Would That I had Died for Thee

Reading:   2 Samuel 16-18

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. 

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! 

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.

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

No Respite from the Storm

Reading:   Ensign, November 1987

In search of a quote that has been haunting me since pioneer trek, I came across this article in the Ensign that really put a wrench to my brain and gave me a little chastisement for my recent whininess.  Here is a snippet from the article but the whole thing is chalk full of good quotes...

A Champion of Youth
Ensign, November 1987, p. 28

It is not difficult to understand why the great God of heaven has reserved these special spirits for the final work of the kingdom prior to his millennial reign.... This generation will face trials and troubles that will exceed those of their pioneer forebears. Our generation has had periods of some respite from the foe. The future generation will have little or none....This is a chosen generation.... I believe today's [Church youth] will lead the youth of the world through the most trying time in history. 

~Vaughn J. Featherstone

Why did this article move me so? Let me explain...I have recently been down on myself, frustrated that life has not gone the way I had envisioned it would.  The goals and dreams of my youth and young adulthood not quite bearing the fruit I had hoped for.  I am now in my 40's and finding myself looking back instead of forward, often distraught by my lack of personal achievement, "I had so much potential" echoes in my head more than it should. 

My sweet wife grieves when I find myself locked in this melancholy because she feels I resent her in some way, as if I blame her for blocking my possibilities by grounding me to life: marriage, children, work, etc.  I do not blame her or resent her because I am well aware that without her my allegiance to God and righteousness would have fallen decades ago.  The ultimate goal of celestial, eternal, glory is still within my reach solely because of her and who she has molded me to be as a man, husband, and especially as a father.

The father part of who I am is the key.  The Vaughn J. Featherstone article enlightened me to this point because I am one of the youth he was talking to - the article was written in 1987.  He was speaking to me when he said, "The future generation will have little or none [respite from the foe]."  He was speaking to me when he said, "I believe today's [Church youth] will lead the youth of the world through the most trying time in history."

I can testify that there is no respite from the enticements of Satan!  Pornography is everywhere, alcohol, drugs, and all forms of addiction are readily available.  Every spiritual experience we have is immediately assaulted by the realities of life and the wieght of evil that surrounds us!  It doesn't stop!!  Our only recourse is to seek out those spiritual moments as often as possible and shield our drowning marriages and children with whatever means we can find available.  The serpent of lies is not going to stop and we must not wallow for the slightest of moments or we shall surely be overcome and lost - our children with us!!  

I look around and see close friends and family wander from the light as it is so easy to do and a prospect most desireable.  I have done nothing to stop their drift or attempt to open their eyes?  I watch stunned and saddened and praying I can hold to my own shaky ground; but the worst part, the tragedy, is watching their children, without fail, follow them.

Reading this article has opened my eyes to what I have accomplished as one of those youth.  My children are looking to Angela and I.  They are watching and somehow, though tenious at times, we have maintained some hold to that dream of God, our unseen faith, a belief and a set of morals that is ridiculously heavy and burdensome at times; yet we keep walking, we keep pushing our handcart through this storm of reality and gulp in those moments of spiritual boost when we find them.  Our children are strong.  They are faithful.  They are following our path and adding to our strength as they grow.  They must be the cause and reason for my existence, if nothing else, and it must be enough or I too shall falter, stumble, fall and get lost.  I pray I do not and that my wife holds me up and keeps me moving when I studder in my footsteps.  

This storm of reality is a tempest most powerful and there will not be a respite from its constant pounding and thrashing of our souls.  Understand that to be true and accept that you cannot stop moving, searching for those spiritual boosts, and you will succeed; but more than that, when you arrive in Zion and fall gloriously into the arms of your redeemer, you will turn and notice behind you those sweet young spirits, your children, following in your footsteps, reaching for you as they too find Glory and respite in the arms of their Saviour - Believe it!

~Kipling

Here is a link to the article, A Champion of Youth

Deep Sleep Intercedance

Reading:   1 Samuel 26

I love all the sneakiness that occurs in scriptures especially when it involves God causing a deep sleep upon unsuspecting souls.  Twice David snuck into the tent of Saul, while Saul slumbered amidst his army, and took evidence of his attendance; the first time it was a portion of Saul's skirt (1 Sam. 24) and on the second visit, David took Saul's spear and water jug.  Both times the opportunity to slay Saul was presented and both times David refused, though it would have been in his best interest to do so.  David relied on his hope and faith that Saul would come to his senses and quit his unhealthy desire for David's demise.

1 SAMUEL 26:12

12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.

There is no other way to do it - an intercedance from God had to occur.  Let me break it down.  Saul was the King and he wanted David dead.  He was consumed by his desire to slay David and could not overcome the need.  Whenever Saul was informed of David's whereabouts he would swiftly gather his vast army together and press on, with dogged determination,  to kill the lad.  The whole army mustered together in search of one soul!  Now remember, David was the glorified slayer of Goliath, a well known servant of Saul, and the best friend of Jonathan, Saul's son.  It is certain that every man in Saul's army knew who David was and what he looked like, yet the guy slipped right passed hundreds, if not thousands, of Saul's men and stood above him.  There is no doubt that The Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon the men - he had too!

I was sure there were several incidents, throughout the scriptures, where The Lord caused a deep sleep to envelop a person or persons in order to facilitate His work, but I could only find a few.  The most significant of these other moments occurred in the Book of Mormon when Alma lead the Nephites away from the churlish rule of the Lamanites...

MOSIAH 24:18-19

18    Now it came to pass that Alma and his people in the night-time gathered their flocks together, and also of their grain; yea, even all the night-time were they gathering their flocks together. 

19    And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their task-masters were in a profound sleep. 

20    And Alma and his people departed into the wilderness; and when they had traveled all day they pitched their tents in a valley, and they called the valley Alma, because he led their way in the wilderness. 

