In the Arms of God

David’s home is in ruins. The palace still stands, but David’s son Absalom has schemed to take the throne from his father. David has fled Jerusalem and is now a king in exile. It seems that the sin of David’s youth has come back to haunt him. The rift between father and son has caused David to mourn. In reading 2 Samuel 15 this week, take a moment to read Psalm 3. This is the writing of David as he flees Jerusalem and his son.

Psalm 3 is wonderful song of a man who struggles with conflict. David knows that his family is in trouble, but he does not know how to fix the problem. He does the smartest thing that he can, he turns to the Lord and puts the matter into the hands of God. David knows that God is the source of salvation.

It seems that every family experiences some trouble. As children grow and begin to make their own choices, parents are forced to watch their children make mistakes. Sometime rebellion marks the lives of our children. Like David, we struggle to find answers. David shows us how to seek the council of God in these moments. David reminds us that our children belong to God first and then to their parents. It is a hard lesson to learn, but God is faithful.

As David continues his time in exile, the nation suffers more and more at the hands of Absalom. War breaks out and Absalom is eventually killed. As news reaches David, there is no excitement or rejoicing. David’s son is dead. David goes into deep mourning. Of all the possible outcomes, the death of Absalom is not the wish of David. But like before, we see David throw himself into the arms of God. David seeks comfort from the only source that can give comfort in such overwhelming circumstances.

This stage of David’s life is a tragedy. There is no better way to describe it. But even in these moments, we have lessons to learn, truths to embed in our lives.

Truth 1 – we live in a broken world. Absalom is a man who struggles with sin. He has given himself over to the desires of the world. Greed, lust, and evil ambition mark his life. He has listened to the call of the world and it has separated him from a desire to follow God. It has also separated him from a relationship with his family. His conflict is seen most in the break with his father. Like Absalom, we live in a broken world. The call of the world is a powerful voice that tries to pull us away from a relationship with our Father. Each one of us must be aware that we live in tension. In the world, but not of the world.

Truth 2 – life does not always go the way we want it to go. David experienced the loss of a son, the loss of his kingdom for a time, and the loss of trust by his closest friends and advisors. You and I experience a variety of losses in our time. We can make plans for the future, work hard at our jobs, be faithful to God, and still experience troubling times. A relationship with God does not insure us from trouble. It teaches us how to walk through life. How to deal with what the world throws at us.

Truth 3 – we must throw ourselves into the arms of God. David experiences some of the most difficult circumstances that anyone can face. The death of a child is an awesome grief that lasts a lifetime. God offers Himself as the source of strength in our deepest hurts. He is a Father who knows what it means to lose a Son. He draws us close and helps us to walk through the pain and the loss that we experience in any hurt.