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The Beginning of the End
band neither name nor remnant on the earth.” The king’s feelings
were touched and he assured the woman that he would protect her
son.
Then, asking for the king’s permission to say more, she pointed
out that he was at fault in not bringing his banished son home again.
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“For,” she said, “we will surely die and become like water spilled
on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not
take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones
are not expelled from Him.” This tender and touching portrayal of
the love of God toward the sinner is striking proof that the Israelites
were familiar with the great truths of redemption. The king could
not resist this appeal. He gave the command, “Go therefore, bring
back the young man Absalom.”
The Sad Results of David’s Sin
Absalom was permitted to return to Jerusalem, but not to appear
at court or to meet his father. As tenderly as he loved this beautiful
and gifted son, David felt it necessary to show abhorrence for the
crime he had committed. Absalom lived two years in his own house,
banished from the court. His sister’s presence kept alive the memory
of the irreversible wrong she had suffered. In the public’s eyes, the
prince was a hero rather than an offender, and he put himself in a
position to gain the hearts of the people.
His personal appearance was enough to win the admiration of all.
“In all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom
for his good looks. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his
head there was no blemish in him.” David’s decision permitting him
to return to Jerusalem while refusing to admit him to his presence
encouraged the people’s sympathies for him.
Before his sin David had been courageous and decided. Now he
was weak and hesitating, and this worked in favor of his son’s plans.
Through Joab’s influence, Absalom was again admitted to his
father’s presence. He continued his scheming, diligently courting
popular favor and artfully turning every cause of dissatisfaction to
his own advantage. Day by day this man of noble appearance could
be seen at the city gate, where a disgruntled crowd waited to present
their wrongs for remedy. Absalom listened, expressing sympathy