The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-06

most breathless the young man cried:
''All is well. Failing upon his face be-
fore the king, an eastern custom ex-
pressing reverence (teh. vili:6). he said:
Blessed be the Lord, which hath deliv-
cred up tho men that lifted UP their hands
against the king
& Victory had been gained through Gods
help. Tho priest knew. that David would
rejoice not more In the victory than in
the recognition Of the Almighty's hand.
This was message enough, oil, the mes
&c Ahimaaz had. as a minister OF re-.
llgion preparing for sadder news. (Psalm
cxv:1.) Then came the negro servant,
sterner and more direct, declaring Of
ficlally: II have tidings." merely an
avenged thee :of ali them that rose up
against thee. He began with recosni-
/ ton Of God, but he ended with less agree
able words. Enen!es with uplifted hands!
Avenged Il The iexpressions were, calcu-
lated to awaken suspicious OF the evil
that had befallsh. David must have an
tlcipated the worst By this time.
1NQr1RING,--It is evident that Ahi-
maaz and Cushi both supposed that they
we're rendering aI,va1uable service to the
King. With gladness they had swept
along the way to make him know OF the
victory, and they had reason to expect
comm ndation. But the first had scarce
ly finished when David said: IL Absa-
lom safer" Receiving an evasive answer.
he made the runner stand aside and put
the same question to Cushi. after his
moro father than king. He was not
indifferent To- the national welfare. Had
hes been he owolld mot have sent out his
forces to fight ona the confines Of his
dominion. But his heart yearned for
Absalou1. Whatever Of natural affec-
ton he may have had for the wayward
young man, II Is possible that he hoped
that by some means his life might be
spared while the rebellion was suppress-
ed. Remembrance OF his own domestic
sins may have increased his anxiety.
RDPLYING.-rhe answer OF Ahimaax
may have been. according to his best
knowledge, or he may have suppressed
part of thei truth. being unwilling to bear
the message. But Cushi, schooled to do
another's bidding. withheld not the real
condition. True. he did not enter Into
details. and say that twenty thousand
mon lay dead upon the field; that Absa-
omShad .heenyt thrust through with a dart,
welded bysJoab; that. hea had been cast
into 4 Z pit; /, that stones: had been piled
upon him, as an. expression Of contempt
(verse 17.) He did not even say in plain
words that Absalom was dead, but no
did say what any one might interpret
as much as the Same. There was no
piety or pity In his words. They were
| loyalty to the king. Cushi felt that the
isyoung uIan had received his deserts,
| fats due to all rebels. He was thinking
!, OF the kingdom. but he spoke With ad-
| mlrable RentleliAss and wisdom. because
Of his rel gard for the king.
WEEPING-Cushis words went like
arrows to the heart Of David. Abruptly
! leaving the company, he hastened to the
chamber over the gate. With uncon-
4 trollable grief no cried. as he went. 20,
1 my son, Absalom, would God had died
for thee. - The scene is one Of the most
pathetic in all history. and It appeals
even at this distance Of time to all the
deeper feelings OF human nature. His
J conduct was quite different from that
i OF Aaron at the death OF Nadab and
Abihu (I.ev., x:8j and OF Ell. who lost
his son Ia battle, but was most concerned
for the ark Of God. David. on another
occasion, was resigned to the will Of
Coo psalm, xxxix:9I His grief was
even criminal because II obscured the
divine Judgment, He 9ou gllt to have been
thankful for dellverance and submitted
humbly to Providence. but he was a
man Of tears ana sorrows. and these re-
vealed his character and explained his
career.
toNcLusIoN-our lesson affords in-
| struction on four points: i, We see how
bad It Is possible for . child to be. and
what Is the fate. Of "A Maynard son.
| (Prov., xxix:1D. 2. Ptous parents are
most anxious for 'dlsobedient children.
and one might think their love Is greater
for those who deserve It least. (Matt..
xvliiIl.121. g.. Life has Its dark and
| briehtt eideS BlesStngsi are accompanied
by advers1ties. The salvation OF ma
ton. was purchased by the death Of a
son. we often pay hearFfor our great
gains; dob, it:lol. 4. We must learn
to watch and pray against inordinats