Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-08-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
international Lesson for August .. 1896
Dayid's vlctories-. samuel 10: EDO.

| international Lesson for August .. 1896
David's victories-2 samuel 40: $40.
ARRANGED from Peloubet's NCtssl
| GOLDEN TEXT.-The Lord is my lisht
and my salvation. whom shall / fear?-
Esa- III.
THE SECTION includes the whole range
81 David's wars. Sam. 5:1S-25; Chaps.
ana 10; and l2:2b-3l: Chron-. Chaps. Is.
and %. Psalms IS ard 60 throw light on
David's experiences and motives all thi:
| Time. Compare also the spiritual conflicts
( OF Romans Z. the warfare and armor or
Epheslans 6:lO-lS: and the promises TO those
| VINO overcome. in Revelations 2 and
| TIME.-The earlier years CT the second
part OF Davids reign. Il. g. 1o40-l035.
LESSON NOTES
l.. The Story of Dayid's Victories
VS. s-David's army consisted of Geo Glib
borim or heroes led by band of 30
promoted for special valor. all of whom
had been proved during David's exile.
and the general force. known as The
Host, consisting of 3OO,O 900 men in IL
divisions of $4,000, who each served
ordinarily one month in the year. ex-
cept in time of war. Each corps was
divided into regiments of LOCO and
companies of 100, with their respective
officers. David's general in chief was
ais nephew, Joab, n sort of Hebrew
duke of Alva, skilled. brave. almost in
vinciblc, but willy, INSCRIPTIONS, and
cruel. 4.
David's first act of war was his con-
fiict with Goliath in his youth, l.. {.
1868. Later, b. c. 1855. David pursued
the Amelepites. who had raitled Ziklag,
near Goth, and recovered the spoil.
| When David became king of Israel (B.C.
1851 the Philistines made two des-
pcrate and vain efforts to- put down his
growing power. David's next victory
was over Moab. These people by their
incursions and depredations seriously
impedcd the prosperity of Israel, rem
dering life and property insecure.
David was successful, and laid the
whole country under yearly tribute.
The next campaign was against the
Ammonites, north of Moab and east of
the Jordan, and their allies. the Syrians.
On tho north as far as Damascus. and
thence TO the Euphrates. Hearing of
the death of the king of Ammon. David
sent friendly embassy of coincidence
! and sympathy with his son Hanun.
the new king. But he, conscious OF
| power and jealous of the growing king
dom of David, treated the ambassadors
as spies, and sent them away with half
| their boards shaved off. Immediately
lianun began to prepare for war. He
came out from his capital into the
open country. He hired Syrian sol
diers. The scene Of battle was the
city of Medeba, in the mountains of
Moab, east of the northern end of the
Dead sea. The Ammonites placed
themselves at the entering in the gate
OF the city, while their Assyran allies
were in the plain, and the ISraelites
were between them. Joab took of the
Drawer men, and faced the Syrians as
the more dangerous enemy. The rest
OF the army he gave into charge of
Abishai, his brother. In case of need
each should help the other. The
brothers with their armies were thus
back to back. The battle against the
Assyrians was victory, quickly fol-
lowed by the defeat of the Ammonites
under Abishai.
This defeat was not final, but the
Syrians made one more effort to recover
from their losses. HadareZer was king
of Zobah, northeast of Damascus and
south of Klamath between the Arontes
and the Euphrates. He came to Uelam.
town west of the Euphrates. David
met him here and gained 4 GREAT victory.
The vassalS and Tributaries of Hadarezer
transferred their allegiance to David.
While David was thus employed in
the north, the Edomites, seeing the
south denuded of troops. invaded Judah.
Joab and Abishai were dispatched with
n portion of the army. At the southern
extremity of the Dead sea, in the val
ley of Salt, the Edomites were defeated.
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.
Now for the first time was completely
fulfilled the promise made to Abraham
(Gen. 1919 that his seed should hold
the land from the river of Egypt to the
River Euphrates. The Israelites held
this land as long. as they obeyed.
ii. Moral Battles and Victories.-The
chief lesson to be learned from the
story of David's victories are those
which pertain to the warfare against
sin and evil. These enemies are yividly
pictured by st. Paul in Ephcsians GIL:
For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities. against
powers, against the rulers of the dark
ness of the world, against spiritual
wickcdness in high places"
First, there are outward. visible enc
mics which we must overcome-intcnl-
Perancc, oppression, craps for the
young" corruption in city and town
governments, misrule, all organized
evil, the whole heather world. This is
glorious cause, TO bring the whole
world into the kingdom OF God. Moth
ing noblcr can inspire the human heart
or wake the enthusiasm OF the soul. II
is better 10 help make inc millennium
than 10 live in it; to win the victory than
to ride in the triumphal procession.
Second, the battles are on the bat.
tleiield Of the heart. G) These are
often the hardest Of all battles 10 fight.
and the longest continued. The seventh
chapter Of Romans gives q description
OF these battles. C2) The armor is de
scribed in Ephesians GIBBS. CD Jesus
Christ is our victory. (D Promises IL
those who overcome are recorded in
Revelations, Chapters ? and ,.
From tho Rams Norm.
The devils hand drops when n rood