ABSALOM.

three years. David did not see him
all that time. One son was gone
away; and another son was dead.
David mourned for them both. At
last, Joab came to the king, and
begged that Absalom might come
home. David wanted to forgive his
wicked son, for he still loved him;
so he told Joab to send, and bring
Absalom from Geshur. But David
would not see his son; so Absalom
staid at his own house in Jerusalem.
Was Dayid right to let Absalom
come back? No; Absalom was a
wicked murderer, and God had
commanded murderers to be put to
death; but David loved Absalom,
and spared him. All the people
admired him, and liked to look at
him. But God did not like to look
at him. God looks at people’s
hearts, not at their persons. He
does not care for beauty; He wants
holiness, and love, and gentleness,
and humility; and Absalom had
none of these.

Two years passed after Absalom’s
return, and David had not seen him.
Then Absalom began to be impa-
tient and angry. He was not sorry
for his sin; but he did not like to be
punished. He sent for Joab, but
Joab did notcome. Then Absalom
sent again, but still Joab did not
come. At last Absalom grew very
angry. There was a field, belonging
to Joab, near Absalom’s house ; and
Absalom, in his passion, sent his
servants to set it on fire. When
Joab saw his field burning, he went
to Absalom, and asked, “ Why have
_ thy servants set my field on fire”
Absalom answered, “ Because I sent
for thee, and thou didst not come.
Go now to the king, and ask why J
am come from Geshur; I might as

 

 

 

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well have staid there still. Let me
see the king’s face.” This was a very
disrespectful message to his father.
Absalom did not show himself sorry
for his wickedness, and willing to be
humble and obedient. But David
loved his son so much, that, when
he heard the message, he sent for
Absalom, for he wished to forgive
him. So Absalom came to his
father, and bowed before him; and
the king kissed Absalom.

Absalom pretended to be sorry,
but he was not truly so; his heart
was full of pride and rebellion still.
Soon after, he prepared chariots and
horses, and fifty men to run before
him. And when he saw the people
going to the king for judgment, he
often called to them, and spoke
kindly to them, and asked them
what they wanted; for Absalom
wished to make the people love him
more than they loved his father.
He wanted to be king himself; and
said he should be a better king than
David. The people attended to
what Absalom said, and many of
them promised to obey and love him
as their king. David knew nothing
about this, for Absalom was very
sly, and deceived his father. He
said to David, “ Let me go now and
pay my vowin Hebron: for I vowed
when I was in Geshur, that if the
Lord would bring me back to Jeru-
salem, then I would serve Him.”
David was pleased to hear this; for
he hoped his disobedient son was
going to begin to love and serve the
Lord; so he said to Absalom, “Go
in peace.”

Why did Absalom go to Hebron?
Not to offer sacrifice, not to worship
God: he went there to make him-
self king. He told the people when