Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-03

lom went to Hebron to consummate
ms Ola boltcal conspiracy. The belief
capital to participate with the kings
son In a religious feast entrapped a
group Of 200 of the kings courtiers
and ofncials, whose presence at Hebron
when w;na Absalom proclaimed himself
ment of his action. One of the kings
most sagacious counselors, Ahitho-
phel' had secretly allied himself with
the conspiracy. In his case his dis
sension was probably due to his re-
sentiment of the dishonor David had
placed upon Bathsheba, who was Ahith-
ophels Granddaughter.
The revolution gained rapid Roadway,
for the multitude, Influenced by the
to his standard and David found safety
in a panic-stricken flight from Jerusa-
lem. We must pass over the record of
those stormy days. "the barefoot as
and his loyal followers. the cursing of
Shimei, the treachery of Mephibosheth.
the growing revolt Of the nation, that
David recognized was the Christening
hand of Jehovah. He perceived in the
acts of the malignant and ungrateful
men the discipline of divine mercy He
put his trust in Jehovah's watchful
care, made all possible efforts to in
sure his safety, while he retreated to
Mahanaim. an ancient and loyal
forest Of Ephraim, where he prepared
his defense that resulted in Absaloln's
death.
Death.
David recalled before the battle how
previously he had fallen because he
did not go to the front with his men,
so now he wanted to go forth with his
loyal band to meet the forces of Absa-
lom. who had been delayed by the
strategy of Hushai. who, as David had
prayed. made the plans of Ahithophel
appear foolish to Absalom, for, moved
by vanity. he adopted the course that
spelt defeat. death and the doom of
the revolution when his forces met
those of his father in the woods of
Ephraim. Hannah. Judas and Absalom
were three of a kind and they all met
violent deaths. The vanity OF Absa-
lom was seen in the care that he gave
to his hair. that was one of the sources
of his great beauty. 1t was his pride
and undoubtedly was one of the causes
for his being entangled in the tree.
which gave Joab an opportunity, con-
trary to the orders of David. to destroy
Absalom's life and put down the rev.
olution.
The undisciplined forces of the self
made king gave way before the 600
veterans of David and were destroyed
in the woods. Meanwhile David, who
counted his sufferings as Gods efforts
to make him what He wished him to
be, waited patiently for news from the
front. He was not afraid OF the re-
suits. but he feared what might
happen to his hayward son for whose
safety he was anxious.
AS the hours passed while he waited
for the messengers to bring the news
of the battle, he lived over again the
disappointments, despair and darkness
that had fallen to his lot during the
last few years.
God was pressing to his lips the Bit
ter cup Of human sorrow that was the
consequences of his sin In the silent
hours. shared only by the Waterman
upon the gate, the truth was dawning
unon David that Absalom was destined
TO be punished for his unfllial. unholy
and sinful conspiracy as ne had peeh
for his moral failure. II maze MN
apprehensive of the end. He tea ad
the messages that the swift.foore re !
| couriers brought from the front; u ne
first one had not the heart 70 Ieli nv, ~ q
while the second one did NOT hes IVA
to report to the he k absai Lnm was dead.
| Ths love of the father was gTea.ef
| than the affection Of the KING. ms M
| terests were first personal. tns" nre
| tional. Absalom's SAFETY n m sis .rnv
n II q
| The news of the second courier war
.oo much for David. His cup OF 80. .
| row was Overlooked. SO ne wene up
The chamber over the gate ana "ep.
| avar the death of his Maynard soi,
whose conspiracy stands forever u ~,
r. wages of sacred history. giving mn
/ 80 tame. but infamy. The punishment
NJ the evildoer is certain. the pa.nos
| ~ the tender-hearted father, Wnose
,naulrences were largely responsipie
Tor his sons failure. reveals nov he
yearned to die the death OF Ausai sn,,7d
The innocent for theg Utility. he cou ad
IN. w. hut Jesus did when he revealed
IN great love of the heavenly fatheI
| 49, our place upon the cross, SO Una.
80 r,ieht he free from the penalty OF
In the grief of David we see some
| ~ ne love that God had for SIN
@ yhen He gave His only begotter
COR m die for US, so that as we wals
81 ~. valley and shadow OF oeath we
| should fear no evil. because Jesus, ou'
| blessed Lord, had given US HIS peaCe
\ n we are to enjoy His protectloli. 'h.I
as children we must ooey OUT pa ~,
and as parents we must requFe una
our children obey their parents In the
ord for this is right. 1t was because
| Absalom failed to honor MS Iatne'
| that his life was failure, ana tne M
tive lads today throw stones INTO me-
| nonument In the opening near the TOT
% thew mass by the monolith he erect
| ed 10 commemorate his career In tne
| valley of the Kedron, at the 1901 o'
the Mount of olives.
| Let us not sin against the love OF oui
Father who Is in heaven by rejecting
the gift of love and eternal life giver
~ H. @.A