Fifth Ordinary Sunday (Year C)

This morning, it was Parents' Day. I returned to school to meet parents and give out report cards. In the afternoon, Brenda and I paid a visit to the home of one of my students, a repeater in my class. He had not put enough efforts in his studies and was involved in some infightings over a girl. My boy was smart enough to play the victim role. The other boy was punished by the Discipline Committee.
The mother complained a lot over the laziness of the boy. Naturally, the boy found her mother annoying. He retorted and antagonized the mother even more. Watching from our perspective, the boy behaves exactly like his mother! Like mother like son! Of course, we could do very little other than encouraging the boy to work hard, to show his mother results in order to stop her from bickering with him. We reassured the parents that we would keep in contact with them and keep monitoring the boy's progress.

In the evening, I went to mass celebrated by Fr. Milanese. He told us that he had a close friend from secondary school. Whenever he returned to Italy, they would chat and dine to make up the missing years. His friend was a successful professional but no longer practising Catholicism. He found life unfulfilling despite the riches and achievements in his field. Fr. Milanese immediately linked this to the gospel reading today.
Jesus was preaching from the fishing boat of Simon who had been toiling the whole night without a catch (Luke 5:5). After preaching, Jesus told Simon to catch fish in broad daylight.
And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."
And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." (Luke 5:4-5)
As a result, Simon had a miraculous catch.
And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking,
they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink (Luke 5:6-7).
All of us are Simon's and the friends of Fr. Milanese. We have been toiling and toiling and yet unfulfilled. Something is missing when we do not have Jesus, do not follow his instructions. Why? Don't we have targets in our life? Haven't we achieved what we have set out for ourselves? Somehow, why do we feel that something is still missing? I cannot speak for you. Do you feel unfulfilled?
We all feel unfulfilled because we have been created in the image of God, an infinite being. Nothing in Creation can satisfy our infinite wants. We are destined to transcend our very humanity though I am afraid, very few of us are able to without God's help. Only by relating to an infinite God can we find satisfaction. Anything less, be it fame, glory, partners, power and riches, will leave us wanting. Jesus, the Incarnated Son of God, is the missing link.

The gospel does not stop there. Simon recognized his own inadequacy, his sinfulness.
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." (Luke 5:8)
Exposed before the awesomeness of Jesus, Simon felt naked and vulnerable. He confessed his sinfulness, his inadequacy, just as what Isaiah did in the vision of God.
And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" (Isaiah 6:5)
Isaiah's experience was enacted once more in Simon. It shall enact in each one of us, the elected ones of God.
Jesus did not look at his shortcomings. Rather, Jesus pointed out his potentiality, his future.
And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." (Luke 5:10b)
Yes, one day, we shall see our sinfulness when God confronts us. But we should not be afraid of our own sinfulness. Jesus shall not look at our shortcomings. Rather, he shall point out our potentiality, our future. This day will come and we shall be changed.

Dear Lord, shine forth Your truth and Your light to illuminate our sinfulness and we shall be made Your handy instrument. Amen.

Solomon prays for an understanding mind

Solomon was diplomatic perhaps because he was not as good a warrior as his father David. The first thing he did after he had secured the throne was to tie the knot with Pharaoh's daughter. It was a marriage alliance (1 Kings 3:1). In the future, he would marry more foreign princesses to ensure Israel's thriving in a peaceful international environment.
Solomon was also a good administrator. In the future, he would divide up the Kingdom into twelve regions to be run by his handpicked men. With a strong government, he was able to build big projects and raise the prosperity of the country. Building a Temple to centralize the religious life of the Kingdom had been David's dream. It was Solomon who made this dream come true.

