Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-11-07
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER TENTH.
DAvID'S GRIEF FOR ABSALOM-II SAM.
XVIII, 1885.

LESSON FOR NOVEMBER TENTH.
DAvID's GRIEF FOR ABSALOM-II SAM.
NVIII, 1885.
NOTES.-The pillar lohich Is in tn
kings dale.-This monument, which Alb
SALON. fondly hoped would cover hi!
bones and commemorate his greatness
became his cenotaph. This ''kings dale
was some broad open valley in an un
known direction from Jerusalem, proba
bly, not over five miles away hare M
son.-Those mentioned in chapter xiv, 27
must have died in infancy.-Unt0h his
day.-The modern traveller, according to
DR.. Robinson, may still see people throw
ing stones at what is called the tomb OF
Absalom.-ZGdOk- priest and
loyal friend to David -Cushtte.-The
black slave, who might easily take the
brunt of David's grief or anger.-Da-
old sat 6eta0eeia the ta0o gGtes.-This was a
court within the wall protected by the
outer and inner gate.-ROofof the gate.
There generally was tower topping the
gate for the sake of watch and defense.
-Like the running Of AhimGGz.-He
was evidently awell known runner. This
method of carrying news was all they
had. Runners often could make 125
miles day, travelling even faster than a
horse.
INsTRUCTIoN.-Absa must have
taken great pride in this monument that
reared itself up to Heaven, a mighty
carven hand. 1t was to him a seal of i'm
perishable fame. The name of the DISC
bedient son will never be forgotten but
his pillar has long since been ground in
to oblivion. The monument was not the
right sort. No one can hide a wicked
life under an imposing mass of stone. The
experiment is tried to-day. tits too COM
mon a thing to execrate the man and
bow down to his influence or his gold at
the same time. One can buy the favor
of the tickle public by founding asylums
out of stolen moneys, but no compromise
can be made between God and conscience.
The modern AbsalOm may conspire
against justice and right, but God and
time, two silent and inexorable arbiters
of right, Will weigh his works and his
soul, and store them where they belong.
There are two kinds OF monuments that
are of the right sort. The first is imper-
ishable and requires no architect or ma
son but ourselves. We mean a holy
character. We do not mean mere up
right tness and honor, but as much as this,
and with force that transmutes every
act, every thought, every speech into
spiritual significance. a man whose life
is reflected image of Christ becomes
pillar of strength on which thousands
may lean. So great will be such ones
power that he will not feel the weight of
the many but only the few who personally
infringe upon him.
The second monument requires self
sacrifice. 1t is not only a spiritual but
physical gift. 1t too often happens that
people put their generosity in their wills
for others to execute, rather than take
the trouble or undergo the sacrifice of
doing it themselves. That is to great
extent selfish and not infrequently nulh-
fies the object of the benevolence If a
man wants to found a scholarship or a
hospital, or put a few thousands into a
missionary enterprise, let him do it now
and not wait until his last testament is
probated. Stocks may fall, property may
be destroyed and a wise and lazy pur-
pose may be ultimately cheated. 1t is
better by far to superintend personally
during ones lifetime the monument he
would otherwise leave distracted heirs to
rear. Generosity and character will be
doubled by such ante-mOrtem meas
ures.
Absalom was dead. His life was a
failure. He imperiled his SOUL True
success ought to be the ambition of
life. The failure to attain it is the sad
dest of spectacles. The whole character,
made constant by prayer and good works,
lends lasting dignity to life, whether the
owner is rich or poor, handsome or ugly,
success or failure in the world esteem
There are some who seem to glOat over
bad news as buzzard over carrion. 1t
is generally better to let some other per-
son infiict the pain. But, if necessary,
let it be done with a touch so fine, with a |
sympathy so loving that the hand that
wounds inStinctively stays to comfort.
'He is a good man and cometh with |
good tiding" is what every man should |
say of us. The motto fifty interprets the |
character of Christ. Let it be true of US
that we try to be good rather than bril- |
liant; good rather than distinguished or |
talked about, good rather than honored
or rich. For goodness carries the good |
tidings with it and is a quality one takes |
easily beyond the grave.
as the young man safe ?' is another |
question pregnant with meaning. Safe |
ty does not merely consist of freedom
from physical danger but from moral |
pitfalls A casual drink with an ae-
quaintance; an oath; an obscene story;
an undetected shortage in accounts; |
these are worse accidents than fall from
a building or the smallpox Safety con-
sists in being on the Lords side; not on
a non capsizable yacht. Safety is saliva
ton. People seek salvation. People |
seek absolute safety. 1t is only found
in the study and imitation of Christ.
So David mOurned for his son and for
got to rejoice at the failure of the rebel
lion. How Insignificant the world seems
when the son or daughter is dead. What
grief is more hopeless than a separation
from ones sinful heir, that may be eter-
nal But God is more merciful than man.
We know there is Hell and Heaven.
The mystery is who goes there. Let
none think he solves the problem of
which Christ refused the key.