patriarchs and prophets-第192章
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loyal subject。 But in the affliction of the king this Benjamite revealed his
true character。 He had honored David upon his throne； but he cursed him in
his humiliation。 Base and selfish； he looked upon others as of the same
character as himself； and； inspired by Satan； he wreaked his hatred upon him
whom God had chastened。 The spirit that leads man to triumph over； to revile
or distress； one who is in affliction is the spirit of Satan。
Shimei's accusations against David were utterly falsea baseless and
malignant slander。 David had not been guilty of wrong toward Saul or his
house。 When Saul was wholly in his power； and he could have slain him； he
merely cut the skirt of his robe； and he reproached himself for showing even
this disrespect for the Lord's anointed。
Of David's sacred regard for human life； striking evidence had been given；
even while he himself was hunted like a beast of prey。 One day while he was
hidden in the cave of Adullam； his thoughts turning back to the untroubled
freedom of his boyhood life； the fugitive exclaimed； 〃Oh that one would give
me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem； which is by the gate！〃
2 Samuel 23：13…17。 Bethlehem was at that time in the hands of
the Philistines； but three mighty men of David's band broke through the
guard； and brought of the water of Bethlehem to their master。 David could
not drink it。 〃Be it far from me；〃 he
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cried； 〃is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their
lives？〃 And he reverently poured out the water as an offering to God。 David
had been a man of war； much of his life had been spent amid scenes of
violence； but of all who have passed through such an ordeal； few indeed have
been so little affected by its hardening； demoralizing influence as was
David。
David's nephew； Abishai； one of the bravest of his captains； could not
listen patiently to Shimei's insulting words。 〃Why；〃 he exclaimed； 〃should
this dead dog curse my lord the king？ let me go over； I pray thee； and take
off his head。〃 But the king forbade him。 〃Behold；〃 he said； 〃my son 。 。 。
seeketh my life： how much more now may this Benjamite do it？ let him alone；
and let him curse； for the Lord hath bidden him。 It may be that the Lord
will look on mine affliction； and that the Lord will requite me good for his
cursing this day。〃
Conscience was uttering bitter and humiliating truths to David。 While his
faithful subjects wondered at his sudden reverse of fortune； it was no
mystery to the king。 He had often had forebodings of an hour like this。 He
had wondered that God had so long borne with his sins； and had delayed the
merited retribution。 And now in his hurried and sorrowful flight； his feet
bare； his royal robes changed for sackcloth； the lamentations of his
followers awaking the echoes of the hills； he thought of his loved
capitalof the place which had been the scene of his sin and as he
remembered the goodness and long…suffering of God； he was not altogether
without hope。 He felt that the Lord would still deal with him in mercy。
Many a wrongdoer has excused his own sin by pointing to David's fall； but
how few there are who manifest David's penitence and humility。 How few would
bear reproof and retribution with the patience and fortitude that he
manifested。 He had confessed his sin； and for years had sought to do his
duty as a faithful servant of God； he had labored for the upbuilding of his
kingdom； and under his rule it had attained to strength and prosperity never
reached before。 He had gathered rich stores of material for the building of
the house of God； and now was all the labor of his life to be swept away？
Must the results of years of consecrated toil； the work of genius and
devotion and statesmanship； pass into the hands of his reckless and
traitorous son； who regarded not the honor of God nor the prosperity of
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Israel？ How natural it would have seemed for David to murmur against God in
this great affliction！
But he saw in his own sin the cause of his trouble。 The words of the prophet
Micah breathe the spirit that inspired David's heart。 〃When I sit in
darkness； the Lord shall be a light unto me。 I will bear the indignation of
the Lord； because I have sinned against Him； until He plead my cause； and
execute judgment for me。〃 Micah 7：8； 9。 And the Lord did not forsake David。
This chapter in his experience； when； under cruelest wrong and insult； he
shows himself to be humble； unselfish； generous； and submissive； is one of
the noblest in his whole experience。 Never was the ruler of Israel more
truly great in the sight of heaven than at this hour of his deepest outward
humiliation。
Had God permitted David to go on unrebuked in sin； and while transgressing
the divine precepts； to remain in peace and prosperity upon his throne； the
skeptic and infidel might have had some excuse for citing the history of
David as a reproach to the religion of the Bible。 But in the experience
through which He caused David to pass； the Lord shows that He cannot
tolerate or excuse sin。 And David's history enables us to see also the great
ends which God has in view in His dealings with sin； it enables us to trace；
even through darkest judgments； the working out of His purposes of mercy and
beneficence。 He caused David to pass under the rod； but He did not destroy
him； the furnace is to purify； but not to consume。 The Lord says； 〃If they
break My statutes； and keep not My commandments； then will I visit their
transgression with the rod； and their iniquity with stripes。 Nevertheless My
loving…kindness will I not utterly take from him； nor suffer My faithfulness
to fail。〃 Psalm 89：31…33。
Soon after David left Jerusalem； Absalom and his army entered； and without a
struggle took possession of the stronghold of Israel。 Hushai was among the
first to greet the new…crowned monarch； and the prince was surprised and
gratified at the accession of his father's old friend and counselor。 Absalom
was confident of success。 Thus far his schemes had prospered； and eager to
strengthen his throne and secure the confidence of the nation； he welcomed
Hushai to his court。
Absalom was now surrounded by a large force； but it was mostly composed of
men untrained for war。 As yet they had not
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been brought into conflict。 Ahithophel well knew that David's situation was
far from hopeless。 A large part of the nation were still true to him； he was
surrounded by tried warriors； who were faithful to their king； and his army
was commanded by able and experienced generals。 Ahithophel knew that after
the first burst of enthusiasm in favor of the new king； a reaction would
come。 Should the rebellion fail； Absalom might be able to secure a
reconciliation with his father； then Ahithophel； as his chief counselor；
would be held most guilty for the rebellion； upon him the heaviest
punishment would fall。 To prevent Absalom from retracing his steps；
Ahithophel counseled him to an act that in the eyes of the whole nation
would make reconciliation impossible。 With hellish cunning this wily and
unprincipled statesman urged Absalom to add the crime of incest to that of
rebellion。 In the sight of all Israel he was to take to himself his father's
concubines； according to the custom of oriental nations； thus declaring that
he succeeded to his father's throne。 And Absalom carried out the vile
suggestion。 Thus was fulfilled the word of God to David by the prophet；
〃Behold； I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house； and I
will take thy wives before thine eyes； and give them unto thy neighbor。 。 。
。 For thou didst it secretly： but I will do this thing before all Israel；
and before the sun。〃 2 Samuel 12：11； 12。 Not that God prompted these acts of
wickedness； but because of David's sin He did not exercise His power to
prevent them。
Ahithophel had been held in high esteem for his wisdom； but he was destitute
of the enlightenment which comes from God。 〃The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom〃 （Proverbs 9：10）； and this； Ahithophel did not possess；
or he cou
