A Tale of Three Kings

by GENE EDWARDS And may you both be so utterly healed that you can still answer the call of Him who asks for all because He is all. Acknowledgement o Helen! "arman and #atty for aiding in the $re$aration of this manuscri$t% and to &rad! who did the co'er. #reface to he Second Edition When ( first $enned A ale of hree )ings ( would ha'e been encouraged to know it would li'e long enough to go through two or three $rintings. ( utterly underestimated the number of de'astated "hristians out there. he book was intended for a rather small audience! "hristians damaged by the authoritarian mo'ement. A far broader audience has taken u$ this book! though. (t is an audience made u$ of "hristians damaged by church s$lits and by indi'idual *"hristian to "hristian* clashes. ( ha'e been a little awed by the rece$tion of this book and the fact that the rece$tion was world+wide. he number of $astors and "hristian workers who ha'e ordered this book in bulk! to be $assed out to their $eo$le! has been only short of $henomenal. hat A ale of hree )ings has been turned into $lays and has been read $ublicly from $ul$its turned awe to ama,ement. -b'iously there is a great deal of $ain and hurt out there in "hristendom that is rarely addressed or ministered to. ( ho$e this book! .etters to A De'astated "hristian! and -ur /ission will become ministers to those needs. Author0s #reface Why this book and what is its $ur$ose1 he answer can $robably be traced to my $ostman. 2or some reason unknown to me! ( recei'e corres$ondence from "hristians all o'er the world. Some years ago there began a growing number of letters from "hristians de'astated by the authoritarian mo'ement which had become so $o$ular with many e'angelical grou$s. A reaction to this totalitarian conce$t e'entually set in. A mass e3odus was soon under way. he stories being told by these s$iritual fugiti'es are often terrifying and sometimes unbelie'able. ( am not at all sure if it is the doctrine itself that is causing such wides$read carnage or the inordinate $ractice of this doctrine. Whate'er it is! in o'er thirty years as an e'angelical "hristian minister! ( ha'e ne'er seen anything that has damaged so many belie'ers so dee$ly. he wreckage a$$ears to be uni'ersal and reco'ery from it is almost nil.

his book reflects my concern for this multitude of confused! brokenhearted and often bitter "hristians who now find their s$iritual li'es in shambles and who are gro$ing about for e'en the slightest word of ho$e. his em$hasis on submission and authority in e'angelical circles is a recent enough de'elo$ment that there has a$$eared little in the way of literature to balance or tem$er it. "ertainly there is 'ery little in $rint to comfort or counsel these 'irtually destroyed "hristians. his book! ( trust! will ser'e in some small way to meet this need. 2rankly! the only other work ( know to recommend is -rwell0s little classic! Animal 2arm. ( urge++e'en im$lore++e'ery reader of A ale of hree )ings to read this book! too. here is one thing! dear reader! this book is most certainly not intended to be. (t is not intended to be additional fodder in your cannon to better blast your ad'ersaries! whate'er your 'iew. ( would beg you to be done with such ancient and brutish ways. his book is intended for indi'idual healing and for $ri'ate retreat. his final word4 A ale of hree )ings has a com$anion 'olume entitled .etters to a De'astated "hristian! which was s$ecifically $enned to gi'e $ractical ad'ice to "hristians who ha'e been shi$wrecked by conduct of other "hristians. ( trust both 'olumes will sound a note of ho$e! e'en if that note is heard e'er so distantly. hey ha'e set u$ kings! but not by me4 they ha'e made $rinces! and ( know it not ... Hosea 546 Well! dear reader! how nice to be with you once more. (t is a $ri'ilege to s$end this time with you. hank you for meeting here! and ( suggest we hasten into the $layhouse as ( see that they ha'e already dimmed the lights. here are two seats reser'ed for us not too far from the stage. 7uickly! let us take them. ( understand the story is a drama. ( trust! though! you will not find it sad. ( belie'e we will find the story to be in two $arts. (n #art -ne we shall meet an older king! Saul by name! and a young she$herd boy called Da'id. (n #art wo we shall once more meet an older king and a young man. &ut this time the older king is Da'id and the young man is Absalom.

he story is a $ortrait 8you might $refer to call it a rough charcoal sketch9 of submission and authority within the )ingdom of God. Ah! they ha'e turned off the lights! the $layers ha'e taken their $laces. he audience has :uieted itself. he curtain is rising. -ur story has begun. #rologue he almighty! li'ing God turned to Gabriel and s$oke thusly. *Go! take these two $ortions of /y being. here are two destinies waiting. /yself.* o each of them gi'e one $ortion of

"arrying two glowing! $ulsating lights of .ife! Gabriel o$ened the door into the realm between two uni'erses and disa$$eared. He had ste$$ed into he /all of ;nborn Destinies. *( ha'e here two $ortions of the nature of God. he first is the 'ery cloth of His nature. When wra$$ed about you! it clothes you with the breath of God. As water surrounds one who is within the sea! so does His 'ery breath en'elo$ you. With this! the wind that clothes! you will ha'e His $ower++$ower to subdue armies! shame the enemies of God and accom$lish His work on the earth. Here is the $ower of God as a gift. Here is immersion into the S$irit.* A destiny ste$$ed forward4 * his $ortion of God is for me.* * rue!* re$lied the angel. *And remember! whoe'er recei'es such a great $ortion of $ower as this is will surely be known by many. Ere your earthly $ilgrimage is done! your true character will be known% yea! e'en re'ealed! by means of this $ower. Such is the destiny of all who wear and wield this $ortion! for it touches only the outward man! affecting the inner man not one whit. -utward $ower will always un'eil the inner resources! or the lack thereof.* he first destined one recei'ed and ste$$ed back. Gabriel s$oke again. *( ha'e here the second of two elements of the .i'ing God. his is not a gift but an inheritance. A gift is worn on the outer man% an inheritance is $lanted dee$ inside++like a seed. <et! e'en though it

is such a small $lanting! this $lanting grows and! in time! fills all the inner man.* Another destiny ste$$ed forward. *( belie'e this element is to be mine for my earthly $ilgrimage.* * rue!* res$onded the angel again. *( must tell you that what has been gi'en you is a glorious thing++the only element in the uni'erse known to God or angels that can change the human heart. <et! e'en this 'ery element of God cannot accom$lish its task nor can it grow and fill your entire inner being unless it be com$ounded well. (t must be mi3ed la'ishly with $ain! sorrow and crushing.* he second destined one recei'ed and ste$$ed back. &eside Gabriel sat the angel Recorder. He dutifully entered into his ledger the record of the two destinies. *And who shall these destinies become after they go through the door to the 'isible uni'erse1* asked Recorder. Re$lied Gabriel softly! *Each! in his time! shall be king.* "ha$ter ( he youngest son of any family bears two distinctions4 He is considered to be both s$oiled and uninformed. ;sually little is e3$ected of him. (ne'itably! he dis$lays fewer characteristics of leadershi$ than the other children in the family. He ne'er leads! he only follows! for he has no one younger than he on whom to $ractice leadershi$. So it is today. So it was three thousand years ago in a 'illage called &ethlehem! in a family of eight boys. he first se'en sons of =esse worked near their father0s farm. he youngest was sent on treks into the mountains to gra,e the family0s small flock of shee$. -n those $astoral >aunts! this youngest son always carried two things4 a sling and a small! guitar+like instrument. S$are time for a shee$herder is abundant on rich mountain $lateaus where shee$ gra,e for days in one se:uestered meadow. &ut as time $assed and days became weeks! the young man became 'ery lonely. he feeling of friendless ness that always roamed around inside him was magnified. He often cried. He also $layed his har$ a great deal. He had a good 'oice! so he often sang. When these acti'ities failed to solace him!

he gathered u$ a $ile of stones and! one by one! swung them at a distant tree with something akin to fury. When one rock $ile was dissi$ated! he would walk to the blistered tree! reassemble his rocks and designate yet another leafy enemy at yet a farther distance. He engaged in many such solitary battles. his slings man+singer+she$herd also lo'ed his .ord. At night! when all the shee$ lay slee$ing! and he sat staring at the dying fire! he would strum u$on his har$ and break into a concert of one. He sang the ancient hymns of his forefathers0 faith. While he sang! he we$t! and while wee$ing he often broke forth in abandoned $raise until mountains in distant $laces $icked u$ his $raise and tears and $assed them on to higher mountains still! from whence they e'entually were cast u$ to the ears of God. When he did not $raise and when he did not cry! he tended to each and e'ery lamb ? and shee$. When not occu$ied with his flock! he swung his com$anionable sling and swung it again and again until he could tell e'ery rock $recisely where to go. -nce! while singing his lungs out to God! angels! shee$ and $assing clouds! he s$ied a li'ing enemy4 a huge bear@ He lunged forward. &oth found themsel'es mo'ing furiously toward the same small ob>ect! a lamb feeding at a table of rich! green grass. <outh and bear sto$$ed half way and whirled to face one another. E'en as he instincti'ely searched into his $ocket for a stone! the young man reali,ed! *Why! ( am not afraid.* /eanwhile! brown lightning on mighty! furry legs charged at him with foaming madness. (m$elled by the strength of youth! he married rock to leather and soon a brook+smooth $ebble whined through the air to meet that charge. A few moments later! the man! not :uite so young as a moment before! $icked u$ the little ewe and said! *( am your she$herd and God mine.* And so! long into the night! he wo'e the day0s saga into a song. He hurled that hymn to the skies again and again until he had taught the melody and words to e'ery angel that had ears. hey! in turn!

became custodians of this wondrous song and $assed it on as healing balm to brokenhearted men in e'ery age to come. "ha$ter (( A figure in the distance was running toward him. (t grew and became his brother. *Run@* cried the brother. *Run with all your strength. (0ll watch the flock.* *Why1* *An old man! a sage. He wants to meet all eight of the sons of =esse and he has seen all but you.* *&ut why1* *Run@* Da'id ran. He sto$$ed long enough to get his breath. hen! sweat $ouring down his sunburned cheeks! his red face matching his red curly hair! he walked into his father0s house! his eyes recording e'erything in sight. he youngest son of =esse stood there! tall and strong! but more in the eyes of the curious old gentleman than anyone else in the room. )in cannot always tell when a man is grown! e'en when looking straight at him. he elderly man saw. And something else! too. Some way the old man knew what God knew. God had taken a house+to+house sur'ey of the whole kingdom in search of something 'ery s$ecial. As a result of this sur'ey the .ord God Almighty had found that this leather+lunged troubadour lo'ed his .ord with a $urer heart than anyone else on all the sacred soil of (srael. *)neel!* said the bearded one with the long! gray hair. Almost regally! for one who had ne'er been in that $articular $osition! he knelt! and felt oil $ouring down u$on his head. Somewhere in one of the closets of his mind labelled *childhood information!* a thought was recalled4 * his is what men do to make royalty@ Samuel is making me a ... what1* he Hebrew words were unmistakable. E'en children knew them.

