Love of our enemies. Even as God forgave David his sin, so did David forgive those who sinned and rebelled against him. “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.” He who forgives from his heart is like unto the merciful God. There is something noble, nay, something divine, in forgiving and forgetting.
Pride, the source of many sins. The great sins of which Absalom was guilty sprang from pride. The beauty of his person and especially of his hair made him vain and conceited. Being the most beautiful he wished also to be the first man in the kingdom. He therefore rebelled against his royal father, and led his people into a revolt which cost many thousand lives.
The value of virtue. Do you like Absalom ? No ? and why not ? He was a handsome young man, behaved very politely and courteously to the people, and knew perfectly how to say nice and pleasant things; so why do you not like him? Because he had a false, bad heart, and was a flatterer and a hypocrite. So you see that however handsome and pleasant a man may be, if he has a proud, bad heart, he is neither loveable nor worthy of respect, but on the contrary hateful and despicable in the eyes of God and man. It is only virtue which can give real worth to a man.
David, in crossing the brook Cedron in sorrow and tribulation, in his ascent of Mount Olivet, in his patient forbearance when outraged and insulted by Semei, and his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, presents a very striking figure of Christ.
Application. David is the model of a truly penitent man. Though he was a king, he humbly accepted Nathan’s reproaches and contritely confessed his sin. Are you ashamed to make a sincere confession of your sins? He, an Israelite, bitterly repented and bewailed his sin: you are a Christian, but where are your tears of repentance? This very day say one of the penitential Psalms as a prayer!
Keep a guard on your eyes; they are the windows of your soul. Drive any bad thought from your heart at once. Say: “Away with it!” and pray for help. Nathan s words to David: “The Lord has done good to you: why have you done evil in His sight?” apply to you as well as to David.
Has your mother ever shed tears on your account? Have you ever injured or grieved or seriously irritated your father? In what way do you most grieve your parents? Have you truly repented of all sins committed against the fourth Commandment? Has your conduct towards your parents improved? Do you obey them at once and without arguing; or is it only when they scold and are angry, that you obey? Children, I wish for everything that is most good for you; that everything may be well with you
