Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/286

 he owed  David,  as  a son  to  his  father  and  as  a subject  to  his  king. For firstly  he  spoke  evil  of  his  father,  deeply  grieved  him  and  caused him to  shed  tears  of  anguish,  and  not  only  disobeyed  him,  but  set himself up  actively  against  him. Secondly, he  wantonly  blamed  the king’s mode  of  government  and,  arms  in  hand,  rebelled  against  the anointed of  the  Lord. He also  sinned  against  the  fifth  Commandment by inducing  a number  of  the  people  to  revolt  against  their  lawful sovereign.

The punishment  for  breaking  the  Fourth  Commandment. Absalom’s unnatural and  detestable  conduct  towards  a father  so  worthy  of  love met with  the  punishment  which  it  deserved. A terrible fate  awaited Absalom. He did  not  perish  in  battle,  for  very  early  in  the  day  he thought  of  saving  his  own  life  and  took  to  flight. He believed  he could  escape  from  his  pursuers;  but,  by  God’s  Providence,  his  head caught in  a tree  and  there  he  hung  in  mid-air  till  Joab  came  and  pierced his ungrateful,  disobedient  heart. He had  hoped  to  be  raised  to  the throne, but  he  met  with  the  death  of  a criminal. His hair,  of  which he was  so  proud  and  which  he  had  hoped  to  adorn  with  a royal crown, caught  in  the  branch  of  a tree  and  brought  him  to  his  ruin. Instead of  the  sceptre  which  he  had  tried  to  grasp,  three  spears  transfixed his  treacherous  heart. Instead of  being  crowned  with  the  honour and renown  he  had  coveted,  he  was  buried  in  a dishonourable  grave and his  memory  laden  with  infamy. In him  God  fulfilled  His  words: "Cursed be  he  who  honoureth  not  his  father  and  mother”; and  this curse  will  fall  on  all  those  children  who  despise  and  neglect  their  parents, or  cause  them  anguish  of  heart  by  their  defiance  and  disobedience. How  will  it  have  fared  with  Absalom  in  the  next  world?  For  not  only his  father’s  tears,  but  the  blood  of  the  20,000  slain  whom  he  induced to  sin  by  his  flatteries  and  promises  will  have  accused  him  before  God and  cried  out  for  vengeance.

The love  of  parents  for  their  children.  David’s  love  for  his  thankless son  never  changed. “O, that  I had  died  for  thee!”  he  cried. Parents often  love  their  children  much  more  than  they  deserve,  therefore it  is  all  the  more  heartless  and  ungrateful  of  children  to  offend their parents.

Gentleness and  patience  under  suffering.  It  grieved  David  deeply that his  own  son  should  come  out  against  him  as  a mortal  enemy. His heart  bled,  and  he  shed  bitter  tears  when  he  thought  of  the  ingratitude and  impiety  of  his  child,  the  faithlessness  of  his  people,  and  the misery which  this  civil  war  kindled  by  Absalom  would  bring  on  his country. Yet he  neither  complained  nor  murmured,  nor  did  he  curse his wicked  son; but  he  bore  all  the  suffering  and  injustice  with  patience and gentleness,  saying  to  himself: “I  have  deserved  all  these  misfortunes, for I have  grievously  sinned  against  God.”  Thus  we  too  ought  to  do penance  for  our  sins,  by  patience  under  suffering.