*&ehold the .ord0s anointed@* 7uite a day for the life of that young man! wouldn0t you say1 hen do you find it strange that this most remarkable e'ent led the young man! not to the throne! but to a decade of hellish agony and suffering1 -n that day! Da'id was enrolled! not into the lineage of royalty! but into the school of brokenness. Samuel went home. he sons of =esse! sa'e one! went forth to war.

he youngest! not yet ri$e for war! did! nonetheless! recei'e a $romotion in his father0s home ... from shee$herder to busboy. His new >ob now was to run food to his brothers on the front lines. He did this regularly. -n one such 'isit to the war front! he killed another bear! in the e3act same way as he had the first. his bear! howe'er! was nine feet tall and human. As the result of this unusual feat! young Da'id found himself a folk hero. And e'entually he found himself in the castle of a mad king. And in circumstances that were as insane as the king! the young man was to learn many indis$ensable things. "ha$ter (0ll Da'id sang to the mad king. -ften. he music hel$ed the old man a great deal! it seems. And all o'er the castle! when Da'id sang! e'eryone sto$$ed in the corridors of the king0s $alace! turned their ears in the direction of the king0s chamber! and listened and wondered. How did such a young man come in $ossession of such wonderful words and music1 E'eryone0s fa'orite seemed to be the song the little lamb had taught him. hey lo'ed that song e'ery bit as much as did the angels. Nonetheless! the king was mad and! therefore! he was >ealous. -r was it the other way around1 Either way! the king felt threatened by Da'id! as kings often do when there is a $o$ular! $romising young man beneath them. he king also knew! as did Da'id! that this boy >ust might ha'e his >ob some day. &ut would Da'id ascend to the throne by fair means or foul1 Saul d not know. his :uestion is one of the things that dro'e the king mad.

Da'id was caught in a 'ery uncomfortable $osition% howe'er! within his circumstance he seemed to gras$ a dee$ understanding of the unfolding drama in which he had been caught. He seemed to understand something that few of e'en the wisest men of his day understood. Something which e'en in our day! when men are wiser still! fewer understand. And what was that1 God did not ha'e! but wanted 'ery much to ha'e! men who would li'e in $ain. God wanted a broken 'essel. AB "ha$ter (C he mad king saw Da'id as a threat to the king0s kingdom. he king did not understand! it seems! that God should be left to decide what kingdoms sur'i'e which threats. Not knowing this! Saul did what all mad kings do. He threw s$ears at Da'id. He could. He was king. )ings can do things like that. )ings claim the right to throw s$ears. E'eryone knows such men ha'e that right. E'eryone knows 'ery! 'ery well. How do they know1 &ecause the king has told them so++many! many times. (s it $ossible that this mad king was the true king! e'en the .ord0s anointed1 What about your king1 (s he the .ord0s anointed1 /aybe he is. /aybe he isn0t. No one can e'er really know for sure. /en say they are sure. E'en certain. &ut they are not. hey do not know. God knows. &ut He will not tell. (f your king is truly the .ord0s anointed! and if he also throws s$ears! then there are some things you can know! and know for sure4 <our king is :uite mad. hey almost always do.

And he is a king after the order of )ing Saul. A? "ha$ter C God has a uni'ersity. (t0s a small school. 2ew enroll! e'en fewer graduate. Cery! 'ery few indeed. God has this school because He does not ha'e broken men. (nstead He has se'eral other ty$es of men. He has men who claim to be God0s authority ... and aren0t% men who claim to be broksn ... and aren0t! And men who are God0s authority! but who are mad and unbroken. And He has! regretfully! a s$ectrosco$ic mi3ture of e'erything in between. All of these He has in abundance% but broken men! hardly at all. (n God0s sacred school of submiRsion and brokenoess! why are there so few students1 &ecause all who are in this school must suffer much $ain. And as you might guess! it is often the unbroken ruler 8whom God so'ereignly $icks9 who metes out the $ain. Da'id was once a student in this school! and Saul was God0s chosen way to crush Da'id. As the king grew in madness! Da'id grew in understanding. He knew that God had $laced him in the king0s $alace! under true authority. he authority of )ing Saul! true1 <es! God0s chosen authority. "hosen for Da'id. ;nbroken authority! yes. &ut di'ine in ordination! nonetheless. <es! that is $ossible. Da'id drew in his breath! $laced himself under his mad king! and mo'ed farther down the $ath of his earthly hell. A6 "ha$ter C( Da'id had a :uestion4 What do you do when someone throws a s$ear at you1 Does it not seem odd to you that Da'id did not know the answer to this :uestion1 After all! e'eryone else in the world knows what to do when a s$ear is thrown at them. Why! you $ick u$ the s$ear and throw it right back@ *When someone throws a s$ear at you! Da'id! >ust wrench it right out of the wall and throw it back. Absolutely e'eryone else does! you can be sure.*

And in doing this small feat of returning thrown s$ears! you will $ro'e many things4 <ou are courageous. <ou stand for the right. <ou boldly stand against the wrong. <ou are tough and can0t be $ushed around. <ou will not stand for in>ustice or unfair treatment. <ou are the defender of the faith! kee$er of the flame! detector of all heresy. <ou will not be wronged. All of these attributes then combine to $ro'e that you are also! ob'iously! a candidate for kingshi$. <es! $erha$s you are the .ord0s anointed. After the order of )ing Saul. here is also a $ossibility that some ?B years after your coronation! you will be the most incredibly skilled s$ear thrower in all the realm. And! most assuredly! by then... 7uite mad. AD "ha$ter C(( ;nlike anyone else in s$ear+throwing history! Da'id did not know what to do when a s$ear was thrown at him. He did not throw Saul0s s$ears back at him. Nor did he make any s$ears of his own and throw them. Something was different about Da'id. All he did was dodge. What can a man! es$ecially a young man! do when the king decides to use him for target $ractice1 What if the young man decides not to return the com$liment1 2irst of all! he must $retend he cannot see s$ears. E'en when they are coming straight at him. Secondly! he must also learn to duck 'ery :uickly. .astly! he must $retend nothing at all ha$$ened. <ou can easily tell when someone has been hit by a s$ear. He turns a dee$ shade of bitter. Da'id ne'er got hit. Gradually! he learned a 'ery well ke$t secret. He disco'ered three things that $re'ented him from e'er being hit. -ne! ne'er learn anything about the fashionable! easily+mastered art of s$ear AE throwing. wo! stay out of the com$any of all s$ear throwers. And three! kee$ your mouth tightly closed. (n this way! s$ears will ne'er touch you! e'en when they $ierce your heart. A5 "ha$ter C((( */y king is mad. At least! ( $ercei'e him so. What can @ do1* 2irst! recogni,e this immutable fact4 <ou cannot tell 8none of us can9

who is the .ord0s anointed and who is not. Some kings! whom all will swear are after the order of )ing Saul! are really after the order of Da'id. And others! whom all men swear are after the order of Da'id! really belong to the order of )ing Saul. Who is correct1 Who can know1 o whose 'oice do you listen1 No man is wise enough e'er to break that riddle. All any of us can do is walk around asking oursel'es the :uestion4 *(s this man the .ord0s anointed! and if so! is he after the order of Saul1* /emori,e that :uestion 'ery well. <ou may ha'e to ask it of yourself AB!BBB times. Es$ecially if you are a citi,en of a realm whose king >ust might be mad. Asking this :uestion may not seem difficult! but it is. Es$ecially when you are crying 'ery hard ... and dodging AF s$ears ... and being tem$ted to throw one back ... and being encouraged by others to do >ust that. And all your rationality and sanity and logic and intelligence and common sense agree. &ut remember in your tears4 <ou know only the :uestion! not the answer. No one knows the answer. E3ce$t 7od. And He ne'er tells. "ha$ter (G *( did not like that last cha$ter. (t skirted the $roblem. (0m in Da'id0s situation! and ( am in agony. What do ( do when the kingdom (0m in is ruled by a s$ear wielding king1 Should ( lea'e1 (f so! how1 =ust what does a man do in the middle of a knife+throwing contest1* Well! if you didn0t like the :uestion found in the last cha$ter! you won0t like the answer found in this one. he answer is! *<ou get stabbed to death.* *What is the necessity of that1 -r the good of it1* <ou ha'e your eyes on the wrong )ing Saul. As long as you look at your

