The Home of Forgotten Kings

By: Josprel

The Home of Forgotten Kings
by
Josprel

2nd Samuel Chapters 11 - 19

All Scripture references taken from the "Good News Bible"

King David may have been a man who passionately loved God, but his family life often was in shambles. A study of his life reveals that, among his children, there was immorality, fratricide, treason and even the rape of a brother against a sister.

The rebellious treason of David's son, Absolom, against his father resulted in the temporary overthrow of David from his throne and his son declaring himself king of Israel. Fearing for his life at the hand of Absolom, the king fled Jerusalem while the generals of his armies, the brothers, Joab and Abishai, led the troops still loyal to the king against Absolom and his rebels.

The battle went badly for the rebels and, as Absolom fled astride a mule, his long, flowing hair caught in the branches of a tree. The mule galloped on, leaving the young rebel helplessly dangling from the tree by his hair. One of David's men saw what happened.

"Sir," he reported to his general, Joab, "Sir, I saw Absolom hanging in an oak tree.

"Why didn't you kill him on the spot? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt."

"Even if you gave me a thousand pieces of silver, I wouldn't lift a
finger against the king's son. We all heard the king’s command to you: 'For my sake, don't harm the young man, Absolom.' If I had disobeyed the king, and killed Absolom, the king would have heard about it . . . and you would not have defended me."

Then ten of Joab's men went and killed Absolom. Hearing of his son's death, despite Joab's protests, David mourned and wept for his son. He afterward sent a message to the chief priests in Jerusalem, asking, "Why should you be the last to help bring back the king to his palace? You are my relatives [brethren - KJV], my own flesh and blood; why should you be the last to bring me back?" (2nd Samuel 19:11-12).

According to the above Bible passages, David had fled Jerusalem to avoid being assassinated by his son, Absolom, who coveted the throne. Crossing the Jordan River, David waited there until a report came of Absolom's defeat. He then dispatched a message to some of his subjects who had remained unharmed in Jerusalem. The message was directed to the leaders of the tribe of Judah, David's own tribe - his own relatives, which in effect asked, "Why haven't you expressed a desire for my return? Why haven't you brought me back to be your king? I'm waiting for you to bring me back."

There are some lukewarm believers who have permitted Absoloms to ascend to the thrones of their hearts. These Absoloms cause their hearts to rebel against Jesus Christ, He who is the rightful King. To such a believer, through the voice of the Holy Spirit, Christ asks, "When are you going to bring me back? I'm waiting to once again return as King of your heart and life. Are you going to be the last to bring me back?"

Yes, you are a Christian. Yes Jesus Christ is your Savior. Of course you love Him, but you nonetheless are holding something back from Him. You have not made Him your King. So, is it any wonder that the voice of the Holy Spirit reminds you that Jesus Christ desires to be welcomed back as King? He's waiting for you to dedicate yourself completely to Him.

Some time back, this writer read an article telling how kings who had been deposed fled to a special place for refuge, hoping that they might one day be invited to return to power. To this end, their paramount concern was the political progress of their former kingdoms. The place was the home of forgotten kings.

Jesus Christ also waits in the hope that those who spiritually have sent Him to the home of forgotten kings, will soon call Him to return. What will determine such a return is the spiritual condition of one's heart.

The Old Testament records that, initially, God's perfect plan for the nation of Israel was that He was to be their king, but Israel wanted a human king.

"We want to be like other nations. Give us a king."

So God did so, but not before He warned them of the tremendous problems that would result from their choice. True to God's warning, Israel experienced the dire consequences. After winning a war against a determined enemy, Saul, Israel's first king, disobeyed God's command that all of the captured enemy booty was to be destroyed. Israel was to claim nothing of it for itself. Saul also disobeyed the order to not offer sacrifices himself, but to wait until Samuel came to do so. He was a headstrong king who always attempted to excuse his sinful actions. Though there were several good kings in the history of Israel, many others were depraved, and some even took to worshiping pagan gods. The nation thus had sent God to the home of forgotten kings, and ultimately was conquered by the nations who worshiped these false gods.

Webster's definition of a king is: "A person who is a hereditary sovereign." That person rules by right of birth. Jesus Christ, the heavenly King, also rules by right of birth; He is a king by birthright. There is a story of an outstanding seminary professor who shocked his students by declaring, "I'm in God's second best will!"

