Daily Devotional for Sunday, January 21

The Report and Remorse

“And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 2 Samuel 18:33.

I always hated running. I dreaded “mile day” in PE. Turns out, I was fast enough to be put on the 400-meter relay team. At every track meet, after I handed the baton to the next leg, I would double over, completely out of breath, trying to keep from losing my groceries. In my late twenties, I learned that if I ran slower, I could run farther, and I began running half marathons. Undoubtedly before the end of each race, I would be wondering why on earth I thought running thirteen miles was a good idea. I never had a desire to win or even place, but there was something about the challenge of pushing myself to accomplish a goal that spurred me to sign up for the next one.

Ahimaaz wanted to run. He was determined to get to the king. David was waiting back in Mahanaim for news of the battle. Ahimaaz wanted to be the one to deliver it. Joab knew that whoever brought the news of Absalom’s death would likely be ill-fated, so he sent another to run on to David instead. Ahimaaz persisted. He had a goal. He wanted to get to David. With Joab’s permission, he ran. Outrunning the other messenger, he brought news of the victory first before the second messenger brought the news of Absalom’s fate.

Despite all that Absalom did, he was still David’s son. David’s grief was sincere and deep. He would have given his own life to save Absalom’s. The loss of yet another son was almost too much to bear.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY
Even greater than David’s love for his sons, God’s love for us led Him to send His own Son as a sacrifice for all our sins.

Ashley Ridings