Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-08-13
|. David's Sins ops. 10Y,

!. David's Sins (12:9, 1O).
1. Adultery ". 8; cf. IL Id. David
instead of going forth at the head of
the army as was the duty of the king
Q1:D, sent Joab and his servants,
and he himself lounged around at
home in idleness. 1t was while in
idleness that he fell a victim to his
lust and committed adultery with
Bathsheba. IAN idle brain is the
Devils workshop The crimes of the
world are committed for the most part
by idle men and women.
2. Murder (12: cf. II 1:15-2D.
Having committed adultery with
Uriahs wife, David tried to cover up
his sin by killing Uriah. He ordered
Joab to place Uriah at the forefront
of the battle where he would surely
be killed. When men sin they en-
deavor to cover up their sin by COM
| mitting other sins, and usually it re-
quires the doing of greater wickedness
to cover up wrong that has been done
ii. David's Sorrow (1S:1-33).
1. The battle between Absalom and
David wv. 1-1S). Following Absalom's
revolt, David fed from Jerusalem.
After counsel with Ahithophel and
4 Hushai, Absalom with his men went
1 in pursuit. Absalom planned well, but
made one great mistake-he left God
1 out of the question.
Being dissuaded by the people,
David foregoes his purpose of going
i forth with the army. He sent the
army forth under three commanders.
His one special request as they went
to 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 entanglement of
the woods than by the sword. In the
fight, Absalom was caught in the
bough of tree by the head, and 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
CDeut. 27:1e, 20; 21:23). They dis.
gracefully disposed of his body wv. II
1Sl. They cast it into pit and piled
stones upon it as a fitting monument
of his villainy. How different from
what he planned ". 1S). His one am
| bition was to be remembered.
heap of stones piled upon him in con
tempt is quite different from a toml
/ in the kings vale. The shameful en(
, Of this unfortunate man should be /;
J warning to the many 'rebellious SON.
| and daughters growing up over oul
J land.
2. The victorious tidings announced
: to David wv. 1892. He was anxious
: ly waiting for news from the battle
field. So anxious was he that he sta
toned a watchman upon the walls t,
look for some messenger to appear
His first question to the messenge
: shows what was uppermost in hi
heart. 1t was the welfare of his boy
3. David mourns for Absalom (y
j 33). He received the news of his re
: bellious sons death with much regret
D The good news Of the victory was en-
] tirely lost sight of through excessiv
q grief. The sobs of his poor hear
] must have been awful. Perhaps it
impossible to analyze his sorrow, bu
most likely the following element
) were present:
O) The loss of a son. The ties o
: nature bind together the hearts o
parents and children in such a wa
that separation by death is very try
ing; (2) the death Of son in re
!, bellion against his father and Goo
Could he but have had the assuranc
that this course was regretted, o
> could he have heard a cry of forgive
ness, his grief, no doubt, would hav
been greatly iessened; (3) he knew
that his rebellious son had now gon
: to answer to God for his crimes-h
. . knew their parting was forever; a
:. he knew that this was but the bite
fruit of his own sin. In a sense he wa
the destroyer Of his own child. May thi
: example deeply impress all parents a
: to their responsibility Away fro1
this dark picture we turn to conten
plate the depths Of a fathers love
Death effaces all faults; all wrong
are forgotten and only the memory O
happy days is kept. The father /
willing to die, even for a rebellion
son. This illustrates Gods love to u
in Christ which made him willing t
a die for his children.