Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-11-01
DAVID'S REBELLI0US SON.
LESSON V, FOURTH QUARTER, IN
TERNATiONAL SERIES, NOV 8.

Text of the Lesson, II Sam. XIV, liz.
Commit Verses 4-6--Golden Text, Ex. xx,
1e-Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns.
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per.
mission of IL S Hoffman, publisher Philade
phia.
After the everlasting covenant made with
David concerning his son and kingdom, as
recorded in our last lesson in this book
CHAP. wiz, we read of Davids great prosper
ity, subdung all his enemies round about
and reigning over all Israel, executing judg-
ment and justice unto all his people viii, ~
l5). Then, in his prosperity, comes his
awful sin, by which he gave great occasion
to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme;
which is followed by the record of his son
Amnon's sin and his death at the hands of
his brother Absalom, followed by the fight
of Absalom to his maternal grandfather, the
king of Geshur, where he abode three years
in Punishment from his father and his home
chaps. xi-xiiD.
l. And it came TO pass after this that
Absalom prepared him chariots and horses
and fifty men to run before him." The words
latter this" seem to refer to the events of the
chapter Immediately preceding, which are
briefly these: Joab, David's sisters son, COM
mander-in-chief of the army, seeing that
David's heart was toward Absalom, sent for
wise woman of Tekoa, whom he instructed
what to say, and sent her unto the king to
plead for the restoration of the banished Alb
salon. She pleaded successfully, and Absa-
lom was restored to Jerusalem, but saw not
the kings face for two years xiv, 2S, at the
end of which time, through the further
pleading of Joab, the king received him,
land the king kissed Absalom;" with these
words the previous chapter closes, and thus
we are introduced to the lesson of today.
2. And Absalom rose up early, and stood
beside the way of the gate" The gate of an
eastern city was place of public resort and
deliberation, and also place for the admin
istration of justice, and of audience for kings
and rulers and ambassadors Rose up early"
is an expression signifying great earnestness.
3, 4. "Absalom said moreover, Oh that
were made judge in the land" The title of
our lesson is, "David's rebellious SON." and
his name is mentioned thirteen times in our
lesson. Everything seems to go by contrast
in reference to him. his name signifies Father
of Peace" but what a father of lies and dis
turber of peace he proved to be- then as to
his personal appearance, there was not "A finer
who looks on the heart and not on the
outward appearance. saw anything but beauty
there. His hair, which he must have been
very proud of, and which he had cut
only once a year, weighed when polled
about seven and a half pounds Troy Ia
shekel being about nine pennyweights) xiv,
90; but this, his pride, was the cause of his
death CHAP. xviii, 81.
5, 6. $50 Absalom stole the hearts of the
men of Israel" By fair words to every man
who came to the king for judgment, by
taking them by the hand and kissing them,
he thus won their hearts to himself. David's
kiss to Absalom was of the same nature as
the fathers kiss to the prodigal son (Lu. XIV,
20) but these kisses of Absalom were more of
the nature of the kiss of Judas when he be-
trayed our Lord Jesus Christ, for every one
of them was a stab at his fathers heart. The
Lord says concerning Israel: II have nour-
ished and brought up children and they have
rebelled against me" lisa. i, q; but in His
case it was disobedience and rebellion against
the most loving, wise and patient treat
ment. We know that David had one son
whom he never even displeased by asking
him, "Why hast thou done soi" q Kings i, 6)
and that son brought him much trouble
now if he brought up bsalom after the same
pattern, he was only suffering for his own
neglect, but if this conduct of Absalom was
notwithstanding wise and loving training on
David's part, then David had fellowship with
God on the line of lisa. i, 2; but the latter
seems doubtful from Prov. xxi, 6: Train
up child in the way he should go; and when
he is old he will not depart from it." The
conduct of Absalom is followed after by
many today who 'by good words and fair
speeches deceive the hearts of the simple
Rom. xvi, 49,; and such are found in the
pulpit as well as out of it; OH that all hear
ers would test all they hear by the Word of
God and believe nothing that accords not
herewith.
Z. Let me go and pay my vow, which
have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron Thus
said Absalom to David the king, probably
after four years instead of forty as in this
verse (see R. V. margin; but what a liar he
was and how desperately wicked
8. IF the Lord shall bring me again in
deed to Jerusalem, then | will serve the
Lord" This, he said, was the vow which he
had made to the Lord while in his Danish
ment in Syria. Let any father or mother
who have ever rejoiced over the conversion
of a hayward son say what must have beer
David's feelings on hearing these words from
his much loved but heretofore erring Absa
lon. Oh that he had only meant it, but
alas that the heart can become so hard that
it can put on religion for a cloak and thinl
to deceive even God Himself.
8. And the king said unto him, Go il
peace" Believing him to be sincere he give,
him a fathers blessing and bids him go il
peace; but there was no peace in that fou
heart, covered by so fair an exterior anC
such plausible words for There is no peace
saith the Lord, to the wicked" lisa. lvii, 2D
Peace was within his reach, as it is within
the reach of every one who has ever heard Of
the Prince of Peace, but it can only become
the possession of those no are truly peniten
and sincerely submit to Him as their Saviour
and Lord. Hebron signifies fellowship; ther'
the Lord appeared to Abram, and there
Caleb, who followed the Lord fully, slew til,
giants and provided a city of refuge fol
others Gen. xiii, Is; Josh. xiv, ID; XXX, y.
TO- "Absalom reigneth in Hebron" Nc
sooner does he leave his fathers presence
with that fathers last words to him as word
of peace, than he sends spies through all Is
rael who at given signal are to cry, "Absa
lon reigneth in Hebron which was virtually