Middletown transcript., 1915-07-03
LESSON FOR JULY
AssALoM's FAILURE.

parents In the Lord; for this is right
Ephestans e:L
His connivance with Joab, In the
death Of .Uriah, was a costly bargain
for David. and the development of sin
In his family with its long train of
fearful consequences teaches us that
sin respects not person nor position.
The dark story of chapter 13 involves
Absalom's fight and Joab's strategy In
getting him back to Jerusalem (ch-
40. All is not as well, however, as It
outwardly appears, for Absalom the
beautiful Q4:25) soon stole the heart
Of the ten tribes, Israel (ch. 15), from
his indulgent and Indifferent parent
Then follows the story of that fathers
flight and Of the sons entry into the
capital city.
This entire story is one of the most
wonderful dramas recorded in secular
or sacred history 1t may be divided
roughly as follows: Act L Absalom
Stays his brother. Act H. David fails
to become fully reconciled. Act I'LL Abb
salom's rebellion Act w. David's
grief The lesson for today has to do
with Acts Ill and ".
Act Ill. Scene I. Davfd7s Flight
and Flnesse, chapters Is, 16 and II.
"A foolish son is grief to his father,
and bitterness to her that bare him"
prov 17:25). On the other hand an
indulgent and an Indifferent father
brings grief to his son.
Scene 2. The Battle Of Mount
Ephralm (chapter 19). David at the
Gate, v. Is. The place where David
numbered" ". u his followers was
Mahanaim C17:2D, where Jacob saw
the two hosts" of angels (Gen. S2:1,
o. What David saw was quite diff
ferent- As he waited he had time to
contemplate that other time that he
remained behind when he ought to
have gone forth to battle and which
resulted In the sin for which he was
even now suffering (ch- 11:1-7l- Abb
salon was shrewd as men count
shrewdness. but he made one fatal
omission in planning his campaign,
he left God out of his reckoning (ch.
17:14 R. W. David's use of Hushai
was fully justified by the situation
into which this reckless son was pre-
cipitated, still it is probable that David
listened to the advice of his followers
". - more willingly because Of his
reluctance to fight against his own
son. 1t is, indeed, a sad, sad spectacle
to see David stand watching his army
go out to battle, perhaps to slay his
son, and his exhortation w. 81 to his
three captains falls upon dun ears in
the case of Joab. David's chief con-
Germ was for Absalom, not for himself
nor for his army, but the time when
his anxiety would avaI had passed
Every man pays dearly, sooner or la
ter, for his sin; the longer he waits
the greater the reckoning.
Scene 3. Absalom's Defeat, w. g.
10. The battle was so planned that
the advantage Of the forest was ON Da-
vid's side and more of the enemies of
David were smitten by the hand Of
God ". 81 than we're slain by the
servants Of David These men
brought Judgment upon themselves
through their disloyalty to Gods
chosen king Judges $50, ~ and in
this we see type of that final victory
which shall end our David's engage.
ment with his foes Grew. Ts:11-21;
II Thess- 2:S). Men who today are
disIoyal or disobedient to Gods
chosen King can only expect "a GER
tain fearful looking for of Judgment and
fiery indignation which shall devour
he adversaries" CHeh. 10:2D. At the
end of the battle proud Absalom is not
found in his chariot, but helplessly en-
tangled in the crown of his pride.
Scene a. Absalom's Death, W. Ills
"Absalom chanced to meet ". 9 R.
W; there is no chance in the pruvi
dences of God. His desire to meet
David's servants is granted. yet that
meeting brought Absalom dismay, de-
feat and ruin.
Joab now takes matters into his
own hands. He held David in his
power and had a debt to pay AbsaIom
(ch- 14:29)- Most dearly did AhsaIom
pay the penalty to this vengeful, time.
abiding soldier. Joab was not content
to slay this proud youth, but, to show
his contempt, he cast the dead body
into pit and raised over It a great
heap" Of stones ". III. So AbEalom's
proud monument ". 1S) failed Of it's
intended purpose. David's victory
was complete; even SO will be the Ill
innate victory of our greater David"
(Phil. 2:fo, III.
Act w. DaVId's Grief, '. 1888.
Scene I. The Messengers. Again our
attention is centered upon the grief
stricken father. His anxiety is Gin
cere and heart-brealdng, but it is
tardy. The first messenger, Ahimaax,
is a good man, but brings not good
news. Is our message one of life or
of death? The second messenger
gives a diplomatic but a blunt answer
to David's anxious inquiry. What
cared David for his enemies, his army.
nay for himself. If only the young
man" were safe.
Application. 'Is the young man
safe?" Industrially, socially. physical
ly, morally. spiritually. his safety do
dends upon the guidance Of the homo.
the father and the church. Only as
parents hear and obey the Masters
words. Bring thy son hither" QUhe
s;41) Is the young man safe. DaVid's
sin was not, however, sufficient cause
for Absalom's downfall; he courted
his own ruin (John 5:40).
David's sorrow finds it's counterpart
in the grief of Christ Ouke 1874. ~;
David's cry that he might die TOR Ab-
salon finds it's fulfIlment in the fact
that Christ did die for his enemies
The great outstanding Iesann Of this |