It's been awhile since I have come across verses that are all at once poetic, tragic, and extremely emotional. Here, in chapter 18, I have been captured by a string of verse that accomplishes all of the above and more...
This is the story of Amnon, Absalom, and their father, King David. Though they were brothers, Amnon and Absalom were from different mothers and Amnon desired Absalom's sister, Tamar. Unsure of how to wrangle his half-sister, Amnon listened to some bad advice and set up a ruse of illness. He then asked King David to send Tamar to wait on him and the King made it happen. Once alone, Amnon professed his love and despite Tamar's pleadings, he forced himself on her then threw her out in disgust when he had finished (brutal).
Absalom was so vexed by the deed that he eventually found a way to kill Amnon and then fled to avoid the wrath of King David. Five years later, King David and Absalom were reconciled and all seemed well until Absalom desired the throne and gathered an army to take it. King David escaped with the best and brightest of his soldiers and hid out while Absalom took possession of the palace.
Now it is important to note that Absalom felt empowered by God and listened closely to the council of his priests, doing all that they directed and accomplishing much as they predicted. But, there came an impasse when his two most esteemed councilors disagreed on the next step. One suggested an assault with his overwhelming numbers and the other disagreed, reminding Absalom that his father was a great warrior and his men were very seasoned soldiers and would not roll over in defeat. Absalom agreed with the second and decided to wait, unaware that his councilor was a double-agent in league with King David.
King David, after hearing of Absalom's plan from the double-agent, gave explicit orders for his men to go and destroy the army but to leave Absalom alone, captured but unharmed. His men did as ordered and destroyed the army but Absalom, by some great act of karma, hung himself by the neck in a tree, quite accidentally. The men of King David left him helpless in the tree and reported that Absalom was secured to their captain. The captain, understanding that Absalom was no good and had to perish, killed the man despite the order from King David and then sent runners to report the news to King David (the second messenger was named Cushi).
Here is where the great poetic and heart-wrenching tragedy occurred...
2 SAMUEL 18:31-33
31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.Cushi's poetic reply is one for the ages, "...the enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is." He could have simply said, "Yeah, sorry, he's dead too." But he emphasized that Absalom was trying to do the king harm and he died along with all that had chosen that path. He softened the blow but still delivered the news that he knew would dishearten the king.
32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
King David's reaction is so intense that I reread it several times and really felt a welling of emotion build up as I thought of how he must have felt. His own child tried to dethrone him, to kill him, and yet David absolutely loved him. I could totally visualize the king slowly moving to his chamber in a stupor of complete and utter mental exhaustion, overcome with remorse and at a loss for how this moment had come to be. His boy was dead, "...would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!"
Shakespeare might have taken some pointers from this story, especially the tragic end...Awesome!
On a spiritual note, it is always a difficult thing to deal with loved ones that have gone astray and even more so when they are your own children. In regard to this concern, I have found a very positive and applicable quote from Orson F. Whitney...
The Prophet Joseph Smith declared-and he never taught more comforting doctrine-that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father's heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God.
~In Conference Report, Apr. 1929, 110"Hold on, trust on, till you see the Salvation of God." I love it - beautifully said!
~Kipling
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