The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-09
SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
SEPTEMBER 13.
Lesson Text: "David's Gratitude to
Cod" III Samuel XIII, 4O-51-
Golden Text: III Samuel XIII,
documentary.

40. "For Thou hast girded me with strength
to battle. Them that rose up against me
hast Thou subdIed under me-" The whole
of this chapter is repeated in the book OF
Psalms as number 18, the Holy Spirit thus
calling special attention to this portion OF
His writings through David. In chapter
xiii, 1-3, II Is written that whatever the
sweet psalmist Of Israel spake It was the
Spirit OF the Lord speaking by him. It Is
ws,i roie US when we recognize the whole
Bible as wfr1trer5y the Spirit Of God for our
benefit. Verse o. TINS cnapter says tnat
David spake these worts- -a6no fheLofa Wn9n
delivered from Saul and all his enemies. IN
this frst verse of our lesson and throughout
the psalm he acknowledges that God had
done everything for him.
Al. "Thou hast also given me the necks
Of mine enemies, that might destroy them
that hate me-" There are many things IN
the Psalms which the church cannot appro-
pirate or apply to herself. 1t ls not for US to
have the necks of our enemies or destroy
those that hate us. These things are peculiar
to Israel and to the King Of Israel, the Son
OF David, when He shall come in his glory
to destroy lsrael's enemies and establish the
kingdom. Our mission as members of the
body Of Christ Is to suffer meekly even for
mCii uOiaSi " po CAST Oul, udlcu duN hlllCu
for His sake, and yet to take 1t all patiently.
~. "They looked, but there was none to
save, even. unto the Lord, but He answered
them NOT" As II Is written in Mic ILL.,. 4.
"Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he
will not hear them, as they have behaved
themselves i'll in their doings." And in
Prov. l., %, "Tben shall they call upon Me,
but will not answer; they shall seek Me
early, but they shall not find Me-" Those
who seek simply from fear and only because
they dread His judgments may not expect to
be heard. But, see the contrast In Jer.
xxx, IS. :,
43. "Then did I beat them as small as the
lust OF the earth" See similar figure in
n Kings xiii, 7, and Mic. vli., 10. Tc be
thoroughly subdued Is very humiliating, but
everything or person that is exalted against
God must be brought low lisa. H., II, I'D.
To be cheerfully subject and willing to be
subdued for Gods glory is very blessed, and
II Is the privilege OF every be lever to be as
clay In the hands Of the potter for Gods
glory and for our highest good (lsa. Xiv, ~.
A. "Thou hast also delivered me from
:he strivings of my people," Some OF these
strivinGs are included In the long wars Pc
tween the houses Of Saul aud David and the
later strifes throughout all the tribes Of
Israel (chapters ill.,, 1; xix, 81. Trouble
from enemies without is bad enough, but
trouble within nation or church or family
s much worse. Yet from all He Is able to
deliver When He speaks Of being head OF
the nations aud people whom He knows
not serving Him. we think of the sure
nercies of David OF lisa. w., 3-5.
45 strangers shall submit themselves
unto Me. As soon as they hear they shall
be obedient unto Me-" This also makes US
.hink OF Messiah's reign when "they that
dwell in the wilderness shall bow before
Him, and His enemies shall lick the dust"
FPS. xxiI. 81. Sons Of strangers shall build
up lions walls, and their kings shall minis.
ter unto Israel Elsa. k, lO): The word
Submit" Is Ii the margin rendered "ue or
Weld feignsd obedience. 1t Is the same In
Ps, Xvi, 8, and margin. and points to those
who In the millennial reign OF Christ Will
only be nominally subject and will follow
the devil when he Is loosed from the pit
(Rev. Xxx, 7-l0).
46. Strangers shall fade away, sno they
,hall be afraid out OF their CLOSE places.
They shall move out Of their holes like
worms Of the earth. They shall be afraid OF
the Lord our God and shall fear because OF
thee (Mic. vii, I'D. 1t shall be a firm rule,
as with rod of iron, and those who have
evil in their hearts shall fear to doit because
of the swift judgments that shall be sent on
eyildoers. The awful judgments Of the
tribulation period shall not soon be forgot.
ten.
47. 1.-THE Lord liveth. and blessed be my
rock. and exalted be the God OF the rock oi
nv salvation" In the Lord Jehovah Is the
Rock Of Ages strength lisa. XVI, 4, mar
un(. He is the God Of truth, the living
God, the King of eternity. At his wrath the
earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not
be able to abide His indignation Ger. T., 10,
4s. "ft is God that avengeth me and tina,
bringeth down the people under me-" It
was one of the blessed habits OF DaV1d's LIE
to see and acknowledge God IN everything.
When he had Saul In his power and might
him to God. When Absalom drove MIN
from his throne, he said, seeing Gods hand
In It, "Let Him do to me as seemeth good
unto Him" When Sinner cursed and
stoned him, instead Of letting Abishai Kill
him, be said that II the Lord wanted him to
endure this he would not even ask why q
Sam. XVI, 10; II Sam. xv.. 20; xvi, 1O).
49. "Thou also hast lifted me up on high
above them that rose up against me. Thou
hast delivered me from the violent man. ID
the morning OF the resurrection, the morn
ing without clouds (chapter xiii, A., nor
morning when God shall help Israel Ps
XVII, D, marSluJ, Wueu lnc oPitSn' ro
have dominion over the wicked (Ps. xlix.t
14), when our Lord shall come In His glory
and by the brightness OF His coming destroy
that wicked one, the man OF sin (u Thess
H., 8. 81, then shall we see the complete ful'
tIliment of these things Of which David sang
and OF which he in his own experience hao
remarkable but only partial fulfllment.
so. Therefore will give thanks unto
Thee,O Lord, among the heather. and l Will
sing praises unto Thy name" Gods pur'
pose with Israel In the past and IN the future
Is the same aud that Is to make Himself suef
a name through them In the eyes OF all Ma
tions that all the Nations may turn TO anc
submit to the one living and true GOD Ioi
their good (Josh. w., "a; II Sam. vii, ~, "a
Eek. x1xvii., 27, rs; Rom. xi., IL, 15).
81. He Is the tower of salvation for NJ:
King and showeth mercy to His anointed
unto David and to his seed forevermore.
While David was His anointed, he was TYP
OF the Messiah, Son Of David, In whom al
the promises will surely be fulfilled. I'M
New Testament begins and ends Win TN
Son of David (Math. /, l; Rev. xiii, lb). 10
II begins and ends with Israel and the king
dom of God on earth. The sure and ever
lasting covenant OF God was David's com
fort in his dying hour (chapter kill, %
There is nothing so sure Us the promises
Goi.-Lesson Helper.
Il HAS A KEEN SENSE OF RUMoa