king! you will blame him! and him alone! for your $resent hell. &e careful! for God has His eyes fastened shar$ly on another )ing Saul. Not the 'isible one standing u$ there throwing s$ears at you. No! God is looking at another )ing Saul. -ne >ust as bad++or worse. God is looking at the )ing Saul in you. *(n me1@* Saul is in your bloodstream! in the marrow of your bones. He makes u$ the 'ery flesh and muscle of your heart. He is mi3ed into your soul. He inhabits the nuclei of your atoms. )ing Saul is one with you. <ou are )ing Saul@ He breathes in the lungs and beats in the breast of all of us. here is only one way to get rid of him. He must be annihilated. <ou may not $articularly find this to be a com$liment! but at least now you know why God $ut you under someone who >ust might be )ing Saul. Da'id the shee$herder would ha'e grown u$ to become )ing Saul ((! e3ce$t that God cut away the Saul inside Da'id0s heart. he o$eration! by the way! took years and was a brutali,ing e3$erience that almost killed the $atient. And what were the scal$el and tongs God used to remo'e this inner Saul1 God used the outer Saul. )ing Saul sought to destroy Da'id! but his only success was that he became the ?? handmaiden of God to $ut to death the Saul who roamed about in the ca'erns of Da'id0s own soul. <es! it is true that Da'id was 'irtually destroyed in the $rocess! but this had to be. -therwise the Saul in him would ha'e sur'i'ed. Da'id acce$ted this fate. He embraced the cruel circumstances. He lifted no hand! nor offered resistance. Nor did he grandstand his $iety. Silently! $ri'ately! he bore the crucibles. &ecause of this he was dee$ly wounded. His whole inner being was mutilated. His

$ersonality was altered. When the gore was o'er! Da'id was barely recogni,able. <ou weren0t satisfied with the :uestion in the last cha$ter1 $robably didn0t like the answer in this one. None of us do. E3ce$t God. H "ha$ter G How does a man know when it is finally time to lea'e the .ord0s anointed+es$ecially the .ord0s anointed after the order of )ing Saul1 Da'id ne'er made that decision. he .ord0s anointed made it for him. he king0s own decree settled the matter@ *Hunt him down! kill him like a dog.* -nly then did Da'id lea'e. No! he fled. E'en then! he ne'er s$oke a word or lifted a hand against Saul. #lease also note this4 Da'id did not s$lit the kingdom when he made his de$arture. He did not take $art of the $o$ulation with him. He left alone. Alone. All alone. )ing Saul (( ne'er does that. He always takes those who *insist on coming along.* <es! men do insist on going with you! don0t they1 hel$ you found the kingdom of )ing Saul ((. Such men ne'er dare lea'e alone. &ut Da'id left alone. <ou see! the .ord0s true anointed can lea'e alone. here0s only one way to lea'e a kingdom4 Alone. All alone. ?D "ha$ter G( "a'es are not the ideal $lace for morale building. here is a certain sameness to them all! no matter how many you ha'e li'ed in. Dark. Wet. "old. Stale. A ca'e becomes e'en worse when hey are willing to hen you

you are its sole inhabitant ... and in the distance you can hear the dogs baying. &ut sometimes! when the dogs and hunters were not near! the $rey sang. He started low! then lifted u$ his 'oice and sang the song the little lamb had taught him. he ca'ern walls echoed each note >ust as the mountains once had done. he music rolled down into dee$ ca'ern darkness that soon became an echoing choir singing back to him. He had less now than he had when he was a she$herd! for now he had no lyre! no sun! not e'en the com$any of shee$. he memories of the court had faded. Da'id0s greatest ambition now reached no higher than a she$herd0s staff. E'erything was being crushed out of him. He sang a great deal. And matched each note with a tear. How strange! is it not! what suffering begets1 here in those ca'es! drowned in the sorrow of his song! and in the song of his sorrow! Da'id 'ery sim$ly became the greatest hymn writer! and the greatest comforter of broken hearts this world shall e'er know. ?5 "ha$ter G(( He ran++through soggy fields and down slimy ri'erbeds. Sometimes the dogs came close% sometimes they e'en found him. &ut swift feet! ri'ers! and watery $its hid him. He took his food from the fields! dug roots from the roadside! sle$t in trees! hid in ditches! crawled through briars and mud. 2or days he ran++not daring to sto$ or eat. He drank the rain. Half naked! all filthy! on he walked! stumbled! crawled and clawed. "a'es were castles now. #its were home. (n times $ast! mothers had always told their children that if they did not beha'e they would end u$ like the town drunk. No longer. hey had a better! more frightening story. *&e good! or you0ll end u$ like the giant killer.* (n =erusalem! when men taught of being submissi'e to kings and honoring the .ord0s anointed! Da'id was the $arable.

*See! this is what God does to rebellious men.* he young listeners shuddered at the thought and somberly resol'ed ne'er to ha'e anything to do with rebellion. So it was then! so it is now! so shall it e'er be. /uch later! Da'id would reach a foreign land! and a small! 'ery small! measure of safety. Here! too! he was feared! hated! lied about and $lotted against. He shook hands with murder on se'eral occasions. hese were Da'id0s darkest hours. <ou know them as his $re+king days! but he didn0t. He assumed this was his lot fore'er. Suffering was gi'ing birth. Humility was being born. &y earthly measures he was a shattered man% by hea'en0s measure! a broken one. "lm$ter G==( -thers had to flee as the king0s madness grew. 2irst one! then three! then ten! and e'entually hundreds. After long searching! some of these fugiti'es made contact with Da'id. hey had not seen him for a long time! he truth was that when they did see him again! they sim$ly didn0t recogni,e him He had changed% his $ersonality! his dis$osition! his total being had been altered. He lked less. He lo'ed God more. He sang differently. hey had ne'er heard these songs before. Some were lo'ely beyond words! but some could free,e the blood in your 'eins. hose who found him and who decided to be his fellow fugiti'es were a sorry! worthless lot4 thie'es! liars! com$lainers! fault+finders! rebellious men with rebellious hearts. hey were blind with hate for the king and! therefore! for all authority figures. hey would ha'e been troublemakers in $aradise! if e'er they could ha'e gotten in. Da'id did not lead them. He did not share their attitudes. <et! unsolicited! they began to follow him. He ne'er s$oke to them of authority. He ne'er s$oke of submission% but! to a man! they submitted. He laid down no rules. .egalism is not a word found in the 'ocabulary of fugiti'es. Nonetheless! they cleaned u$ their outward li'es. Gradually! their inward li'es began to change! too.

hey didn0t fear submission or authority% they didn0t e'en think about the to$ic! much less discuss it. hen why did they follow him1 hey didn0t! e3actly. (t was >ust that he was ... well ... Da'id. hat didn0t need e3$lanation. And so! for the first of two times! true kingshi$ had its nati'ity. H? "ha$ter G(C *Why! Da'id! why1* he $lace was another nameless ca'e. he men stirred about restlessly. Gradually! and 'ery uneasily! they began to settle in. All were as confused as =oab! who had finally 'oiced their :uestions. =oab wanted some answers. Now@ Da'id should ha'e seemed embarrassed or at least defensi'e. He was neither. He was looking $ast =oab like a man 'iewing another realm which only he could see. =oab walked directly in front of Da'id! looked down on him! and began roaring his frustrations. */any times he almost s$eared you to death in his castle. (0'e seen that with my own eyes. 2inally! you ran away. Now for years you ha'e been nothing but a rabbit for him to chase. 2urthermore! the whole world belie'es the lies he tells about you. He has come! the )ing himself! hunting e'ery ca'e! $it and hole on earth to find you and kill you like a dog. &ut tonight you had him at the end of his own s$ear and you did nothing@ *.ook at us. We0re animals again. .ess than an hour ago you could ha'e freed us all. <es! we could all be free! right now@ 2ree@ And (srael! too. She would be free. Why! Da'id! why did you not end these years of misery1* here was a long silence. /en shifted again! uneasily. accustomed to seeing Da'id rebuked. hey were not

*&ecause!* said Da'id 'ery slowly 8and with a gentleness that seemed to say! *( heard what you asked! but not the way you asked it09! *because once! long ago! he was not mad. He was young. He was great. Great in the eyes of God and men. And it was God who made him king+God++not men.* =oab bla,ed back! *&ut now he is mad@ And God is no longer with him. And! Da'id! he will yet kill your* his time it was Da'id0s answer that bla,ed with fire. *&etter he kill me than ( learn his ways. &etter he kill me than ( become as he is. ( shall not $ractice the ways that cause H6 kings to go mad. ( will not throw s$ears! nor will ( allow hatred to grow in my heart. ( will not a'enge. Not now. Not e'er@* =oab could not handle such a senseless answer. He stormed out into the dark. hat night men went to bed on cold! wet stone and muttered about their leader0s distorted! masochistic 'iews of relationshi$s to kings! es$ecially mad ones. Angels went to bed that night too! and dreamed! in the afterglow of that rare! rare day! that God might yet be able to gi'e His authority to a trustworthy 'essel. "ha$ter GC What kind of man was Saul1 Who was this one who made himself Da'id0s enemy1 Anointed of God. Deli'erer of (srael. And yet remembered mostly for his madness. 2orget the bad $ress. 2orget the stinging re'iews. 2orget his re$utation. .ook at the facts. Saul was one of the greatest figures of human history. He was a farm boy! a real country kid. He was tall! good+looking and well+liked. He was ba$ti,ed into the S$irit of God.

