The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-08-20
THE SABBA1H-SCHOl LESSON.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON ror
AUGUST rs.
Lesson Text; "Absaiom's REBEL.
ion," II Samuel xv., liz
Golden Text, Exodus Xxx,
f2-Commentary.

and ilfty men to run before him." Absaiom
was the third sou OF David, born In Hebron.
ana hts mother was Maacah daughter OF
.no klns OF Geshur (u Sam. it,. 2, 81.
Aosalom signifies "father OF peace" but his
lie would rather suggest one who wns Of
MS father the devil (Johu Will, Al. Because
| OF the murder OF his brother Aninon. Dnyid's
nrstborn, he fed to the king Of Geshur and
was there three years, but through tho
/ pleading OF the wise woman OF Iekon am
ployed by Joab, he came back TO Jerusalem
ana dwelt two years without reconciliation
| 10 his father, after which, through Jonb's
! intercession, the king became reconcilei TO
| ~, 33). N'''
| 2. And Absalom rose up early and stood
beside the way OF the gate" The expres-
sion rose up early signifies great earnest.
ness and Is used many times in jeremiah
| concerning Gods unwe aried earnestness In
urging Hts people to repent aud turn 10
him: In lisa. ", IL, 1t Is used, as hore. con-
| corning the earnestness OF the wicked for
here wo sec Absalom In tho place OF nublIc
gatherings, kindly greeting the people who
| came TO the king to have their wrongs right
eu and seeking TO turn their hearts from
his father to himself. The self-seeking of
the natural heart is often seen In those who
| seek to advance themselves. no matter VINO
Is oyerthrown, but when this is seen In a son
against his own father then the devil Is
surely doing special work.
| ., a. "Absalom said, moreover, Oh, that L
were made judge In the Iand."' He speaks
tthe Justice that he would show IL he were
made Judge in the land but IL should NOT
require much penetration to see that n man
who would treat his own father as uniustly
ss ho was now doing would not be- likely 10
DO justly by any ono unless IL might hnppen
to serve his own ends. | heard only this
week OF n Senator who said that no poli-
;ician would take hold OF matter without
rOneitprintr lfv1,N Ia
littcal prospects. 1t Is the worlds way to
live unto oneself; II Is only by the Spirit OF
God that we can deny self and live unto God
., 6. 80 Absalom stole the hearts OF tho
m q OF Israel" There was not a finer look
u man In all Israel (chapter XIV, 2j). but
z laps not one with blacker heart. "Pa-
vor Is doceitful and beauty Is vain." but "a
meek aud quiet spirit Is In tho sight OF God
OF great price," aud Il IL the heart, not the
outward appearance that God looks upon
prov. XXI, 80; l Pet ill.,, 4; Sam, xvi.
y. When tho king kissed Absalom xiv,
33), II was the loving kiss of q heartbroken
father welcoming his errlng son, but these
kisses OF Absalom were more like the kiss of
Judas when he betrayed his Master. for
every one was "a stab at his fathers heart.
There are those, even In this Gay. both In
the church and out OF 1t, who ''by good
words and fair speeches deceive the hearts
OF the simple"
Z. "Let mo go and pay my vow. which I
have vowed unto the Lord In Hebron"
The margin OF the r. V. says probably after
four years, not forty years. But what n liar
he was and how desperately wicked: there
was murder In his heart, and that against
his own father, yet he seeks 10 hide IL under
pretense Of paying n vow unto the Lord,
while all his VOWS must have been to the
devil rather than TO the Lord. Hebron was
his birthplace, but IL was also the placo
where the bodies OF Abraham. Isaac and
Jacob lay buried. and that his wicked heart
could speak OF Hebron, which signifies fell
lowship and carries us back TO faithful
Caleb, who followed the Lord fully, shows
how hardened In sin he had become.
3. "If the Lord shall bring mo again in
deed to Jerusalem. then / will serve tho
Lord This, no said, was the vow which he
had made to the Lord while in his Danish.
ment at Geshur. II David believed his son.
as he seems to have done, how conferred he
must have been by this evidence OF mis- sons
repentance. How little he though that with
such words from his sons lips the father Of
lies was In his heart.
o. And the king said unto him, Go in
peace" Believing him TO be sincere ho
gives him fathers blessing. but there was
no pence in that foul heart covered by 80
fair an exterior, for "There is no peace, saith
the Lord TO the wicked lisa. lvii., 2l).
Peace was within his reach, as II IL within
the reach OF every one who has ever heard Of
the possession OF those who arc truly
penitent and and sincerely submit TO Him ~
their Saviour and Lord. "1he work Of
righteousness shall be peace. and the effect
OF righteousness quietpess aud assurance
forever" lisa. xxxii.. ~. $50 he arose ana
went to Hebron"
10. "Absalom reigneth in Hebron" with
profession OF devotion to God on his lips and
his fathers blessing sounding in his ears he
goes forth to carry out his dovilish designs
against his father. The proclamation which
he caused to be sounded forth was equal TO
his saying, 81 hereby rebel against my
father and drive him from his throne"
David so understood II, for he said unto all his
servants, "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 the king
shall appoint" Oversees IL. l5). Contrast tho
conduct OF tho kings son with that OF his
servants and OF Ittai the Gittite In verses
10 TO 81
IL. They went in their simplicity, and
they knew not anything" This is written
OF the 200 men out OF Jerusalem who went
with Absalcm. II we would follow Jesus in
this spirit, simply trusting, not knowing nor
desiring anything but His will what blessed
people we would be and what glory He would
get through US, but 10 follow a leader like
Absalom thus blindly Is the way to ruin.
There are many nowadays who rebel against
the word OF God and yet have many follow
ers who know nothing of God, but what they
hear from others. They are too simple.
II. "The people increased continually
with Absalom." How thought'essly the
crowd will follow Il popular leader. How
multitudes turn away from the God OF Truth
and His dear Son 10 listen 10 IN lngcrsoll.
In all directions and on all sides an increas-
Ing multitude is following the one whom
Absalom followed and who would love to de-
stroy Jesus Christ. the King of kings, and
His followers. But the Lamb shall over
come and they who are with Him are called
and chosen and faithful. David returned in
due time, and so will the Lord Jesus. Let
US be patient and faithful.-Lesson Helper.
TRINITY TO TRINITY.
Although mans nature IL In the fullest
clearest sense unite, yet he Is also a trim
ity, IA We so frequently find II essential, for
convenience Of treatment, to recognize. IIe