_Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die._ HUMAN EQUALITY We have here the dying charge of an old and experienced king to a young one. I. That all men are equal in the sight of God; because-- 1. Kings even are not exempt from human mortality. 2. Nor from human frailty (1 Kings 2:2).... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man._ RELIGION NOT UNMANLY This is interesting in many ways, interesting as a picture, and as a specimen of counsel. It is an old man speaking to a young one, a king to his successor, an aged warrior to a youthful man of peace, a man of action to a man... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai._ GRATITUDE FOR KINDNESSES REPAID An old English story tells of Frescobald, an Italian merchant who showed great kindness to Thomas Cromwell when he was in sore distress far from home. The stranger was welcomed to the merchant’s dwelling, and sent back saf... [ Continue Reading ]
_And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei, the son of Gera._ DAVID AND SHIMEI David’s death-bed has never been without its own difficulties to thoughtful and reverential readers. For Shimei with all his good and his bad uses comes back again to David’s death-bed to tempt and to try David, and to dis... [ Continue Reading ]
_So David slept with his fathers _ VIEWS OF LIFE AND DEATH The view which is presented in the Scripture of the death of saints is the exact opposite of that which is popular to-day. You nearly, without exception, find death painted as a reaper coming with his sickle. That is merely a human idea. W... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bathsheba therefore went unto King Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah._ WHAT MOTHERS CAN DO FOR THEIR CHILDREN Nearly twenty times the Book of Kings makes mention of the names of mothers as connected with the good or evil deeds of their sons. We are not always told what was the character of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_And unto Abiathar the priest said the king._ FRIENDS THAT FAIL US In middle life--much more in old age--we may have many acquaintances, but we have few friends. “If,” said an old man quaintly, “my acquaintances would fill a church, my real friends could go in the pulpit.” Socrates used to keep tw... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joab had turned after Adonijah._ THE PERIL OF PROTRACTED TEMPTATION Joab was David’s nephew, the second of the three sons of his sister Zeruiah. His youngest brother, Asahel, famous for his swiftness in running, was killed by Abner at the battle of Gibeon. The oldest, Abishai, a brave, fierce, rev... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nay; but I will die here._ A WARRIOR’S DEATH The circumstances in which Joab uttered the words, “Nay; but I will die here,” were the outcome of a conspiracy which had been formed during the latter days of David to prevent Solomon, his son, reigning in his stead. I. Joab’s character. Joab as a man... [ Continue Reading ]