Bad Parenting

I believe that each and every word that is recorded in our Christian Holy book, the Bible, was purposely and directly placed into the hearts and minds of the authors of this priceless connection that we are blessed to possess by none other than God himself. Therefore, I will not overlook a single occurrence of this intimate link to our Heavenly Father's heart... thanks. In my pursuit to understand God's own heart (through His inspired Word) and His depth, meaning, and weight of thanksgiving and praise - I have uncovered an interesting story from way, way back. This story is about King David and his relationships with his sons.

King David was truly blessed by God. However, he too was a flawed and sinful human - as we all are. David's sins were recorded to be read and studied throughout the ages. Due to his failures and faults, David held much guilt and remorse. This guilt appears to get in the way of his duties as ruler and, more intimately, as a father.

You see, King David let his lust take him over which caused him to sin the immoral shame of adultery which then led him, further, to murder. So when his two oldest sons were then found in the same sins - Absalom killed his older half-brother, Amnon, for raping his sister, Tamar - he avoided punishing them and holding them accountable due to his own guilt. It also put a distance between the king and his remaining heir to the throne and it grieved him greatly.

King David had a very loyal servant, Joab (David's nephew and commander of his army), who couldn't bear to see his king in distress and likely wanted to see resolve to prevent the future struggle for the throne. So Joab set up a scheme to get King David to bring his son, Absalom, home and restore their relationship. When his plan moved ahead as he had hoped, Joab did the following:

"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." 2 Samuel 14:22

King David failed at many things and one of them was parenting. This is a subject that certainly holds my interest, seeing as I am fully in the midst of this important job - raising children. I take my position very seriously and my husband and I are trying our best to discipline the kids appropriately. We want them to know that there are consequences when lines are crossed. Do we get it right every time? Nope. Does that keep us from trying better the next time? Of course not. I'm not saying that we're any better than David. Certainly not. What David did understand, perhaps better than anyone, is the grace and forgiveness of God. He repented his sins directly to His Lord and received God's perfect mercy. Over and over. He then was filled with joy and it overflowed into songs of thanksgiving and praise... see the book of Psalms. Was David a good parent? Not very. Did that make him any less valuable to God? No, thank goodness.

I am thankful for this account in the biblical text to show me that God's mercy flows freely even to those (and especially) that don't seem to deserve it. I don't deserve anything from God... but that doesn't keep him for blessing me daily. For this I am continually thankful! And I am absolutely relieved and thankful that my blunders are not recorded and published for all to see (like David's). :)

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b