The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-29
SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FUR
AUGUST 9.
Lesson Text. "David's Kindness
ii Samuel tx, 1-13-Golden
Text: Rom. xii. 10
Commentary

,
1. "That I may show him kindness TO,
Jonathan's sake" David Is at rest in hi.
kingdom. reigning over all Israel and execut
ing Judgment and justice unto all his people
III Sam. vii, |; viii. 15). Read in Jef. xiii
5, G, OF king who. on David's throne, shall
| reign and prosper and execute judgment and
Justice in the earth--Jehovah-tsidke
David had sworn to Jonathan that he would
show the kindness Of the Lord to his house
forever Il Sam. xx., HID, and he would
now keep his word. What wonderful word
is this, "the kindness of God" (see also verse
81. It is the same word oft times translated
"mercy," and also glowing Kindness" as IL
Ps. xiii, 6; XIV, 6; xiii, 8, etc. 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. W., 6;
Col. ill.,. H.
2, 8. Jonathan hath yet a son which is
lame on his feet" When the news came OF
his fathers death he was little boy five
years old. His nurse took him up to flee
with him. and in her haste she let him fall
Sam. iv., 4). This story OF the kings kind
ness TO Mephibosheth for Jonathan'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 he was lame on both
feet-could not walk at all. All are sinners
through Adam, and such sinners that in our
flesh there dwelleth no good thing (Rom. ",
12; vii., lS). II his name signifies, as some
think, shame proceeding from the mouth. "
1t Is very suggestive OF Rom. IL, IL; Math.
xv., 18.
T. "He is in the house of Machir. the son
OF Ammiel In Lo-debar." The name OF this
o1o 81, kfpn
US think Of the prodigal son, who, when he
had wasted all his living, would fain have
eaten the swines' food CLuke xv., 16). Every
sinner who stays away from God and seeks
to bless himself in this world Of no food for
tie 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 news for him. but
he took means to bring him right into his
presence. Our David, blessed Lord Jesus,
does not tell US to make ourselves TT to come
to Him, but knowing our incurable lameness
He comes right to US with His love and grace,
and we helpless creatures have only to re-
ceive Him and all His love (John l., 12).
6. "Be fell on his face and did reverence,
and David said, Mephibosheth. and he an
swered, Behold thy servant" A sinner on
bis face before God Is hopeful sight, as
conviction of sin Is an essential to conVer-
sion, and nothing works conviction Like the
loving kindness Of God. See Luke ", 9: lsa:
gi.. s; Job Kill, S, 6; Acts tx, s, 8. David
calling him by name makes us think OF John
xx., 16, "Jesus saith unto her, Mary"
T. "Fear not, for will surely show thee
kindness for Jonathan thy fathers sake"
See the comfort, the restoration and the
future provision contained in the words OF
this verse. The perfect love OF God casts
out oil fear and enables us to sing lsa. Kill,
3. We have restored in the grace OF God IN
Christ more than we lost in Adam, and He
who spared not His own Son, but delivered
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 dead dog as amy"
as we zee and believe the love OF God to Us
We become increasingly filed with sense
Of our own unworthiness. decreasing es-
tima;e Of self is good growth IL 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. "I have given unto thy masters son all
that pertained to Paul and 10 all bis house"
It was all of grace for all had been forfeited.
So with the sinner we lost all IN Adams sin,
but God commendeth His love toward Us In
that while we were yet sinners Christ died
for US. He loved US even when we were
that we receive in Christ Is Gods free gilt to
us in grace (Rom. vi, %; ILL.,, "a; John ",
10. "Mephibosheth, thy masters son,
shall eat bread always at my table," he
might have been forgiven and had the prop
erty restored without being made member
Of the kings family, but see the Exceeding
great riches of his grace" i'll taking him to
bis own table. To be forgiven Is very great,
to be justified or accounted as II we had
never sinned is greater, but to be made
child of God and Joint heir with Jesus Christ
is greater still q John H., IL; Rom. ILL.,, "a:
ILL.,, ILL., ss Acts KILL 1885, A'n' v''' ls' 'oon
II. According to all that my lord the
king hath commanded His servant, 30 shall
thy servant do" These were the words of
that Ziba who afterward slandered his mas
ter and sought to turn away the heart OF
David from him QI Sam. xvi, g; xix, 2T.
If We are children of God, we must expect to
be slandered by some one. and II the
slanderers are those of our own household
we must not think it strange, but rather ac-
cept it as fellowship with Christ and count
1t q privilege.
IL. "All that dwelt In the house Of Ziba
were servants unto Mephtbosheth." Every
true child of God by faith IN Christ Jesus
has all things working together for his good
(Rom. viii, 2s), so that all things may truly
be said to serve him. As in Eek. l., 1921,
the wheels and the living creatures move to.
gether controlled by the same spirit. 80 all
the events in life are controlled by the Spirit
of God for the highest good of every believ-
or. All the love and power of God combine
to make all things work for Gods glory and
our good.
IS. $50 Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem,
for he did eat continually at the kings ia
BILE and was lame on both his feet" Here Is
a beautiful picture of that which every
Christian may be and do. Jerusalem signi-
fles "city of peace" in which every believer
may dwell. The kings table is the word OF
God, at which We may constantly dine,
avoiding all the tempting delicacies Of the
worlds tables. with their light reading, so
called, or even the more learned works which
are not according to Scripture. while, rs to
cur corrupt natural man, we must be con-
tent to own that 1t is still within US, though
it may be persstently reckoned dead. Christ
alone is our peace, orT life, our ioy.-Lesson
Helper