The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-08-05
1. pavId,s Sins n2.n. 1on

!. David's Sins Q2:0, 100.
1. Adultery ". .: CT. II 40. David
instead of going forth at the head Of
the army rs was the duty Of the king
.1lID, sent JOab and his servants.
and he himself loungcd around al
home Ia idlencss. II was while In
idleness that he fell victim TO his
lust and committed adultery with
Bathsheba. An idle brain is the
Devils workshop" The crimes OF the
world are committed for the most part
by Idle men aud women.
?. Murder u2:0: Ct. 11:152D.
Having committed adultery with
urahs wife. David tried to cover up
his sin by killing Uriah. lie ordered
Joab to place Uriah at the forefront
of the battle where he would surely
be killed. When men sin they en-.
deavor Ia cover up their sin by com
hitting other sins, and usually II re-.
Quires the doing Of greater wlckedness
10 cover up wrong that has been done
~. David's Sorrow as :l-33).
l. The battle between Absalom and
David wv. i-ls). Following Absalom's
revolt. David fled from Jerusalem.
After counsel with Ahithophel and
Hushai. Absalom with his men went
In pursuit. Absalom planned well. but
made one great mistake--he left God
out OF the question.
Being dissuadcd by the people
David foregoes his purpose Of going
forth with the army. lie sent the
army forth undsr three commanders.
His one special request as they went
10 battle was that they deal gently
with Absalom. The victory OF David's
army was overwhelming. The inter
ference OF Providence is marked In
that more died In the enlargement OF
the woods than by the sword. In the
flight, AbsalOm was caught In the
bough OF a tree by the head, aud was
left hanging AS the mule went forth
from under him. Perhaps his long
hair which had been his pride was
the instrument OF his destruction.
While thus hanging. Joab thrust him
through the heart with three darts.
This awful end was deservedly met
Deut. "a 10. 20: II :23). They dis
gracefully disposed OF his body wv. II,
49,. They cast IL into pit aud piled
stones upon It as fitting monument
Of his villainy. How different from
what he planned ". iS). His one am
billion was TO be remembered. A
heap OF stones piled upon him In con
tempt Is quite different from a tomb
In the kings vale.
2. The victorious tidlngs announced
20 David wv. 1882. He was anxious
~ waiting for news from the battle
field. So anxious was he that he sta
toned "A Waterman upon the walls to
look for some messenger To appear.
His first question to the messenger
shows what was uppermost In his
heart. II was the welfare Of his boy.
3. David mourns for Absalom ".
33). lie received the news of his re
bellious sons death with much regret.
The good news of the victory was en-
tirely lost sight OF through excessive
grief. The sobs of his poor heart
must have been awful. Perhaps 1t Is
impossible TO analyze his sorrow. but
most likely the following elements
were present:
(D The loss OF a son. The ties of
nature bind together the hearts of
parents and children In such way
that separation by death Is very try |
Ing; CD the death of a son Ia re
belllon against his father and God |
Could be but have had the assurance |
that this course was regretted. or |
could he have heard a cry of forgive
ness. his grief. no doubt. would have |
been greatly lessened; CD he knew /
that his rehellous son had now gone /
90 answer 20 God for his crimes-he |
knew their parting was forever; (4) |
he knew that this was but the bitter
fruit of his own sin. I'm sense he was
the destroyer Of his own child. May this
example deeply impress all parents rs
to their responsibility Away from
this dark picture we turn TO contem-
plate the depths OF fathers love.
Death eifaces all faults; all wrongs
are forgotten and only the memory OF
happy days is kept The father is
willing 10 die. even for a rebellious
son. This illustrates Gods love TO us
In Christ which made him willing 10
die for his children.