2 Samuel 18:31–33 (ESV) —
31 And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king! For the Lord has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you.” 32 The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil be like that young man.” 33 And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
NOTE: David's strength was his heart for God. He understood emotions because of that deep relationship with God. But, sometimes he let his emotions cloud him from his duty. It is deeply painful for anyone to have his firstborn son died. But he let his emotions rule over his responsibilities. He was King and men risked their lives for the kingdom, some even died like his son. Did he need to grieve? Yes. Did he need to grieve at that moment? I don't know. It would have been better to find a quiet place later to grieve. Unfortunately, sometimes our emotions are trumped by our responsibilities. They are not an excuse. They are not uncontrollable.
I probably don't do enough to control my emotions. It is good to feel, to emote. It is bad when it becomes the subject of the story. Maybe there is something to the phrase "man up" during certain times. If you have a responsibility or job or duty, that must come first.
PONDER:
- Emotions are good, but can be wrong in certain places and times, do I recognize those times and seek to control them?
PRAYER: Father, usually I am pretty good here, but there are times where I have let my emotions get out of control. Help me to balance the need to be real with the need to do a job or explain a situation. Give me your grace.
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