The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-22
SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FUR
JULY 20.
Lesson Text "God's Promises to
David" 2 Samuel vii, 416-
Golden Text: Psalm Xxi,
documentary.


Golden Text: Psalm Xxi,
documentary.
4. "That night the word OF the LORD came
unto Nathan" David had a son called
Nathan. in whose line was Mary, the mother
of our Lord (II Sam. ", IA; Luke i'll, 31),
bur this Is another Nathan, who was a
prophet in the time OF David and is first
mentioned in verse of this chapter and af-
terwarl over twenty times in this book and
in Kings. The greatest thing about him
was that he was q messenger for God In
verse 8. however, he seems to have given
message from himself which was not in ao-
cord with the mind of God. To be always
under the control Of the spirit Of God, and
speak only the words of God. and do only
the things Of God, Is life that was seen
only in our Lord Jesus Christ.
S. "Go and tell nv servant David, Thus
saith the Lord" Aoain in verse the Lord
says, ''My servant David" and in verses l9.
81, 1928, David speaks Of himself ten times
as "Thy servant" In 1sa. xiii, /, God says
whole hearted bond-servant of the Lord
Jesus Christ is the highest position in the
line of work for God that he can enjoy. As
to fellowship and real communion. we are
His friends, but as to service may we be true
servants.
6. 'l have not dwelt in any house since
the time that brought up the children OF
Israel ort Of Egypt" AS David dwelt in his
house of cedar and had rest from all his enc
mics he contrasted his surroundings with
those Of the ark of God dwelling in tent
and had it in his heart to build house for
the ark. Nathan's word, "Do all that Is in
thine heart. for the Lord Is with thee" was
very encouraging. but the Lord is now talk
ing differently to David. The wisdom of the
best of men is not always the wisdom Of God,
and many work that looks good is not a
part OF God plan, or II it is the time has not
come fol it.
7. "Spake 1 word with any of the tribes,
saying. Why build ye not me an house OF
CEDAR" 1t Is not for the servant to suggest
TO his Lord what should or should not be
done. The servant is TO be "willing and
obedient" and ready to do whatsoever our
Lord the King shall appoint" Isa- l., 10; II
San. xv.. 15). If we thus hold ourselves
ready to yak In His ways, that is all He
asks OF US. --
8. II took thee from following the sheep
TO be ruler over my people, over Israel" 1t
Is we'll to remember whom we were and what
we were when God called us. 1t Is
we'll to continue little in our own sight and
never think anything OF ourselves. When
called to special service for God, we must
bear in mind who calls us CT took thee.~
and that He has in view for US some special
work: In this case 1t was to be ruler over
Israel"
9. "And was with thee and have cut of
all thine enemies and have made thee
great name" See how God did everything.
and every instrumentality was simply that
which God saw fit to use. Whatever was
done He was the dooer of it (den. xxx,
22). rejoice to believe that God has pre-
pared life for each Of His children. and
life (Eph. il, 10), and II we are only willing
and cheerfully subject to Him He will work
it all out 10 glorious consummation.
10. moreover, will appoint place for
my people Israel and will plant them," etc.
The fact that when they are thus planted
they will move no more nor be afflicted any
more is in perfect accord with many similar
such as Jer. xxi, 36-40; 1xyli.,
Al; Amos tx. Is. and still awaits fulhllment.
All events which to US may seem and may
he fur in the future are to Him, who sees
the end from the beginning present reality
and are as sure of fulflllment. however un-
likely it may seem, as If actually accom-
plished.
IL. "Also the Lord telleth thee that-that
he will make thee an house" The word
"house" may signify a dwelling, whether
tent, temple or palace: also place contain
ing anything, or ones family or posterity.
The following verses show that here it means
posterity and kingdom.
~. II will set up thy seed after thee, and
will establish his kingdom" The Apostle
Peter filled with the Spirit, said on the day
of Pentecost that God had sworn with an
oath to David that of the fruit of his loins he
would raise up Christ to sit on His throne
(Acts H., 3O), and the next verse in Peters
sermon says He would be raised from thed
dead. To Abraham were promised the land
and the prosperity as the stars and as the
sand. and now to David are promised the
kingdom, the throne and the king.
l3. lie shall build an house for nv name,
and I will establish the throne OF His king
dom forever" The church which is being
now builded together for habitation of
God, through the Spirit, upon the founda-
tion of the apostles and prophets (see chap
ter ill.,, s., Jesus Christ Himself being the
chief cornerstone Eph., H., 2O.22), Is never
called kingdom, but is an elect company
out OF all Nations to rule with Him in His
kingdom. The kingdom will have Israel,
the throne of the Lord, for its capital Elsa.
X, 81; Jer. ill.,, ID.
IL ''If He commit iniquity. will chasten
him with the rod of men," etc. Bishop
Horsley gives this reading: "When guilt is
laid upon Him." And DR.. Clarke says, "ln
suffering for iniquity" Of Solomon 1t
might be said, 'If he commit iniquity," but
not of Christ, and we have already proved
from Peters sermon that the seed referred to
is Christ and not Solomon.
l5 But My mercy shall not depart away
from him, as I took 1t from Saul" Whatever
reference there may be here to Solomon It
can only be as typical Of Christ in the matter
of the kingdom. David evidently under
stood 1t of some one In the fur future. See
the last clause Of verse 19 and note these
various readings. "This is the manner Of
the man who is God the Lord" (Luther).
And this is the law Of the man" the Adam
(Kennicott). "And this is the arrangement
about the man" (Horsley). Ster's comment
is: Thou speaEest of an eternal kingdom
in which no man can be king. He must be
God and man because He is to be- My Son,
and yet He is to be King for ever and ever,
which belongs to God alone"
16. "Thy throne shall be established for
ever" Gabriel said to Mary that her Son
should sit on the throne Of His father David
duke j., G2. 32), and this agrees with lisa.
ix., 6, I. See in verses 20, "a, OF our lesson
chapter the story of 1.-The everlasting
Nation" Read Jer. XXI, 35-37, and be
simple enough TO believe that God means
what He says. The only solution of the
eastern question is the restoration OF Israel
and the return Of their Messiah. See lsa-
xii, 6, 7.-Lesson Helper.