The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
2 Samuel 19:4
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However, a day of victory was turned into a day of mourning for all the people because of David’s excessive mourning. David’s loyal and sacrificing supporters won that day for the glory of God and the good of Israel. But then, they couldn’t enjoy their victory because David was overcome with excessive weeping for Absalom. David was mastered by feelings and so he lost perspective.
God is not against feelings but at the same time, feelings were never meant to master us. Excessive mourning is when mourning is rooted in unbelief and self-indulgence. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13, Paul says, brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death so that you do not grieve like the rest of humankind, who have no hope.
David, in his excessive sorrow, forgot that God was still in control. He forgot that a great victory was won and that he had many loyal supporters. He forgot that God had shown great grace and mercy to David.
When someone is overcome by tragedy or sorrow, the problem is not in what they know, but in what they forget. Loss of a loved one is always painful, and tears and deep sorrow are only natural. But some christians mourn at times in death as if they have no hope in God and that is wrong. It is important to retain perspective, not forgetting the sovereignty of a loving God.
In your sorrow, are you forgetting God’s love and sovereignty?
Lord, help my grief be rooted in what I know about you, I pray.
Extended Reading — 2 Samuel 19-21
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