April 14

I find myself at the end of this day sad for David. It is not because that he didn’t want to punish his enemy – his son Absalom – it is because his son is dead and this whole thing must have been dreadful. Absalom was obviously handed over to Joab by the Lord. I have never even heard of someone stuck in a tree like that, but that doesn’t console a father’s heart. A father’s heart grieves for his son who is in rebellion and wants restoration rather than harsh judgment. David must have wanted just that – restoration.

So how about my heart? Should I wish all my enemies should be crushed and brought to my feet so I could cut off their heads? What if some of my enemies are they of my own household? What then? How about my church family or people at my place of employment? Something has happened to the “warrior” that becoming “king” has softened. There is more mercy, more compassion and more of a desire to see things restored and reconciled. There is a proverb that says not to rejoice when your enemy is struck down. (I was rebuked with this proverb many years ago) Mercy triumphs over judgment. It is much easier since I am in the “king” stage of life and have passed through warrior stage to administer mercy, but it still takes the power of the Spirit and my will to be a man of mercy seeking reconciliation rather than judgment.