April 14: "The king covered his face and cried aloud, "O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

2 Samuel 16:15-19:4

2 Samuel 18:9-17

The Message (MSG)

^9-10 Absalom ran into David’s men, but was out in front of them riding his mule, when the mule ran under the branches of a huge oak tree. Absalom’s head was caught in the oak and he was left dangling between heaven and earth, the mule running right out from under him. A solitary soldier saw him and reported it to Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging from an oak tree!”
¹¹ Joab said to the man who told him, “If you saw him, why didn’t you kill him then and there? I’d have rewarded you with ten pieces of silver and a fancy belt.”
^12-13 The man told Joab, “Even if I’d had a chance at a thousand pieces of silver, I wouldn’t have laid a hand on the king’s son. We all heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake, protect the young man Absalom.’ Why, I’d be risking my life, for nothing is hidden from the king. And you would have just stood there!”
^14-15 Joab said, “I can’t waste my time with you.” He then grabbed three knives and stabbed Absalom in the heart while he was still alive in the tree; by then Absalom was surrounded by ten of Joab’s armor bearers; they hacked away at him and killed him.
^16-17 Joab then blew the ram’s horn trumpet, calling off the army in its pursuit of Israel. They took Absalom, dumped him into a huge pit in the forest, and piled an immense mound of rocks over him.

2 Samuel 18:24-33

The Message (MSG)

^24-25 David was sitting between the two gates. The sentry had gone up to the top of the gate on the wall and looked around. He saw a solitary runner. The sentry called down and told the king. The king said, “If he’s alone, it must be good news!”

^25-26 As the runner came closer, the sentry saw another runner and called down to the gate, “Another runner all by himself.”

And the king said, “This also must be good news.”

²⁷ Then the sentry said, “I can see the first man now; he runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.”

“He’s a good man,” said the king. “He’s bringing good news for sure.”

²⁸ Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “Peace!” Then he bowed deeply before the king, his face to the ground. “Blessed be your God; he has handed over the men who rebelled against my master the king.”

²⁹ The king asked, “But is the young man Absalom all right?”

Ahimaaz said, “I saw a huge ruckus just as Joab was sending me off, but I don’t know what it was about.”

³⁰ The king said, “Step aside and stand over there.” So he stepped aside.

³¹ Then the Cushite arrived and said, “Good news, my master and king! God has given victory today over all those who rebelled against you!”

³² “But,” said the king, “is the young man Absalom all right?”

And the Cushite replied, “Would that all of the enemies of my master the king and all who maliciously rose against you end up like that young man.”

³³ The king was stunned. Heartbroken, he went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he wept he cried out, O my son Absalom, my dear, dear son Absalom! Why not me rather than you, my death and not yours, O Absalom, my dear, dear son! 

I can only imagine King David's grief. He had such love for his son. I'm sure he kept hoping Absalom would have a change of heart. When my son was away from home and away from God, I cried many bitter tears. Gut wrenching sobs would wrack my body. I not only cried because I missed him; I cried tears of deep, deep regret. Still, as recently as yesterday, I cried out to God tears of regret. Hindsight is so painful. But Jesus loves us unconditionally. We can fall into His arms. He understands our grief. He is the Perfect Counsellor! His Holy Spirit is the Perfect Comforter. We can run from the pain, or try to ignore the pain, but I've found from personal experience its best to embrace the pain with God's help. In prayer.

"Dear God, I pray for every parent whose child is away from You. I pray for every parent whose child is rebellious. I pray for every parent whose child is withdrawing from the family for whatever reason. I pray for every parent who has lost a child by death. I pray for every parent whose child is terminally ill. I pray for every parent who is about to lose custody of their child(ren) for whatever reason. I pray for each parent who feels like he or she has failed their child(ren) somehow. In each one of these situations, I pray that You'd guide and comfort. Wrap Your strong arms of unconditional love and support around every grieving parent. Help each one of these dear moms or dads find solace in You. Help them remember they are Your children too. And help good to come out of this awful pain. I thank You and I ask this in Your precious name, Jesus. AMEN."