The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-10-16
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
OCTOBER 20.
Lesson Text: "David's Thanksgiving
Prayer" 2 Sam. vii, 1920
Golden Text: I Thess. ",
13-Commentary.


Golden Text: 4 Thess. ",
documentary.
Is. ssThen went King David in, and sat be-
fore the Lord" The word 'then" takes us
back to the first verses of this chapter, where
we read that the Lord having given David
rest round about from all his enemies, his
thoughts turn to the Ark of God dwelling
within curtains, while he dwells in house OF
CEDAR and the prophet Nathan encourages
him in his purpose to build an house for the
Ark; this leads to a message from the LORD
to David, in which he is told that not he bat
his son shall build the house, and that through
this son David's house and kingdom and
throne shall be established IL. ", made surel
forever. So, with the assurance from God
Of wonderful Son and an eternal kingdom,
he sits before the Lord and says, "Who am l,
o Lord God? and what is my house that Thou
hast brought me hitherto? When Moses
said. ''Who am r.? (Ex. Ill, 11l Gods answer
to him was, Certainly I will be with thes."
When Gideon said, "Oh my Lord, wherewith
shall save Israeli the Lords answer to him
was, 'Surely I will be with thee" (Judg. VI,
15,. If We would be used of God and mada
blessing to others, it can only be by remem'
bering that we are nothing and God is every
thing, and that our highest place is lying low
at our Redeemer's feet broken and emptled
vessel. for the Masters use made meet.
10. sSrhou hast spoken also Of thy servants
house for a great while to come" Not only
was David amazed at the past goodness of
God to him in taking him from the sheep
cote and from following the sheep to be the
ruler over Gods people Israel ". win, but
he was overwhelmed by the revelation now
made TO him Of the future glory and stability
of his house and kingdom.
co. 'And what can David say more unto
Thee? for Thou, Lord God. knowest Thy SER
want" Inasmuch as God knew all about
David before ever He began to lead him out,
he felt that there was nothing more for him
to say. -
81. ssFor Thy Words sake, and according
to Thine own heart. hes Thou done all these
great things to make Thy servant know
them In Ezekiel xxxvi.. 22-32, speaking Of
this very kingdom when Israel shall be re-
stored and cleansed from all their sins, the
Lord saws that he will do it, not for their
cakes, but for His Holy Names sake When
we remember that one Of the precious names
of Jesus, Son of David, is 'SThe Word Of
God' John l., l; Rev. xix, 49,. then we un-
derstand that 'for Jesus's sake" He will ac-
complish all things concerning His elect
church, and His elect nation Israel, accord
ing to the eternal purpose which He purposed
in Christ Jesus our Lord" Eph. ill.,, III
%. "And what one nation in the earth is
which Thou redeemedst to Thee from Egypt.
from the nations and their gods" Israel
alone of all the nations was thus honored of
God and surely He had right to expect
from them great things in the way Of obedi-
ence, in return for the great things which
He had done for them. The church of Christ,
composed of believers gathered out Of all
nations, has been redeemed by His precious
blood that she may make Him name on
this earth; and He has right to expect from
every one thus redeemed holy life and a
whole hearted devotion to Himself in His
present great work of preaching the Gospel
to every creature.
81. sdThou has confirmed to Thyself Thy
people Israel, to be people unto Thee for
ever. and thou Lord art become their God"
81 know that whatsoever God dosth, it shall
be forever (Eccl. ill.,, ~. The sun, moon
and stars as we look upon them in the heav-
ems are a sign to us that Israel shall never
cease to be nation before God; and that He
will never fully cast them away, notwith-
standing all that they have done; but Will
restore them to their own land, pour out
His spirit upon them and make them bless
ing in the midst of the earth, getting them
praise and fame in every land Where they
have been put to shame.
25 tsAnd now, o Lord God, = T. do as
Thou hast said" David follows up his heart
felt thanksgiving by placing himself entirely
in the will of God and at His disposal; like
Mary when she said: "Behold the handmade
Of the Lord; be it unto me according to Thy
word.n nuke j., 3S.) 1t is not for us to won
der how God can or will do as He has prom
ised, but in quietness and confidence to say:
ssHath He said and shall He not do it? or
hath He spoken and shall He not make it
goods" Mum. xiii, 190
26 'And let Thy name be magniied for
ever.n David seeks not his own glory nor the
glory of Israel, but tnat through him or his
house or his people the name of Jehovah may
be magnified. We can by the Holy Spirit be
enabled to pray truly that Christ may be
magnifed in our body whether by life or death
q. "For Thou, O Lord of Hosts God of Is
rael, hast revealed to Thy servant, ssying. I
will build thee an house." and therefore Da-
yid prayed this prayer. This IS the right
thing to do with all the revelations which
God makes to lis in His VOID concerning HIS
great goodness toward us, and His purposes
not yet fulfilled. Just receive them gratetuI,-
ly, eat them joyfully, and pray for them with
expectation.
5S "And now, q Lord God, Thou art that
God, and Thy words be true, and Thou hast
promised this goodness unto Thy servant"
He here acknowledges that he firmly believes
that all Gods words are true, and he simply
pleads His promises This is what we need
to-day on the part of Christians; to lay hold
of Gods promises and plead them with the
same confidence with which we would present
a check at the bank for payment; but as the
check will not be paid until we endorse It, SO
we need not expect promise to be fulhned
till we endorse it-that is, write our own
name upon it as if it meant us individually. :
81. tsThou, o Lord hast spoken it; and
with Thy blessing let the house OF Thy ser
want be blessed forever" Satisfied with
favor. and full with the blessing Of the Lord"
Deut' xxxiii, 29, who can estimate it? "A
blessing that there shall not be room enough
to receive" CMal Ill, 10y. why should we
not have it? Only let JUS fulfill the conditions
of this last one and it will surely come In bis
time: and as to the blessings OF Matt. ", l.
notice the conditions and fulfill them. I
wish that space permitted me to notice the
titles of God in this lesson; let me just men
tion them, and may some student, seek them
out and feed upon them. Jehovah, by itself,
twice; Jehovah Elohim, twice; JehoVah
Tsebasth, twice; Adonai Jehovah, SIX times;
Elohim, by itself, six times; the name OF God
eighteen times in this lesson under hve
different titles and each full of Significance
Lesson Helper.
r