patriarchs and prophets-第173节

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Absalom　safe？〃　Ahimaaz　returned　an　evasive　answer。

The　second　messenger　came；　crying；　〃Tidings；　my　lord　the　king：　for　the　Lord
hath　avenged　thee　this　day　of　all　them　that　rose　up　against　thee。〃　Again
from　the　father's　lips　came　the　absorbing　question；　〃Is　the　young　man
Absalom　safe？〃　Unable　to　conceal　the　heavy　tidings；　the　herald　answered；
〃The　enemies　of　my　lord　the　king；　and　all　that　rise　against　thee　to　do　thee
hurt；　be　as　that　young　man　is。〃　It　was　enough。　David　questioned　no　further；
but　with　bowed　head　he　〃went　up　to　the　chamber　over　the　gate；　and　wept：　and
as　he　went；　thus　he　said；　O　my　son　Absalom！　my　son；　my　son　Absalom！　would
God　I　had　died　for　thee；　O　Absalom；　my　son；　my　son！〃

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The　victorious　army；　returning　from　the　field；　approached　the　city；　their
shouts　of　triumph　awaking　the　echoes　of　the　hills。　But　as　they　entered　the
city　gate　the　shout　died　away；　their　banners　drooped　in　their　hands；　and
with　downcast　gaze　they　advanced　more　like　those　who　had　suffered　defeat
than　like　conquerors。　For　the　king　was　not　waiting　to　bid　them　welcome；　but
from　the　chamber　above　the　gate　his　wailing　cry　was　heard；　〃O　my　son
Absalom！　my　son；　my　son　Absalom！　would　God　I　had　died　for　thee；　O　Absalom；
my　son；　my　son！〃

〃The　victory　that　day　was　turned　into　mourning　unto　all　the　people；　for　the
people　heard　say　that　day　how　the　king　was　grieved　for　his　son。　And　the
people　gat　them　by　stealth　that　day　into　the　city；　as　people　being　ashamed
steal　away　when　they　flee　in　battle。〃

Joab　was　filled　with　indignation。　God　had　given　them　reason　for　triumph　and
gladness；　the　greatest　rebellion　that　had　ever　been　known　in　Israel　had　been
crushed；　and　yet　this　great　victory　was　turned　to　mourning　for　him　whose
crime　had　cost　the　blood　of　thousands　of　brave　men。　The　rude；　blunt　captain
pushed　his　way　into　the　presence　of　the　king；　and　boldly　said；　〃Thou　hast
shamed　this　day　the　faces　of　all　thy　servants；　which　this　day　have　saved　thy
life；　and　the　lives　of　thy　sons　and　of　thy　daughters；　。　。　。　in　that　thou
lovest　thine　enemies；　and　hatest　thy　friends。　For　thou　hast　declared　this
day；　that　thou　regardest　neither　princes　nor　servants：　for　this　day　I
perceive；　that　if　Absalom　had　lived；　and　all　we　had　died　this　day；　then　it
had　pleased　thee　well。　Now　therefore　arise；　go　forth；　and　speak　comfortably
unto　thy　servants：　for　I　swear　by　the　Lord；　if　thou　go　not　forth；　there　will
not　tarry　one　with　thee　this　night：　and　that　will　be　worse　unto　thee　than
all　the　evil　that　befell　thee　from　thy　youth　until　now。〃

Harsh　and　even　cruel　as　was　the　reproof　to　the　heart…stricken　king；　David
did　not　resent　it。　Seeing　that　his　general　was　right；　he　went　down　to　the
gate；　and　with　words　of　courage　and　commendation　greeted　his　brave　soldiers
as　they　marched　past　him。





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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　73

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Last　Years　of　David


The　overthrow　of　Absalom　did　not　at　once　bring　peace　to　the　kingdom。　So
large　a　part　of　the　nation　had　joined　in　revolt　that　David　would　not　return
to　his　capital　and　resume　his　authority　without　an　invitation　from　the
tribes。　In　the　confusion　that　followed　Absalom's　defeat　there　was　no　prompt
and　decided　action　to　recall　the　king；　and　when　at　last　Judah　undertook　to
bring　back　David；　the　jealousy　of　the　other　tribes　was　roused；　and　a
counterrevolution　followed。　This；　however；　was　speedily　quelled；　and　peace
returned　to　Israel。

The　history　of　David　affords　one　of　the　most　impressive　testimonies　ever
given　to　the　dangers　that　threaten　the　soul　from　power　and　riches　and
worldly　honorthose　things　that　are　most　eagerly　desired　among　men。　Few
have　ever　passed　through　an　experience　better　adapted　to　prepare　them　for
enduring　such　a　test。　David's　early　life　as　a　shepherd；　with　its　lessons　of
humility；　of　patient　toil；　and　of　tender　care　for　his　flocks；　the　communion
with　nature　in　the　solitude　of　the　hills；　developing　his　genius　for　music
and　poetry；　and　directing　his　thoughts　to　the　Creator；　the　long　discipline
of　his　wilderness　life；　calling　into　exercise　courage；　fortitude；　patience；
and　faith　in　God；　had　been　appointed　by　the　Lord　as　a　preparation　for　the
throne　of　Israel。　David　had　enjoyed　precious　experiences　of　the　love　of　God；
and　had　been　richly　endowed　with　His　Spirit；　in　the　history　of　Saul　he　had
seen　the　utter　worthlessness　of　mere　human　wisdom。　And　yet　worldly　success
and　honor　so　weakened　the　character　of　David　that　he　was　repeatedly　overcome
by　the　temper。

