The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 13:36,
"...the king's sons came in, wailing loudly. The king, too, and all his attendants wept very bitterly."
The king is David and the bereavement was over the killing of his son Amnon. Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar and two years later, Tamar's brother, Absalom had him killed for it.
Amnon was a fool driven by the gratification of his own desires. The Scriptures paint an ugly picture of the man, but he was King David's son. Absalom, who had him killed was also David's son. We read in verse 39 that, three years after the event, David was eventually consoled for Amnon's death and he "longed to go to Absalom", who had fled to Geshur following the act.
Wickedness, rape, murder (well, some might call it justice), hatred, vengeance all led to sorrow and bereavement. Such is life in this lost and fallen world. We live in an age among people who are estranged from God, harbor a bent for evil and treat one another horribly at times.
The clear-eyed and unvarnished reflection of things in this life that we read in the Scriptures tells it like it is. This life can be a miserable place.
However, it is a place where God's loving hand of mercy and kindness has provided us sinners with a path to him and his family, to enjoy the life God always intended for us when he created us. He sent his Son to pay for all our sins on that miserable cross such that we have hope in a much better world to come.
I am mindful of Revelation 21:3-4, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
"...the king's sons came in, wailing loudly. The king, too, and all his attendants wept very bitterly."
The king is David and the bereavement was over the killing of his son Amnon. Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar and two years later, Tamar's brother, Absalom had him killed for it.
Amnon was a fool driven by the gratification of his own desires. The Scriptures paint an ugly picture of the man, but he was King David's son. Absalom, who had him killed was also David's son. We read in verse 39 that, three years after the event, David was eventually consoled for Amnon's death and he "longed to go to Absalom", who had fled to Geshur following the act.
Wickedness, rape, murder (well, some might call it justice), hatred, vengeance all led to sorrow and bereavement. Such is life in this lost and fallen world. We live in an age among people who are estranged from God, harbor a bent for evil and treat one another horribly at times.
The clear-eyed and unvarnished reflection of things in this life that we read in the Scriptures tells it like it is. This life can be a miserable place.
However, it is a place where God's loving hand of mercy and kindness has provided us sinners with a path to him and his family, to enjoy the life God always intended for us when he created us. He sent his Son to pay for all our sins on that miserable cross such that we have hope in a much better world to come.
I am mindful of Revelation 21:3-4, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
This, of course, provides for the joy, the excitement, the enchantment, the wonder of the life all believers look forward to in the resurrection.
I can't wait! How about you?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment