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Exaltation – Whose? - part 2 of 3 (Amplified and KJV) In David we find a godly king but an unsuccessful father. That David was ineffective in executing his role as a father is evident by his failure to discipline Amnon, Absolam, and Adonijah, three sons whose lives displayed unrestraint, noncompliance to authority, and self-exaltation. Of David’s exaltation from shepherd to king, the Lord said, “I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel” {I Chr 17:7}. Perhaps David was too preoccupied with the business of the kingdom to rule wisely his own household from which came the fruit of rape, murder and rebellion. More diligent to know the state of his flocks and looking well to his herds {Pro 27:23}, King David remained blind to and detached from those closest to home. Upon receiving the news that Amnon had violated Tamar, his half-sister, King David reacted with anger but took no corrective action against his son. After two full years had passed with still no indication of parental discipline, Absalom, Tamar’s brother, sought his own revenge by commanding that Amnon be killed. Without too much calculation, Absalom doubtless realized that by avenging Tamar’s abuse through Amnon’s murder he would move one step closer to his father’s throne. Also aware that more time would be required for him to regain his father’s favor, Absalom then fled from King David’s presence and dwelt in Gesher for three years. Although the king’s heart yearned to see his son, when he finally allowed Absalom to return to Jerusalem, he did so with the stipulation that Absalom be banished from his sight. When at last the two were reconciled, Absolam’s actions revealed his contemptuous and self-exalting heart: “And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him” {II Sam 15:1}. At the city gate, Absalom stole the hearts of the people by intercepting those who had a controversy about any matter and were on their way to see the king that he might render judgment for them. There, Absalom bowed himself in veiled concern for their causes. “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, I would do him justice” {II Sam 15:4}. By undermining his father’s ability to rule justly, Absalom planted subtle seeds of distrust and discontent in those who would then find themselves his unwitting followers when he had his own kingship announced at Hebron. Using the ruse of making a religious sacrifice, he won for himself a following of “…200 men from Jerusalem, who were invited [as guests to his sacrificial feast]; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not a thing” {2 Sam 15:11}. During the ensuing battle between the armies of the father and son, Absolam’s massive amount of hair became caught in an oak tree from which he dangled until Joab, the captain of David’s army, killed him, an action contrary to the king’s command. With Absolam’s death, King David’s oldest living son, Adonijah, also set his heart and actions upon attaining his father’s throne. “Then Adonijah…exalted himself, saying I [the eldest living son] will be king. And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, with fifty men to run before him” {I Kin 1:5}. Immediately following this statement about Adonijah’s self-exaltation, we again find further evidence of King David’s failure as a father: “And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so?” {I Kin 1:6}. Personal pride and ambition combined with parental indulgence to produce sons who were incapable of ruling their own passions {Pro 16:32}. Before the Lord exalts His own sons and daughters to their kingdom positions, He prepares them through training and discipline; and while “…no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful…afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it…” {Heb 12:11}. “My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord…For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves…if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons” {Heb 12:5-7}. As child3ren of the Most High God, may we yield ourselves to the Father’s training and correction that we may be prepared to occupy our predestined positions of authority in the Kingdom of His Son. -Ruth French May Newsletter 2006 | Agape Love | Kingdom First part 1 of 2 Pastor's Journal May 2005 | A Chosen People | Exaltation - Whose? part 2 of 3 |
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