While psalm and music were ascribed to David, wisdom literature was ascribed to Solomon. His wisdom was legendary. Solomon embodied Hebrew wisdom. Today, we read of his famous dream of praying for wisdom.
Since there was not yet a Temple to centralize sacrifices, all sacrificial offerings were carried out in high places. Solomon went to Gibeon to offer a thousand burnt offerings to the Lord (1 Kings 3:4). God appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked him what he wanted. Solomon answered wisely.
Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to govern this thy great people? (1 Kings 3:9)
It pleased the Lord because it was God's will to make Solomon wise to rule the Kingdom. While the first kings expanded the territory and secured relative peace, latter kings needed wisdom to maintain and govern a vast piece of land.
And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,
behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you (1 Kings 3:11-12).
In our prayers, we should seek God's will, not ours. God knows best. He knows what we don't know. He understands more than we understand ourselves. Therefore, empty our hearts and seek God's will.
I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days (1 Kings 3:13).
This reminds us of what Jesus taught in Matthew.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well (Matthew 6:33).
Jesus teaches us to seek God's kingdom and His righteousness. Then God shall take care of the rest.
God gives us what we have not asked. What have we not asked for? Sufferings. Nobody would ask for sufferings. But God will give us sufferings. Can we embrace them cheerfully, knowing that they are given us for our good? We need to take a longer view in order to discern the good God intends us. Job offers us a wisdom of sufferings. When calamities befell Job for no reasons, Job maintained his integrity.
Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God, and die."
But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips (Job 2:9-10).
Naturally, we are happy to receive good at the hand of God. How hard it is to receive patiently evil! Notice that Job stopped short of ascribing evil to God. He refused to make God responsible for evils. Modern men do otherwise. Here lies the wisdom of Job.
While Job's wisdom is personal, Solomon's is not for himself. He exercises God's given talents for the service of the Kingdom. Whatever our talents, let us make good use of them for the needs of our neighbour.

Dear Lord, I pray that we are able to discern Your will clearly. I pray that Your will be done. Amen.

An idealized David

History is written by men. In writing history, men pass judgment on kings and their ministers. At least, this has been the Chinese practice in previous ages. Even anthropologists, who conduct field observations, living in indigenous communities, are not immune from passing judgment on what they observe or choose to observe. Without knowing a bit of background, people will be easily misled into believing an idealized picture painted by historians.

I have no intention of offending Protestant readers. Many of them were told by their pastors that Martin Luther was restoring the true face of the Bible by rejecting several books in the Old Testament because these books were not written in Hebrew, but in Greek. People in ancient Israel spoke Hebrew. What was more logical to do than rejecting these Greek "fake scriptures", Apocrypha? In Luther's time, type printing had not been invented. Books, especially the Bible were copied and difficult to come by. In Luther's time, Bible was available only in Lain Vulgate. The majority of the population was illiterate. Even learned men did not have the opportunity to own a copy of the Bible and study it. Hebrew Scripture and Greek Septuagint were unheard of by most. Even fewer people knew how different books were collected into the Bible. Luther's action was idealized. I have no intention to go into details the history of Bible Canon. Interested readers should do research for themselves.

We have more than enough supply of idealized Chinese kings. Israel has one and he is King David. The Deuteronomist historians wanted to teach the Israelites the disastrous consequences of idolatry. They wrote the Book of Judges, the two Samuel's and two Kings'. Therefore, they did not refrain from recounting the sins of David. The two Chronicles' had a different agenda. David was idealized. Even though the first Jerusalem Temple was built by Solomon, the credits went to David instead. Today, when we read Ben Sirach, the sins of David was lightly grossed over. Beginning in chapter 44, Ben Sirach recounted famous people, beginning with Enoch, then Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and Aaron etc.
all these were honored in their generations, and were the glory of their times (Ben Sirach 44:7).
Ben Sirach spends 10 verses on David and finishes as follow.
The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his power for ever; he gave him the covenant of kings and a throne of glory in Israel (Ben Sirach 47:11).
David's sins occupied only one quarter of a verse, one fortieth of the whole eulogy! Of course, I should not be too harsh on Ben Sirach. After all, this book is meant for edification, for the education of the youth.
since it is necessary not only that the readers themselves should acquire understanding but also that those who love learning should be able to help the outsiders by both speaking and writing (Ben Sirach 0:1-14).

Returning to David, Ben Sirach recounts famous incidents of David's life, such as killing a lion, defeating Goliath and composing songs for the Lord etc. His interpretation of David's life is summarized in the following verse.
In all that he did he gave thanks to the Holy One, the Most High, with ascriptions of glory; he sang praise with all his heart, and he loved his Maker (Ben Sirach 47:8).
This is the example Ben Sirach wants to impress on his young readers. We do not expect "objective" historical facts but summarized idealized figures to inspire. The Chinese also have a rich culture of educational materials to hand on the tradition to the young such as 三字經、幼學故事瓊林 etc. May the merciful Lord remember us Chinese. Amen.

Dear Lord, allow us to exercise our rationality to dig up the truth. The truth will set us free. Amen.

