Behold the foreshadow: a man broken, sorrowful, weeping, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” See him there the man who is King, lying on all fours, with his head buried deep to the carpet, wishing that it could have been different, wishing that his own son didn’t rebel against him. See the tears falling from his eyes; hear his loud sobs. The attendants nearby sneak out in shared empathy and shame, leaving the king alone to mourn bitterly. His misery is palpable, his agony is real, and his soul is experiencing the worst grief, even though this same son was his enemy.
For how would you feel if your son rebelled against you, and perished into hell, never to return?
As a father considering my son, I can scarcely endure the thought.
This is our point of reference.
For how would you feel if your son rebelled against you, and perished into hell, never to return?
As a father considering my son, I can scarcely endure the thought.
This is our point of reference.
Behold the reality: (Luke 19:41)“And when He came near, He beheld the city, and wept over it,” (Matthew 23:37) “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that kills the prophets, and stones them which are sent to you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you would not!” See him there a broken man, sorrowful, weeping, the king wishing they would come to him, would throw down their arms and run to Him. See how He sobs over his foes who know not the destruction and desolation they demand. Hear his agony in their final rejection. His grief is bitter; His loss is real, though they were His enemies. In His mind He yells at them as loud as He can “TURN! TURN! WHY SHOULD YOU PERISH!?!” (Ezekiel 33:11) But they heed Him not, and He breaks down again and cries.
Now you hyper-Calvinist, you tell me these are tears of rage, and that here we are given a picture of a God who purposed only their destruction and no more. He has no love for the lost, just for His sheep, He indeed cares nothing for these sinners. He was not overcome with sorrow, He was overcome with a thirst for blood.
And I will tell you “your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this wickedness, and pray to God that your heart may be forgiven. For I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity.” You had better hope that you are wrong in your understanding of this God- and you had better wish that you were wrong and He actually does care for lost sinners, because you are yourself in need of being found.
And I will tell you “your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this wickedness, and pray to God that your heart may be forgiven. For I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity.” You had better hope that you are wrong in your understanding of this God- and you had better wish that you were wrong and He actually does care for lost sinners, because you are yourself in need of being found.
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