THE PARABLE OF THE WOMAN OF TEKOAH (5 OF 15)
Scripture: II SAMUEL 14:1-24
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The Parable of the Woman of Tekoah (5 of 15)
Series: The Parables of the Old Testament
Clarence Macartney
2 Samuel 14:1-24
We come now to the greatest of the parables of the Old Testament. I call it the greatest, not because it is superior in form and directness. It has not the winsomeness of the parable told by Nathan, nor the biting irony of Jotham's fable. But it stands first in the chief thought which it brings to our consideration-the way in which God has devised means to reconcile the world to Himself.
When David confessed his sin, the Lord forgave him. Nathan said to him, ''The Lord hath put away thy sin. But the sword shall never depart from thy house.'' David's sin was forgiven, but he had to suffer for his sin. The results of sin were not canceled. David could repent and confess, but there was one thing that he could not do; he could not stop the swords of suffering and woe that he had loosed from their scabbards. The first one to feel the anguish of those swords of retribution was the one in all the world the most innocent-the little child.
''And the Lord smote the child.'' It was as if He had put the sword in David's own hand, and had said, ''Smite the child!'' That was only the first drop in the cup of bitterness that David had brewed for himself. The two sins which had disgraced him were to reproduce themselves favorite sons, Amnon and Absalom. Those names were sad misnomers for David. Amnon means ''faithful,'' and Absalom, ''the peace of his father.'' Oh, bitter disappointment! When Amnon was born, David named him ''Faithful,'' for he was filled with the joy of having a son who should be faithful and loyal to his father and to his father's God. He named the other ''Peace of his Father,'' for he looked forward to the days when this son should be the peace of his declining days.
See how his dreams came true. There is Amnon, a filthy wretch, faithless even to the ordinary standards of decency, cut down by his brother's sword. There i ...
Series: The Parables of the Old Testament
Clarence Macartney
2 Samuel 14:1-24
We come now to the greatest of the parables of the Old Testament. I call it the greatest, not because it is superior in form and directness. It has not the winsomeness of the parable told by Nathan, nor the biting irony of Jotham's fable. But it stands first in the chief thought which it brings to our consideration-the way in which God has devised means to reconcile the world to Himself.
When David confessed his sin, the Lord forgave him. Nathan said to him, ''The Lord hath put away thy sin. But the sword shall never depart from thy house.'' David's sin was forgiven, but he had to suffer for his sin. The results of sin were not canceled. David could repent and confess, but there was one thing that he could not do; he could not stop the swords of suffering and woe that he had loosed from their scabbards. The first one to feel the anguish of those swords of retribution was the one in all the world the most innocent-the little child.
''And the Lord smote the child.'' It was as if He had put the sword in David's own hand, and had said, ''Smite the child!'' That was only the first drop in the cup of bitterness that David had brewed for himself. The two sins which had disgraced him were to reproduce themselves favorite sons, Amnon and Absalom. Those names were sad misnomers for David. Amnon means ''faithful,'' and Absalom, ''the peace of his father.'' Oh, bitter disappointment! When Amnon was born, David named him ''Faithful,'' for he was filled with the joy of having a son who should be faithful and loyal to his father and to his father's God. He named the other ''Peace of his Father,'' for he looked forward to the days when this son should be the peace of his declining days.
See how his dreams came true. There is Amnon, a filthy wretch, faithless even to the ordinary standards of decency, cut down by his brother's sword. There i ...
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