The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-10-23
ABSALOM'S REBELLION,
International Sunday-school Lesson for
November ., 1859.

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International Sunday-school Lesson for |
November ., 1859.
Especially arranged from 8. s. ouarteriy.l
LEssoN TExT-2 Sam. 15:1-12
GOLDEN TExr-Honor thy father and thy |
mother, that thy days may be long upon the |
land which the Lord thy God giveth thee
Ex. 1919.
CENTRAL TRuTH-A foolish son is the cal
amity Of his father.
TME-Absalom's rebellion occurred B. G.
10S9-S, eleven or twelve years after David's
sin.
PLACE-Jerusalem and Hebron.
DAvID-Sixty.two or sixty-three years
old, in the thirty-second year Of his reign.
ABsALoM-Twenty years old when he
slew his brother, three years In exile, two
years in retirement in Jerusalem, four
years plotting his rebellion; hence twenty
nine or thirty years old when he usurped
the throne. -U
ABsALoM's CHARACTER-He was O hot
headed, rash, impetuous, INSCRIPTIONS
young man. His mother was heather,
and the boy had little restraint. His
fathers sin may have had . bad influence,
but be might also have learned from his
good example and his penitence He prob
ably thought that he had right to be King
In place of his father, and he rebelled, lest
his brother should have the place.
SoLoMoN-Eight or nine years old.
DAvID's CopNsELLoRs - Nathan, the
prophet; Ahithophel, the grandfather Of
Bathsheba, man Of marvellous wisdom;
Hushai, wise friend of David.
PsALMs-39, Al and IS probably belong
here. u
HELPS OVER HARD PLAcEs-l. after this:
Absaloms reconciliation to his father.
Chartots and horses like great Prince, to
show his kingly spirit and to attract atten-
ton to himself. 2. Rose up CARLY in warm
Oriental countries public business is trans
acted early. Beside the tcay: to meet people
on the way to the law court The gate: the
open space before the gate was the place of
public business and courts of justice. A
controversy: a suit(v ~. No man dcp,lted ofthe
King: the King could not do all, and had not
appointed enough deputies. 1t is probable
from Ps. 41:S that he was sick at this time.
6. Absalom stole tho hearts: 1t was indeed
stealing, for they belonged to his father. Z.
After forty gears: this should read four gears
8. Ges1ur: region south Of Damascus and
east Of the sea of Galilee. Absalom's moth
er was the daughter OF its King. 9. Went
10 Hebron: the old capital and Absalom's
birthplace. TO- Sound of the trumpet: prob
ably arranged on hill-tops, so that the sig.
nal could quickly spread over the whole
country. H. Ahithophel: see David's coun-
sellers. For his wisdom, see Sam. 1929
Gionite: belonging to Giloh, town south or
southwest of Hebron. eNl
| PREPARED Soil FOR REBELLIoN-U The
nation were not satisfied with David. The
business of the court was too great to be at
tended to by the King, and justice might
1 not always have been done. Then David's
sin, perhaps even his public repentance,
weakened David's influence See Ps Al 49,
| C2) 1t has been supposed by many that
David during these years was suffering
from disease, which interfered with his
public duties. (3) Many place the number.
| ing Of the people before this rebellion, and
the pestilence that followed may have in.
cited the people against David.
CoMMENTs-David's wicked son was very
popular on account of his great personal
beauty. After his restoration to the royal
| favor, he launched out into extravaganza OF
retinue and vainglorlous pomp. All these
things, however, commended him, doubt
less, to large throng Of hangers-On to the
court, who are ever ready to applaud and
participate in wild extravagances. The ad-
ministration Of justice In David's old age
may well have fallen into unfit hands. OF
this the shrewd rebel was quick to take ad-
vantage. He was profuse IN promises,
which are always much more readily made
than redeemed. He put on hypocritical
airs of sympathy with the common people,
and courted their favor. They were only
too easily deceived by his willy manners and
specious promises, and thought that, with
him as ruler, the golden age would be ush-
cred in. Moreover, his ambition led him to
be false to his own father, and to seek de-
celtful excuse for large gathering in He
bron. In all this he was moved neither by
regard for his aged father, anxiety for the
welfare of the people, nor fear of God. Am
bition ruled him; and in consequence he de-
termined either to rule ali or TO ruin all.
During the days of his exile, when
| hunted by Saul, David doubtless often
thought that, when he reached the throne,
all his troubles would come to an end.
Then "the wicked would cease from
troubling, and the weary be at rest"
Later experience, however, proved tina. his
| heaviest sorrows came after he was King
over all Israel AS he and his followers
left the royal city on foot he was undoubt-
eddy far more depressed in spirit than
| when he came out from the cave of
| Adullam and cried after Saul. The mere
possession Of the crown could not confer
immunity from Universities; it rather
tended to multiply trouble. At first sight
any one would prefer the life Of King to
that of fugitive; and yet, from our lesson,
oil thoughtful persons will conclude that to
be King is by no means An unmixed bless
ing.-Rev. A. F. Schauffler.
| PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
1. How sharper than serpent's tooth is
1t to have thankless child.
q We see the evil Of defective training
and bad influences around youth.
8. Yet around all are many good inlu-
ences, and every young person chooses for
himself which ne will follow.
4. We see in Absalom the baseness Of in
gratitude and disobedience to cur Heavenly
Father.
g. Every power Of attraction and intiu-
ence is given us to use for good.
q Wiles, hypocrisy and fattery may suo-
coed for . time, but end in failure.
Z. There is only one way TO true success,
and that is by obedience to parents and to
God. 81
IN the memory Of Gods goodness to US IN
our life struggles, the thought of our trials
il lost in the thought Of our victory. And
the memory of former blessing is an
earnest of blessing to come; for Gods best
things for His dear ones are always in the
future. s.. 8. Times. tt.' A''