patriarchs and prophets-第189章
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God intended the history of David's fall to serve as a warning that even
those whom He has greatly blessed and favored are not to feel secure and
neglect watchfulness and prayer。 And thus it has proved to those who in
humility have sought to learn the lesson that God designed to teach。 From
generation to generation thousands have thus been led to realize their own
danger from the tempter's power。 The fall of David； one so greatly honored
by the Lord； has awakened in them distrust of self。 They have felt that God
alone could keep them by His power through faith。 Knowing that in Him was
their strength and safety； they have feared to take the first step on
Satan's ground。
Even before the divine sentence was pronounced against David he had begun to
reap the fruit of transgression。 His conscience was not at rest。 The agony
of spirit which he then endured is brought to view in the thirty…second
psalm。 He says：
〃Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven； whose sin is
covered。
Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity；
And in whose spirit there is no guile。
When I kept silence； my bones waxed old
Through my roaring all the day long。
For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me：
My moisture was changed as with the drought of summer。〃
Psalm 32：1…4； R。V。
And the fifty…first psalm is an expression of David's repentance； when the
message of reproof came to him from God：
〃Have mercy upon me； O God； according to Thy loving…kindness：
According unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out
my transgressions。
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Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity； and cleanse me from
my sin。
For I acknowledge my transgressions： and my sin is ever before
me。 。 。 。
Purge me with hyssop； and I shall be clean： wash me； and I
shall be whiter than snow。
Make me to hear joy and gladness；
That the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice。
Hide Thy face from my sins；
And blot out all mine iniquities。
Create in me a clean heart； O God；
And renew a right spirit within me。
Cast me not away from Thy presence；
And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me。
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation；
And uphold me with Thy free Spirit。
Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways；
And sinners shall be converted unto Thee。
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness； O God； Thou God of my
salvation：
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness。〃
Psalm 51：1…14。
Thus in a sacred song to be sung in the public assemblies of his people； in
the presence of the courtpriests and judges； princes and men of warand
which would preserve to the latest generation the knowledge of his fall； the
king of Israel recounted his sin； his repentance； and his hope of pardon
through the mercy of God。 Instead of endeavoring to conceal his guilt he
desired that others might be instructed by the sad history of his fall。
David's repentance was sincere and deep。 There was no effort to palliate his
crime。 No desire to escape the judgments threatened； inspired his prayer。
But he saw the enormity of his transgression against God； he saw the
defilement of his soul； he loathed his sin。 It was not for pardon only that
he prayed； but for purity of heart。 David did not in despair give over the
struggle。 In the promises of God to repentant sinners he saw the evidence of
his pardon and acceptance。
〃For Thou desirest not sacrifice； else would I give it：
Thou delightest not in burnt offering。
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit：
A broken and a contrite heart； O God； Thou wilt not despise。〃
Psalm 51：16； 17。
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Though David had fallen； the Lord lifted him up。 He was now more fully in
harmony with God and in sympathy with his fellow men than before he fell。 In
the joy of his release he sang：
〃I acknowledged my sin unto Thee； and mine iniquity have I
not hid。
I said； I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord；
And Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin。 。 。 。
Thou art my hiding place； Thou shalt preserve me from
trouble；
Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance。〃
Psalm 32：5…7。
Many have murmured at what they called God's injustice in sparing David；
whose guilt was so great； after having rejected Saul for what appear to them
to be far less flagrant sins。 But David humbled himself and confessed his
sin； while Saul despised reproof and hardened his heart in impenitence。
This passage in David's history is full of significance to the repenting
sinner。 It is one of the most forcible illustrations given us of the
struggles and temptations of humanity； and of genuine repentance toward God
and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ。 Through all the ages it has proved a
source of encouragement to souls that； having fallen into sin； were
struggling under the burden of their guilt。 Thousands of the children of
God； who have been betrayed into sin； when ready to give up to despair have
remembered how David's sincere repentance and confession were accepted by
God； notwithstanding he suffered for his transgression； and they also have
taken courage to repent and try again to walk in the way of God's
commandments。
Whoever under the reproof of God will humble the soul with confession and
repentance； as did David； may be sure that there is hope for him。 Whoever
will in faith accept God's promises； will find pardon。 The Lord will never
cast away one truly repentant soul。 He has given this promise： 〃Let him take
hold of My strength； that he may make peace with Me； and he shall make peace
with Me。〃 Isaiah 27：5。 〃Let the wicked forsake his way； and the unrighteous
man his thoughts： and let him return unto the Lord； and He will have mercy
upon him； and to our God； for He will abundantly pardon。〃 Isaiah 55：7。
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Chapter 72
The Rebellion of Absalom
〃He shall restore fourfold；〃 had been David's unwitting sentence upon
himself； on listening to the prophet Nathan's parable； and according to his
own sentence he was to be judged。 Four of his sons must fall； and the loss
of each would be a result of the father's sin。
The shameful crime of Amnon； the first…born； was permitted by David to pass
unpunished and unrebuked。 The law pronounced death upon the adulterer； and
the unnatural crime of Amnon made him doubly guilty。 But David；
self…condemned for his own sin； failed to bring the offender to justice。 For
two full years Absalom； the natural protector of the sister so foully
wronged； concealed his purpose of revenge； but only to strike more surely at
the last。 At a feast of the king's sons the drunken； incestuous Amnon was
slain by his brother's command。
Twofold judgment had been meted out to David。 The terrible message was
carried to him； 〃Absalom hath slain all the king's sons； and there is not
one of them left。 Then the king arose； and tare his garments； and lay on the
earth； and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent。〃 The king's
sons； returning in alarm to Jerusalem； revealed to their father the truth；
Amnon alone had been slain； and they 〃lifted up their voice and wept： and
the king also and all his servants wept very sore。〃 But Absalom fled to
Talmai； the king of Geshur； his mother's father。
Like other sons of David； Amnon had been left to selfish indulgence。 He had
sought to gratify every thought of his heart； regardless of the requiremen