Intercourse　with　heathen　peoples　led　to　a　desire　to　follow　their　national
customs　and　kindled　ambition　for　worldly　greatness。　As　the　people　of
Jehovah；　Israel　was　to　be　honored；　but　as　pride　and　self…confidence
increased；　the　Israelites　were　not　content

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with　this　pre…eminence。　They　cared　rather　for　their　standing　among　other
nations。　This　spirit　could　not　fail　to　invite　temptation。　With　a　view　to
extending　his　conquests　among　foreign　nations；　David　determined　to　increase
his　army　by　requiring　military　service　from　all　who　were　of　proper　age。　To
effect　this；　it　became　necessary　to　take　a　census　of　the　population。　It　was
pride　and　ambition　that　prompted　this　action　of　the　king。　The　numbering　of
the　people　would　show　the　contrast　between　the　weakness　of　the　kingdom　when
David　ascended　the　throne　and　its　strength　and　prosperity　under　his　rule。
This　would　tend　still　further　to　foster　the　already　too　great
self…confidence　of　both　king　and　people。　The　Scripture　says；　〃Satan　stood　up
against　Israel；　and　provoked　David　to　number　Israel。〃　The　prosperity　of
Israel　under　David　had　been　due　to　the　blessing　of　God　rather　than　to　the
ability　of　her　king　or　the　strength　of　her　armies。　But　the　increasing　of　the
military　resources　of　the　kingdom　would　give　the　impression　to　surrounding
nations　that　Israel's　trust　was　in　her　armies；　and　not　in　the　power　of
Jehovah。

Though　the　people　of　Israel　were　proud　of　their　national　greatness；　they　did
not　look　with　favor　upon　David's　plan　for　so　greatly　extending　the　military
service。　The　proposed　enrollment　caused　much　dissatisfaction；　consequently
it　was　thought　necessary　to　employ　the　military　officers　in　place　of　the
priests　and　magistrates；　who　had　formerly　taken　the　census。　The　object　of
the　undertaking　was　directly　contrary　to　the　principles　of　a　theocracy。　Even
Joab　remonstrated；　unscrupulous　as　he　had　heretofore　shown　himself。　He　said；
〃The　Lord　make　His　people　a　hundred　times　so　many　more　as　they　be：　but；　my
lord　the　king；　are　they　not　all　my　lord's　servants？　why　then　doth　my　lord
require　this　thing？　why　will　he　be　a　cause　of　trespass　to　Israel？
Nevertheless　the　king's　word　prevailed　against　Joab。　Wherefore　Joab
departed；　and　went　throughout　all　Israel；　and　came　to　Jerusalem。〃　The
numbering　was　not　finished　when　David　was　convicted　of　his　sin。
Self…condemned；　he　〃said　unto　God；　I　have　sinned　greatly；　because　I　have
done　this　thing：　but　now；　I　beseech　Thee；　do　away　the　iniquity　of　Thy
servant；　for　I　have　done　very　foolishly。〃　The　next　morning　a　message　was
brought　to　David　by　the　prophet　Gad：　〃Thus　saith　the　Lord；　Choose　thee
either　three　years'　famine；　or　three　months　to　be　destroyed　before

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thy　foes；　while　that　the　sword　of　thine　enemies　overtaketh　thee；　or　else
three　days　the　sword　of　the　Lord；　even　the　pestilence；　in　the　land；　and　the
angel　of　the　Lord　destroying　throughout　all　the　coasts　of　Israel。　Now
therefore；〃　said　the　prophet；　〃advise　thyself　what　word　I　shall　bring　again
to　Him　that　sent　me。〃

The　king's　answer　was；　〃I　am　in　a　great　strait：　let　us　fall　now　into　the
hand　of　the　Lord；　for　His　mercies　are　great：　and　let　me　not　fall　into　the
hand　of　man。〃

The　land　was　smitten　with　pestilence；　which　destroyed　seventy　thousand　in
Israel。　The　scourge　had　not　yet　entered　the　capital；　when　〃David　lifted　up
his　eyes；　and　saw　the　angel　of　the　Lord　stand　between　the　earth　and　the
heaven；　having　a　drawn　sword　in　his　hand　stretched　out　over　Jerusalem。　Then
David　and　the　elders　of　Israel；　who　were　clothed　in　sackcloth；　fell　upon
their　faces。〃　The　king　pleaded　with　God　in　behalf　of　Israel：　〃Is　it　not　I
that　commanded　the　people　to　be　numbered？　even　I　it　is　that　have　sinned　and
done　evil　indeed；　but　as　for　these　sheep；　what　have　they　done？　let　Thine
hand；　I　pray　Thee；　O　Lord　my　God；　be　on　me；　and　on　my　father's　house；　but
not　on　Thy　people；　that　they　should　be　plagued。〃

The　taking　of　the　census　had　caused　disaffection　among　the　people；　yet　they
had　themselves　cherished　the　same　sins　that　prompted　David's　action。　As　the
Lord　through　Absalom's　sin　visited　judgment　upon　David；　so　through　David's
error　He　punished　the　sins　of　Israel。

The　destroying　angel　had　stayed　his　course　outside　Jerusalem。　He　stood　upon
Mount　Moriah；　〃in　the　threshing　floor　of　Ornan　the　Jebusite。〃　Directed　by
the　prophet；　David　went　to　the　mountain；　and　there　built　an　altar　to　the
Lord；　〃and　offered　burnt　offerings　and　peace　offerings；　and　called　upon　the
Lord；　and　He　answered　him　from　heaven　by　fire　upon　the　altar　of　burnt
offering。〃　〃So　t