“O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Samuel 18:33)
What intense grief is expressed in the words above… David’s son Absalom had staged a coup and proclaimed himself king. This was a serious threat to national security and to David’s own life. As leader of the people, he had no choice but to confront Absalom’s army. But he did so with pain in his heart and with the explicit command: “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” (2 Samuel 18:5)
David loved his son despite everything he had done. However, David’s army commander Joab, showed no mercy and killed Absalom as soon as he had the chance. This news could not be kept secret from David, and it moved him deeply. He was not interested in his army’s victory. His child was dead. That broke his heart.
I read David’s exclamation not so much as a death wish, but as an expression of desperate fatherly love. Of course, he knew that he could not save Absalom by dying himself, but he would have been willing to do so. This lament is not logical or well thought out, but comes straight from David’s heart.
Do you recognize David’s deep sorrow over the tragic death of a loved one? How do you express your emotions? Do you dare to cry out in grief and does that give you relief?