(24) And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. (25) And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. (26) And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings. (27) And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. (28) And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. (29) And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. (30) And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. (31) And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. (32) And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. (33) And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
The subject ends just as might have been supposed, from the natural affections of David. No doubt it was in respect to the everlasting state of Absalom, that David felt so exceedingly. And yet, had it been put to the issue, though in the moment David wished he had died for him, yet when death came, David would have shrunk back. It was the unguarded, ill-advised expression of disappointed nature. It was base, as it related to GOD, in his own deliverance. It was base, as it referred to man, in the lives of his faithful subjects, whose sacrifice seemed to be nothing in David's eyes, so that Absalom had been spared. Reader! let us learn from it, how everlastingly opposite to grace, in all our views and desires nature is. And let us, therefrom, seek strength from the LORD, to be forever on our guard against its false teachings. The promise is, that the elder, which is nature, shall serve the younger, which is grace. Had David consulted this, we should not have witnessed those improper acclamations: would to GOD I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! Had GOD taken him at his word, what would have been the consequence? Would he have gone to hell for him too! Alas! the sin and folly of so daring a wish! Reader! let you and I reverse the expression, and bless GOD that his dear Son hath died for us, and by his death secured our salvation!