He also came from a good family% that is! in his lineage were some of the great historical figures of all mankind. Abraham! (srael! /oses! these were his ancestors. Do you remember the background1 Abraham had founded a nation. /oses had set that nation free from sla'ery. =oshua ga'e those $eo$le a toehold in the land which was $romised to them by God. he >udges ke$t the whole thing from disintegrating into total chaos. hat0s when Saul came along. (t was Saul who took these $eo$le and welded them into a united kingdom. Saul united a $eo$le and founded a kingdom. 2ew men ha'e e'er done that. He created an army out of thin air. He won battles in the $ower of God! defeated the enemy again and again! as few men e'er ha'e. Remember that! and remember too! that this man was immersed in the S$irit. 2urthermore! he was a $ro$het. he S$irit came on him in $ower and authority. He did and said un$recedented things and it was all by the $ower of the S$irit resting on him. He was e'erything men today are seeking to be ... em$owered with the Holy S$irit ... able to do the im$ossible ... for God. A leader! chosen by God with $ower from God. Saul was gi'en authority that is God0s alone. He was God0s anointed and God treated him that way. He was also eaten with >ealousy! ca$able of murder and willing to li'e in s$iritual darkness. (s there a moral in these contradictions1 <es! and it will s$linter a lot of your H5 conce$ts about $ower! about great men under God0s anointing! and about God Himself.

/any men $ray for the $ower of God. /ore e'ery year. hose $rayers sound $owerful! sincere! godly and without ulterior moti'e. Hidden under such $rayer and fer'or! howe'er! are ambition! a cra'ing for fame! the desire to be considered a s$iritual giant. he man who $rays such $rayer may not e'en know it! but such dark moti'es and desires are in his heart ... in your heart. E'en as men $ray these $rayers! they are hollow inside. here is little internal s$iritual growth. #rayer for $ower is the :uick and the short way! circumna'igating internal growth. here is a 'ast difference between the outward clothing of the S$irit0s $ower and the inward filling of the S$irit0s life. (n the first! des$ite the $ower! the hidden man of the heart may remain unchanged. (n the latter! that monster is dealt with. (nteresting about God. He hears all those re:uests for $ower! which fer'ent young men $ray 8in e'ery generation9 and He answers them@ Cery often He grants those re:uests for $ower! for authority. Sometimes in answering them! He says *yes* to some 'ery unworthy 'essels. He gi'es unworthy men $ower1 His $ower1 E'en though they are a $ile of dead men0s bones inside1 Why des God do such a thing1 he answer is both sim$le and shocking. He sometimes gi'es unworthy 'essels a greater $ortion of $ower so that it might e'entually be re'ealed for all to see the true state of internal nakedness within that man. So think again when you hear the $ower merchant. Remember4 God sometimes gi'es $ower to men for unseen reasons. A man can be li'ing in the grossest of sin and the outward gift will still be working $erfectly. he gifts of God! once gi'en! cannot be recalled. E'en in the $resence of sin. 2urthermore! some men! li'ing >ust such li'es! are the .ord0s anointed. in the .ord0s eyes. Saul was li'ing $roof of this fact. he gifts cannot be re'oked. errifying! isn0t it1

(f you are young and ha'e ne'er seen such things! you may be certain that 6o sometime in the ne3t 6B years you will see.

Highly gifted and 'ery $owerful men... re$uted to be leaders in the )ingdom of God! do some 'ery dark and ugly deeds. What does this world need4 Gifted men! outwardly em$owered1 -r broken men! inwardly transformed1 )ee$ in mind that some of the men who ha'e been gi'en the 'ery $ower of God ha'e raised armies! defeated the enemy! brought forth mighty works of God! $reached and $ro$hesied with un$aralleled $ower and elo:uence... And thrown s$ears! And hated other men! And attacked other men! And $lotted to kill! And $ro$hesied naked! And e'en consulted witches. "ha$ter GC( *<ou still ha'en0t answered my :uestion. he man ( sit under4 ( think he is a )ing Saul. How can ( know with certainty1* (t is not gi'en to us to know. And remember! e'en Sauls are often the .ord0s anointed. <ou see! there are always men+e'erywhere! in e'ery age! and in e'ery grou$++who will stand and tell you4 * hat man is after the order of )ing Saul.* While another! >ust as sure! will rise to declare! *No! he is the .ord0s anointed after the order of Da'id.* No man can really know which of the two is correct. And if you ha$$en to be in the balcony looking down at those two men screaming at one another! you may wonder to which order! if any! they belong. Remember! your leader may be a Da'id. * hat0s im$ossible@* (s it1 /ost of us know at least two men in the lineage of Da'id who ha'e been damned and crucified by men. /en who were absolutely certain the men they were crucifying were not Da'ids. And if you don0t know of two such cases! for sure you know of one. /en who go after the Sauls among us often crucify the Da'ids among

us. Who! then! can know who is a Da'id and who is a Saul1 God knows. &ut He won0t tell. Will you be so certain your king is a Saul and not a Da'id that you are willing to take the $osition of God and do war against your Saul1 (f so! then let us thank God you did not li'e in the days when Golgotha was in use. What! then! can you do1 Cery little. #erha$s nothing. Howe'er! the $assing of time 8and the beha'ior of your leader while that time $asses9 re'eals a great deal about your leader. And the $assing of time! and the way you react to that leader++be he Da'id or Saul++re'eals a great deal about you. 66 "ha$ter GC(( wo generations after the reign of Saul! a young man enthusiastically enrolled himself into the ranks of (srael0s army under a new king! the grandson of Da'id. He soon began hearing tales of Da'id0s mighty men of 'alor. He determined to disco'er if one of those mighty men might still be ali'e and! if so! to find him and talk to him! though he calculated that such a man would be o'er a hundred years in age. At last he disco'ered that! sure enough! one such man still li'ed. Ha'ing learned of his whereabouts! the youth made haste to his dwelling. An3iously! if not hesitantly! he knocked on the door. Slowly it o$ened. here stood a giant of a man! gray ... no! white haired. and wrinkled beyond e3$ectation. *Are you! sir! one of Da'id0s mighty men of long ago++one of these men of whom we ha'e heard so much1* he old man sur'eyed the young man0s face! his features! his uniform! for a long moment. hen! in an ancient but firm 'oice! he re$lied! ne'er taking his steady ga,e off the young man0s face. *(f you are asking if ( am a former thief and ca'e dweller and one who

followed a sobbing! hysterical fugiti'e! then yes! ( was one of the 0mighty men of Da'id.* He straightened his shoulders with those last words% nonetheless! his sentence ended in a chuckle. *Why! you make the Great )ing sound like a weakling. Was he not the greatest of all rulers1* *He was no weakling!* said the old man. hen! si,ing u$ the moti'ation for the eager young man0s $resence at his door! he re$lied wisely and softly! *Nor was he a great leader.* * hen what! good sir1 2or ( ha'e come to learn the ways of the Great )ing and his... uh ... mighty men. What was the greatness of Da'id1* *( see you ha'e the ambitions ty$ical of youth!* said the old warrior. *@ ha'e the distinct notion you dream of leading men yourself one day.* He $aused! then continued refiecti'ely. *<es! (0ll tell you of 6D the greatness of my king! but my words may sur$rise you.* he old man0s eyes filled with tears as he thought first of Da'id and then of the foolish new king only recently crowned. *( will tell you of my king and his greatness. */y king has ne'er threatened me as does yours. <our new king has begun his reign with laws! rules! regulations and fear. he clearest memory ( ha'e of my king! when we li'ed in the ca'es! is that his was a life of submission. <es! Da'id showed me submission! not authority. He taught me! not the :uick cures of rules and laws! but the art of $atience. hat is what changed my life. .egalism is nothing but a leader0s way of a'oiding suffering. *Rules were in'ented by elders! so they could get to bed early@ /en who har$ on authority only $ro'e they ha'e none. And kings who make s$eeches about submission only betray twin fears in their hearts4 hey are not certain they are really true leaders! sent of God. And they li'e in mortal fear of a rebellion. */y king s$oke not of submitting to him. He feared no rebellion ... because ... because he did not mind if he

was dethroned@ *Da'id taught me losing! not winning. Gi'ing! not taking. He showed me that the leader! not the follower! is incon'enienced. He shielded us from suffering% he did not mete it out. *He taught me that authority yields to rebellion! es$ecially when that rebellion is nothing more dangerous than immaturity! or $erha$s stu$idity.* he old man was ob'iously remembering some 'ery tense and $erha$s humorous e$isodes in the ca'es. *No!* he said! now in a 'oice with a touch of elo:uence! *authority from God is not afraid of challengers! makes no defense! and cares not one whit if it must be dethroned. * hat was the greatness of the Gre ... of the true )ing.* he old man began to walk away. &oth anger and regality were e'ident in his bearing as he turned. hen he faced the youth once more! thundering one last sal'o4 *As far as Da'id0s ha'ing authority4 /en who don0t ha'e it talk 65 about it all the time. Submit! submit! that0s all you hear. Da'id had authority! but ( don0t think that fact e'er occurred to him@ We were DBB no+goods with a leader who cried a lot. hat0s all we were@* hose were the last words the young soldier heard from the old warrior. Sli$$ing back into the street! he wondered if he would e'er again be ha$$y ser'ing under Rehoboam. 6F "ha$ter G C((( So! ha'ing come to the end of our study of Saul and Da'id! you feel you ha'e been greatly assisted1 What0s that1 <ou are now certain the man you are under is not truly from God ... or if he is! he is at best only a Saul1 /y! how certain we mortals can be ... of things e'en angels do not know. /ay ( ask you then! what you $lan to do with this newly ac:uired knowledge1 <es! ( am aware that you yourself are neither a Saul nor a Da'id ... but only a $easant of the realm. <ou do $lan! though! to share your new disco'eries with a few friends1 ( see. #erha$s then! ( should warn you that with this heady new knowledge of yours there is an inherent danger. A strange mutation can take $lace within your own

heart. <ou see! it is $ossible ... but wait@ What is it ( see o'er there@ here@ (n that distant mist behind you. urn. Do you see1 Who is that a$$arition+like figure making his way through the fog1 (t seems ( ha'e surely seen him before. IA .ook closely. (s it not $ossible for us to make out what he is doing1 He a$$ears to be bending o'er some ancient chest. <es! he has o$ened it. Who is he1 And what is he doing1 He has drawn something out of the chest. A cloak1 (t is some kind of ca$e. Why! he is $utting it on@ he thing fits him $erfectly! falling about his shoulders like a mantle. Now what1 He reaches again into that chest. ( know ( ha'e seen that $erson somewhere before. What is it he $ulls forth this time1 A shield1 No! a coat of arms. <es! a coat of arms from some ancient! long forgotten order. He holds it u$ as one who would make that order his own@ Who is that man@ he bearing. he stance. he carriage. (0'e seen it before. (0m sure. Ah@ He has mo'ed out of the mist into the light. We will see him clearly now. hat face. (s it not you1@ <es. (t is. (t is you@ <ou who can so wisely discern the $resence of an unworthy Saul@ Go@ .ook in yon mirror. hat man is you@

