The Universalist., 1896-09-26
LESSON STORY.

ing,-in accordance with custom then
prevailing but which has been now long
left in the past feed his expiring
vitality from the overfowing vitality of
the young waiting maid Abishag,-
while, in word. it was apparent to all
eyes that the end of David was drawing
near, Adonijah. his oldest son, was con-
spring to seize the throne.
Adonijah, the son of Haggith, was
born to David in Hebron; he was now
between thirty and forty years old.
After the death of his older brothers,
Amnon and Absalom, he was. according
to the law of royal descent. the heir pre-
sumptive. In both person and charac-
ter he resembled his brother Absalom.
He must have bscome aware that his
father had elected his younger brother
Solomon to be the future king. But
Adonijah did not propose to supinely
surrender his claim to the throne.
While his father was yet living he i'm
itated Absalom in the display of royalty;
and he also, like Absolom, organized
conspiracy to seize the sceptre from his
father. Abiatha, one of the reiging
high priests who had been appointed to
his high office by David, became his fell
-conspirator; probably because of
jealousy at the favor David had of late
been showing to the other and more
worthy high priest Zadok. Joab, also,
the aged general of Joab's army, became
a fellow -conspirator with Adonijah;
probably because he suspected that he
had, at last, forfeited David's confidence,
These men represented to the deluded
Adonijah that his cause would be sup
ported by the two arms of the govern
ment-the priesthood and the army.
Adonijah had summoned his follow
ers to royal feast by the stone Bohel
eth near the we'll of Roge in the kings
garden. He did not, however, summon
Solomon. nor the prophet Nathan, nor
Zadok the high priest, nor Benaiah. the
captain of the kings guard. He plainly
desired an exclusive conclave of his
friends.
This ominous gathering did not, we
observe, escape the vigilaut Nathan,
who had become profoundly convinced
that Adoniiah ought not to be the king
of Israel.
Nathan at once sent Bathsheba with
a message to the sick chamber of David.
AS the favorite wife of the dying king
she was received with favor by her hus-
band, She hastened to remind him Of
promise he had at some previous date
made to her that her son should be his
successor on the throne. She then told
the feeble king of the feast of Adonijah
in the kings garden; of his gathering of
his friends and Of the exclusion Of Solo
mon. She had scarcely told her alarm
ing story, which involved her life-secur-
ity,-for the success of Adonijah meant
death to her and Solomon, = when
Nathan the prophet was announced,
and he hastily entered with the exigent
assurance that the conspiracy of Adoni-
jah was threatening immediate success.
Then, for some moments, such energy
as David had known in other days re-
turned to him.
L, David's Promise that Solo
mon Should be AnOinted Renew
ed to Bathsheba. vs. 1881.
Call me Bathsheba. said the reviving
David. She had, according to ancient
royal etiquette, retired on the entrance
of Nathan. She now returned and stood
before the king. We detect the religious
poet. the natural leader of Israel, in the
David who makes this solemn affirma-
tion to his queen: As the Lord liveth.
loho hath redeemed my souI ont of all
ddUersity verily as stoare unto thee by
the Lord. the God of Israel, saying, As
suredty Solomon nay SON shall reign
after me, and he shall sat upon mg
throne in nay stead; uerily so aeiH do
this day.
This DAY" Here is an unexpected
decision in the aroused king. 1t does
not, however, become the anxious Bath
sheba to inquire for its meaning. She
makes the customary obeisance and re.
tires.
2. David's Officers Instructed,
VS.. 32-35.
And king David said, Call me Zadok
the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and
Beaaiah the son of JehOidd. The high
priest.-the only one who has now
right to the name,-and the prophet who
has long been to David as the Voice of
God,-and Benaiah, the son of priest
and captain of his renowned band Of
warriors that has kept its organization
from the days Of David's own amounting
as king of Judah.-these three are sum.