The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1889-11-01
DAYlD'S REBELLI0US SON.
LESSON v, FOURTH QUARTER, IN
TERNATloNAL SERIES, NOV. 8.


Text of the Lesson, III Sam. XIV, l-12.
Commit Verses 4-G-Golden Text, Ex. Xxx,
12-Commentary by the Rev. u. NJ.
stcarns.
lCompiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per.
mission of H. 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. viii, we read of Davids great prosper
ity, subduing all his enemies round about
and reigning over all Israel, executing judg-
ment and justice unto all his people viii, 10
lo. Then, in his prosperity, comes lis
awful sin, by which he gave great occasion
to the enemies of tho 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 tanishment from his father and his home
chaps. xi-xiii).
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
a wise woman of Tekoa, whom he instructed
what to say, and sent her unto the king to
plead for the restoration of the banished Abb
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,
"and the king kissed Absalom;" with these
words the previous chapter closes, and thus
we are introduced to the lesson of today.
= "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
heiberation, and also place for the admin
istration of justice, and of audience for laings
and rulers and ambassadors. 'sRose up earlyn
is an expression signifying great earnestness.
3, 4. "Absalom said moreover, Oh that
were made judge in tho land" The title of
our lesson is, "Davids rebellious son." and
his name is mentioned thirteen times in our
lessen. Everything seems to go by contrast
in reference to him; his name signifies Father
II Peace" but what father of lies and dis
tirber of peace he proved to be; then as to
his personal appearance, there was not finer
looking man in all Israel xiv, 25); but God,
who looks on the heart and not on the
outward appearance, saw any thing but beauty
there. His hair, which he must have been
very proud of, and which he had cut
only once year, weighed when polled
about seven and a half pounds Troy "a
shekel being about nine pennyweights) xiv,
20; but this, his pride, was the cause of his
death lchap. xviii, 9.
5, 6. $50 Absalom stole tho 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 rs
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 stab ut his fathers heart. The
Lord says concerning Israel: "I have nour-
ished and brought up children and they have
rebelled against mo" lisa. i, 9; 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 lie never even displeased by asking
him, "Why hast thou done so?" Il Kings j, 6)
and that son brought him much trouble;
now if he brought up Absalom 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 IsaA i, 2; but the latter
seems doubtful from Prov. xii, g. tTrain
up child in the way he should go; and when
he is old he will not depart from it." The
1,1nf 0f A tco1 all ~ lr,
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. "Letme go and pay my vow, which l
have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron n Thus
said Absalom to David the king, probably
after four years instead of forty as in this
verse tsee r. V. margin); but what liar he
was and how desperately wickedI
8. "1f the Lord shall bring me again i'll
deed to Jerusalem, then will serve the
Lord" This, he said, was the vow which he
had made to the Lord while in his banish-
ment in Syria. Let any father OF mother
who have ever rejoiced over the conversion
of wayward son say what must have been
David's feelings on hearing these words from
his much loved but heretofore erring Absa-
lonl. Oh that he had only meant it, but
alas that the heart can become SO hard that
it can put on religion for cloak and think
to deceive even God Himself
8. "And the king said unto him, Go in
peace" Believing him to be sincere he gives
him fathers blessing and bids him go iii
peace; but there was no peace in that foul
,No, lyyr F.,s, Il
such plausible words, for "There is no peace,
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 who are truly penitent
and sincerely submit to Him as their Saviour
and Lord. Hebron signifies fellowship; there
the Lord appeared to Abram, and there
Caleb, who followed the Lord fully, slew the
giants and provided a city of refuge for
others Gen xiii, is; Josh. xiv, 13; Xxx, n.
10. "Absalom reigneth in Hebron" No
sooner does he leave his fathers presence,
with that fathers last words to him us words
of peace, than he sends spies through all Is
rael who at given signal are to cry, "Absa
lom reigneth i'll Hebron, which was virtually
saying, 81 hereby rebel against my father
and drive him from his thrones" SO David
understood it, for he said unto all Ills SER
wants, "Arise and let us flee, for We shall not
else escape from Absalom," and the servants
said, Behold thy servants are ready to do
whatsoever my lord tho king shall appoint" :"
tverses IA, 15.
II. "They went in their simplicity and
they knew not any thing" This is written
of the two hundred men out of Jerusalem
who went with Absalon. II we would fol
low Jesus in this spirit, simply trusting, not
knowing l,or desiring anything but His will,