"But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head." (Psa 3:3) Historians and theologians have put it that this Psalms of David above was en writaround 1023 BC when he was running away from his son, Absalom. Life is always a twist of mystery. My father used to tell me this story about a snake and a mirror. A poor man lived in a small house and the only possession of value he had was a mirror. The mirror was so beautiful that he treasured it. It was also valuable that he would pass it on to his children as a legacy. But one day, he came into the room to see a huge snake curled around that mirror. What should he do - kill the snake right there and break the mirror in the process; or let the snake remain there and stand the risk and fear of being bitten by the snake anytime? What do we do when our source of joy suddenly becomes polluted? What do we do when our best friend betrays us; When our happines get dainted; when our children who are supposed to be our source of joy becomes a source of sorrow to us? How do you kill the snake without destroying the mirror? .
David and his son, Absalom had the most uncommon Father-Son relationship. First the story of Absalom began on the wrong foot. It started with how his half brother, Amon raped his sister and how he revenged by killing his half brother, Amon. It would seem that everything David to get close to his son, Absalom only drove them further apart. The Bible says and David "longed to be reunited with his son Absalom." (2 Sam 13:39, NLT). The two persons - David and his son Absalom were two contrasting figures. David was small, Absalom was tall. David was red, Absalom was fair. David was handsome, Absalom was beyond handsome - even the girls envied his beauty. David was humble, Absalom was proud. David loved God above all; Absalom loved himself above all. David was forgiving, Absalom was vindictive. David respected anointing; Absalom had no respect for the anointing. David was pursued by the King Saul (his god-father) to kill him; Absalom pursued the king David (his true father) to kill him. The contrast just goes on and on.
David's secret was to always call on God. It didn't matter if it was his worst enemy or his best friend, David relied on God for wisdom, direction and deliverance. If we can copy and replicate this process in our own lives, we will be succesful and surely be the people "after God's own heart"
May God help us in Jesus name, Amen.