He went on to explain that when he was only a young preacher, God called him as a foreign missionary to a certain country, but he had just received a good job and he rebelled against the call, until that particular mission field closed its doors to more missionaries.

"I refused to go, and so now I'm in God's second best will," he sadly concluded.

What had happened to the professor? He had sent God to the Home of forgotten kings. He had forgotten that Christ was his king by birthright. The results may not always be as drastic as with the professor, but to dethrone Christ from our hearts for even a short while is a dangerous thing to do.

John Wesley used to tell of how united his parents were on almost every subject, until one day a division occurred in Britain. Some wanted Prince Charles to rule; others were in favor of the Prince of Orange. Wesley's parents were on opposite sides of the issue. One day the senior Wesley was going to London on church business and he noticed his wife was not preparing to go with him.

"Why are you not preparing to travel to London with me?"

"Because I do not think Prince Charles should be king."

Hearing this, her husband responded, "Then we cannot live together; we must have two beds, for if we have two kings, we must have two beds." He left and did not return until his king was on the throne.

Drastic? Of course it was. But the story reveals the intense loyalty some people have to an earthly ruler. They are willing to leave home, family and friends out of loyalty to the rulers of their choice.
This being so, how much more loyal should believers be to Christ, the Ruler of the eternal ages? Our king has not asked us abandon our families without means of support, as the senior Wesley did his. However, He has asked that we propagate His saving mission and soon return as King over all.

The former emperors of China and Japan had men who were their exact doubles. At banquets and social affairs, in order to protect their lords, these doubles would often take their places. To accomplish their mission, they underwent intensive training to perfectly imitate the emperor. So honored did they consider themselves at being chosen for their potentially life-risking task, that the danger did not intimidate them. They gladly would have given their lives for the emperor.

Believers have a king whom they must imitate. As the Apostle Paul wrote, "Be imitators of me, as I am an imitator of Christ." A hymnist of yesteryear penned these words of dedication to Christ Jesus:

"King of my life I crown Thee now,
Thine shall the glory be,
Lest I forget Thy thorn crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.

“Least I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget thine agony,
Lest I forget thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.”

[Hymn: "Lead Me to Calvary," by Jennie Evelyn Hussy; 1874 - 1958: and; William J. Kirkpatrict, 1838 - 1921].

Earthly kings are crowned with incredible pomp and pageant in a palace or a cathedral. Our king is crowned as king of our lives at the foot of the cross - at Calvary. The hands of earthly kings wield a jewel-studded scepter. The hands and feet of our King are nail-scarred and his side is spear-gashed. Jewel-studded diadems adorn the brows of earthly sovereigns. The brow of our king wore a crown of thorns. This, then, is the crucified and risen king we take as our own at the foot of the cross.

Some time ago, a navy ship was sailing the high seas, when it received a S.O.S call from a sinking vessel. Speeding to the distressed liner, the navy ship found people floundering in the ocean. Assuming command of a section of the rescue team, the chaplain ordered, "Throw everything that will float overboard to these people!"

His men did so and one sailor tossed overboard the chaplain's portable wooden altar that had a cross attached to its top. As it floated with the cross was visible above the waves, a sailor shouted to those thrashing in the water, "Cling to the cross! Cling to the cross and be saved!"

Yes, cling to the cross and be saved! That is the message to all who have not called Jesus Christ to return from the home of forgotten kings back into your hearts.

Cling to His cross! Cling to His cross and be saved!
-30-

© Josprel (Joseph Perrello)
josprel@verizon.net
About Josprel:

Josprel is an ordained evangelical minister, who resides with his wife, Maria, in Western New York, across the Niagara River from Canada. Though brought by devout parents, at an early age, he abandoned the Church and religion in general, not returning to them until several years later. He served three years in the Far East as a sergeant of operating engineers with the U.S. Air Force. He then was separated from active duty and placed on a ten-year reserve status. He studied for the ministry under the G.I Bill of Rights, and holds a Master of Theology degree. During his many years of ministry, Josprel pastored three churches, including one in Attica, New York, the location of America's bloodiest prison riot. The Attica Prison administration requested Josprel to conduct weekly, three-hour-long Bible studies for the inmates. Josprel did so for some four years, before turning them over to another pastor, due to heavy demands on his time. Josprel ministers with the evangelical denomination of his youth. He is a prolific writer, whose stories and articles have appeared in print and on the Internet. He is authoring two novels: “Beloved Apostate” and “Kanfal.”

Article Source: http://www.articles.narrowisthepath.com

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