The story of Joab

It was a long story. Abner was the commander of Saul's army. He was the son of Ner who was the uncle of Saul (1 Samuel 14:50).
After the death of Saul, Abner made Ishbosheth, son of Saul, king of Israel (2 Samuel 2:9), while David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah (2 Samuel 2:11).
Among the servants of David, there were three brothers, Joab, Abishai and Asahel. They were sons of Zeruiah (2 Samuel 2:18).
Asahel was killed by Abner while chasing him doggedly (2 Samuel 2:23). There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of Judah (2 Samuel 3:1). Abner intended to establish peace with David who wanted to get back his wife Michal, daughter of Saul (2 Samuel 3:13). Abner concurred and visited David in Hebron. David entertained him with a feast and Abner returned in peace. Joab learned of this and sent for Abner and met him in private. Then Joab killed Abner for the blood of his brother Asahel (2 Samuel 3:27). When David heard this, he cursed Joab.
May it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father's house; and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is leprous, or who holds a spindle, or who is slain by the sword, or who lacks bread! (2 Samuel 3:29)

Later in his career as the commander of the army, Joab did several dirty jobs for David. He helped David defeat the Syrians (2 Samuel 10:13). He had Uriah, husband of Bathsheba, killed in the seige of Rabbah (2 Samuel 11:17). After capturing Rabbah, Joab asked David to do the finishing touch so that the glory went to David (2 Samuel 12:29). Joab was very smart in serving the King.
When Absalom fled after killing his brother Amnon, Joab saw that David loved Absalom. He arranged to have Absalom returned to King David (2 Samuel 14:23). Later, Absalom rebelled against David. When the tide turned, David instructed explicitly to his commanders to deal with Absalom gently (2 Samuel 18:5). Absalom was defeated and fled on a mule. His hair was entangled on an oak tree and Absalom was hanging in mid-air. Joab wasted no time and thrust three darts into the heart of Absalom to finish him (2 Samuel 18:14). When David learned of the sad news, he mourned and wept deeply for his son. Joab came in to reprimand the King.
Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, "You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life, and the lives of your sons and your daughters, and the lives of your wives and your concubines,
because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you; for today I perceive that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased.
Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants; for I swear by the LORD, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night; and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now." (2 Samuel 19:5-7)
Joab was clearheaded. He helped David regain the hearts for those who fought for him. Of course, David was not pleased.
Sheba, son of Bichri rebelled against David. David set Amasa, the commander of the army of Judah, to handle the rebellion but Joab killed Amasa and settled it himself (2 Samuel 20:22).
The last dirty job Joab did for David was to carry out the census in the kingdom, though it was against his own will. Joab finished everything in nine months and twenty days (2 Samuel 24:8).

When David was old, Adonijah, the brother of Absalom, took the initiative to prepare himself for the throne. Joab and Abiathar the priest bet on the wrong horse and sided with Adonijah (1 King 1:7). Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet did not (1 Kings 1:8). But what was in the mind of David? Where did his heart go? Bathsheba went into the king's chamber to find out. Nathan came in to report on what Adonijah was doing with Joab and Abiathar. Then David swore to Bathsheba.
And the king swore, saying, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity,
as I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel, saying, 'Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead'; even so will I do this day." (1 Kings 1:29-30)
While Adonijah was still feasting with his guests, Zadok anointed Solomon king (1 Kings 1:39).
Solomon received instructions from David to clear up the mess. As for Joab, David had the following to say.
Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he murdered, avenging in time of peace blood which had been shed in war, and putting innocent blood upon the girdle about my loins, and upon the sandals on my feet.
Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace (1 Kings 2:5-6).
When Joab heard of the news that Solomon wanted to kill him, he fled to the tent of the Lord. Solomon sent Benaiah to strike Joab down and killed him there in the tent (1 Kings 2:34).
Woe to Joab. His whole career was devoted to serve David. In a sense, Joab was the altered ego of David to do all the dirty jobs for him. Alas! The Chinese idiom is right. 「狡兔死，走狗烹。」After all the cunning rabbits have died, running dogs are cooked. One cannot outlive one's utility. Kant would be turning in his grave!

Dear Lord, have mercy on the souls of those of us who run errands for our masters. Your yoke is easy and Your burden gentle light. Amen.