I was surprised that there weren't more deep slumber moments but, though they may not be written, they most definitely occurred.  Teancum had to have a little help, right?  How many rulers did he kill with a javelin as they slept in their beds, in their tents, surrounded by their armies.  Sound familiar...it happened!

~Kipling

Churlish

Reading:   1 Samuel 25

I read this chapter yesterday.  I typically write my blogs about the scriptures I read on the previous day so that I might ruminate for a time prior to my contemplative address...that being said; it was my birthday and an all-round good day with good spirited fun and celebration.  Needless-to-say, as I read my scriptures (just prior to my curry meatloaf birthday dinner), I came across the word "churlish" and I could not quit laughing...

1 SAMUEL 25:3

3 Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.

Okay, so a little background, there is a 3-minute skit by Kay & Peele called Substitute Teacher where the temporary teacher mispronounces several names and words.  Near the end of the skit, the teacher describes one of the students as "churlish" and I, along with everyone in my family and I'm sure the vast majority of the 28-million+ individuals who have seen the skit, thought the word was another mispronunciation of say childish, surly, or something of that ilk.  I read the verse and immediately discovered that I had been wrong in my assumption and that "churlish" was indeed an actual word.  was a real word.  I laughed and then shared the verse with everyone in the house - they laughed as well.  For the remainder of the evening I continuously referred to all as churlish.

It was hard to concentrate after the grand discovery but it was a significant chapter in that David ends up with a new wife, Abigail, after her "churlish" husband, Nabal, dies (he of course defied David and suffered the wrath of God with an early demise).

CHURLISH:  Boorish, Rude, Mean, Difficult to work with

There you have it - and still funny!

Happy Independence Day!!

~Kipling

To Desire a King

Reading:   1 Samuel 5-8

The people desired a king.  Samuel knew that such a desire would only bring wickedness to the people but he could not sway their united call.  Samuel's sons (like Eli's before him), were wicked and the people were therefore fearful that they would not be lead righteously when Samuel passed, he was quite old.   Samuel listened to their concerns for an annointed king and then brought their plea unto God...

1 SAMUEL 8:7

7    And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 

Isn't that interesting?  God went on to explain the bleak future of the people should they commence with their appetite for a king and Samuel relayed the prophesy (v. 10-18).  Still, despite the warning, all desired a ruler and The Lord said, "Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king (v. 22)."

Reading through this chapter, I could not help but remember the same scenario happening with the Jaredites (Ether Chapter 8).  As Jared and his brother neared the end of their lives the people desired a king, and though the brothers refused to annoint one, they allowed the people their fervent need and a king was crowned.  Two generations ruled in honor and righteousness, but as was prophesied, the people eventually fell into captivity, war, and all manner of wickedness (see Cain - Gift of Secret Oaths).

The same is surely to happen with the Israelites as they move to a more secular leadership.  It is a subtle rejection of God that may not manifest itself in one or two generations but will eventually remove God completely from the house of rule...wait, is that happening today as well?  Has God been slowly pushed out of politics and our governing body...yes!  Where do we go from here?

~Kipling

Goliath has the Ark

Reading:   1 Samuel 4

The Philistines (the ancestors of Mr. Goliath) waged a mighty war on the Israelites and killed 45,000 plus!  At one point during the battle, the Israelites called upon the Ark of the Covenant to bolster their resolve and rally the troops.  the Ark did give the Philistines much cause for concern as they knew of its power, but unfortunately the priests accompanying the Ark where Eli's two wicked sons and therefore the Ark did nothing.  Tens of thousands of Israelites died, including the two evil priests, and the Ark was captured by the Philistines.

One Israelite escaped the slaughter and returned home to inform Eli of the terrible news, "We lost the war.  The Ark was stolen from us.  Oh, and both of your sons are dead."  As you can imagine, the news had a mortifying effect on Eli and, being a heavy man, blind, and ninety-eight, he fell from his seat and broke his neck.

One of the sons had a pregnant wife who went into labor upon hearing the news of her husband's death, she of course died as well, but the child was born.  A woman (possibly a nurse) who stood by and bewailed the death of the mother, took the newborn child...

1 SAMUEL 4:21-22

21 And she named the child I-chabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. 

22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken. 

She named the child Ichabod which translates, "Where is the Glory."  The child lost his mother, father, uncle, and grandfather, all on or around the day of his birth.  The Ark of the Covenant was also lost around the same time.  The glory of the child's birth was definitely lost.

The death of Eli and his wicked sons fulfilled the prophesy of Samuel and was proof that Samuel was indeed a true prophet of God.

~Kipling

Don't Let Your Words Fall to the Ground

1 Samuel 3

The first few times I read today's verse, and I'm sure every perusal of the verse prior to today, I understood it in the wrong context.  The verse...

1 SAMUEL 3:19

19    And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 

Grammatically, it is important to read the verse slowly or the mind tends (maybe just my mind) to assign the last clause of the sentence to Samuel as he is the subject, the one who grew.  I always read the verse as Samuel listening to the words of God and holding them so true and relevant that he never allowed any to slip from his thoughts, but in fact, the last clause is actually a subtext of how the Lord was with Samuel and how He aided Samuel in spiritual growth.  

Here is a more defined reading,  "...the Lord was with him [Samuel], and [the Lord] let none of his [Samuel's] words fall to the ground."

There is a higher meaning when understanding the verse in its proper context because it exemplifies the importance of Samuel - whatever he was inspired to prophesy on or about, it would come true.  The Lord would not let any of Samuel's words, "fall to the ground" or pass without fulfillment.  That is an impressive note, don't you think?  Samuel is therefore someone not to be taken lightly or trifled with, he has the ear of The Lord!

~Kipling