The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-07-03


t.phesians ell
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 flight and Joab's strategy IN
getting him back to Jerusalem ten.
40. All is not as well, however. as II
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
slays his brother. Act ii. David fails
to become fully reconciled. Act III. Alb
salom's rebellion. Act Nv. Davlds
grief. The lesson for today has to DO
with Acts III. and w.
Act ~. Scene 1. David's Flight
and Finesse, chapters Is, 10 and IL.
"A foolish son is a grief to his father,
and bitterness to her that bare him
prov. 17:25). On the other hand an
indulgent and an Indifferent father
hr;ooo oriaf tn hic SON
Scene 2. The Battle Of Mount
Ephraim (chapter 49,. David at the
Gate, v. Is. The place where David
numbered" ". u his followers was
Mahanaim 17:2O, where Jacob saw
the two hosts" of angels (Gen. 32:l,
p. What David saw was quite dif'
ferent. AS he waited he had time to
contemplate that other time that ne
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. HID. AD-
SALON was shrewd as men count
shrewdness, but he made one fatal
omission in planning his campaign,
ne left God out of his reckoning ten.
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 own
son. 1t is, indeed, a sad, sad spectacle
| 80 nor;I STAND uotchiup his armv
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 con
Germ was for. Absalom, not for himself
nor for his army, but the time wher
his anxiety would avail had passed
Every man pays dearly. sooner or la
ter, for his sin; the longer he waits
the greater the reckoning.
Scene 8. AbsaIom's Defeat, Wv. 6
10. The battle was so planned tina
the advantage Of the forest was on Da
vid's side and more Of the enemies o
David were smitten by the hand o
God ". 81 than we're slain by tn
servants Of David. These mel
brought judgment upon themselve
through their disloyalty to God
chosen king Judges $40, 2D and Il
this we see a type of that final victor
which shall end our David's engage
ment with his foes (Rev. 79:11-21
III Thess. 2:S). Men who today ar
disloyal or disobedient to God
! chosen King can only expect "a Gel
tain fearful looking for Of judgment an
/ fiery indignation which shall devou
the adversaries" (Heb. 10:2O. At tn
end of the battle proud Absalom is nc
, found in his chariot, but helplessly Ell
| tangled in the crown Of his pride.
) Scene 4. AbsaIom's Death, Wv. I'LL
"Absalom CHANGED to meet" ".
, W; there is no chance in the prov
E dences of God. His desire to NEE
: David's servants is granted, yet ths
: meeting brought Absalom dismay. d
r feat and ruin.
Joab now takes matters into b
own hands. He held David in b
power and had a debt to pay Absalol
= (ch. 1929. Most dearly did Absalol
; pay the penalty to this vengeful, tim
+. abiding soldier. Joab was not confer
. to slay this proud youth. but, to sho
. his contempt, he cast the dead boo
= into a pit and raised over it "gre'
= heap" Of stones ". I'D. So Absalom
= proud monument ". 49, failed Of i
intended purpose. David's victor
was complete; even so will be the
innate victory Of our greater Davit
(Phil. 2:10, III.
!; Act w. David's Grief, v. 49,
. Scene 1. The Messengers. Again o.
. attention is centered upon the gris
stricken father. His anxiety Is 81
" cere and heart-breaking, but 1t
tardy. The first messenger, Ahimaa
Is a good man, but brings not got
news. Is our message one of life
of death? The second messeng
q gives a diplomatic but blunt answ
70 to David's anxious inquiry. VIII
~ cared David for his enemies, his arm
:. nay for himself. if only the "youl
man" were safe.
Application. as the young m
Is safe?" Industrially, socially, physic
Dr. iy, morally. spiritually, his safety
Is dends upon the guidance of the hon
Do the father and the church. Only
parents hear and obey the Maste
words, Bring thy son hither" (Lu
9.4I) is the Young man safe. Davi,