Census in the Old Testament

In Exodus, God instructed Moses to number the Israelites over 20 years old. Why were those under 20 not counted? Perhaps, those above 20 were supposed to be strong enough to take part in battles. Therefore, the census was also meant to be an estimate of the military strength of Israel. However, there was a string attached. Each man numbered must give half a shekel of silver as a ransom for himself.
When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them.
Each who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the LORD.
Every one who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the LORD's offering.
The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the LORD's offering to make atonement for yourselves(Exodus 30:12-15).
Therefore, census served more than an estimate of the military strength. It was also an opportunity to collect extra money, shall we say a tax, from the people. The poor were not exempted! What was the reason? There would be no plague among them! Why then should they numbered the people in the first place? It seems that census was a necessary evil in the eyes of the Israelites.
In the end, the number of Israelites 20 or above was found to be 603,550 (Exodus 38:26b). In the book of Numbers, we found a similar figure of 601,730.
This was the number of the people of Israel, six hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty (Numbers 26:51).

In the last chapter of the Second book of Samuel, we found another census. The circumstances were more complicated.
Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go, number Israel and Judah." (2 Samuel 24:1)
How shall we understand this verse? Remember, people in Old Testament time used to ascribe the actions of rulers to God. God hardened the heart of Pharaoh so that he refused to let the Israelites go. This time, God incited David to order a census. The First Book of Chronicles ascribes this to Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1). So, who ordered it, God, Satan or David? In either case, David could not escape blameless. King David commanded Joab to carry out the census. But this idea was not well received.
But Joab said to the king, "May the LORD your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see it; but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?" (2 Samuel 24:3)
If King David was concerned about the military strength of Israel, Joab prayed that King David could be able to see the military active population grow before he died. However, David insisted and Joab had not choice but to carry out the King's command.
It seemed that it was not a tax collecting mission. Joab took nine months and twenty days to accomplish the mission.
And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: in Israel there were eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand (2 Samuel 24:9).
So, the military active population had nearly doubled since Moses' time, from 600000 to 1300000.
David regretted after learning this number.
But David's heart smote him after he had numbered the people (2 Samuel 24:10a).
The First Book of Chronicles has a different story.
But God was displeased with this thing, and he smote Israel (1 Chronicle 21:7).

God gave David three choices, through prophet Gad, David's seer (2 Samuel 24:11).
Option#1: three years of famine in the land.
Option#2: three months of fleeing for life for David.
Option#3: three days of plague in the land (2 Samuel 24:13, 1 Chronicles 21:12).
What do you think David would choose? Would David consider the duration of punishment, or the good of his people? Would David take into consideration the will of God? If you were David, what would you choose? Find out for yourself.
In the end, David bought the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite to build an altar to offer sacrifices to the Lord.
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings (2 Samuel 24:24b-25a).

Dear Lord, I pray that our words and deeds will not displease You. Amen.

Presentation of Jesus in the Temple 2010

Forty days after his birth, Jesus was presented in the Temple according to Jewish laws (Leviticus 12:2-8, Luke 2:22-24). This law applies to all children born, whether they are first-born or not. It is a purification rite. If the child is a first-born boy, this presentation to the Temple acquires an additional meaning. Since the Lord delivered the Israelites from Egypt by killing the Egyptian first-born males, God told Moses to consecrate to Him, that is to offer to Him as sacrifices, all the first-born, both of man and of beasts (Exodus 13:2). Of course, first-born animals are sacrificed but the first-born of man are redeemed (Exodus 13:15).
Suddenly, forty days have elapsed since Christmas. It is February 2.

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple manifests the Jewishness of Jesus. Jesus was born a Jew and would work among the Jews. This feast is about him. It is his. Yet, this feast has another meaning for us, as expressed in the book of Malachi. He arrived suddenly at the Temple to purify the sons of Levi!
he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the LORD.
Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years (Malachi 3:3-4).
What does that mean? Who are these sons of Levi?
Indeed, the Israelites are supposed to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation (Exodus 19:6). All of them are supposed to be Levites assigned to offer sacrifices for all peoples on earth. Christians, the new Israelites, have inherited this status. At their baptism, Christians take up and share Jesus' offices of a king, a priest and a prophet. All Christians are priests. It is their role to represent mankind, Christians and non-Christians alike, to offer prayers and sacrifices to God. Though they may not be priests in the hierarchy, they should offer up their life and their work as pleasing sacrifices to God. They pray for themselves as well as for those who have not heard of God and those who are not yet believers in God.

