_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 ]