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Sons Of The Flaming Throne – Ch. 10 | KT OLLA

BEFORE it was night on the day Joab’s field got burned, the man went to the palace of the king of Israel. He reported the thing to David.

King David felt sorry for the loss, hearing that Joab lost a precious barley farm only because he wouldn’t flout the king’s order.

He was touched, so he decided to take the burden off his commander. He decided to heed Absalom’s demand.

Yes, David planned to see his son as the latter requested. Yet he told himself that the meeting wouldn’t go beyond seeing the young man.

So the next morning he sent to bring Absalom. But as soon as the prince appeared before the king and bowed himself, David could no longer hold it in.

He stood up, went down to Absalom, and raised him up. He laid his head on his own shoulder and patted him on the back.

‘Ah my son, welcome home! Welcome home!’ he moaned.

Absalom simply broke down in tears right there.

‘I’ve only wanted to see you, Father! I’ve always only wanted to see you!’

David looked in his son’s eyes at that address. He noted that the prince didn’t address him as the king here, calling him, “Your Majesty.”

He heard him simply call the name “Father.” And realized how badly his son had wanted to see him.

David had so missed his prince, too. So he gently cupped his face in his hands and searched his glistening eyes.

‘I’m sorry, son. Father is sorry for keeping you away!’

Then he bowed a little and kissed him on the forehead. Also, he hugged him and moaned.

Absalom, however, wouldn’t believe the simple truth standing right in front of him.

So, quickly he wanted more than just a hug or kiss. More than just a father’s welcome.

He wanted the empty seat in front of his eyes. He wanted the throne, the flaming throne.

 David was quick to sense this in any case. As his prince’s frame stiffened up within moments of the embrace.

Just like clay hardens up at the sight of fire.

So then, King David withdrew from the hug. Then as he did, he caught the prince’s longing gaze.

It was stuck to that giant throne behind him.

Yes, that throne—it was a huge, giant seat of marble stone. Carved and chiselled out in one hefty piece.

Its outer frames were layered with pure, refined gold.

The thin spread of gold across the rims of the throne were cast as petals akin to the stunning rose of the plains of Sharon.

Then its hollow seat was a thick deck of fox’s fur. Red and scarlet like the flames of a burning fire. Or like the blood on a lamb of sacrifice.

So right there, David marked the prince’s eyes which lusted for his throne. The throne that the God of his fathers had set him on.

He watched desire flame up in his son’s eyes, and pitied the boy.

He knew Absalom had nothing of the things required to inherit that seat.

He knew his son was only seeing the glitter and the gold. The wealth and the glory.

Yes, he knew the prince would never want the price of spotlessness required to earn his place.

Required sit on that flaming throne—and not be consumed.

So, he reasoned in himself:

This boy must have forgotten the case of Saul. That this throne kills an erring one.

And he must not have realized it. That it is for this throne that I am paying this hard for my sin.

Now, David looked at Absalom his third heir and told him the words that God taught him.

‘My son!’ he whispered. ‘Promotion does not come from the east, or from the west, or from the south—or anywhere.

‘But, you see, God is the One who decides. He deposes a man and enthrones another!’

Absalom eyes blinkered. He was so caught; it was by a discerning king.

He glanced a frightened eye at David; and before he could say a word in defense, the king added another.

‘Now son, did you wonder who on earth could mount up God’s lofty hill? Or, who could sit in His holy place?’

He patted his shoulder, and smiled.

‘Only the man who has clean hands and a pure heart. Who has not lifted his soul to vanity!’

And with that the Third Prince could not bear to stand before the king much longer.

He sighed, and stammered. ‘I... I have only come to say my greetings to the king. Permit me to go now, Your Majesty.’

David turned his back and mounted up the steps back to the throne.

‘You may go, son. The Lord bless and keep you.’

Then, as soon as Absalom left and David settled in the throne, the words of Nathan the prophet came back burdening the king.

They bore the things the prophet foretold when David used the throne to steal his soldier’s wife, and then had the man killed on the warfront.

It echoed in his ears now:

Hear what the Lord declares. For He says, ‘Because you have done this thing, I will raise up an adversary against you from your own house.’

So David trembled at the consequence of irresponsibility and sin.

He feared the troubles that lay ahead.

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