The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-11-04

Nov. s. David Grieves for Absa-
lem. 2 Sam. lS:24-33.
Our lesson this week recounts one
of the dark passages in The life of
King David. His beautiful boy,
Absalom turned the hearts of the peo-
pie against the father and compelled
him to take refuge in flight. Little
did proud. strong David consider in the
days of his prosperity. thae he would
ever go through SO humiliating an ex-
perience David was wise enough to
know that the rebellion of Absa!om
was punishment to him for becom-
ing worldly minded. lusting after
many wives. and so conducting him
self that the hearts of the people
could be won from him. 1t will be
remembered that as David was escap-
ing from Jerusalem one Shimei revil-
ed and cursed him publicly and that
David would not rebuke him, say-
ing. Let him alone for the Lord
has hidden him; 1t may be that the
Lord will requite me good for his
cursing this day." David is not the
first or the last man or woman whose
conscience will tell them that certain
humiliations and defeats are but JUS
tice for wrong. they have done. 1t
has been said that when the time
for judgment comes, for deeds done in
the body. that one who has deliberate
ly spurned Col all his life. will rec
ognize that justice is given him, if
not placed on the same footing as
those who have loved God and serv-
ed Him through life. The man who
would not put OH the wedding gar
ment furnished by the giver of the
feast. had nothing to say in justifca-
ton. when he was taken from the
table and put out of the house.
| The history tells that the rebellion
of Absalom was short1ived, that he
was captured in battle and killed.
His father directed that the sons life
be spared but the great leader of
David's hosts. Joab. would not have
it thus. and personally took the life
of the hayward boy. Later he re.
buked David for mourning over the
death of his enemy and bid him show
signs of joy in the presence of the
people over the defeat of the rebel
lion.
o! the vail of that broken
hearted father when he cried out
"Would Gcd ] had died for thee.
o Absalom. my son. my son. The
bitterness of that hour was not light
ened by the fact that the Kingdom
was again to be his. and that he re-
gained his lost power. Only those
who have been through the ordeal
know what it is to suffer for the
wickedness of son or daughter.
Oft times the parents have not been
at fault. They have done the very
best they could and yet the children
have come under bad influences. De-
spite the prayers and entreatles of low
ed ones. the path toward destruction
is chosen by the headstrong child.
Grief under such circumstances is deep
enough. but it is still worse when
parents feel in their hearts that they
have not done we'll. have not set
good example for the children.
Then it is they go into the depths
with David and feel to cry out,
"Would that died for thee, my son,
my girl. ("
Thus there are warnings for the
hayward proud son, and the over in
dulgent parent. in the lesson of this
date. Plotting against ones parents,
undermining their standing and inau-
ence is rank ingratitude and will not
go unpublished. Absalom's triumph
was short indeed. David suffered for
his wickedness through the evil doing
of his boy. The golden text says,
"a foolish son is a grief to mis- faith
err and experience certainly bears
this out.