Song of the King

For several months last year, I was pretty haunted by the fall of King David. I wish I were more haunted by biblical stories. I say "fall" because, though he remained faithful to a certain extent, the events following Bathsheba and Uriah certainly have a markedly dissimilar note to everything that preceded it. And the big question is why. He found forgiveness, and in fact, that story is often used as an example of true repentance. But in the end, I can't ignore the sense that David himself was always afterward haunted by the departure of God's blessing (meaning that, whether the blessing actually left or not, David seemed to fear that it had). You can read 2 Samuel yourself, and let me know what you think.

So I wrote a song a while back, and thought I'd post it here. Click on the title to find the recording that you can download and listen to. Thanks to Clayton for the instruction on the mp3 player. Hopefully it works. Enjoy.

Song of the King

Ever since I fell

Ever since I lied

Ever since I sent him to the front line

And he died

Ever since you took him

The son of my own name

Ever since I took my neighbor's only lamb

To my shame

The world is fumbling in my hands

Stumbling all my plans

Crumbling where I stand

Now my sight is dimmed

Now I'm being cursed

Maybe now I am getting all

that I've deserved

Now I leave these city walls

Now Absalom has come

Maybe you have brought him here

and maybe I should run

Has favor come and gone

And now judgement in its stead?

In any shade

Let me fall into your hand.

Now they want me back

Now a broken man

To lead them from the throne again

But I don't think I can

Now Absalom is gone

Another son in the grave

Maybe you wanted me to stay and fight

Maybe then he would be saved