I? .ook! too! at the name u$on that coat of arms. &ehold4 A&SA.-/ HE SE"-ND@@@ IH "ha$ter G(G *.ook. Here comes Da'id@* &right smiles! a few giggles! some light laughter.

*See@ (t0s Da'id! no less.* Again! wide grins! a wa'e! and :uiet amusement. * hat isn0t Da'id!* e3claimed a youth to his guardian as the two of them walked along the side of the street. *Why do they s$eak that way1 hat man is not Da'id@* * rue! child! it is not Da'id. (t0s only Absalom coming from the gate.* *Why do they call him Da'id1* the boy asked! looking back o'er his shoulder at the handsome man in the chariot with the IB men running before him. *&ecause he reminds us all of Da'id when he was young. And because we are all so glad there is such a fine young man to take Da'id0s $lace someday. And $erha$s! too! because Absalom is e'en better looking than Da'id. He may be the most handsome man ali'e.* *Will Absalom be king soon1 How old is Da'id! anyway1 (s he about to die1* *-f course not! my boy. .et0s see ... how old is Da'id1 #robably about the same age as )ing Saul when his reign came to an end.* *How old is Absalom1* *About the same age as Da'id when Saul was trying so hard to kill him.* *Da'id is Saul0s age. Absalom is the age of Da'id when he first became king!* mused the boy. hey walked on silently for a while. he boy! ob'iously dee$ in thought! s$oke again. *Saul was 'ery hard on Da'id! was he not1* *<es! 'ery.* *(s )ing Da'id going to treat Absalom the same way1 Will Da'id be hard on Absalom1* he guardian $aused to consider the :uestion! but the child went on4 *(f Da'id treats Absalom badly! will Absalom beha'e with as much grace as did Da'id1*

*"hild! the future will surely tell us. /y! ID you ask such :uestions@ (f! when you are grown! you can gi'e answers as well as you can now ask :uestions! you will surely be known as the wisest man on earth.* he two turned into the $alace gate. IE "ha$ter GG (t warmed your heart to know a man who saw things so clearly. Discerning. <es! that was the word that best described him++discerning. He could $enetrate to the heart of any $roblem. /en felt secure >ust being with him. with him. hey e'en longed to ha'e time

alking with him! they reali,ed that they themsel'es were wiser than they0d reali,ed. Such a re'elation made them feel good. As he discussed $roblem after $roblem and solution after solution! men began to long for the day when this one would be their leader. He could right so many wrongs. He ga'e them a sense of ho$e. &ut this im$osing! insightful man would ne'er deliberately hasten the day of his own rule! of this they were certain. He was far too humble! too res$ectful of the $resent leader. hose around him began to feel a little frustrated that they would ha'e to kee$ waiting for the better days of this man0s rule. IF he more they sat in his li'ing room and talked! the more they reali,ed there were things $resently amiss in the kingdom. <es! things amiss which they had ne'er thought of before. And $roblems. #roblems were coming to light they had ne'er dreamed of. <es! they really were growing in wisdom and in insight. As the days $assed! more and more of them came to listen. Word s$read :uietly. *Here is one who understands and has the answers.* he frustrated came. hey listened. hey asked :uestions. hey recei'ed e3cellent answers and began to ho$e. Heads nodded. Dreams were born. As time $assed! there were more such gatherings. (deas turned into stories! stories of in>ustice that others might ha'e

deemed tri'ial. &ut not this listener@ He was com$assionate. And as those around him talked! the disco'ered in>ustices seemed to grow in number and se'erity. With each new story! men were more shocked at unfairness that was now! it seemed! ram$ant. &ut the wise young man sat :uietly and added not a word to these murmurings. He was too noble! you see. He always closed the e'ening con'ersations with an humble word of deference toward those with res$onsibilty... &ut it was too much to e3$ect that any man could sit :uietly by fore'er. his endless $arade of in>ustice was bound to stir e'en the most res$ectful man. E'en the $urest in heart would be smitten with anger. 8And this man was certainly the 'ery $urest in heart@9 Such a com$assionate man could not fore'er turn his face from these sufferings nor fore'er remain silent. Such noble character as this had someday to s$eak out. 2inally his followers! which he 'owed he did not ha'e! were almost li'id. heir insights into the wrongdoings of the kingdom not only grew but abounded. hey all wanted to do something about these endless in>ustices. At last! it seemed! the magnificent young man might concede. At the outset it was only a word. .ater! a sentence. /en0s hearts lea$ed. Glee! if not >oy! reigned. Nobility was at last arousing itself to action. &ut no@ He cautioned them not to DA misunderstand. He was grie'ed! yes! but he could not s$eak against those in seats of res$onsibility. No! absolutely not. No matter how great the grie'ances! no matter how >ustified. He would not. <et he grie'ed more and more. (t was ob'ious that some re$orts dro'e him to agony. 2inally! his righteous anger broke out in cool! controlled words of strength. * hese things ought not to be.* He stood! eyes bla,ing. *(f ( were in res$onsibility! this is what ( would do...* And with these words! the rebellion was ignited. (gnited in all but one! that is. (n the noblest and $urest man in the room! this was not the case. Rebellion had been in his heart for years.

D? "ha$ter GG( *Sage@* *<es.* *Sage! may ( ha'e a moment of your time1* *Why! of course! ( ha'e a great deal of time.* *<ou ha'e >ust come from a gathering of friends at Absalom0s home1* *<es! that is correct.* *Would you mind sharing some of the im$ressions you had while there1* *<ou mean a general im$ression of Absalom and his friends1* *<es! that would be good enough.* *Well! ( ha'e met many men like Absalom. /any.* * hen what is he like1* *He is both sincere and ambitious. A contradiction! $erha$s! but true! nonetheless. He $robably means some of what he says. &ut his ambition will DH continue long after he disco'ers his inability to do the things he $romises. Righting the wrongs always becomes secondary to ascent to $ower.* *(0m sorry! Sage! ( do not understand.* * wo things stand out in my mind. At one gathering! when Absalom was answering :uestions! he was 'ery em$hatic that there should be more freedom in the kingdom. E'eryone liked that. *A $eo$le should be led only by God! and not by men!* he said. hen should do only what they feel led of God to do. We should follow God! not a man.* ( belie'e those were his words. *At another meeting he s$oke of the great 'isions he had for God0s kingdom++of the great achie'ements the $eo$le were ca$able of. -n the other hand! he s$oke of many changes he would make in the way the kingdom is run. Although he did not seem to notice it! he had stated two irreconcilable $ro$ositions. /any hanges! more freedom. *<es! indeed! he does remind me of many other men ( ha'e encountered o'er the $assing years.*

*Sage! ( think ( understand what you0'e said! but (0m not sure what your $oint is.* *Absalom dreams. Dreams of what should be! of what will be4 * his is what ( will do!* he says. &ut to fulfill those dreams! he must ha'e the $eo$le0s coo$eration. Ah! this is the $oint men o'erlook. Such dreams rest totally on the $remise that the $eo$le of God will be with the new leader! that all will see as he sees. Such men can en'ision no $roblems in their own future kingdom. #ossibly the $eo$le will follow! and! $ossibly! they will not. *At most! the .ord0s $eo$le will follow a leader for a few days. hey are ne'er with anyone 'ery long. Generally! $eo$le do what they $lease. hey can be sto$$ed to do someone else0s $leasure for a time! but not for long. #eo$le will not work too hard! e'en if they are following God. *What will Absalom do when $eo$le sto$ following him willingly1 Ah! now there is a :uestion. *<ou see! there is no kingdom without discord. E'en God had His critics in hea'en! you know. All kingdoms follow a bum$y course. And $eo$le! es$ecially God0s $eo$le! ne'er follow any dream in DI unison. No! to accom$lish all he s$oke of tonight will take time. Not all will be willing to go along. Will he still be determined to $ut all his dreams into being1 (f so! then Absalom has but one recourse4 dictatorshi$. Either that! or he will see few! if any! of his grand dreams accom$lished. (f he does become a dictator! ( can assure you that in the not too distant future there will be discontent with him! >ust as there is now with the $resent king. <es! if Absalom becomes king! soon thereafter you will be seeing new meetings such as the one we ha'e >ust come from tonight ... only with new faces! new dreams! and $lans for a new rebellion! this one against Absalom@ hen when Absalom hears of such a meeting! and of discussion about a rebellion! he will ha'e but one recourse.* *What do you feel he will do! Sage1* *Rebels who ascend the throne by rebellion ha'e no $atience with other rebels and their rebellions. When Absalom is faced with rebellion! he will become a tyrant. He will be ten times the e'il he now sees in your king. He will s:uelch rebellion and rule with an iron hand ...

