THE SONS OF DAVID

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” Eph.6:1-3

     In the sons of David we see one of the leading frailties of human character: the lust of ambition, and how that lust leads to “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (I Tim.4:2). When David was getting old and progressively becoming incapable of directly ruling Israel, many saw this as their opportunity for power. Among them was the highly favored son of David, Absalom. His striking good looks and his political campaign promises to bring justice to the people drew the multitudes to himself. But it was all a ploy. Behind his every motivation stood Satan himself. And the people who followed him were also led by devils who tempted them to follow him.

     This beloved son of David plotted to sacrifice his own father on the altar of ambition. David had to die for Absalom to reign! Forced to flee for his life when the military coup began David was deeply shaken by this evil from his own son. And yet, in the midst of this despicable sin of Absalom, David loved him deeply and commanded he be returned alive when David’s general, Joab and his army went to fight Absalom to restore the throne of David. David believed that his love and forgiveness could win the heart of his son back to the LORD.

     Let it be known that the godly love of David for all men was viewed as weakness in the eyes of those who were ignorant of the depths of GOD’S mercy. To be meek is typically viewed as being unfit to lead. The same attitude occurred in the days of Moses when the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram took place (Nu.16). Even as Jesus began His Sermon on The Mount the hearers were expecting a militant theme of overthrowing the Romans in accordance with the popular views of the rabbis on the Messianic prophecies. But Jesus began with the beatitudes, and brought His hearers in the opposite direction of their anticipation, and their sinful judgment: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt.5:5.

     As Absalom and his men were being routed by Joab, Absalom fled. And as he was rushing through the brush his hair caught in the thicket and pulled him off his beast, and bound by his own hair he could not free himself. Then Joab came. And believing Absalom had committed the unpardonable sin he killed him there.

     Then some years later, the lust of ambition came to another son of David, Adonijah. It was well known that GOD had anointed Solomon to be king after David. But there was much murmuring of the sin surrounding his life because of David’s adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her righteous husband, Uriah the Hittite. But the mercy of GOD was entreated by David and his sin was forgiven. Men should never dare to condemn who GOD has forgiven. For this judgment bears false witness and transgresses the Ninth Commandment. And thus, the judgment of condemnation returns on their own heads. Scripture often repeats the value of this lesson. "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Matt.7:1,2.

     In order for Adonijah to succeed in his disobedience to GOD and seize the throne (even before his father’s death), Solomon and his mother, Bathsheba had to die. Those who GOD ordained to rule, Adonijah ordained to die. As the news spread, the LORD led the prophet Nathan to lead David to immediately anoint Solomon as king before the people. And while Adonijah was basking in his new power, anticipating the glory of his reign, and all the people with him at his banquet lauding him saying, “God save king Adonijah,” “Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings. And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king… And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way. And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword. And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die. So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.” I Ki.1:42,43,49-53.

     You may notice that when Adonijah lost the promise of wealth and power all the people dropped him like a hot potato! But Solomon showed mercy to Adonijah even though Solomon and Bathsheba were to die by his hand. “Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.” Prov.20:28.

     Let’s explore a little of the Fifth Commandment and try to discover something of the Glory of this Holy Law. This precious Law among the Ten is key to the strength and perpetuation of the family. And yet, we see so much dishonor of parents by their children in our generation. Truly, it is as the LORD said, "for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." Gen.8:21.

     Among the supreme aspirations given to humanity is the desire to have children to care for and love, and to carry forward to future generations the life of their parents at their passing. This stands among the most profound needs in our emotional constitution: to have the comfort in the knowledge that our name and our posterity continue, to live, to serve, and to love. Many a life has turned from one of a reckless course to one of integrity to see to the blessing, protection and happiness of their child. There is no greater wave in love’s display than when a mother holds and nurses her baby. The depths of her love for her baby goes far beyond human language. And there is no greater drive for a father than to guard his vulnerable child from the many threats in this world.

     GOD affirms this heaven-born desire in a variety of ways. He took special precautions to preserve the lineage of every family. From the beginning the gift of life’s perpetuation has been provided by GOD: “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” Gen.1:28; Isa.45:18.

     But with the entrance of sin, the increasing weakness of man’s character to live up to his heaven-born aspirations has been a constant threat to life’s security and happiness. So GOD gave to man the tangible reminder of the virtue that our conscience has always acknowledged as righteous, but had become so depraved over succeeding generations that a new heavenly influence needed to be introduced: “And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.” Ex.31:18. It is this Law that GOD promises to write in every willing mind and heart through the power of the Holy Spirit.

     Within the boundaries of the Ten Precepts of Jehovah is found every blessing, including the sacrifice of Jesus Christ: “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Jn.1:29. The Ten Commandments commanded GOD Himself to save His children from sin. This is why they stand harmonious with His character, whose perfect display is found in the life and love seen in Jesus Christ.

     The Bible declares that anything that threatens the security and perpetuation of life, be it lies, theft, war, pollution, abortion, homosexuality, drug addiction, etc. GOD calls it sin. And men need to take GOD’S wisdom to heart in these issues of life's security. Every safe boundary given to preserve life is revealed in His Word.

     While the Apostle Paul focused on identifying the Ten Commandments as the means of Judgment against sin, the Apostle James referred to them as the “law of liberty” (Ja.2:8-12) on whose foundation rests eternal life. And so, to step outside of the boundaries of the Law's jurisdiction to bless life is to abandon the security of life that is received through their jurisdiction.

     In the long history of men circumventing GOD’S Holy Law is seen every corruption that has ever existed in government, business and religion. The rise and fall of every nation can trace its steps to ruin with its increasing allowance of sin to rule within its borders.

     Every man who denounces their authority and leads others to stand with him in his rebellion, the Spirit of GOD can have no place in that soul. This is because sin is seated on the throne of their heart; and GOD and sin cannot share the same throne. And yet, if all people from every nation upheld the virtue that GOD calls for from every man, woman and child, prisons would be turned into gardens and every weapon of war dismantled. Bible prophecy assures that one day this everlasting liberty will come to rule the Earth.

     But today, most everyone pursues a belligerent posture against GOD’S Law. As children will test the boundaries of disobedience until the hand of restraint comes on them, so men in leadership roles stretch their rebellion against GOD'S Laws preserving life. It is this increasing display of sinful authority that accounts for every social injustice and affliction, and will one day reach its summit in the battle of Armageddon.

     But after this conclusion of sin’s authority on the Earth a promise will be fulfilled: “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.” Isa.66:22,23.