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    From Triumph to Tragedy
    From Triumph to Tragedy
    From Triumph to Tragedy
    Ebook122 pages1 hour

    From Triumph to Tragedy

    By Dr. Martin G Tharp PhD

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    About this ebook

    "From Triumph to Tragedy" not only examines and chronicles the story of David and Bathsheba, but the rise and fall of a man, Ahithophel, who ascended to the highest pinnacle as a spokesman for God, then fell to the depths of dispair as his penchant for revenge proved to be his undoing!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDr. Martin G Tharp PhD
    Release dateMar 12, 2013
    ISBN9781301379583
    From Triumph to Tragedy
    Author

    Dr. Martin G Tharp PhD

    Dr. Martin Tharp has been an avid student of the Bible for many years and holds a Bachelor, Master and eight Doctorates, one honorary and seven earned, including a Doctor. of Literature and two PhDs. He has been in full time ministry for over fifty-seven years and has authored forty-nine books to date, many of which are being used as curriculum in Bible colleges around the United States and abroad. He has also penned a number of gospel songs and recorded thirty-three albums as well as being actively involved in a school ministry to Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom for the past thirty-eight years, and Dr. Tharp has been honored twice by members of parliament in Ireland for their work in the Protestant and Catholic schools. He and his wife, Sharon, along with Maranda Howells, travel extensively across the USA and the whole of the British Isles holding evangelistic crusades in the churches of both countries.

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      Book preview

      From Triumph to Tragedy - Dr. Martin G Tharp PhD

      From Triumph to Tragedy

      By Martin G. Tharp, Ph.D.

      Copyright 2013 Martin Tharp Ph.D.

      Smashwords edition

      Table of Contents

      Introduction

      1 David; Failure Need Not Be Fatal

      2 Uriah The Hittite

      3 Amnon And Tamar

      4 Absalom

      5 Hushai The Archite

      6 Revenge Is A Luxury; We Cannot Afford

      7 Ahithophel

      8 For Triumph to Tragedy

      Study Questions

      Bibliography

      About The Author

      Introduction

      How do you explain or understand the feelings of a grandfather, a man who holds a position which has been unequaled as a confidant to the very king who is responsible for the rape of your granddaughter, the murder of her husband, and last but not least, the man who bears the total responsibility for the death of your first great grandson?

      The era in which our story unfolds is set in a time frame where society in general is far removed from anything we are capable of identifying with. A king who has the ability to take any woman or as many women as he desires, while at the same time, serves a nation as the anointed of God!

      Even though there are some restrictions, whoever catches the roving eye of the reigning monarchy seems to be fair game. The restrictions which were in place actually forbid the events which the lust of David set in motion, but all to often that which is set in motion by man’s propensity for self gratification, seems to take on a life of its own. Such an event can only be likened to a runaway freight train with no brakes! Only a miracle or a derailment with tragic consequences can end the dilemma!

      Unfortunately, tragedies seem to far outnumber the miracles! Especially when it comes to man’s penchant for self destruction!

      Seething animosity that is born of a deep resentment may be far slower than a runaway freight train, but it is headed for disaster and derailment just the same!

      The man, who holds center stage in this book, does not dominate the story. Our narrative is actually dominated by a single family unit, who seems to be on a pathway of self destruction which was set in motion by the sin of a father. Not just any father, but the very one whose anointing by God seems to have no effect on his overactive libido!

      The problem with sin is that it rarely only effects the sinner! As in the case of David, his actions can effectively be attributed to and held responsible for the rape of one of his daughters by her half brother, the murder of that brother by another one of his sons who led a rebellion against the throne, then aided and abetted by the very grandfather who is the primary reason for the title to this book!

      To any Bible scholar, it is redundant to say that David was forgiven for those actions because of an uncanny ability to literally abandon himself to the mercy of God, trusting wholly in the fairness of the judgment of his Sovereign!

      Some men spend a lifetime and are never able to attain or understand that quality, which of course is the reason for the title to this book.