and by fear. He will eliminate all o$$osition. DD his is always the final stage of high sounding rebellions. Such will be Absalom0s way if he takes the throne from Da'id.* *&ut Sage! ha'e not some rebellions been of benefit! throwing out brutes and des$ots1* *-h! yes! a few. &ut ( remind you4 his $articular kingdom is different from all others. his kingdom is com$osed of God0s $eo$le. (t is a s$iritual kingdom. ( tell you em$hatically! no rebellion in the kingdom of God is $ro$er! nor can it e'er be fully blessed.* *Why do you say this! Sage1* *2or many reasons. -ne is ob'ious. (n the s$iritual realm! a man who will lead a rebellion has already $ro'en! no matter how grandiose his words or angelic his ways! that he has a critical nature! an un$rinci$led character! and hidden moti'es in his heart. 2rankly! he is a thief. He creates dissatisfaction and tension within the realm! and then either sei,es $ower or si$hons off followers. he followers he gets! he uses to found his own dominion. Such a sorry beginning! built on the foundation of insurrection ... No! God ne'er honors di'ision in His realm. *( find it curious that men who feel :ualified to s$lit God0s kingdom do not feel ca$able of going somewhere else! to another land! to raise u$ a com$letely new kingdom. No! they must steal from another leader. ( ha'e ne'er seen the e3ce$tion. hey seem always to need at least a few $re+$ackaged followers. *&eginning em$ty+handed and alone frightens the best of men. (t also s$eaks 'olumes of >ust how sure they are that God is with them. heir e'ery word! if seen true! tells of their insecurity. * here are many lands uns$oiled and un $ossessed. here are many $eo$le in other $laces waiting to follow a true king! a true man of God. ( re$eat myself. 8 here are those who say ( often re$eat myself.9 Why don0t 0would+be kings and $ro$hets0 sim$ly walk :uietly away! alone! find another $eo$le in another $lace! and there raise u$ the kingdom they en'ision1 */en who lead rebellions in the s$iritual world are unworthy men.

here are no e3ce$tions. And now ( must go. ( must >oin the $assing $arade.* * ell me! Sage! what is your name1* */y name1 ( am History.* D5 "ha$ter GG(( Da'id stood looking o'er the balcony of the gardened terrace of his $alace. he lights from the houses in the Holy "ity twinkled below him. 2rom behind! a man a$$roached. Da'id sighed and! without turning! s$oke. *<es! =oab! what is it1* *Do you know1* *( know!* he re$lied :uietly. *How long ha'e you known1* asked =oab with an3ious sur$rise. *2or months! years! $erha$s a decade. #erha$s ( ha'e known for thirty years.* =oab was not sure! after this answer! if they were s$eaking of the same sub>ect. Absalom! after all! was not much $ast thirty. *Sir! ( s$eak of Absalom!* he said a little hesitantly. *As do (!* said the king. *(f you ha'e known so long! why did you not sto$ him1* *( was >ust asking myself that same :uestion.* *Shall ( sto$ him for you1* Da'id whirled round@ (n one instant! =oab0s :uery had resol'ed his dilemma. *<ou shall not@ Nor shall you s$eak one word to him. Nor shall you critici,e him. Nor shall you allow anyone else to s$eak critically of him or what he is doing.

"ertainly you shall not sto$ him.* *&ut will he not then take the kingdom1* Da'id sighed again! softly! slowly. 2or a moment he balanced between tears and a smile. hen he smiled lightly and said! *<es! $erha$s he will.* *What will you do1 Do you ha'e $lans1* *No. None. 7uite frankly! ( ha'e no idea what to do. ( ha'e fought many battles and faced many sieges. ( ha'e usually known what to do. &ut for this occasion! ( ha'e only the e3$erience of my youth to draw on. he course ( followed at that time seems to me to be the best ( can follow now.* *And what course was that1* * o do absolutely nothing.* "ha$ t e r GG((( Da'id was alone again. Slowly! :uietly! he walked the length of his roof garden. 2inally he $aused and s$oke aloud to himself. *( ha'e waited! Absalom% ( ha'e waited and watched for years. ( ha'e asked again and again! *What is in the heart of this young man1* And now ( know. <ou will do the unthinkable. <ou will di'ide! Absalom! the 'ery kingdom of God. All else was talk.* Da'id was :uiet for a moment. hushed. hen! almost in awe! he s$oke! his 'oice

*Absalom does not hestitate to di'ide the )ingdom of God. *Now ( know. He seeks followers. At least he does not turn them awayG hough he seems magnificently $ure and illustriously noble! still he di'ides. His followers grow! e'en though he con'incingly states that he has none.* 2or a long time Da'id said nothing.

2inally! with a trace of humor in his words! he began to address himself. *All EA right! good )ing Da'id! you ha'e one issue resol'ed. <ou are in the middle of a di'ision and you may 'ery well be dethroned. Now! to the second issue.* He $aused! lifted his hand and! almost fatally! asked! *What will you do1 * he kingdom hangs in the balance. (t seems ( ha'e two choices4 to lose e'erything! or to be a Saul. ( can sto$ Absalom. ( need only to be a Saul. (n my old age! shall ( now become a Saul1 ( feel the .ord Himself awaits my decision. *Shall ( now be a Saul1* he asked himself again! this time loudly. A 'oice from behind answered!* Good king! he has been no Da'id to you.* Da'id turned. (t was Abishai who had a$$roached unannounced. *A crowded $lace! this terrace!* :ui$$ed Da'id. *Sir1* said Abishai. *Nothing. Suffice it to say ( ha'e not been without 'isitors today++a day when ( would ha'e chosen solitude. What did you say to me1 (n fact! what did ( say1* *<ou said! *Shall ( be a Saul to Absalom1* E? and ( re$lied! *He has been no young Da'id to you.** *( ne'er challenged Saul% ( ne'er attem$ted to di'ide the kingdom during his reign. (s that what you are saying1* */ore!* re$lied Abishai strongly. *Saul was e'il toward you and made your life torture. <ou res$onded only with res$ect and $ri'ate agony. he bad things which ha$$ened in that day came only from one side. All fell on you. <et you could ha'e di'ided the kingdom and $robably could

ha'e o'erthrown Saul. Rather than do that! you $acked u$ and left the kingdom. <ou fled rather than cause di'ision. <ou risked your life for unity and sealed your li$s and eyes to all his in>ustices. <ou had more cause to rebel than any man in the history of this or any other kingdom that e'er has been or e'er shall be. Absalom has to twist hard to con>ure u$ his list of in>ustices ... few of them significant! ( might add. Has Absalom beha'ed as you did1 Absalom res$ecting you1 Absalom seeking to $reser'e the )ingdom1 Absalom refusing to s$eak against you1 Absalom refusing followers1 Absalom de$arting the land to $re'ent its sundering1 Absalom res$ectful1 Absalom EH bearing suffering in silent agony1 he bad things falling on Absalom1 *No! he is only $ure and noble@* Abishai0s last words came out almost in bites. again! more gra'ely this time. hen he continued

*His grie'ances are minor com$ared to your rightful grie'ances toward Saul. <ou ne'er mistreated Saul. And you ha'e ne'er! in any way! been unfair to Absalom.* Da'id interru$ted with a grin. *( seem to ha'e a gift for making old men and young men hate me without a cause. (n my youth! the old attack me% when ( am old! the young attack me. What a mar'elous achie'ement.* */y $oint!* continued Abishai! *is that Absalom is no Da'id. herefore ( ask you4 Why don0t you sto$ his rebellion1 Sto$ him! the miserable...* *"areful! Abishai. Remember he is also a son of the king. We should ne'er s$eak ill of the son of a king.* *Good king! ( remind you that you refused to raise your sword or your s$ear e'en once against Saul. ( re$eat myself. E6 Absalom s$eaks against you night and day. He will one day++soon++raise an army against you. Nay! a nation. his nation@ <oung Absalom is no young Da'id. ( counsel you to sto$ him@*

*<ou are asking me! Abishai! to become a Saul!* Da'id re$lied hea'ily. *No! (0m saying he is no Da'id% sto$ him@* *And if ( sto$ him! will ( still be a Da'id1 (f ( sto$ him! will ( not be Saul1* asked the king! his eyes $iercing Abishai. *Abishai! to sto$ him! ( must either be a Saul or an Absalom.* */y king and my friend! ( s$eak to you fondly4 ( sometimes think you are a bit insane.* *<es! ( can see why!* chuckled Da'id. *Dear king! Saul was a bad king. Absalom is in some ways! a youthful reincarnation of Saul. <ou only are constant. <ou are fore'er the brokenhearted she$herd boy. ell me truthfully! what do you $lan1* *;ntil now! ( ha'e not been sure. -f this ( am now certain4 (n my youth ( was no Absalom. (n my old age ( shall not be a Saul. (n my youth! by your own words! ( EI was Da'id. (n my old age ( intend to be Da'id still. E'en if it costs me a throne! a kingdom! and $erha$s my head.* Abishai said nothing for a wh0de. hen! slowly! he s$oke! making sure he gras$ed the sigoificance of Da'id0s decision. *<ou were not an Absalom% you will not be a Saul. Sir! if you are not willing to $ut Absalom down! then ( suggest we $re$are to e'acuate the ngdom! for Absalom will surely rule.* *-nly as surely as )ing Saul killed the she$herd boy!* re$lied the wise old king. *What1* said Abishai! startled. * hink on it! Abishai. God once deli'ered a defenseless she$herd boy from the $owerful! mad king. He can yet deli'er an old ruler from an ambitious young rebel.*

