2 Samuel 18:28-32 Enmity Of A Son!

 ”So Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “All is well!” Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my Lord the king!” The king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about.” And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still. Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “There is good news, my Lord the king! For the Lord has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you.” And the king said to the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” So the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my Lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like that young man!”“ II Samuel‬ ‭18‬:‭28‬-‭32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Is the young man Absalom safe? This was David’s only concern. He should have been more concerned for Israel as a nation than for his traitor son. At the same time, David’s question is an example of the great bond of love between parent and child, and between God our Father and His children.

i. “He might have said, ‘Is the young man Absalom dead? For if he is out of the way there will be peace to my realm, and rest to my troubled life.’ But no, he is a father, and he must love his own offspring. It is a father that speaks, and a father’s love can survive the enmity of a son.” (Spurgeon)

ii. “Our children may plunge into the worst of sins, but they are our children still. They may scoff at our God; they may tear our heart to pieces with their wickedness; we cannot take complacency in them, but at the same time we cannot unchild them, nor erase their image from our hearts.” (Spurgeon)

b. I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about: Compared to the Cushite, Ahimaaz was a better runner but a worse messenger because he didn’t know his message. A message can be delivered beautifully, but the messenger’s first responsibility is to get the message correct.

c. May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like that young man: Without saying it directly, the Cushite told David that Absalom was dead. (Guzik)

Enmity Of A Son!

I can relate to king David! We adopted our son but unfortunately he is not in a good place. We poured our lives into him and I doubt that I will see the seed we planted grow in my lifetime. But our God is great and miracles still happen! We pray for him daily and just maybe, God will answer our prayers!

Can you relate to David over Absalom?

Blessings