The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-11-07
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 10.
"David's Lament For Absaiom III
samue', tS; tS 33-3oIdcn\
Tex, Proverbs II;
25-Notcs.

25-Notcs.
Davio hearing Of Absnlom's rebellion.
took his servants, and followed by six hum
drcd faithful Philistines under Ittai the Git
ttte, fled from Jerusalem. Zadok and Abia-
thar also, with the Levites bearing the nrk
went with him, but David sent back the ark
saying that II God delighted in him He would
bring him bac, to his city nnd throne
Hushai, the archite, David's friend, was also
sent back, in order that, perchnnce, he might
! be used of God TO defeat the counsel OF
Ahithophel. who had turned traitor 10 David
and become Absalom's counselor IL turned
out rs David had trusted IL would: Absalom
accepted the advice OF Hushni rather than
that of Ahithophel, and Hushni sent word 20
! David which led him and all who were with
him to cyoss over Jordan to the other side.
and they came TO Mahanaim, Ieviticai
\ city of God, whore long before the angels OF
/ God met Jacob Gen. xxxli., ~ Absalom
and his army also crossed tile Jordan, and
| then follows the record of the conflict.
| and the death of Absnlom mt the hands OF
Joab as he hung by his head In an oak. Tho
verse Immediately preceding the oue which
begins our lesson says: "Thcy tool, Absalom
and cast him into II great pit in the wood,
and laid very great heap Of stones upon
him" Thus perished beautiful Absalom
! Is. "Absalun's monument This is the
II. V. translation instead Of "Absalom's
place. Here is tho record Of something
this wicked, williul waywnrd son has done
in his lifetime that his name might bo Turpct-
uated.
! In Absalom's life everything wns for Absa-
| lom, and his name. and his
pleasure; IL might be eaid of him
/ thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways,
hast thou not glorifedn Dan. v, 23) The
life Of Christian is 90 deny self and please
! God magnifying His name; unto such He
says: ~ will give In Mine house, and within
My walls, place and name better than Of
sons and Of daughters; | will give them an
everlasting name that shall not be cut or"
10, 90. Then said Ahimaaz the son Of IA
| dok: Let me now run and bear tho King tid-
| ings." This was the son of Zadol the priest,
and he had already endangered his life for
| David when he and Jonathan son
OF Abiathar brought word from Hushai to
David that he should fec across tho Jordan
! CHAP. xviii; now he is anxious 20 convey 20
David what he thought would be glad tidings
for him. but Joab will not consent
Then said Jonb to Cushi: Go tell the King
J what thou hast seem Wodo not know any
thing more about this man than is here re-
corded, nor why Joab sent hun instend Of
| AhimnaZ, unless the reason is found in tho
words ''what thou hast seen" His name sig.
nifes black" and he may have been a per-
sonal attendant upon Joab, and seems 10 have
witnessed the killing Of Absalom.
-, 90. Then Ahimaa2 ran by the way Of
the plain and ovcrrnn Cushi" This power.
full brother" for such is the significance of
his name, was so eager To bear tdings that
he again pleaded with Joab 10 let him run
after Cushi, and Joab finally consented. He
was so swift Of foot that he outran Cushi and
got 10 David first. This reminds us OF that
other disciple who outran Peter and camo
first to the sepulclier John Xxx. ~.
-. And David sat between the two gates,
and the watchman went up 10 the roof over
fna "a Inf Hnll
| with its twenty thousand slain tverse y, and
| the monument which Absalom did not build
for himself tthe heap of stones), TO behold
David as ho receives the tidings from the mes
sengers Ahimaaz and Cushi.
%. 90. "And the watchmon cried and told
the King" He sees first the one and then tho
othor running alone, and he reports each to
| the King rs he comes in sight, and now we
may fancy the anxiety Of the Kings trcm-
bling heart till he hears the tidings. We are re-
minded somewhat of Eli ms no sat in the gate
waiting 10 hear tidings of the battle, his heart
trembling for the Ark of God Il Sam. iv., l8,
but Eli seems 30 have been nearer 20 God
than David, for Eli trembled for tho Ark,
not for his sons, while David's only anxiety
was his son.
81, %. IAN Is we'll" This was the shout OF
Ahimaaz, as he drew near TO the King with
the tidings that the Kings enemies were
overcome. The watchman recognized Ahi-
maaz by his running, before he came near
enough TO be seen rs 10 his features. Some
Of us want to do things just like other peo-
pie, but Scripture teaches us that God takes
II man as he is and works through one In one
way and another in another way and all
equally for His glory. Lot us see Jesus only,
and yielding fully 10 Him, let Him work in
and through us by His spirit as He pleases.
30, 80. "And the King said: Is the young
man Absslom safei" Ahimaaz had cried:
"It Is WELL" but tho King replies; at Is
well with AbsalomY' He seemed TO have no
heart for any but this wicked son. II is a
wonderful picture Of human love.
81. And Cushi said; Tidings, my Lord
the King; for the Lord have avenged thee
this day of all them that rose up against
thee" Thus from the mouth of two witnesses
the fact Is established that the enemies of the
King are defeated.
39. "The enemies of my Lord the King be
az that young man is" Still unaffected by
the good tidings of the defeat Of the enemy
tho King again asks; "Is the young man Alb
SALON. safey" and receives his reply In these
not doubtful words, which declare that Absa-
lan is dead: Tho thinG which he feared has
Come upon him, ana now In his heart sIowr
forth, and II is proved that wicked Absalom
Is moro to him than his faithful soldiers OF
captains or all his people
3d. 20 my son Ab SALON.! my son, my sor
Absaloml would God had died for thee O
Absalom my son, my son." Perhaps there
are no more pathetic words in all Scripture
than these, but there are various ways oi
looking at them. Absalom appears 10 be in
deed a lost soul, passing out into the black
ness OF darkness forever, and well might
David wish to have died in his stead, for h,
was ready to meet God and Absalom wa,
not; but then God was overruling all thi
xvii. la. and He is infinitely wise anC
good, David was In this grief for Absalom
honorlng him more than God Il Sam. ill., 29)
and whilo his great love is commendable
his idolatry Is not. Let those who foolishly
say, "I do not want to go 20 Heaven if my
wife, my husband, my son, my daughter
, my brother or my sister is not there" con
| slider well these words of our Lord Jesui
{ Christ; IF any man come To Me, and hatl
not his father and mother, and wife anC
I children, and brethren and sisters, yea
! bis own life also, he cannot be Ny Disciple
! uIuke xiv, 20.I-Lesson Helper.
7 CATHOLIC CRUSADER
Miss Sallie A. Moore, of PHILADELPHIA
IAwa.. ..l,..s 40 N - 4