The other day as I was scanning through a magazine, I saw in bold print these words.
"Every boy needs a father."
Now you and I know, every boy has a genetic male parent, but not every boy has a mature and honorable man in his life to teach him integrity.
David, distracted by his own sin and guilt, has lost control of his household. His teenage sons are out of control. They have inherited their dad's good looks and, having grown up in the palace, seem to have an arrogant, gluttonous swagger which translates into poor personal boundaries. They believe anything and anyone they want is theirs.
And thus continues the destruction of the house of David.
David's daughter, Tamar, is raped by her step brother, Amnon.
Where was David?
Just like Jacob before him, David seems unable to control or respond to the mishaps of his sons.
So, just like Jacob's sons, David's offspring take things into their own hands.
Handsome, shrewd and passionate Absolam takes action and kills his step-brother to avenge his sister, Tamar's honor.
Instead of dealing with the issue, years of silence between father and son ensue.
Anguish, disrespect and deep hurt lead to contempt and soon son has turned against father.
David, why didn't you have the wisdom to see Amnon's lust?
David, why didn't you comfort your daughter and reconcile your children after the rape?
David, why did you ignore the problem which built up anger in your son Absalom?
David, did you not see the seething anger rising up in Absalom's heart?
David, why didn't you immediately address the murder of your son Amnon and work to be an ambassador of reconciliation?
David, why were you blinded to your son's contempt for you?
David, I weep for you. All parents of teen aged children weep with you as we mourn our own lack of wisdom when it comes to raising our children.
Absalom needed you to be his father; to protect his sister, to be the priest of the home, and to be the strong example of integrity needed.
Dear LORD, forgive us when we parent poorly, when we do not respond appropriately, when our own sin gets in the way of our caring for our children responsibly. Everyone of us needs you, Father, to parent us into the ways of righteousness so that we might remain unified in your household.
Thank you, Lord, that you are the grace between parents and our children, and that you have hope and plans for our children that we can trust, even when your plans include healing them up from the deficits in our parental care and love, or even heart wounds that they suffered as a result of something we did. Thank you that the comfort that they receive from you becomes the comfort that they can minister to others as they move through the journey of their loves - it becomes their unique possession and legacy.
ReplyDeleteWhere have all the parents gone?
ReplyDeleteLong time pa-ass-ing.......
Sadly the multitudes but serve 'time'in the prison that is this wicked world ;-(
And the bars in that prison have been constructed by religious systems, all of which are of this evil world ;-(
For it is quite apparent that "the WHOLE(not just a portion) world is under the control of the evil one"(1JN5:19).......
Thankfully "The Hope of Heaven" is Alive in those who have taken heed unto The Call of The ONE and Only True Living G-D, Father(Creator) of ALL, to "Come Out of her, MY people" indeed and Truth.......
Truth IS, a lie is not.......
Abide in The Truth.......