Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-07-22

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON V, THIRD QUARTER. INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 2.

LESSON v, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 2.
Text of the Lesson, H Sam. IL. 1-13-Mem-
ory Verses, 7-Golden Text, Rom. XII,
1O-Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns.
1. "Tbat may show him kindness for
:Jonathan's sake" David Is at rest In His
kingdom, reigning over oil Israel and ex
eouting Judgment and Justice unto all his
people III Sam. vii, i; viii, 15). Read In
Jer. xiii, 8, 6, Of a king who, on David's
throne, shall reign and prosper and exc
cute Judgment and justice In the earth-
Jehovah -tsidkenu. David had sworn to
Jonathan that he would show the kindness
of tho Lord to his house forever Il Sam.
xx, 14-17), and he would now keep his
word. What o wonderful word Is this,
"the kindness Of God" (see also verse -.
II is the same word ofttimes translated
"mercy," and also Glowing Kindness" as
In Ps. kill, 6; XIV, 6; kiii, s, eto. The
honor of being channel through which
the loving kindness Of God may be shown
to others is given to every believer. SEE
II Cor. vi, q; Col. Ill, IL. :.
Q, s. Jonathan hath yet son which Is
lame on his feet" When the news came
of his fathers death, he was little boy
wears old. His nurse took him up to flee
with him, and in hor haste she let him
fall, thus causing him to be crippled fol
life III Sam. iv, 4). This story of the
kings kindness to Mephibosheth for Jon
athan's sake Is very suggestive all through
of the love Of God to sinners The man
was lame through no fault of his own, and
be was lame on both feet-oould not walk
at all. All are sinners through Adam,
and such sinners that in our flesh there
dwelleth no good thing (Rom. v, 10; vii,
1s). If his name signifies, as some think,
"shamo proceeding from the mouth, " 1t Is
very suggestive of Rom. Ill, 18; Math. Nv,
10.
4. "He Is in the house Of Machir, the
son of Ammiel In Lo-debar. The name
of this place may signify 'no pasture
and makes us think of the prodigal son,
who, when he had wasted oil his living,
would fain have eaten the swines' food
(Luke XIV, 16). Every sinner who stays
away from God and socks to bless himself
in this world of no food for the soul is
somewhat like Mephibosheth In Lo-debar.
s. king David sent and fetched him. "
He did not send him word to come and see
him because he had good nows for him,
but be took means to bring him right into
bis presence. Our David, blessed Lord
Jesus, does not tell US to make ourselves
fit to come to him, but knowing our In.
durable lamenoss He comes right to us
with His love and grace, and we helpless
creatures have only to receive Him and all
His love John /, 12).
6. 'tHe fell on his face and did reverence,
and David said, Mephibosheth, and no an
swered, Behold thy servant" A sinner
on his face before God Is hopeful sight,
as conviction Of sin is an essential to con.
version, and nothing works conviction like
the loving kindness of God. See Luke v,
8; Isa. vi, s; Job xiii, 8, 6; Acts TX, s, Q.
David calling him by name makes Us think
Of John xx, 16, "Jesus saith unto her,
Mary"
7."Fear not, for will surely show thee
kindness for Jonathan thy fathers sake. y
See the comfort, the restoration and the
future provision contained In the words OF
this verso. The perfect love of God casts
out all fear and enables us to sing Isa. xii,
Q. We have restored in the grace Of God
in Christ moro than we lost in Adam, and
He who spared not His own Son, but do
livered Him up for us all, will with Him
also freely give US all things.
8. "What Is thy servant that thou
shouldst look upon such O dead dog as
amp" AS we SEQ and believe the love OF
God to us We become increasingly filled
with sense Of our own uDworthiness. A
decreasing estimate Of self Is good growth
in grace, as when Paul saw himself to be
the least of the apostles, then less than
the least Of all saints, then chief Of sinners.
As Christ increases we decrease.
9. II have given unto thy masters son
all that pertained to Saul and to all his
house." 1t was all Of grace for all had
been forfeited. So with the sinner we lost
all In Adams sin, but God oommendeth
His love toward US in that whilo we were
yet sinners Christ died for us. He loved us
even when wo were dead In sins (Rom. v,
8; Eph. ii, 4, 81. All that we receive In
Christ is Gods free gift to US in grace
(Rom. vi, 90; Iii, "a; I John Y, ~.
10. "Mephibosheth, thy masters son,
shall cat bread always at my table," He
might have been forgiven and had the
property restored without being made a
member of the kings family, but SEQ the
Exceeding great riches Of his grace" in
taking him to his own table. To be for
given Is very great to be justified or ac-
counted as If we had never sinned Is great
or, but to be made child Of God and joint
heir with Jesus Christ is greater still u
John IL, 12; Rom. iii, "a; v, /; Acts Kill
SS, 80; Rom. viii, 10; John Ill, p.
II. According to oil that my lord the
king hath commanded his servant, so
shall thy servant do" These were the
words Of that Ziba who afterward slan-
derod his master and sought to turn away
tho heart of David from him Ik Sam.
xvi, 8; xix, 27). If we are children OF
God, we must expect to be slandered by
some ono and If the slanderers are those OF
our own household we must not think 1t
strange but rather aooept 1t rs fellowship
with Christ and count it privilege.
10. "All that dwelt In the house OF Ziba
were servants unto Mephibosheth." Every
true child Of God by faith in Christ Jesus
has oil things working together for his
good (Rom. viii, 28), SO that all things
may truly be said to serve him. AS In
Ezok. 1, 1891, the wheels and the living
creatures move together controlled by the
same spirit, so all the events in life are
controlled by tho Spirit Of God for the
highest good of every believer. All the
lovo and power of God combine to make
all things work for Gods glory and our
good.
1S. $50 Mephibosheth dweit In Jerusa-
lem, for ho did cut continually ut the
kings table and was lamo on both his
feet Here is beautiful picture Of that
which every Christian may be and do.
Jerusalem signifies "oity Of peace" in