The true northerner., 1889-11-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
ENTERTAINING DISSERTATION Ot
SERIOUS SUBJECTS.

F, found In sam. is. lS-33
INTRODUCTORY.
II this lesson shall turn the heads OF pal,'
ents 10 the spiritual needs OF their chill
dren. one good and gracious result will be
accomplished. There is something fear
fully perilOus in the apparent apathy that
Is coming over the heads OF households.
| Fathers ana mothers. at times and places.
seem 10 view with utter Indifference the
fact that their sons and daughters ara
growing up In total disregard OF their
! souls interests. Let the sound OF Davids
! groans and the sight of David's tears
! cries and tears a,as for him too late-bring
| parents and pastors and teachers to their
/ knees In behalf OF the needless. reckless
/ youth OF to-day committed 10 their trust.
May "David's grief tardy and vain. stir Us
10 timely and effectual grief.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
! Absalom's place. Literally il is Absalom's
/ hand. And ii is easy 10 see which way ii is
! pointing. Like that hand" which Saul
reared when returning from his disobedi-
/ ent journey TO the Amalekte country. this
rock was lifted in pride and arrogmcy. 1t
J called attention 10 Absalom. and was in
] tended TO magnify him. IL did magnify
! hlm-his vanity. As with many another
/ monumental structure reared since. its
name Is Jolly. When men looked at IL.
| they thought of Absalom, but 1t was ABB
| salom's disgrace that came TO their minds.
I Rear your monuments. but DO careful what
! they say They speak good on ii accord
!
! Character is after all the truest monument.
Howsoever. said he, let me lun. Some
! one slyly suggested once. that Ahimaaz
represents here altogether too large class
the company OF those presum ptuous
souls. who are ready 10 run. whether they
| have "a message or no. AS such il might
point moral regarding those who go forth
on mission or proclamation, unprepared
and perhaps uncalled. And yet does IT not
better describe, since AhimaaZ is a worthy
! character. those who disputed as TO their
mission from without. are yet conscious
| from within that they are plainly and pow
| eriully called? In this case Ahimaaz him.
F, sell outran the approved messenger. And
does IL not sometimes occur that the un-
! solicited OF men prove themselves the most
truly called Of God? Remember the stone
which the builders disallowed."
| Is the young man Absalom safe? 1t is
question this nineteenth century may well
be asking in sense. Are we caring for
our sons as we should in these days of
fearful temptation TO the young? 1t had
been better for David had he asked that
question earlier; had he guarded against
| that which presently wrought his sons
| destruction. Out on the praires oil the
West. you see around about every hay-stack
n strip OF plowed ground 1t i 10 guard
! the hay from prairie fire. There is many a
householder who is guarding his hay-ricks
much more carefully than he is guarding
| his boys.
Would God had died for thee. There is
| IL.
Its way. in any language. 1t has been trav-
estied much OF late. but our fathers never
sang "a more sweetly sad refrain than that
! which runs:
David the king was gricved aud wounded
lie Went To his chamber hi chamber aud wept." ="
An. II that solicitudc could but have been
manifested before! How much IL might
have meant TO Absalom! And yet. what Is
there on earth to compare with parental al
lection? That a mother or father dashing
through smoke and flame to save the Off
spring tells us something Of it, And like as
father pitieth his children so the Lord
pitieth them that fear him.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
Absalom. The kings son. being favor
lite, had been given quito large liberty. -
HIS lifetime. He was not now n young man,
but well advanced in years-Reared up
for himself The Tor himself" is emphatic.
III was done at the dictation or pride. A
pillar. or II column. Like Saul's stone at
Carmel. Il Sam. I5 H. Kings dale. A
valley that seems 10 have lain near the
Dead Sea.-No son. His three sons had
probably died young. q Sam. Il: 27.) -
Absalom's place. or monument. monu-
ment Of folly.
Ahimaaz. \ worthy man and a friend OF
King David.-Zadok. The high priest.
Let me now run. He had an ambition TO
be the bearer Of the news OF victory
] idin :. In the sense OF good news
Avenged him OF his enemies. or Judged him
from the hand OF his enemies; that is. vim
! Olcateu MIN.
Joab. David's shrewd commander in
chief. -Tidings this day. He knew we'll
! that the news OF Absalom' 5 death would not
be counted good news by the king. and he
wished either 10 shield Ahimaaz from Da-
vid's outburst. or else To withhold him a
ddy longer and then send him on TO con-
ciiate the king. The kings son is dead
JOab realized the gravity OF the occasion.
What hhimaaz asked for was that he might
be made the man OF tidings." an honorary
Office under the circumstances.
HOwsoever. Ahimaaz has set his heart
on the pro olcct. so he accepts of all risks.
Let me run. Under military discipline he
must receive permit from his chief to abb
sent himself from camp.--By the way OF
the lin. Instead Of taking the more di.
rect out difficult hill route. which the slave
pursued he chose the way from Ephram hy
the val'ey.--Overran Cushi. or outIan.
He could run all the way. there being no
climbing.
David sat anxiously awaiting It'd ngs.
Between the two gates. Between the
outer and inner walls. whittier he had
gone that he might tho more readily be
within call.-The watchman. In that
day OF foot travel watchman from the
wall could anticipate not a little the arrival
OF messages.--lhe roof over the gate.
Probably the highest part OF the WALL
Lifted up mis- eyes. II was long before the
day OF the field glass. The watchman was.
however naturally n man OF far sighted
vision. The eye may be trained. with
hunters aud trarpers, TO phenomenal acute-
ness.
The watchman cried. Gave the precon-
certed signal. If he be alone. Had there
been many running IL would have meant
defeat. t.-Tidings in his mouth. bringer
OF good things and not evi.-Came apaco
and drew nearer. realistic account. We
can almost see the strained faces of the
watchers and hear the painting Of tn o
fatigued runner rs he hastens 10 apr: oach.
Another man running. The Cushite from
the hills.-The porter. who kept the gate
below. nigh unto the kings seat he also
bringeth tidngs. And. as would be sup
posed. additional part culars. so increasing
the anxiety OF the watchers.
Like the running Of Ahimaaz. Either
the speed or "A popularity of the gait sug-
gested his identity. lie was probably a
well-known athlete. A good man and
cometh with good tidings. friend OF the
king would naturally be chosen as the hon.
ored messenger OF good tidings.
And Cushi said. The demeanor OF the
Cushite toward the king is quite in contrast
with that OF his predecessor.--Ti It'd ings.
The first salute Of Fastening courier
III ath avenged. He supposes doubtless that
he is the first conner.
Next Lesson: -Davids Last Words. %
Sam. %: IL
/ II