800 indignation. The Scriptures never pass over in silence the failures and sins of those who are otherwise prominent for their exemplary lives. Psalm 32:3-4 describes David’s condition during all this time. He who knows his own heart will hardly he surprised at anything he reads about David or any other man. “ There but for the grace of God, goes— .” TUESDAY, Aug. 10. 2 Sam. 11:18-27. Joab’s Message. One might suppose that David’s al liance with the treacherous unscrupu lous Joab might have aroused his torpid moral sense for there was nothing in common between them, at least so far as David’s better nature was concerned. Possibly Joab’s presence suggested this particular method of getting rid of Uriah the Hittite for “ oft the sight of means to do ill deeds makes ill deeds done.” David may also be reaping the bitter fruits of sparing Joab when justice de manded his execution for the murder of Abner. David was as truly guilty of the murder of Uriah as if he had driven a dagger into his breast by his own hand. When he made Joab his confederate, he gave him a hold upon him and a power over him that could not be shaken off. This is always a terrible consequence of association with wicked men. WEDNESDAY, Aug. 11, 2 Sam. 12:1- ' 14. Nathan’s Parable. God sent Nathan the prophet to David to bring him to his senses. The parable which he used for this purpose is so exquisite in its beauty, so perfect in its adaptation that it stands out as one of the finest in the Old Testament. In the sedrecy of the royal chamber the man of God tells his story with touching pathos. As he speaks of the rich man’s greed and cruelty, the king can not re strain himself and in the impatience of his anger he exclaims, “ As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die.” Then the prophet makes reply, “ Thou art the man.” In a flash David sees all he had done, and cries out in an agony of remorse, “ I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan took his life in his hands that day but he had his reward. We owe the thirty- second and fifty-first Psalms to Nathan’s sermon. Fortunate is that church that has a Nathan in the pulpit.
THE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S THURSDAY, Aug. 12. 2 Sam. 12:15- 23. David’s Sorrow for Sin. It might seem that a penitence pro duced so suddenly could not be deep or thorough but we must remember that even a momentary impression may be in delible and permanent. A certain travel er has testified that while in the moun tains he saw by a single flash of lightn ing that he stood on the brink of a precipice and ahother step would have taken him over. The effect upon him was that he started back in terror and wait ed where he was without daring to move until the morning dawn. Such a flash of lightning was Nathan’s stern “ Thou art the man.” It showed him in a mo ment the deep aggravation of his trans gression. A second glimpse or a pro longed view was not necessary. He saw enough to hate his sin and himself. His heart is seen in every line of the penetential Psalms. This anguish of remorse finds expression in graphic and convincing figures. FRIDAY, Aug. 13. 2 Sam. 13:23-36. Absalom and Ammon. God deals with David in grace and forgives his sin but he deals with him in government also and David begins to reap the bitter fruits of his own transgression. Absalom, enraged by the dishonor which Ammon had put upon his sister, took the law into his own hands, and became a fratricide. He fled for refuge to the court of his grandfather at Geshur and became an exile. The penalty of Ammon’s sin according to the Mosaic law was death, yet if David had insisted on that in the case of his own son, where would he be himself? Weak in the consciousness of his own guilt, he took no notice of the terrible crime although he must have suffered the un told anguish which every true parent does in the wrong-doing of his children. His beloved daughter was dishonored and desolate. His eldest son was mur dered in a drunken revelry, and Absalom the pride of the palace and his favorite son, was self-exiled fron\ his‘ father’s house and his native land. Surely the way of the transgressor is .hard. SATURDAY, Aug. 14. 2 Sam. 15:1-12. Absalom’s Rebellion. Absalom remained at Geshur for three years. Through the diplomacy of Joab he was finally permitted to return to the city but he was not received at court. David’s reconciliation with Absalom was
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