Connecticut western news., 1876-03-10
DATE-1024 D. c.

and tho young eagles shall eat 1t. Prov. xxx, IT. . Ee
 DATE-1o24 B.c. e-5
 INTRoDuCToRY.-Betw the last lesson and thts we skip seven chapters which contain the history of eighteen years Of here. Absalom was Dayid's third son. born while he was king at Hebron. There had, during these years. been great trouble in David's family. The wise king was not a neither strict nor just to his children. Ab- salom had killed hls brother Amnop. and had been banished from the land for three years, and from his fathers house for two years more. But now he had been wholly forgiven by his father, through the inter LEssoN.-[1I Absolon. reconciled to his father, set up grand equipage. with guards and attendants. thus attracting at tentlon and making 8 great show. It is strange that the people should like this sort of display in persons in high position, but they do.
 [2l When the people had learned to know him as 8 gallant and handsome prince. then he began to take his stand at the gateway of approach to the king. and to portend great interest in all who came to the king withl business tolbe attended to. 'L .t tE FEs | Isl And when he had heard any man g story he would say to bim that Lis case Twas good one that he was all right. If 1.-two men had dispute about property, or about any thing, and they came to the would meet one of them. hear, what he had to say, and tell that he had tue right of the matter then afterward he would meet the other and tell him that HE was right. He would not let either et them see the king, but would tell them both that the king would not hear them. He so spoke \ to them as to make them both like him, and he told lies about hls father to make them hate the king.
 II Al Thou he would say oh that were made judge in the land.I would doJustice and those who heard him were ready to say so too. 1 @
 1 -[5l And then he was 80 kind and cordial He would not let men bow down to him as they did to other rulers. but was familiar l6l So he treated every body and became very popular. Modern politicians might learn of Absolem. l
 t7-Sl All thls Absolom had done in hol low hearted treachery. He meant to make awakened. And now he adds hypocrisy tC 1t. He goes to David and tells him that while he was in banishment hs had made a vow that If God would bring hlm home aRaln he would serve the Lord (bv cert ain gifts and Offerings) at Hebron. He speaks of himself as David's servant and pro- fesses great pIety and humility as he asks permission to go to Hebron.
 | W0ny but not for peace. .0a sl ' T1O] For he stationed men all about in the villages through the land within hear Ing of each other. and gave them orders that when they heard the trumpet solon reigneth in Hebronp
 | III And then he went down to Hebron, taking great company (200) of men with him. They did not know why they VI ere called upon to go but Absolom meant all l NxJ hn 0ov &hnHr, hYea A Al~. there were many men of distinction among the people in that 200 should think that they had part in the conspiracy to make Absolom king. - @'. -#%
 man 10 join his company, for when he sent for AhithOphel he came to his aid. Ahith- ophcl was one of David's wisest counsel. Iors. He was the grandfather of Bathshe- ba. woman that David had greatly in. lurei, and maybe that was the reason hs joined Absolom's party. If so, it was Da. uid's sin finding hlm out, as God teaches us sin always sball.
 I13-14l So Absolom's conspiracy pros pered at the start. News was brought te David that the hearts of the men of Israe are after Absolom.' The news of the rapid approach of an army of excited rebels led by bis own son, must have brought bitter anguish to the heart of the old king. Ht which to resist the attack. We are not to suppose that he fled away in craven fear but he did fly. If he had stayed and tr,ed to resist. and Absolom had succeeded iI taking the city, the army of rebels would maddened by resistance and excited by victory ,have done great injury to the city and many innocent persons would have suffered. David felt 1t to be better to lei Absolom march .unresisted into Jerusalem while he, elsewhere, gathered his friends ) together.
 :. It seemed to be great victory for evil. a great success of wrong. Seemed to be
 Wrong, s1n- never has but & seeming sue cess. Many evil men and evil designs seen for time to prosper. But it is only seem ing We shall see the end of this lniquity as we 20 on with our lessons.
 NoTE.-The forty years' spoken of 1T
 verse IS reckoned from the first aunoint
 ing of David by Samuel, almost ten year.
 before he became the king ot Israel.