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sin。 The defection of Ahithophel； the ablest and most wily of political
leaders； was prompted by revenge for the family disgrace involved in the
wrong to Bathsheba； who was his granddaughter。
〃And David said； O Lord； I pray Thee； turn the counsel of Ahithophel into
foolishness。〃 Upon reaching the top of the mount； the king bowed in prayer；
casting upon God the burden of his soul and humbly supplicating divine
mercy。 His prayer seemed to be at once answered。 Hushai the Archite； a wise
and able counselor； who had proved himself a faithful friend to David； now
came to him with his robes rent and with earth upon his head； to cast in his
fortunes with the dethroned and fugitive king。 David saw； as by a divine
enlightenment； that this man； faithful and truehearted； was the one needed
to serve the interests of the king in the councils at the capital。 At
David's request Hushai returned to Jerusalem to offer his services to
Absalom and defeat the crafty counsel of Ahithophel。
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With this gleam of light in the darkness； the king and his followers pursued
their way down the eastern slope of Olivet； through a rocky and desolate
waste； through wild ravines； and along stony and precipitous paths； toward
the Jordan。 〃And when King David came to Bahurim； behold； thence came out a
man of the family of the house of Saul； whose name was Shimei； the son of
Gera： he came forth； and cursed still as he came。 And he cast stones at
David； and at all the servants of King David： and all the people and all the
mighty men were on his right hand and on his left。 And thus said Shimei when
he cursed； Come out； come out； thou bloody man； and thou man of Belial。 The
Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul； in whose
stead thou hast reigned； and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the
hand of Absalom thy son： and； behold； thou art taken in thy mischief；
because thou art a bloody man。〃
In David's prosperity Shimei had not shown by word or act that he was not a
loyal subject。 But in the affliction of the king this Benjamite revealed his
true character。 He had honored David upon his throne； but he cursed him in
his humiliation。 Base and selfish； he looked upon others as of the same
character as himself； and； inspired by Satan； he wreaked his hatred upon him
whom God had chastened。 The spirit that leads man to triumph over； to revile
or distress； one who is in affliction is the spirit of Satan。
Shimei's accusations against David were utterly falsea baseless and
malignant slander。 David had not been guilty of wrong toward Saul or his
house。 When Saul was wholly in his power； and he could have slain him； he
merely cut the skirt of his robe； and he reproached himself for showing even
this disrespect for the Lord's anointed。
Of David's sacred regard for human life； striking evidence had been given；
even while he himself was hunted like a beast of prey。 One day while he was
hidden in the cave of Adullam； his thoughts turning back to the untroubled
freedom of his boyhood life； the fugitive exclaimed； 〃Oh that one would give
me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem； which is by the gate！〃
2 Samuel 23：13…17。 Bethlehem was at that time in the hands of
the Philistines； but three mighty men of David's band broke through the
guard； and brought of the water of Bethlehem to their master。 David could
not drink it。 〃Be it far from me；〃 he
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cried； 〃is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their
lives？〃 And he reverently poured out the water as an offering to God。 David
had been a man of war； much of his life had been spent amid scenes of
violence； but of all who have passed through such an ordeal； few indeed have
been so little affected by its hardening； demoralizing influence as was
David。
David's nephew； Abishai； one of the bravest of his captains； could not
listen patiently to Shimei's insulting words。 〃Why；〃 he exclaimed； 〃should
this dead dog curse my lord the king？ let me go over； I pray thee； and take
off his head。〃 But the king forbade him。 〃Behold；〃 he said； 〃my son 。 。 。
seeketh my life： how much more now may this Benjamite do it？ let him alone；
and let him curse； for the Lord hath bidden him。 It may be that the Lord
will look on mine affliction； and that the Lord will requite me good for his
cursing this day。〃
Conscience was uttering bitter and humiliating truths to David。 While his
faithful subjects wondered at his sudden reverse of fortune； it was no
mystery to the king。 He had often had forebodings of an hour like this。 He
had wondered that God had so long borne with his sins； and had delayed the
merited retribution。 And now in his hurried and sorrowful flight； his feet
bare； his royal robes changed for sackcloth； the lamentations of his
followers awaking the echoes of the hills； he thought of his loved
capitalof the place which had been the scene of his sin and as he
remembered the goodness and long…suffering of God； he was not altogether
without hope。 He felt that the Lord would still deal with him in mercy。
Many a wrongdoer has excused his own sin by pointing to David's fall； but
how few there are who manifest David's penitence and humility。 How few would
bear reproof and retribution with the patience and fortitude that he
manifested。 He had confessed his sin； and for years had sought to do his
duty as a faithful servant of God； he had labored for the upbuilding of his
kingdom； and under his rule it had attained to strength and prosperity never
reached before。 He had gathered rich stores of material for the building of
the house of God； and now was all the labor of his life to be swept away？
Must the results of years of consecrated toil； the work of genius and
devotion and statesmanship； pass into the hands of his reckless and
traitorous son； who regarded not the honor of God nor the prosperity of
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Israel？ How natural it would have seemed for David to murmur against God in
this great affliction！
But he saw in his own sin the cause of his trouble。 The words of the prophet
Micah breathe the spirit that inspired David's heart。 〃When I sit in
darkness； the Lord shall be a light unto me。 I will bear the indignation of
the Lord； because I have sinned against Him； until He plead my cause； and
execute judgment for me。〃 Micah 7：8； 9。 And the Lord did not forsake David。
This chapter in his experience； when； under cruelest wrong and insult； he
shows himself to be humble； unselfish； generous； and submissive； is one of
the noblest in his whole experience。 Never was the ruler of Israel more
truly great in the sight of heaven than at this hour of his deepest outward
humiliation。
Had God permitted David to go on unrebuked in sin； and while transgressing
the divine precepts； to remain in peace and prosperity upon his throne； the
skeptic and infidel might have had some excuse for citing the history of
David as a reproach to the religion of the Bible。 But in the experience
through which He caused David to pass； the Lord shows that He cannot
tolerate or excuse sin。 And David's history enables us to see also the great
ends which