Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-08-04


ton is clear. We have many enemies to
overcome both within and without. We
have the weapons described in Ephesians.
We have many promises TO those who over
come. We need as great courage, ana nero
ism. and devotion as is required in the MS
toric battles of the world. Historical Set
ting.-Time.-Th earlier years of the second
part Of David's reign b. c.. 10i0-1035. The
section includes the whole range OF Davids
wars, , Sam. ): 1925; chaps. and III; ana
p: 26-3l; ] Chron. chaps. IS, 10 and 70
Psalms Is and co, according to their titles,
throw light on David's experiences and mo-
tives at this time. Light From Other Scrip
tures.--In addition to Psalms is and 60, and
others, the spiritual conflicts of Romans I.
the warfare and armor of Ephesians 6: 10
is; and the promises to those who overcome.
in Revelations . and 3.
The lesson for today includes Samuel
10: 5-19.
s. He came OUT from his capital into
the open country. He hired Syrian soldiers
from Zoba. in the northeast toward the Eu-
pirates; from Beth-rehob, in Asher, in
Northern Galiiee from Maacah beyond the
waters of Merom, and Ish-tob, southeast of
the sea of Galilee, the scene of Jephthah's
exile. The scene of the battle was the city
of Medeba Il Chron. 1870 in the mountains
of Moab east of the northern end of the Dead
Sea. Davids general was the brilliant Joab.
8. when Joab saw that the front of the
battle was against him before and behind"
The Ammonites were at the entering in the
gate of the city, while their Assyrian allies
were in the plain, and the Israelites between
them. HE chose of all the choice men OF
Israel" These were chosen to fight the
Syrans as the most dangerous enemy.
10. The rest = into the hand OK
Abishai his brother" with the agreement that
each should help the other in case of need.
Tha h1sntb nrg Mill bAfp Inns
back TO back
Il. BE of good courage" for they were
in most dangerous situation, and had good
need TO play the men," The motive behind
their couarge was, for our people, and for
the cities of our God
Strike-for your affairs and your fires;
Strike-for the green graves of your sires;
God, and your native land.-Halleck.
THE Lord do that which seemeth him good
Better, Jehovah will do etc: an expression
of trust combined with resignation to Gods
Will. Compare l Samuel 3: 1S."-Cambridge
Bible.
Is. THE battle against the Syrians" was
a victory quickly followed by the defeat OF
the Ammontes under Abishai. This defeat
was not final, but the Syrians made one more
effort to recover from their losses.
L. And Hadarezer" was king of Zobah.
northeast of Damascus and south OF Klamath
between the Arontes and the Euphrates.
Game to Helam, a town west OF the Eu-
pirates.
IL. David passed over Jordan.
and came to Helam." Here David gained
great victory destroying the men Of Seven
hundred chariots and forty thou
sand horsemen." The numbers vary some
what in Chronicles. Errors of numbers fire.
quently arise from the practice OF expressing
numerals by letters. with one or more dots
or dashes to indicate hundreds, thousands.
etc.-Cook
10. The kings that were servants to
Hadarezer." His vassals and tributaries
transferred their allegiance to David. Ac-
cording TO chapter s: assuming it to refer
TO the same war;, the kingdom Of Damascus
was completely subjugated and secured by
military misunderstanding Bible. Thus
David held the territory on the north as far
as the Euphrates. On the east to the desert
lie conquered little later from Ammon the
partners of the Syrians. in the siege of Rab-
bah Ammon, east of the Jordan. where Uriah
the Hittite slain, as referred to in our
next lesson. g. While David was thus en-
ployed in the north, the restless and always
hostile Edomites. seeing the south denuded
of troops and excited to action by the vim
dictive Ammonites, invaded Judah with
large force. Joab and Abshai were imme-
diately despatched TO the south with a por-
ton Of the army, and with orders TO treat
the enemy with the utmost rigor They
found that the Edomtes had already caused
wide distress. and were retiring to their
own territories at the approach of the Israeli
ties. At the southern extremity of the Dead
Sea, in the valley of Salt, they were defeat
ed; and in six months the Edomites in the
mountains and defiles OF Idumea were re-
duced to submission and garrisons placed in
the conquered district, Thus David's empire
was extended to the south as far as the
desert.
Some Moral Questions and Applications
First.-Now for the first time was completely
fulfilled the promise made to Abraham Gen.
l5 1S) that his seed should hold the land
from the river of Egypt to the river Eu-
pirates. Several things combined for this
result. ID The period was during the de-
cline and obscurity of both Egypt and AS
syria. and IL is during this interval alone
that such an empire could have existed
Side Lights on Bible History. (2l The sur
rounding nations made the attacks, and it
was from the necessity of self-defense that
the larger kingdom gained. co David
just the man for the time-religious,
just. Skillful. statesman-like and soldierly.
Thus all Gods promises are sure to be full
filled whenever the best time and the right
men meet. Delay is not denial but ths
period for the ripening OF the promised
fruit. Second-The lsraelites held this land
as long as they obeyed. They might have
held it TO this day. IL situated some
what as Switzerland is today among the sur,
rounding nations.