The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-07-03

ueatn OF Orlan, was q 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 10 involves
Absalom's flight and Joab's strategy In
getting him back to Jerusalem (ch.
14). All is not as we'll, however. as it
outwardly appears, for Absalom the
beautiful (14:25) 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 /. Absalom
Stays his brother. Act II. David fails
to become fully reconciled. Act III. Abb
salom's rebellion. Act w. David's
grief. The lesson for today has to do
with Acts III. and w.
Act III. Scene T.. David's Flight
and Flnesse, chapters Is, 16 and II.
"a foolish son is a grief to his father,
and bitterness to her thai bare him.
prov. 1928. On the other hand an
indulgent and an Indifferent father
brings grief to his son.
Scene 2. The Battle of Mount
Ephraim (chapter 49,. David at the
Gate, ". Is. The place where David
numbered ". u his followers was
Mahanaim (17:27), where Jacob saw
the two hosts" of angels (Gen. 32:1.
p. 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. HELD. 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
". 81 more willingly because of his
reluctance to fight against his
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 ". 81 to his
three captains falls upon dull ears in
the case of Joab. David's chief cen
Germ was for Absalom. not for himself
nor for his army, but the time when
his anxiety would avail had passed.
Every man pays dearly. sooner or la
ter, for his sin; the longer ne waits
the greater the reckoning.
Scene 8. Absalom's Defeat, Wv. g.
10. The battle was so planned that
the advantage of the forest wa 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. 2I and in
this we see a type of that final victory
which shall end our David's engage-
ment with his foes (Rev. 79:11-21;
II Thess. 2:8). Men who today are
disloyal or disobedient to Gods
chosen King can only expect "a GER
tain fearful looking for of judgment and
fiery indignation which shall devour
the adversaries" (Heb. 10:27). At the
end of the battle proud Absalom is not
found in his chariot, but helplessly en-
tangled in the crown of his pride, his
hair ". 81, while both his men and
his mule flee, leaving him to his fate.
Lost mankind is as helpless as Absa-
lom (Gal. 3:10), but has one who hung
on a tree that he might "redeem us
from the curse" of death (Gal. 3:13).
Scene 4. AbsaIom's Death, v V 11-15.
"Absalom CHANGED to meet" ". 3 r.
W; there is no chance in the proyi-
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
W hands. He held David in his
power and had a debt to pay Absalom
(ch. IA: 29). Most dearly did Absalom
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 a pit and raised over it a great
heap" of stones ". I'D. So Absalom's
proud monument ". 49, failed Of its
intended purpose. David's victory
was complete; even 30 win be the ul-
innate victory of our greater David"
(Phil. 2:10. ID.
Act ~. David's Grief, V. 1888.
Scene 1. The Messengers. Again u
attention is conferred upon the grief
stricken father. His anxiety is sin
cere and heart-breaking, but 1t il
tardy. The first messenger, Ahimaaz.
is a good man, but brings not good
news. Is u message n 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" vera safe.
Application. rs the young man
safer" Industrially, socially. physical
ly. morally. spiritually. his safety de-
dends upon the guidance of the home.
the father and the church. Only as
parents hear and obey the Masters
words, Bring thy son hither" duke
9:41) is the young man safe. David'S
MN was mt hOmevar euf71cianf oausA