Now that we have the sons of Levi, who turn out to be Christians, where and how does the purification take place? If the purification aspect is not so obvious in this presentation scene, another incident three decades later would make Jesus' purification role very conspicuous. Jesus chased the merchants out of the Temple to clean up the abusive practices prevalent in the Temple worship (Luke 19:45-46). We will be overstretching the gospels if we link the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple to the Cleansing of the Temple some thirty years later. We need to look elsewhere and indeed, it is not hard to find. The two great apostles have left us great theologies of the Temple.
St. Paul exhorts the Corinthians, and thus all Christians, not to commit adultery because our bodies are palaces/temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).
St. Peter teaches that we are living stones to build a spiritual house.  We are a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5). St. Peter has successfully completed a full circle, bringing back the teaching of Exodus 19. So, Christians are all priests as well as chapels themselves and together, they are building blocks of the Universal Church.

As priests, how can we be sure that our sacrifices shall be pleasing to God? This is done by Jesus. Our prayers may be selfish. Our life and work may not be pure. Yet, when we offer up our prayers and our work in the name of Jesus, these sacrifices will be pleasing to God. Jesus is doing the purification work for us.

Dear Lord, purify us so that our prayers and sacrifices will be pleasing offerings to our Father in heaven. Amen.

Absalom's rebellion

Absalom could have been the rightful heir to the throne despite his killing of Amnon, his half-brother. He fled but King David, his father, loved him and arranged for his return. This planted the seed of future sedition.

The author of Samuels did not hide his disgust at Absalom's ambition. Immediately after his return, Absalom surrounded himself with majestic pomp.
After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him (2 Samuel 15:1).
Chariots, horses and fifty men to run in the front were mentioned only twice in the Bible, Absalom and Adonijah (1 King 1:5). Both were failed contenders to the throne and were killed.
Absalom was more sophisticated. He tried to woo the hearts of the people over to him. He intercepted people seeking justice from King David, assuring them that their cases were good and right and it was a pity that nobody acted as their advocate.
Absalom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right; but there is no man deputed by the king to hear you."
Absalom said moreover, "Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a suit or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice." (2 Samuel 15:3-4)
At the end of four years, Absalom asked David for leave to offer sacrifice in Hebron. In fact, he went to dispatch secret messengers to spread rumour all over Israel that Absalom proclaimed king in Hebron (2 Samuel 15:7-10).
If you wondered how people could be so naive as to believe in rumours, let us not forget bank runs. Bank runs take place because of a lack of information or a blockage in the flow of information. A little rumour on the Internet spreads easily like wild fire and snowballs quickly into a financial crisis. In David's time when communication took a lot longer and information was more difficult to verify, rumour could be a very effective weapon to fight against a mighty rival.

When a messenger reported the situation to David, he might have exaggerated a bit. But David did not take any chances. He fled!
And a messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom."
Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us flee; or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom; go in haste, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword." (2 Samuel 15:13-14)
Why did David flee? Why did he avoid a direct conflict with Absalom? Was David too old to fight against Absalom, his own son? Did David so loved Absalom that he did not want to kill him? Was David merciful and not unwilling to see bloodshed among his subjects in Jerusalem? No.
If David was too old to fight in battles, he had his mercenaries. There is no doubt about David's love of this son (2 Samuel 13:39). Perhaps he even wished Absalom would be the next king. But that doesn't explain the arrangements he made.
He made a sensational departure, shedding a lot of his own tears and the tears of the people. He wanted to win back people's heart.
When the priests, the Levites carried the Ark to follow him, David sent them back. The Ark should stay and be worshipped by the rightful king. Let God decide.
Then the king said to Zadok, "Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his habitation." (2 Samuel 15:25)
The priests would be David's informers, telling him every move of Absalom. David knew he was fighting an information war.
His counsellor, Ahithophel had switched allegiance. David prayed to God that the advice of Ahithophel would turn to foolishness (2 Samuel 15:31).
David needed more ammunition. He planted his loyal friend Hushai the Archite next to Ahithophel to make sure Ahithophel's advice backfired.
Now, Absalom had a bad adviser at his side and was surrounded by David's informers. David had done whatever he could muster to ensure his own victory. There was no need for God to decide. Absalom was doomed. Still, let God decide.

Dear Lord, it is sad to see how David killed his beloved son Absalom. His sin spilt. Deliver us Lord from the sins of our fathers'. Deliver my children Lord from the sins of mine. Amen.