Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Like father, like son.  This thought entered my head this morning as I was contemplating what to write about.  David had many sons.  David was also a well respected leader but he was not without flaws.  His one son Absalom, who David held near and dear to his heart, was known and praised for his handsome appearance.  From the top of his head to the sole of his foot, there was no blemish on him.  His hair seemed to be his crowning glory.  Yet, before Absalom met his end, it was his hair that became entangled in a large oak tree and that was where he was found hanging and eventually killed by Joab, who disregarded David's plea to be gentle to his son for his own sake. 

Then David's son, Solomon, is appointed king to succeed his father.  Solomon was gifted with wisdom.  He was able to build the Lord's temple because the Lord gave him rest on every side from his enemies and there were no adversaries or disasters to prevent him from completing the plan.  The Lord's temple was crafted just as the Lord commanded, and Solomon spent seven years building it.  Solomon was indeed a son of whom to be proud.

Then we move onto the sons of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.  Indeed certain sons far exceeded their father's expectations, while others broke their hearts.  Today, as parents we may stop and observe our own children.  As parents, we have lofty aspirations for all of them.  Unfortunately, some go the way of Absalom and hopefully some follow the ways of Solomon.  As parents, we can only be an example and give the best guidance we can which hopefully we derive from following the ways of the Lord and allowing the Holy Spirit to enter us to become a temple in which the Lord can dwell.

Yet, when all is said and done, the Lord knows what all of our children will do and the paths they will take in their own lives.  He is the Father of us all, and I am sure He must feel heartbroken at times when we do not follow the path He has laid out for us.  The saving grace we can experience though is the fact that our Heavenly Father NEVER gives up on us.  Once we have asked Him to come into our hearts, He will remain forever.  It is just important to keep up with a strict house cleaning schedule to make sure that the Lord delights Himself with living in us.  I believe it is our consistent attempts to keep brushing ourselves off after a fall that put a smile on God's face. 

In Psalm 127:1-5 it is confirmed that "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain."  Keeping the Lord at the center of our lives and making Him the foundation on which our homes and families are built can only help to bring forth children, sons and daughters, who will indeed delight in the Lord and be a delight to the Lord.  And this is why we continue each day to pray for God's love, mercy and compassion, even though they are already with us.  Amen.