2 Sam. 14
God does not allow mercy to glory or triumph over judgment but causes them both to rejoice together—righteousness a n d peace to kiss each other. Glory to Himself in the highest is declared, as well as peace on earth to man. This was prefigured of old, and realized in the cross.
There was a ram caught by the horns for a sacrifice, when Isaac was freed. There was blood upon the lintel when Israel was freed. There was an altar to be set up in Oman's threshing floor when Jerusalem was freed.
And so at the cross. The victim had been offered, and then the veil was rent, and then the graves were opened; that is, the sacrifice was accomplished on the altar; it was then accepted of God in heaven. Then the gospel went forth to free the captives of sin and death.
In the case of Oman's threshing floor, already alluded to, the sword of the angel was stayed, that David might have some hope and occasion for exercise of spirit. But the sword of the angel was not sheathed till the altar was raised. It was the altar that sheathed the sword, as it was the blood that rent the veil.
David's son Absalom fled after having Ammon slain. While he was in exile, a wise woman of Tekoah came (at Joab's request) to David and said: "Neither doth God respect any person; yet doth He devise means, that His banished be not expelled from Him." 2 Sam. 14:1414For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. (2 Samuel 14:14).
Now David was a man, and not God; and this glory of which we speak was just that which did not belong to David. He could not find a way whereby to bring his banished home to him. If he please, he may forgive his own private wrongs seventy times seven times a day. He may, in all such cases, let mercy rejoice against judgment. But this is the utmost he can do. He is unable to be just and yet a justifier. He cannot justify the wrong doer and be righteous himself. Seated on the throne, and yet Absalom's father, he is not equal to the task of maintaining the integrity of that throne, and at the same time of gratifying the heart of that father. He attempted it, but he failed. Absalom was never really brought home. His was not the return of the prodigal in Luke 15. He returned, but it was to be a plague and dishonor to David, and only to expose him a thousand times more than ever. His heart spoke in answer to the woman of Tekoah. His heart was gratified, but his throne was cast down. But God, through the sacrifice of the Son, is never more righteous than when justifying the believing sinner.