December 23

2 Samuel xviii.—9. And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule; and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

10. And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

11. And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him; and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girille.

12. And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.

14. Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

15. And ten young men that bare Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

16. And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held back the people.

17. And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap

of stones upon him; and all Israel fled every one to his tent.

24. And David sat between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

25. And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.

26. And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold, another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.

29. And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult; but I knew not what it was.

31. And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

32. And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

33. And the king was much moved, and 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!

It has been objected to some of the psalms of David, that their imprecations upon his enemies exhibit a spirit of hatred and revenge, quite at variance with the spirit of Christ. But these expressions are to be taken in a prophetic sense concerning the enemies of Jehovah, and not in the spirit of private revenge. There are no traces of such a spirit in David's personal life. Saul hated and persecuted David without cause; yet David spared his life, mourned over his death, and caused the man who slew Saul, and brought the tidings, to be executed as a murderer. He did the same with the assassins of his rival Isbhooheth, the son of Saul; and he made provision for the survivors of Saul's family. He condemned the violence and treachery of Joab, his own captain. When his son Absalom got up a rebellion against him, David, to avoid bloodshed, fled from Jerusalem. As he went down toward the

Jordan, forsaken and disconsolate, Shimei cursed him, and pelted him with dirt and stones; yet, when David returned in triumph to his capital, he would not suffer Shimei to be put to death, but included him in the amnesty which he proclaimed to the rebels. And how tender he was of his ungrateful and impious son! In giving battle to his army, he charged the captains to scare Absalom; as he waited for tidings, his one thought was for the safety of Absalom: the news of victory did not cheer him, so long as Absalom's fate was unknown. And where, in human language, can be found a lament so pathetic, so heart-rending, as David poured forth over his lost son? No degree of filial ingratitude and impiety can quench a parent's love; but oh the anguish that a wayward child may bring upon his father's soul!

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 131, 188.

Thou holy and blessed Son of God, who for our sakes didst endure such contradiction of sinners against thyself, grant us, we pray thee, the spirit of meekness and patience under injury, and of forgiveness toward all who do us wrong. How often have we grieved and offended thee! Have mercy upon us, we beseech thee, and teach us to be merciful unto all men! Heavenly Father, we bless thee for thy loving-kindness toward us, so free, so constant, so abounding. We would show forth thy

loving-kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.

O God, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil! grant us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that, when he shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto him in his eternal kingdom; where with thee, O Father! and thee, O Holy Ghost! he liveth and reigneth evermore. Amen.