ESOCS Devotional 11 September
TEXT: 2 Samuel 18: 1-16 KJV
MEMORY VERSE: “And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.” 2 Samuel 18: 5 KJV
A father’s love is always as great as the mother’s is. It is natural, and it starts from when the child is born to when the child matures into adulthood until unto death. Such love has great influence on personality development. Such love is patient and kind; it is not envious, boastful, arrogant, or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It does not easily get provoked and it forgives (1 Cor.13:4-7). This love derives from God’s love for us, even though we were sinners, yet He sent His Son to die for us (Rom 5:8).
Absalom rebelled against his father. He broke away with his army to regroup and topple his father’s government and take over the position. Unfortunately, for him and his loyalists, David’s army routed them and Absalom was killed. Contrary to the expectation of the people, David did not rejoice; he was upset and he wept sorely for his son (2 Sam. 18:33). This is the true love of a father. Did Absalom deserve such true love? Why was David so upset over the death of his rebel son? (1) He realized that he, in part, was responsible for Absalom’s death. Nathan, the prophet, had told him that because he killed Uriah, his own sons would rebel against him. (2) He was angry at Joab and his officers for killing Absalom against his wishes. (3) David truly loved his son, even though Absalom did nothing to deserve his love.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
It is a taboo for a son to revolt or rebel against his father no matter the wrong doings of the father against the son. The lessons from the teachings on love in the scripture, makes this even clearer. It is true that David brought the calamity onto himself, but should that justify Absalom’s revolt? Yes, it was David’s punishment from God, yet in his broken state, he cried out (Psalm 51) and God restored him to the man he once was, the man after God’s heart. God demonstrated His love- the true love of a father. David showed the same love to his son Absalom; so he wept when he was killed against his wish. What is the degree of our love for our children? Is it sustained, even when they offend? We should drop attitudes that may lead our children to sin or revolt against us; don’t provoke them (Eph.6:4).
CHALLENGES
- Examine yourself to identify attitudes that may lead your children to commit sin.
PRAYER POINT:
- Ask God to give you the ability to raise a godly family where the fear and love of God radiates.
- Ask God to help you drop any attitude that may lead your children to sin.
FURTHER READING:2 Samuel 18:17-33; Proverbs 10:12; Proverbs 15:17; 1 John 4:11
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ESOCS Devotional 11 September