*<ou underestimate your ad'ersary!* retorted Abishai. *<ou underestimate my God!* re$lied Da'id serenely. *&ut why! Da'id1 Why not fight1* *( will gi'e you the answer. (f you will recall++for you were there++( once ga'e this same answer to =oab in a ca'e long ago@ *(t is better ( be defeated! e'en killed! than to learn the ways of ... of a Saul! or the ways of an Absalom. he kingdom is not that 'aluable. .et him ha'e it! if that be the .ord0s will. ( re$eat4 ( shall not learn the ways of either Sauls or Absaloms. *And now! being an old man! ( will add a word ( might not ha'e known then. Abishai! no man knows his own heart. ( certainly do not know mine. -nly God does. Shall ( defend my little realm in the name of God1 Shall ( throw s$ears! and $lot and di'ide ... and kill men0s s$irits if not their bodies ... to $rotect my em$ire1 ( did not lift a finger to be made king. Nor to $reser'e a kingdom. E'en the )ingdom of Godl God $ut me here. (t is not my res$onsibility to take! or kee$ authority. Do you not reali,e! it may be His will for these things to take $lace1 ( sus$ect that! if He chose! God could $rotect and kee$ the kingdom e'en now. After all! it is His kingdom. *As ( said! no man knows his heart. ( do not know mine. Who knows what is really in my heart1 (t may be that in God0s eyes ( am no longer worthy to rule. #erha$s He is through with me. #erha$s it is His will for Absalom to rule. ( honestly don0t EE know. &ut if this is His will! ( wish it. God may be finished with me@ *Any young rebel who raises his hand against one whom he belie'es to be a Saul% any old king who raises his hand against one whom he belie'es to be an Absalom! may++in truth++be raising his hand against the will of God. *(n either case! ( shall raise no hand@ Wouldn0t ( look a little strange trying to stay in control when God was desiring that ( fall1* *&ut you know that Absalom should not be king@* re$lied Abishai in

frustration. *Do (1 No man knows. -nly God knows! and He has not s$oken. ( will not fight to be king or to remain king. /ay God come tonight and take the throne! the ngshi$ and...* Da'id0s 'oice faltered! *and His anointing from me. ( seek his will! not His $ower. ( re$eat. ( desire his will more than ( desire a $osition of leadershi$. He may be through with me.* *)ing Da'id!* came a 'oice from behind the two men. *<es1 -h! a messenger. What is it1* *Absalom. He wishes to see you a E5 moment. He wishes to ask $ermission to go to Hebron to make a sacrifice.* *Da'id!* said Abishai hoarsely! *you know what that really means! don0t you1* *<es.* *And you know what he will do if you let him go1* *<es.* Da'id turned to the messenger. * ell Absalom ( will be there momentarily.* Da'id looked one last time at the :uiet city below! turned! and walked toward the door. *Will you let him go to Hebron1* Abishai demanded. *( will!* said the king of all kings. *<es! ( will.* hen he turned to the messenger. * his is a dark hour for me. When ( ha'e finished s$eaking to Absalom! ( shall retire. omorrow ha'e one of the $ro$hets come to me for consultation. -r a scribe. -n second thought! send me Jadok! the high $riest. Ask him if he would >oin me here after the e'ening sacrifice.* EF Abishai called out once more! softly this time. Admiration flashed across his face.

*Good king! thank you.* *2or doing what1* the $u,,led king asked as he turned back in the doorway. *Not for what you ha'e done! but for what you ha'e not done. hank you for not throwing s$ears! for not rebelling against kings! for not e3$osing a man in authority when he was so 'ery 'ulnerable! for not di'iding a kingdom! for not attacking young Absaloms who look 'ery much like young Da'ids! but are not.* He $aused. *And thank you for suffering! for being willing to lose e'erything. hank you for gi'ing God a free hand to end! and e'en destroy! your )ingdom+it $leases Him. hank you for being an e3am$le to us all. *And most of all!* he chuckled! *thanks for not consulting witches.* 5o "ha$ter GG(C *Nathan@* *What...1 -h! it is you! Jadok.* *<ou will $ardon my intrusion! but ( ha'e been obser'ing you for se'eral moments now. <ou were about to enter the throne room! ( belie'e! to see the )ing1* *<es! Jadok. hat was my intent! but ( ha'e thought better of it.

he king has no need of me.* *( am disa$$ointed! Nathan. (n my >udgment the king has great need of you. He is facing the gra'est test of his life. ( am not at all sure he can $ass a test so demanding as is this one.* *He has already $assed this test! Jadok!* countered Nathan with a sureness in his 'oice that assented to the truth that he was a $ro$het of God. *Already $assed this test1 2orgi'e me! Nathan! but ( ha'e no idea of what you s$eak. his crisis! as you well know! has only begun.* *Jadok! your king $assed this test long ago! when he was a young man.

*<ou s$eak of Saul1 &ut that! my friend! was a wholly different matter.* *Not at all. (t is e3actly the same. here is really no difference at all. As Da'id related to his God and to the man o'er him in that hour long ago ... so now will Da'id also relate to his God and the man under him. here can be no difference. Not e'er. * rue! circumstances may be altered... slightly. E'er so slightly! ( might add. &ut the heart...@ Ah! the heart is always the same. *Jadok! ( ha'e always been grateful Saul was our first king. ( shudder to think of the trouble he might ha'e caused if! as a young man! he had found himself under some other king. here is no real difference between the man who disco'ers he has a Saul in his life and the man who finds he has an Absalom in his. (n either situation! the corru$t heart will find its 0>ustification.* he Sauls of this world can ne'er see a Da'id% they can only see Absalom. he Absaloms of this world can ne'er see a Da'id% they can see only Saul.* *And the $ure heart1* asked Jadok. *Ah! now there is a rare thing indeed. How does a broken heart and a broken will handle an Absalom1 it handled a Saul1 (t will soon be ours to know! Jadok@ he way

*<ou and ( were not $ri'ileged to be there when Da'id came to his hour with Saul. We are $ri'ileged to be $resent in his hour with Absalom. ( for one intend to watch this unfolding drama 'ery closely% and in so doing ( ha'e the good e3$ectation that ( will learn a lesson or two. /ark my words! Da'id will work his way through this thing! and he will $ass this test with the selfsame grace he dis$layed in his youth.* *And Absalom1* *Absalom1 *(n a few hours he may 'ery well be my king! is that not your $oint1* * here is that $ossibility!* re$lied Jadok! almost with humor.

Nathan laughed. *(f Absalom gains the throne may hea'en ha'e mercy on all the Sauls! Da'ids and Absaloms of the realm@ *(n my >udgment our young Absalom will make a s$lendid Saul!* continued Nathan as he turned and strolled down the long corridor. *<es. A s$lendid Saul. 2or in e'ery way but age and $osition! Absalom is already a Saul.* "ha$ter GGC *( thank you for coming! Jadok.* */y king.* *<ou are a $riest of God4 "ould you tell me a story of long ago1* *What story! my king1* *Do you know the story of /oses1* *( do.* * ell it to me.* *(t is long% shall ( tell it all1* *No! not all.* * hen what $art1* * ell me about )orah0s rebellion.* he high $riest stared at Da'id with eyes burning. Da'id stared back! his also abla,e. he two men understood. *( shall tell you the story of )orah0s rebellion! and of /oses0 beha'ior in the midst of that rebellion. */any men ha'e heard the story of /oses. He is the su$reme e3am$le of the 56 5I .ord0s anointed. God0s true go'ernment rests u$on a man! no! u$on the contrite heart of a man. here is no form or order to God0s go'ernment% there is only a man with a contrite heart. /oses was such a man. *)orah was not such a man! although he was the first cousin of /oses.

)orah wanted the authority /oses had. -ne $eaceful morning! )orah awoke. here was no discord among God0s $eo$le that morning! but before the day was o'er he had found ?I? men to agree with his charges against /oses.* * hen there were $roblems in the nation when /oses ruled1* asked Da'id. * here are always $roblems in kingdoms!* re$lied Jadok. *Always. 2urthermore! the ability to be able to see those $roblems is a chea$ gift! indeed.* Da'id sin0 fled and asked! *&ut Jadok! you know there ha'e been un>ust kingdoms and un>ust rulers and $retenders and liars who ha'e ruled and go'erned. How can a sim$le $eo$le tell which is a kingdom with faults! but led by men of God! and which is a kingdom unworthy of men0s submission1 How can a $eo$le know1* Da'id sto$$ed% he reali,ed that he had hit u$on what he wished most of all to know. Hea'ily! he s$oke again. *And the king+how can he know1 "an he know if he is >ust1 "an he know if the charges are of great worth1 Are there signs1* Da'id0s final words were an3ious. *<ou are looking for some list let down from hea'en! Da'id. E'en if there were such a list! e'en if there were a way to know! wicked men would arrange their kingdoms to fit the list@ And if there were a list and a good man filled it to $erfection! there would be those declaring he had fulfilled not one :ualification listed therein. <ou underestimate the human heart! Da'id.* * hen how shall the $eo$le know1* * hey shall not.* *<ou mean that in the midst of a hundred 'oices making a thousand claims! the sim$le $eo$le of God ha'e no assurance of who is truly anointed to bear God0s authority and who is not1* * hey shall ne'er be certain.*

