Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-08-12
for the Aut,1e Circle.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VII, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 2s.

LESSON VIII, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 20.
raxt OF the Lesson, II Sam. ". 1-12-Mem-
ory Verses, 4-8-Golden Text, Ex. II,
1a-Commentary by tho Rev. ID. N.
Stearns.
1. "And 1t came to pass otter this that
A.bsalom prepared him ohariots and horses
and 80 men to run before him." Absalom
was the third son Of David, born In He
bron. and bis mother was Masoah, daugh-
ter Of the king of Geshur (II Sam. Ill, 3,
81. Absalom signifies father Of peace" I"
but his life would rather suggest one who
was of his father the devil John Will, 44).
Because of the murder Of his brother Am
non. David's flrstborn, he fed to the king
of Geshur and was there three years, but
through the pleading of the wise woman
Of Tekoa, employed by Joab, he came back
TO Jerusalem and dwelt two years with
ont reconciliation to his father, after which,
through Joab's intercession, the king be-
came reconoiled to him, saw him and
kissed him (ohspter xiv, es, 8s).
9. "And Absalom rose up early and
stood beside the way Of the gate." The e1-
preston "rose up early" signifies great
earnestness and Is used many times IN
Jereaaiah concerning Gods unwearied
earnestness In urging His people to repent
and turn to Him. In lisa. v, II, 1t Is used,
as here, concerning the earnestness OF the
wicked, for here we see Absalom In the
place Of public gatherings, kindly greet
Ing the people who came to the King TO
have their wrongs rAghted and seeking to
turn their hearts from his father to him
self. The self seeking Of the natural heart
is often seen In those who seek to advance
themselves, no matter who ls overthrown,
but when this is seen In 81 against his
own father then the devil Is surely doing
special work.
8. T. "Absalom said, moreover, Oh,
that we're made judge In the land" He
speaks of the justice that he would show
II he we're made judge in the land, but 1t
should not require much penetration to see
that O man who would treat bis own
father as unjustly as he was now doing
would not be likely to do justly by any
one unless 1t might happen to serve his
own ends. I heard only this week of O SEN
ator who said that NO politician would
take hold Of matter without considering
how 1t might affect his own political pros
pects 1t Is the worlds way to live unto
oneself; 1t Is only by the Spirit OF God
that we can deny self and live unto God.
8, 6. $50 Absalom stole the hearts OF
the men of Israel" There was not finer
looking man in all Israel (ohapter xiv, 26),
but perhaps not one with blacker heart.
"Favor Is deceitful and beauty Is vain, y
but "a meek and quiet spirit Is In the
sight of God Of great price, and 1t Is the
heart, not the outward appearance, that
God looks upon prov. XXI, 30; Pet. Ill,
4; l Sam. xvi, y. When the king kissed
Absalom xiv, 8S), 1t was the loving KISS
of heartbroken father welcoming his
erring son, but these kisses of Absalom
were more like the kiss of Judas when he
betrayed his Master, for every one was
stab at his fathers heart. There are those,
even in this day, both In the church and
out of 1t, who "by good words and fair
speeches deceive the hearts Of the simple.
2. Let me 60 and pay my VOW, which l
have vowed unto tho Lord In Hebron. .
The margin of the R. V. says probably
after 4 years, not 40 years. But what q
liar he was and how desperately wicked
there was murder In his heart, and that
against his own father, yet he socks to
hide it under q pretense Of paying VOW
unto the Lord, while all his vows must
have been to the devil rather than to the
Lord. Hebron was his birthplace, but 1t
was also the place where the bodies OF
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lay buried, and
that his wicked heart could speak OF He
bron, which signifies fellowship and car
ries US back to faithful Caleb, who fol.
lowed the Lord fully, shows how hardened
In sin be had become.
8. "If the Lord shall bring me again In
deed to Jerusalem, then will serve the
Lord" This, be said, was the VOW, which
be had made to the Lord while IN his ban
ishment at Geshur. If David believed bis
son, as he seems to have done, how com
forted be must have been by this evidence
OF his sons repentance. How little he
thought that with such words from his
sons lips the father Of lies was IN his
heart.
8. And the king said unto him, GO IN
peace" Believing him to be sincere nc
gives him a fathers blessing, but there
was no peace In that foul heart covered by
80 fair ON exterior, for "There Is no peace,
saith the Lord to the wicked" lisa. lvii,
el). Peace was within his reach, as 1t IL
within the reach Of every one who has ever
heard Of the Prince Of Peace, but 1t con
only become the possession of those who
are truly penitent and sincerely submit tc
Him as their Saviour and Lord. 1.-THE
work of righteousness shall be peace, and
the effect of righteousness quietness and
assurance forever" lisa. xxxii, I'D. $50 he
arose and went to Hebron"
10. "Absalom reigneth In Hebron u
With profession Of devotion to God on his
lips and his fathers blessing sounding IL
his ears he goes forth to carry out his
devilish 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 80 under
stood it, for he said unto all his servants
"Arise and lot us fee, for we shall not else
escape from Absalom," and the servants
said Behold thy servants are ready to dc
whatsoever my lord the king shall ap
point" oversees IA, 15). Contrast the con
duct of the kings son with that OF hit
servants and Of Ittai the Gittite In verses
10 to 81.
II. "They went in their simplicity, ane
they knew not anything" This Is writer
of the 300 men out Of Jerusalem who went
with Absalom. If we would follow Jesus
in this spirit, simply trusting, not know
ing nor desiring anything but His will
what blessed people we would be and wha'
glory He would get through us, but to fol
| low q leader like Absalom thus blindly Il
the way to ruin. There are many nowadays
who rebel against the word OF God and YET
have many followers who know nothing