2 Samuel 19:1 Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”
Grief is something I struggle with. The finality of death on this plane is hard for me—to know that I will not see my loved ones again on this side of heaven is a heavy personal loss. And I would never try to judge another person’s grief, to say someone is grieving too much, because grief is too personal. I truly struggled with whether I wanted to write on this topics at all, but God kept nudging.
2 Samuel 19:2 And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.”
So what can I learn from David and his grief over his son and his behavior with his troops? 1. God is still there, even in the abyss of grief. He is sovereign, even in the midst of our chaos. 2. We can’t allow ourselves to be so consumed by our grief that we lose sight of all that we still have. There are always blessings, even in our despair. 3. We must remember those who need us, who depend on us, even as we grieve. That’s a hard one because grief can feel so consuming, but it’s important to remember.
2 Samuel 19:3 The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle.
Lord, Thank You for this day and these reminders. I am no expert on dealing with grief, Lord. I feel much like David when it comes to the magnitude of pain I feel for those I have lost. But You have led me to these insights for a purpose. Help me to draw closer to You in the process of understanding Your word. Amen.
2 Samuel 19:4 The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! I Absalom, my son, my son!”
Have a blessed day.
My faith, my life, my teaching–it's all a work in progress.