Samuel said that David would be a man after God’s own heart (I Samuel 13:14), and we see that nowhere more clearly than in today’s passage. For remember: Absalom had been plotting a coup against his father for years. When he finally made his move, David fled, but only in order to save Jerusalem from needless bloodshed (II Samuel 15:14).

But Absalom wasn’t content to seize the throne. Because David left some of his concubines to take care of the palace, Absalom took the opportunity to sleep with them (II Samuel 16:22). This made it clear to his allies that there was no turning back – Absalom was committed to the revolution to the bitter end, even to the point of trying to kill his own father.

And yet, in spite of Absalom’s murderous intentions, David kept on trying to save him: “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom,” he told his generals (II Samuel 18:5). And the first question he asked of both messengers who ran to tell him the results of the final battle was, “Is it well with the young man Absalom” (II Samuel 18:29, 32)? David never stopped caring about his son, no matter what Absalom had done.

And when David found out that Absalom had died in the battle, he displayed his love even more clearly. He called Absalom “my son” four times in verse 33, thus refusing to disown him, no matter how wicked he may have been. And David’s love went even further, as he insisted, “Would I had died instead of you!”

And isn’t that the same sort of love God has for us? All of us sinners are nothing more than rebels against His righteous rule. But no matter how wicked we are, the Father was willing to give up His Son so that we might be saved. And while David may have wished that he could trade his life for Absalom’s, Jesus actually made such an exchange, going to the cross so that sinners like us could become sons and daughters of God. That’s how unconditional and self-sacrificial His love is for us. No wonder He was called Son of David.

II Samuel 18:28-33 (NASB)

28 And Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “All is well.” And he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “Blessed is the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king.”
29 And the king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was.”
30 Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
31 And behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for the LORD has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.”
32 Then the king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!”
33 And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”