A month ago my son came to visit. He had not been home for about 9 months. He was such a sight for my sore eyes. My anticipation was satisfied as he walked in the door. I hugged him and was overcome with tears. Tears of happiness at seeing him mingled with tears of sadness at missing my daughter. It was a strange emotional dualism that took me by surprise. I thought of God when that happened...
As you know the Bible stories are clues about God. For example, the story of Abraham offering his son as a sacrifice is an allegory of God offering His only Son as our sacrifice. Absalom's story is also an allegory. His story is of the beautiful rebellious son who tried to kill his father. Sounds just like the devil doesn't it? Lucifer, most beautiful of all created beings, turning in treachery against his Creator. Even Absalom's demise is like what awaits the devil. "And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood..." (2 Samuel 18:17) The comparison is easy.
Have you ever paid attention to what the story tells about God? David the "type" is crushed by the news of His son's death. Grief seizes Him and 2 Samuel 19:4 says, "But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!" In the mean time, the soldiers return expecting a heroes' welcome but instead they hear David wailing in his room. Joab purveys the situation and tells David that expressing his love for Absalom when the army has just risked their lives for the kingdom is wrong. For the sake of the beleaguered soldiers and the kingdom he essentially tells David to take it like a man and do the right thing. "Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king..." (2 Samuel 19:8)
Do you see it? Do you see the Archetype, the son of David, at those pearly gates with all the people before Him? Do you see His face illuminated with the joy of having His children safely home after their battles are over? Do you also see His hidden sorrow? Do you see the tears for millions of His lost children stifled inside His tender heart? Do you see how He restrains Himself because He wants our homecoming to be happy? When you look at David it is perfectly clear God's heart is joyous yet still breaking while we gaze with wonder at the marvels He has prepared. But, for our sakes, He takes it like a man and we never see the hidden sorrow.
Oh, I pray that in that beautiful moment when I get to walk in those gates, that by God's grace I will remember my Saviors heart and give Him that "knowing" look that says, "thank You for all you have done, thank You for making this homecoming only joy. I am sorry about the sorrow you carry." I pray that His heart and His feelings will be more important to me than the beauties in view whether today or in the great tomorrow.
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