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Absalom was a favorite of his father, King David of Israel. He was handsome and charming. He exuded the essence of royalty and dignity. His love of pomp and pretension won the hearts of the people. “But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him” (2 Samuel 14:25). Absalom had thick hair that he only cut once a year, and only then because it was so heavy. A year’s growth weighed five pounds. (2 Samuel 14:26.) I promise I am not jealous.

Absalom, however, fell out of favor with David when he took revenge on his half-brother, Amnon, after he violated his sister, Tamar. Absalom had Amnon killed and then fled to his maternal grandfather’s land, Geshur. Only by a special arrangement was Absalom allowed to return to the city of Jerusalem. Even then, as a sign of his displeasure, David decreed that Absalom could not see his face. “And the king said, ‘Let him return to his own house, but do not let him see my face.’ So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king’s face” (2 Samuel 14:24).

Two years went by, and nothing changed. Absalom’s appeals to see David were rejected. Joab, who was mediating this fractured relationship, would not listen. Finally, in his desperation to get his father’s attention, Absalom burned Joab’s barley field. Finally, David relented, and Absalom saw his father’s face.

The story of Absalom goes from bad to worse. Bitter toward his father, Absalom used his physical beauty and flattering words to steal the hearts of the people of Israel. He led an insurrection and declared himself king. It all ended tragically when Absalom was killed by Joab. To his political hurt, David mourned the death of his son. This is the story of a dysfunctional family and a son who was forbidden to see his father’s face. For the full story, read 2 Samuel 13-19.In the Bible, the word “face” is used in a variety of contexts. One striking and common word picture is that seeing one’s face equals favor. There are dozens of references to this use of the word including: “God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah” (Psalms 67:1). Finding favor and seeing the face of our Heavenly Father

brings acceptance and security. When God turns His face away from His people, it is the result of their disobedience and His disfavor. “I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity” (Jeremiah 18:17). (See also Jeremiah 21:10; 44:11.) There are scores of Scriptures that use this imagery of the face of our Heavenly Father being toward us in favor or against us in disfavor.

Children long to see the face of their father. They desperately need the approval of their father. They need face time that is neither corrective nor instructional. Children need to know that, while their behavior might have been bad, they are not bad. The goal of discipline is correction, not condemnation. As a father, firmly and decisively correct disobedient behavior, while gently and kindly affirming your love for your child.

It is important to let your face “shine” on your children. Show them a smile of parental approval. Look them in the eyes, face to face. Let your words and facial expression say, “I love you” and “I am proud of you.”

We live in a distracted, preoccupied culture. A screen of some kind sees a lot of our face. According to Marketwatch, “American adults spend more than 11 hours per day watching, reading, listening to or simply interacting with media, according to a new study by market-research group Nielsen.” How much discretionary time do we give to a screen and its contents compared to the amount of time we give to the faces of our family? (This might be a good place to also talk about prayer time.)

Dads, please make your children’s day by letting them see the face of their father. Finally, let me suggest that this works both ways. Love and acceptance should be reciprocal. If love and acceptance are investments fathers should make in their children, honor is the debt children owe their fathers. This Father’s Day, and in the days that follow, make it a point to let your father know that you love and appreciate him. You might be surprised at how the show of respect affects the face of your father.

MESSENGER | JUNE 2020

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/people-are-spending-most-of-their-waking-hours-staring-at-screens-2018-08-01

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JUNE 2020 |MESSENGER

ATLANTA WEST PENTECOSTAL CHURCH2960 SKYVIEW DRIVELITHIA SPRINGS, GA 30122770-944-3522 • WWW.AWPC.ORG

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