth a psalm of prayer? As we read about David’s sons, we see they harbored deep rooted feelings. We just celebrated Mother’s Day and are coming upon Father’s Day. We may have deep rooted feelings about the way we were treated as a child, teenager, or adult. Or, we may wish we were told we were loved. We would have liked to have felt our best was accepted and enough.
I recently found this saying from Cheryl L Friar.
“You May Want to Forgive Your Parents for: Raising you through their own unresolved trauma. Not being able to understand you, because they did not have the capacity to. Not being able to teach you certain skills, as nobody taught them. Being emotionally unavailable, as their parents were emotionally unavailable. Doing the best they could with what they knew and had. Following cultural norms that they were surrounded with. Raising you through their own struggles, worries, pain, and fears.”
David was not the ideal parent. Nor were our parents. However, today can be a day we realize our parents may have been dealing with much more than we knew. We can release the timeworn, submerged feelings and let God restore forgiveness, peace, and love.
Abba Father, thank you for your perfect example of a father—perfect love, prefect wisdom, perfect acceptance, and perfect peace. Make this a day when we can give you any bitterness, anger, and resentment of our parents and be flooded with forgiveness, peace, and love. For those who do not have these issues, may they regularly pray for their families. Amen.
Question of the day: Are there any issues you need to take to God or perhaps discuss with someone who can help free you from past wounds?
Gena Duncan
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