If Only I Had Died Instead of You!

"The king was shaken.  He went up to the room over the gateway and wept.  As he went, he said: 'O my son Absalom!  My son, my son Absalom!  If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"  2 Samuel 18:33

This chapter of David's life reads like Game of Thrones more than most Scripture.  David's poor parenting and past sin bubbled up into death and sorrow.

To review how we got here:

David committed a great sin in killing Uriah and taking his wife and hiding the whole thing.  David was found out and God by way of the prophet Nathan told him: "Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you.  Before your very eyes I will take your wives and given them to one who who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight.  You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel." 2 Samuel 12:11-12

Later David's son Amnon lusted over his half-sister Tamar and raped her which incensed Tamar's brother Absalom.  David did not punish his son appropriately but Absalom protected his sister and later ended up murdering Amnon the rapist.  This made the relationship between David and Absalom rough (you think!).

Eventually Absalom started a rebellion against his dad, David.  Absalom used politicking and military strength to drive his father out of Jerusalem.  While David was on the run Absalom took David's wives and concubines that were still in the palace and had sex with them (read that raped them) on the roof of the palace so that all can see and hear.

This led to a civil war.  In the midst of the war David asked his military not to kill Absalom.  Well, David's right hand man Joab likes to kill people, it's his thing.  It so happens that Absalom, who had gorgeous long hair, ends ups with his long locks tangled in a tree and stuck there.  Joab killed him.  He shoved three javelins into Absalom's heart, had ten other guys attack him afterward and then piled rocks over his dead body. 

I've not seen Game of Thrones but I'm pretty sure this is on par with the sex and violence that program is known for.

So, David's son is dead.  The son that rebelled against him and tried to take his throne is dead.  A Cushite brought the news to David expecting him to be happy and he finds that the king is devastated.

"The king asked the Cushite, Is the young man Absalom safe?'
The Cushite replied, 'May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man.'
The king was shaken.  He went up to the room over the gateway and wept.  As he went, he said: 'O my son Absalom  My son, my son Absalom!  If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!" 2 Samuel 18:32-33

This passage is so incredibly Gospel.  King David had two great desires and he can't have both.  He desired to see his kingdom endure and he wanted his son to live safely.  The king couldn't have both because his son's living was in direct rebellion to his kingdom.

As a father, I feel David's words in verse 33.  "If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"  David says the words 'my son' five times in this one verse.  He loved Absalom, though extremely imperfectly, and he wanted his son to live.  You can imagine thinking and saying David's words if your child was killed.  "If only I had died instead of you!" but these words are just words.  David couldn't die in place of his rebellious son.  He couldn't protect the kingdom and keep his son. 

But Jesus can and did.

We were rebellious children.  We attempted to ascend to Christ's throne daily.  We were enemies of Christ and His perfect Kingdom.  God could not allow us to live if His perfect Kingdom was to endure... unless someone died in our place to reconcile us.

"For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son..." Romans 5:10a

"God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood.  He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished... He did it to demonstrate His justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." Romans 3:25-26

David couldn't die in the place of his rebellious son.  But Jesus could and did.  Jesus died to save the very rebels gunning for His throne. David wept for the son with whom he could not trade places.  Now Jesus desires to trade places with you and if you believe in Him you can today.

Recording of "When David Heard" by Eric Whitacre