How The Mighty Have Fallen

I was around 13 years old when the man knocked on our door.  It was the late 1960's and the Vietnam War was furiously raging.  It had never been a popular war, but still thousands of America's sons were serving their country far away from home and in harm's way.

I remember it was in the evening when the soldier came to our front door.  My mother and I were home alone.  My dad had just been admitted to the hospital for gallbladder surgery, my sister was out with friends, and my brother, a Marine, was fighting the enemy somewhere deep in Vietnam.  As I peeked through the front door at the smartly dressed marine, my mom and I both knew the was bringing bad news.

"Your son is alive," The Marine officer said as he addressed my mom through the screen door, "but he has been badly wounded."  As we invited the Marine into our home he went on to explain, "an enemy rocket exploded near your son."  He explained how the rocket sent shrapnel through his body ripping apart one of his kidneys and causing other internal problems.  My mom sat in shock.  As the Marine continued speaking it was my first attempt at giving comfort to someone who had just been dealt and emotional blow.  My mom cried as I sat next to her on the couch.

War is a tragic event.  It should always be avoided, but there are times when the goodness of mankind must prevail over evil.  Today, with war pictured so vividly on television and the Internet, there are parents (on both sides) who are grieving for their sons and daughters.  No matter how just a war may be, nothing can soften the blow of a captured, wounded or killed loved one.

King David, nearly 3,000 years ago faced the same pain that parents and families face today.  The book of 2 Samuel records David's emotions during the loss of a close friend.  Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle and a messenger ran to David to tell him the news.  When David received the news he "mourned and wept and fasted until evening" (2 Samuel 1:12.)  David lamented, "How the mighty have fallen!"

When King David lost his son Amnon at the hand of another son, we are told that the "King..wept very bitterly" (2 Samuel 13:36.)  In 2 Samuel 18, David's beloved son Absalom was murdered and thrown into a a "deep pit."  When David heard the news he was "Deeply moved and...wept."  He said, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!  Would I have died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"  What parent cannot relate to the pain he must have felt?

When faced with the tragedy of war today, it is comforting to know that Jesus understands and is aware of the pain people face when bad news is delivered.  Jesus is right there, in the midst of the pain.  Fortunately, our family knew that when we received our news.  Jesus was right there comforting us through our suffering.

As we all face our own fears and uncertainties about the war, and as we hear the news of friends and loved ones who have fallen in battle, we can gather strength and hope from King David himself, "God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling....Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"  (Psalm46:1-3 & 10.)