DAVID’S grief over Absalom’s death may best be gauged by the words of the sacred historian: “And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Sam. 18:3333And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! (2 Samuel 18:33)).
The love of God for sinful men is reflected in the love of David for his rebellious son—as far as the Divine love can be mirrored in the human. It was the marvelous love of God which yielded His beloved Son as a sacrifice for human guilt. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Notwithstanding that we by choice became the enemies of God, deliberately turning our backs upon Him, and living in rebellion against Him, yet “God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us.”
In the sacrifice of His Son on behalf of the sinner, and in the acceptance of Christ as the sinner’s Substitute, God has shown the depth of His love towards us. It seems incredible that in view of the great salvation, which has been procured at such a cost, men should choose to go down to death, rather than seek the mercy of God, and enter into life eternal through faith in Jesus Christ!