      Chapter One

      David;

      Failure need not be Fatal

      There have been an inestimable number of volumes written which describes every aspect of the life of David. Theologians for centuries have found an unfathomable well of material with which to articulate their individual theories, and most have done so in a very persuasive manner.

      Every detail of his exploits as well as his failures have found their way into print, and I have no misgivings about my ability to add any earth changing revelations to their theoretical postulations.

      The title to this book; From Triumph to Tragedy, would suggest that it is another theory or supposition about David, adding to the never-ending list of titles that are readily available. However, even though it is certainly set in the time frame when David rose from a place of obscurity to the enviable position of king over all Israel, during which he not only enjoyed the favor of God, he ascended the lofty heights of fame to a position in the eyes of a nation where he became the quintessence of what legends are made of!

      In our narrative, it is not David himself who is the central character that served as the catalyst which provoked the inspiration and set this book in motion.

      In order to arrive at the final destination of our story, we must begin with David, whose moral deterioration proved to be the cancer which not only destroyed many members of his own family, but served as the primary ingredient which nourished a festering resentment within his inner circle.

      Men who would have given their very lives for him at one time became willing participants of rebellion. They were instruments in a feeding frenzy, nourishing an unquenchable thirst which is quite evident in Absalom who has mounted an insurrection born of a loathing for his own father! David was well known for playing a kinnor a twelve-stringed, hand-held instrument translated harp in many English versions of the Bible. Despite his military and political achievements, David may be best remembered as the Sweet Singer of Israel, who authored countless Psalms and songs of praise to God.

      Then there is the side of David of which dreams are made of!

      The events in the life of David have given an unusual amount of additional fuel for those who are endowed with a fertile imagination. There has been more said and written about David than any other single character in the Bible aside from Jesus Christ Himself.

      Our original introduction to David indicates that he was a nondescript individual with no unusual or outstanding qualities. He was the youngest of eight brothers and one whose presence was given no consideration whatsoever by his father when the Prophet of God appeared unannounced to clandestinely choose the next King over Israel from one of Jesse’s boys.

      He was just a young man tending his father’s flock, happily filling the role of a lowly shepherd whose only claim to fame was achieved as the protector of the sheep.

      He testifies in his own behalf by relating two incidents where he killed a lion and a bear in defense of his helpless charges. Even his being singled out and anointed to be King over Israel by the Prophet of God seemingly failed to make much of an impression on him, that is until a giant of a man dared to challenge the armies of God!

      There is hardly a child in the Christian faith who has not heard the story of David and Goliath, a victory so inspiring that poems and songs began to be written about this unknown shepherd boy while he was still alive to hear them!

      David stands out as the solitary individual who inspired a nation while he was yet a teenager.

      In spite of his prowess and notoriety as a warrior, there is also another episode in the life of David which refuses to be obliterated, even by the weight and magnitude of his prophetic connection to a far distant relative on his mother’s side who would in the future be known as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

      The story of Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah remains a permanent blight on an otherwise brilliant career.

      David’s anointing had kept him in continued favor with the Prophet of God when he came to be the recognized as the God ordained King over Israel. He operated in a realm which was foreign to most men as he dares to request, and receives military strategy from the Commander of the Heavenly Hosts! At that particular juncture in the historical record, he received accolades from the only Potentate that mattered.

      Before and after the sordid affair with Bathsheba, David continued to garner the favor of the Lord of glory because of his repentant spirit and tender heart toward God.

      If you were to review the whole matter of David and Bathsheba you would not hesitate to say that the entire story serves as proof of the unquestionable and unmitigated truth of the sacred writings.

      Who would intentionally attempt to deceive, by trumping up a religion which was designed to have as its foundation, the purity of a Holy and living God and then include such a sordid account of the moral failure of one of its most zealous advocates? Especially one who is recognized at once by all as one of its brightest personalities, and one who occupies more space in the Holy Record than any other mortal?

      God, whose impartiality is a direct reflection of His inimitable character, would dare to show that His fundamental righteousness will ever stand independently of the conduct of its most renowned personality.

      If our faith in God could be shaken or made void by a chronicle of the actions of those who have lived in Divine favor in spite

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