Thy Father Seeketh After Thee
As he went, he cried out, “My son Absalom! I wish I had died for you. Absalom, my son, my son!†? 2 Samuel 18:33 (NCV)
Scripture: 2 Samuel 18
During the Civil War, a Pennsylvania Dutch Quaker father disagreed vehemently with his son about his son’s decision to enlist in the Union army. Nonetheless, the son enlisted and participated in many battles. During late 1862, the Quaker father had a dram that his son was wounded in battle. Knowing that a battle had been fought recently at Antietam Creek, Sharpsburg, Maryland, only a few miles from home, the Quaker father made his way by horse-drawn buggy until he came to the battlefield, the worried father set out. It was now dark and the father lit a lantern. While searching for his son, he came across many wounded young men. Some cried for Help; others merely whimpered. Growing discouraged, the Quaker father began to cry, “Jonathan Smythe, thy father seeketh after thee!†For several hours he cried. Many sons answered, but none of them were his Jonathan Smythe. By the man kept diligently at his task until he heard a very faint, barely audible reply, “Father, over here.†And the son finished, “I knew that you would come.†The Quaker father knelt down, took Jonathan in his arms, comforted him and took him home. Jonathan recovered? In our Bible story today we meet rebelliouus, disturbed Absalom. Disobedient, disloyal Absalom led a rebellion against his father. Many of us will not understand why David was so upset when Absalom was killed.
Why do you think David was sad? Ask your father or another adult why he thinks David was willing to give his own life for his very bad son.