*Who! then! can know1* *God always knows++but He does not tell.* * hen is there no ho$e for those who must follow unworthy men1* * heir grandchildren will be able to see the matter clearly. hey will know. &ut those caught u$ in the drama1 hey shall ne'er be certain. Nonetheless! a good thing will come from it all.* *What is that1* *As surely as the sun rises! men0s hearts will be tested. Des$ite the many claims+ and counter claims++the hidden moti'es within the hearts of all those who are in'ol'ed will be re'ealed. his may not seem im$ortant in the eyes of men! but in the eyes of God! and angels! such things are central. he heart must out. God will See to it.* *( des$ise such tests!* re$lied Da'id wearily. *( hate such nights as this one. <et He seems to send many! many things into my life to test this heart of mine. -nce more! this night! ( find my heart is on trial. *Jadok! there is something that bothers me abo'e all else. #erha$s God is finished with me. (s there not some way for me to know1* *( know of no other ruler in all history who would e'en ask the :uestion! good king. /ost other men would ha'e ri$$ed their o$$onent++or e'en their imagined o$$onent++to shreds by now. &ut to answer your :uestion! ( know of no way for you to be certain that God is++or is not++finished with you.* Da'id sighed! and choked back a sob. * hen continue with the story. )orah had ?I? followers! did he1 What ha$$ened ne3t1* *)orah a$$roached /oses and Aaron with his troo$. He informed /oses that he had no right to all the authority he e3ercised.*

*Well! we Hebrews are consistent! aren0t we1* laughed Da'id. *No! the heart of man is consistent! Da'id!* re$lied Jadok. * ell me! what was /oses0 res$onse to )orah1* *At 6B! /oses had been an arrogant! self willed man! not unlike )orah. What he might ha'e done at 6B! ( cannot say. At 5B! he was a broken man. He was .... * * he meekest man who e'er li'ed!* interru$ted Da'id. * he man who carries the rod of God0s authority should be. -therwise God0s $eo$le will li'e in terror. <es! a broken man faced )orah. And ( belie'e you already know what /oses did! Da'id. He did ... nothing.* *Nothing. Ah! what a man.* *He fell on his face before God. *Why did he do that! Jadok1* *Da'id! you of all men must know. /oses knew God alone had $ut him in charge of (srael. here was nothing that needed to be done. hose ?IH men would sei,e the kingdom++or God would 'indicate /oses. /oses knew that.* */en would find it hard to imitate such a life! would they not1 A fake surely could not fake such surrender! could he1 &ut tell me! how did God 'indicate /oses1* */oses told the men to return the ne3t day with censers and incense ... and God would decide the issue.* *So@* cried Da'id. *So@* he e3claimed again e'en louder. *Sometimes God does tell!* he said e3citedly. *What ha$$ened ne3t1* *)orah and two of his friends were swallowed by the earth. he other ?IB died by .... * *Ne'er mind. Suffice it to say that /oses was $ro'en to be in authority ... by God@ hat is all he did.*

God did tell@ he $eo$le knew who really had authority from God! and at last! /oses had rest.* *No! Da'id. He did not find rest! and the $eo$le were not satisfied with God0s answerK he 'ery ne3t day the whole congregation murmur red against /oses and would all ha'e died $erha$s! e3ce$t for the $rayers of /oses.* *And men fight to become kingsK* Da'id shook his head in $er$le3ity. Jadok $aused! then continued4 *Da'id! ( $ercei'e you are torn by the :uestion of what is true authority and what is not. <ou want to know what to do with a rebellion! if indeed it is a rebellion and not the hand of God. ( trust you will find the only $ure thing to do and do it. hereby you will teach us all. he door o$ened. Abishai rushed in. *Good king@ <our son! your own flesh and blood! has $roclaimed himself king in Hebron. At first im$ression! it seems all (srael has gone o'er to him. He $lans to take the throne. He marches toward =erusalem. Some of the men closest to you ha'e gone o'er to him.* Da'id walked away. He s$oke something to himself but beyond the ears of any other. *(srael0s third king1 Do true leaders of the )ingdom of God come about thusly1* Jadok! not certain if he should be hearing Da'id0s words or not! s$oke out. */y king1* Da'id turned! his eyes moist. *At last!* said Da'id :uietly! *at last this matter will be resol'ed. #erha$s tomorrow someone besides God will know.* *#erha$s!* said Jadok! *but $erha$s not. Such :uestions may be debated e'en after we are all dead.* * hat might still be tomorrow!* laughed Da'id. *Go! Abishai! tell =oab. <ou will find him in the turret of the east wall.* Abishai de$arted as he had entered! in haste and in fury. *( wonder! Jadok!* mused Da'id! *if a man can force God into a $osition

where He must tell.* F? FH "ha$ter GGC( Abishai rushed across the courtyard into the o$en door at the base of the east ram$art and charged u$ the s$iral staircase. (nside! at the to$ of the stairs! =oab stared down at Abishai! reached for a torch and began rushing down. (n the flickering light of the torches! they met! each studying the face of the other intently. Abishai s$oke. *Ha'e you heard! =oab1* *Heard@ * is midnight! yet half the city is awake with the word. How can it be! Abishai++a son against his own father@* *When kingdoms are 'ulnerable! men see :ueer sights!* res$onded Abishai with a distant stare. *And will sacrifice anything to satisfy ambition!* added =aob angrily. *What think you of these things! Abishai1* *What think (1* res$onded Abishai! matching =oab0s anger with his own rage. * his@ Absalom has no authority in the kingdom. He holds no $ower! no office! yet FI he has risen u$ to di'ide the kingdom. He has raised his hand against the 'ery anointed of God++against Da'id@ Da'id+who has ne'er done or s$oken one e'il word against him. *What think (1* Abishai0s 'oise rose toward a crescendo. * his4 (f Absalom! who has no authority! will commit this deed% if Absalom! who is nothing! will di'ide the 'ery kingdom of God%* his 'oice now rolled like thunder! *man! if Absalom will do these e'il things now! what in the name of sanity might that man do if he be king1* "ha$ter GG C(( Da'id and Jadok were alone once more. *And now! what shah you do! Da'id1 (n your youth! you s$oke no word against an unworthy king. What shall you do now with an e:ually unworthy youth1* *As ( said!* re$lied Da'id! *these are the times ( hate the most! Jadok. Nonetheless! against all reason! ( >udge my own heart first and rule against its interests. ( shall do what ( did under Saul. ( shall lea'e the destiny of the )ingdom in God0s hands alone. (t may be that

He is finished with me. #erha$s ( ha'e sinned too greatly and am no longer worthy to lead. -nly God knows if that is true! and it seems He will not tell.* hen! clenching his fist! yet with a touch of wry humor in his 'oice! he added em$hatically! *&ut today ( shall gi'e circumstances am$le s$ace for this un telling God of ours to be found out. ( know of no other way to bring about such an e3traordinary e'ent e3ce$t by doing nothing@ he throne is not mine. Not to ha'e! not to take! not to $rotect! and not to kee$. *( shall lea'e the city. he throne is the .ord0s. So is the kingdom. ( will not hinder God. No obstacle! no acti'ity on my $art lies in the s$ace between God and His will. He has no hindrance to $re'ent Him from His will. (f ( am not to be )ing! our God will find no difficulties in making Absalom to be (srael0s king. Now it is $ossible. God shall be God1* he true king turned and walked :uietly out of the throne room! out of the $alace! out of the city. He walked and he walked... (nto the bosoms of all men whose hearts are $ure. Well! dear reader! the time has come for us to say goodbye once more. ( will lea'e you to your thoughts and to reflection on the hidden moti'es of your own heart. -h! by the way! the $layers are working on a lo'e story! $erha$s we may see it together whene'er it is $erformed. ( trust! then! by the mercy of God! we shall meet again. he End....... Gene Edwards was born and raised in e3as! the son of an oil field roughneck. He was con'erted to "hrist in his >unior year in college. He graduated from East e3as State ;ni'ersity in "ommerce! e3as at the age of A5! with ma>ors in English literature and history. His first year of $ostgraduate work was taken at the &a$tist Seminary in Ruschlikon! Swit,erland. He recei'ed his masters degree in theology from Southwestern &a$tist heological Seminary in 2t. Worth! e3as at the age of ??. He ser'ed as a Southern &a$tist $astor! and then as an e'angelist! for AB years. He and his wife! Helen! now make their home in New England% his ministry includes conferences on the dee$er "hristian life and on li'ing that life in the conte3t of a $ractical e3$erience of church life. ABH (f you ha'e en>oyed A ale of hree )ings! you will want to read

he Di'ine Romance. A masterfully told story! a magnificent saga that will take your breath away. Here is an incom$arable lo'e story+told in almost childlike sim$licity! yet re'ealing some of the dee$est truths of the "hristian faith. Readers e'erywhere ha'e acclaimed he Di'ine Romance as one of the finest $ieces of "hristian literature of our times. Also in the same genre is the s$ellbinding story of the .ord0s nati'ity! entitled he &irth! also by Gene Edwards. A se:uel to A ale of hree )ings! entified he #risoner in the hird "ell! is also a'ailable. Edwards has written two books that ser'e as an introduction to he Dee$er "hristian .ife. hey are4 8A9 he Highest .ife and 8?9 he Secret to the "hristian .ife. is a'ailable as a $lay. he scri$t was created by ree of .ife "ommunications. his organi,ation is committed to communicating the gos$el through dramatic! li'e $resentations. he scri$t for A ale of hree )ings is written so that it can easily be $resented by a local church without elaborate sets or $rofessional actors. #lease write4 ree of .ife "ommunications &o3 Solana &each! "A F?BEI