The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-08-05
SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON Foh
AUGUST 8.
Lesson Text: "David's Victories" Ii
Samuel K, s-l9-Golden Text:
Psalm xviii, 1-Com'
mentary.

L
Samuel x. s-19-Golden Text:
| Psalm xvii, 1-Com-
mentary.
q aAnd the children OF Ammon came out
and put the battle in array at tne enteLins ,ha ".
| Lord had given David rest from all MS
enemies; that the Lord preserved David
| whithersoever he went, and that DaVld
reiyned over all Israel, executing Judgment
and Justice unto all his people (cnapter VII,
!: viii. 6, 14.15). The Lord having SHOWN
| His loving kindness to David In promising
| to make unto him an everlasting klngoomI
| David rests upon the word OF tne Loro, aII i
| living in peace seeks to show kindness 10 all.
| We saw in the last lesson his kindness TO
| Jonathan's son, and this chapter begins with
| q record of his kindness to Hanun, King OF
| Ammon, but the princes OF Ammon persuau-
| ed Hanun that David meant evil, and NOT
GOOD, so he took David's servants VINO nao
come with comfort for him and treated them
shametully. David did not take this ingrat-
itude and humiliation rs meekly as ne done
some others and started Joab and the host
of his mighty men out to punish Ammon.
The Ammonites hired helpers and gave
David battle.
Gil. sIf the Syrians be too strong for me,
then thou shalt help me, but If the children
of Ammon be too strong for thee, then Will
come and help thee. Thus said Joao, the
captain of David's host, to his brother ADJ
shat. with whom he divided the army. Joao
taking the choice men to contend with tne
Syrians, and Abishai taking the rest to light
with the Ammonltes. Joab and Abtshai we've
sons of David's sister Zeruiah q Chron. H.,
10: II Sam. IL, 1S). There were three sons,
but Asahel had been slain by Abner, the cap
tain Of Sauls host.
l2. "Be of good courage and let US play
the men for our people and for the cities OF
our God, and the Lord do that which SEEM
eth Him good" Thus Joab encouraged the
hearts of his soldiers by reminding them that
they stood for God and for His land and peo-
ple. Compare Chron. XIX, IS. There Is
no strength like the knowledge that we are
tor God. standing for Him as His witnesses.
He gave this encouragement to Joshua, say
ing: "Be strong and Of good courage; oe
not afraid; neither be thou dismayed, Tor the
Lord thy God Is with thee whtthersoerer
thou goest" (Joshua t.. 81. Nehemiah en-
couraeed his people with these words: "Be
not We afraid OF them: remember the Lord
which Is great and terrible and fight for your
brethren, your sons and your daughters,
your wives and your houses" (Neh. tv., 14).
With whole hearted trust In God. reliance
upon Him, surrender TO Him, with readi.
aess to do His bidding. There must also be
the heart to say, Now let Him DO that Whlcn
seemeth Him good. II He willeth apparent
defeat tor must be we'll II wbstSsr he %l.lGss
willeth health or sickness, life or death, all
Is we'll that he willeth.
Ill that God blesses Is our good,
And unblessed good Is Ill,
Aud all is right that seems most wrong
rift be His sweet will,
"ChrIst shall be magnifed In my body
whether by life or by death" (Phtl. /, 2O).
13, IA. "They fed before him." Thus did
both Syrians and Ammonites before Joab
and Abishai, and Joab returned and came to
Jerusalem. It was written concerning Israel
that Zone should chase 1000 and two put
10000 to flight ''The Lord shall cause
thine enemies that rise up against thee to be
smitten before thy face, they shall come out
against thee one way and fee before thee
seven ways" Oeut. xxxii., 80; xviii, y.
When Israel went forth as the people OF
God. no armies could stand before them,
for God was with them to fight their
battles Deur. l., 80; ill.,. 22). When they
went in their own strength, they were easily
overcome. With US now In this present life
it must be q whole hearted reliance kpon
God either for salvation or for victory over
self and sin; otherwise our enemies WILL De
too strong for us. But, yielding to and re.
lying upon Him, we shall sings "Thanks be
unto God, who giveth US the victory through
Lord Jesus Christ" q Cor. xv., SD.
is, 16. The Syrians. chafng under thell
defeat, gather others with them and return
to fight with Israel, forthe spirit Of rebellion
against God Is not easily put down. The
spirit that was IN Pharaoh and SennacherlE
is the spirit of the devil. who would, IL pos.
sible, dethrone God Himself. 1t shall be
fully manifest in the last days in the person
of the antichrlst, who shall with his armies
make war against the Lamb OF God and HE
armies, but the Lamb shall overcome them
for He is Lord of Lords and King Of Kings
(Rev. XIX, 10, 20; xvii, 49, The last phase
Of 1t shall be at the end OF the thousand
years of Christ's personal reign, when the
devil. loosed from the pit, shall make his last
attack upon the people Of God (Rev. 1X.,
7-10). Every thought or act against God and
His word ls 4 phase Of this awful spirit
which must finally find its home where 1t be.
longs, with the devil and his angels.
II, 19. David himself now cakes the Held
and at least 40, 700 Syrians are slain and also
the captain OF their hnsr. This also Is sug-
gestive of our Lord Himself coming with His
armies to overthrow the enemies OF Israel,
when the SLAIN shall be so many that the
house of Israel shall be seven months bury
Ing the dead (Ezek. xxxix.. 12). This same
Lord Jesus WHO has done and who shall do
such great and terrible things for Israel is
our Saviour and Lord. By His finished work
He gives US eternal redemption; because he
lives we shall live who are in Him, and in
due time we shall come with Him when He
comes to judge the Nations (CoL lii. 4; Rev.
XIX. IA; Math. XIV, 9D. Let us only abide
in His love and we need fear no evil. "If
God be for Us. who can be against us?"
19. "All the kings made peace with Israel
and served them" In the days OF which We
| have spoken, when our Lord shall come in
power and glory, it is written that ''Au
kings shall fall down before Him, ali Nations
shall serve Him. (Ps Ixxii., 11). "All Ma.
tions whom Thou hast made shall come and
worship before Thee, O Lori, and shall
glorify Thy name" (Ps. lxxxvi.. 81. 1t is also
written OF Israel in those days, THE Nation
and kingdom that will not serve Thee shall
perish; yea those Nations shall be utterly
wasted Qsa lx., 12). Let US now submit
wholly and cheertully to the Prince OF Peace
! and enjoy foretaste of His kingdon.-Ipas-
son HELPER.
cTnTIFS OWNED BY UNCLE SAM,