Lamenting the Lost

595 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 18:29-33, “The king said, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about." 30 And the king said, "Turn aside and stand here." So he turned aside and stood still. 31 Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, "There is good news, my lord the king! For the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you." 32 And the king said to the Cushite, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" So the Cushite answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like that young man!" 33 Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: "O my son Absalom-my son, my son Absalom-if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!" (2 Sam 18:29-33) David asks Ahimaaz if Absalom is safe, and even though Joab had told Ahimaaz that Absalom was dead, he sidesteps the question. He speaks as an eyewitness. All he saw was the tumult, he wasn't there for the actual slaying. David commands Ahimaaz to stay put until he has to hear what the other runner has to say. David, now knowing the outcome of the battle, asks the Cushite (who likely was with Joab when Absalom was killed) if he has any news about Absalom. The Cushite doesn't mince words, “may all the kings enemies be as Absalom is”.......in other words, Absalom is dead. There is a tenderness and sensitivity in the answer given by Ahimazz and a coldness in the answer of the Cushite. Davids immediate response is a deep lamentation for his son reminiscent of God's own lamentation over the falling of Lucifer: Isa 14:12b, “O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!” Yes, the wicked, those who reject Christ, will spend eternity in hell, they get what they've got coming, but this fact should never be greeted with a coldness of heart! God says in Eze 18:23 "Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?” And so we pray with Jesus on the cross, and Stephen as he is being stoned, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Father grant the gift of repentance to those who continue in rebellion against You, before it's too late!