Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-08-19
for the Autle Circle.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON TX, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 80.

LESSON TX, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 80.
! Text OF the Lesson, III Sam. Xviii, 9-17s
80, 33-Memory Verses, SO. 33-Goiden
Text, Ps. l. documentary by the Rev.
| D. NJ. stearns.
g. "And Absalom rode upon q mule. "
The rebellion Of last lesson developed,
| David fed from Jerusalem, and crossing
the Jordan came to Mahanaim, where he
was kindly cared for by Barzillai and
others (chapter xvii, 24-29). David's army
went forth to battle in three divisions un-
der Joab and Abishai, his relatives, ana
lttai the Gittite. See Ittai's devotion to
David in chapter XIV, 81, and now see his
position as leader in David's army. Those
who are now faithful to Christ In the time
of His rejection will be surprised at their
appointments In His kingdom, by and by.
10. "And a certain man saw 1t and told
Joab and said, Behold saw Absalom
hanged In an oak" Evidently the man
was no friend of Absalom's, or he would
have released him. Where were all bis
triendsp Every one failed him, and, as he
was an enemy to God as we'll as to his
father, he was desperately alone. When
God is for us, we are never alone and need
never fear though all be against US.
Blessed are those who trust In Him.
II. "Behold, thou savest him, and why
didst thou not smito him there to the
groundp" Thus spake Joab to the man
who brought the tidings. There was no
pity In the heart of Joab nor any regard
for the entreaty OF David, though it may
be that he really believed that the death
of Absalom was tho only way to the peace
of the kingdom. After David's death Joab
followed Adonijah rather than Solomon
and was slain while holding on to the horns
Of the altar Il Kings II, 2S-34.)
10. lin our hearing the king charged
thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Be-
ware that none touch the young man Alb
SALON." If, then, he would not lay finger
upon Absaloin, not even for great re-
ward, why did he not for David's sake re-
lease Absalom from his perilP Was he
afraid of Joab's wrath as we'll as Of griey-
ing the king, or did he hope that Joab
would take Absalom prisoner and bring
him unharmed to the kingP Tho fear OF
man bringeth a SNARE but to do the right
thing, as in the sight Of God, requires more
grace than many seem to have.
18. "There Is no matter hid from the
king" Well, whatever David might or
might not know, we are sure that "all
things are naked and opened unto the eyes
of Him with whom we have to do" (Heb.
iv, 1S). "The Lord searcheth all hearts and
understandeth all the imaginations Of the
thoughts Il Chron. xviii, 81. "There Is
not o word In my tongue but so, 0 Lord,
Thou knowest it altogether" Ps. cxxxix,
A.. 1t is even written, ~ know the things
that come into your mind, every one OF
them" Eek. Il, 81.
ii, ID. "And ten young men that bare
Joab's armor oompassed about and smote
Absalorn and slew him." Joab having
thrust three darts into his heart while he
was yet alive In the oak, his young men
finish the work and Absalom Is dead. The
beautiful but cruel Absalom, who had 1t
In his heart to kill even his own father, Is
slain. There Was nothing brave or noble
In killing a man who could not defend
himself, so Absalom may be said to have
perished miserably. Truly the way Of the
ungodly shall not prosper.
16. And Joab blow the trumpet, and
the people returned from pursuing after
Israel, for Joab held buck the people,"
The leader being dead, the back of the re-
bellion was broken and there was no rea-
son for unnecessary slaughter; therefore
the people are recalled from pursuing. In
the conflict in which we are engaged We
are for our David, Gods beloved Son, and
He gives armor sufficient to protect US
and sword which will conquer every enc
my (Eph. vi, 1919. Our great enemy will,
however, not be slain by any Of us; neither
will be be conquered till Jesus comes.
II. "And thoy took Absalom and cast
him into q great pit In the wood and laid
q very great heap Of stones upon him, and
all Israel fed every one to his tent" Thus
they disposed Of his body. But where was
hep When Paul was stoned to death and
left for dead at Lystray, he himself was
enjoying glorious things In paradise. Com
pare II Cor. xii, 81, with Acts xiv, 19,
and observe the dates. See also Stephens
experience as he was being stoned to death
in Acts vii, 55, Sc, 80. Blessed are the
dead who die In the Lord. To die Is gain.
But concerning such as Absalom, our
Lord Jesus has drawn aside the veil In
Luke XVI, 80. See also Rev. xiv, ell. And
although these things are fearful TO oon-
template they are written by God OF
Love, who is not willing that any should
perish John iii, 10; II Potter Ill, %. Absa-
lom In his lifetime had built pillar and
called 1t by his own name, but there is
something better than name on earth.
Compare Jer. xviii, 18, and Luke K, 30. In
the following verses Of our chapter we
have the story Of one who ran with tidings
for the king, and also Of ono who insisted
upon running but who had no tidings,
and who, therefore, although he was the
feetest runner, had to stand aside. 1t Is
folly to run without being sent and hav-
ing no tidings to carry. The message in
the word Of God Is plain, "That be may
run that readeth 1t" (Hab. Ii, 81, not as Is
often quoted, "That he that runs may
read" The idea Is, first get your message
and then run and tell 1t. 1t Is the priyi-
lego of every believer to be bearer Of It'd
ings, not such as Oushi bore, but glad It'd
ings of great Joy for all people.
82. And the king said unto Cushi, Is
the young man Absalom safer" The kings
one thought was for his erring son more
than for the welfare Of the kingdom. AS
Joab said, II perceive that If Absalom had
lived and all we had died this day, then 1t
had pleased thee we'll" (ohapter xix, g..
Does not David's love for this bad son
shadow forth the love Of God, who loved us
even when we were dead In sins9 (Eph. II,
4, 81 How great the love that would die
for His enemiesl Behold what manner
of love-" Hereby perceive we the love Of
God"
S3. "Oh, my son Absalom, my son, my
son Absaloml Would God had died for
thee, o Absalom, my son, my son" Five
times he says my son." Here Is abun-