2 Samuel 14:33

REFLECTIONS

BLESSED Jesus! Let me find grace from thee, dearest Lord, in the perusal of this chapter, to consider how very like to Absalom my heart is, when by sin and shame I have been running away from thee. But how superior, dearest Lord, art thou to the tenderness of the tenderest parents, in calling home thy banished ones to thy presence; for thou seekest them out, and instead of allowing them to return, thou bringest them home, and bringest them in, and takest them to the bosom of thy love and mercy. Oh! dearest Lord! how often hath sin and Satan made me their captive; and how often hast thou recovered me from their snares. Keep me, blessed Jesus, near thyself, and suffer me to wander no more. Let Jesus kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for thy love is better than wine.

In the mistaken tenderness of David to his unworthy son, Lord, lead me to see, and as strongly to feel, the evil tendency of nature's affection, when those affections are striving against God. Oh! bring down every proud thought and disobedient lust, which would tend to dishonor my God. Let me have strength from thee to pluck out an eye, to cut off a right hand, and do all holy violence to the improper demands of nature, when my God and Saviour makes it the mark of my duty towards him. I would be found, dearest Lord, wholly thine; and like Levi, not acknowledge my brethren, nor know my own children, which have not observed thy word, nor kept thy covenant. I would bend the knee, and bow myself with my face to the ground, in token that thou art my rightful Sovereign, and that I am thy servant; thou hast loosed my bonds. Therefore shall every good man sing of thy praise without ceasing, O my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever.