(21) В¶ And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again. (22) And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, Today thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant. (23) So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
Recollect, Reader, that before Joab sent the woman of Tekoah in favour of Absalom, it is said that the king's heart was toward him. The everlasting love of God to poor sinners is in himself and from himself; the springs of grace have no other source, but God's own infinite love and mercy. The Lord Jesus hath indeed purchased our redemption with his blood: but not the love of God, which gave rise to, and manifested itself in that redemption. I would beg the Reader to read a blessed scripture of our dear Lord's upon this point, that never can be read too often, nor too warmly cherished in remembrance, in the heart. The passage I mean is, that wherein Jesus prays for all the fruits of his Father's love for his people; but not for the Father's love itself. I say not unto you (said Jesus) that I will pray the Father for you; for the Father himself loveth you. And indeed it was this love of God which gave birth to the coming of the Saviour. See Joh_16:26-27; Joh_3:16. And was it not this love originally; nay, is it not the same love now, which leads our gracious God and Father to call us to him in and by the Lord Jesus, our Almighty Intercessor for us at the right hand of power? Oh! glorious united source of all our joys! The sovereign, free grace of the Father; and the everlasting righteousness and advocacy of the Son; whereby the council of peace between the Persons of the Godhead is fulfilled, and grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21.