Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-08-25
C-I1S

obedient and lost child. there are many
touching incidents. each bearing the ira
grant blossoms of instruction. we VIII
study the whole story. and compare lt
with the psalms, and with Gods love to-
wards his sinful children. as expressed
in the story of the Prodigai Son. Let
the school repeat in concert John SID
and the Fifth Commandment. Historical
setting. Time. r. G.. 1923, short time
after the last lesson. Place. "a Mahan-
aim Che two hosts camps), DAVID
temporary capital a strongly fortified
town east of the Jordan. and near the
Jabbok. 1t was the place Sauls SON.
Ishhosheth, made his capital while ne
was holding the ten tribes against DAVID
at Hebron Here, too. the angel of the
Lord met Jacob and Jacob prevailed IN
prayer Gen. 32). t2) The battlefield was
the Wood of Ephraim, not the highlands
In the tribe of Ephraim, west of the Jor-
dan, but some part of the great forests
of Gilead. east of the Jordan, and within
one day of Mahanaim (chap. 10: p. The
name was probably given to the spot
because of the memorable defeat of the
Ephraimites there in the time of Jeph-
thah tJudg. 12:i.)
Today's lesson includes verses 9-1I. 80.
49, chapter IS, Second Book. of Samuel. al
follows:
.. And Absalom met the servants OF
DAVID i'm battle array; and his troops
were defeated. "Absaom rode upon a
mule I'm his flight. THE mule which
he rode-perhaps David's own--was
mark of royalty q Kings 1:3S, 3S.'-Cam-
bridge Bible. His head caught hold of
the oak" His head was caught in
the forked boughs of the tree, and he
hung there. stunned and helpless. Per
haps his long, thick hair got entangied.
but there is nothing to support the COM
mon idea that he was suspended merely
by his hair. Cambridge Bible. "Josephus
says distinctly that his hair was en-
tangled. Cook
IL. why didst thou not smith him
there? But the man knew too much to
be tempted even by girdle, the mark of
friendship. and by money. for he well
knew that it would be known. ard Joab
himself would have cast the blanc Upon
him before David. For David was in
tenseiy anxious that his maynard SOL
should be saved.
II. f'Joab took three darts
and thrust them through the heart of
AbsalomIf He alone felt strong enough
TO disobey the king. He did the act for
David's own sake. Doubtless he thor
oughly believed that Absalom's death
was the only effectual way of ending
this most guilty and pernicious insurree-0
ton, and so preserving the country from
ruin"
l.. 'Joab he'd back the people" from
further slaughter. In this way the ma
ton could more easily be reunited under
David.
IL. They took Absalom. and cast him
into a great pit in the wood" ETC. The
people of the east indicate their detesta'-
ton of the memory of an infamous per-
son by throwing stones at the place
where he is buried"
81. "Cushi." one of the couriers. rs
the young man Absalom safe?" David's
first thought. after ne knew that the
l. .lxt.. f.tA
mis- hayward son.
Is the young man safe? This is a ques-
ton every parent and every friend of
young men should ask. Is the young
man safe from intemperance, from bad
companions. from bad books. from dis
honest conduct, from bad habits? Is he
safe I'm Jesus Christ? Is he safe in a
good home and among good influences?
Is be safe for this world? IL he safe for
eternity? Ask yourself. also. what you
are doing to make him and keep him
safe.
Is the young man safe. No. Why not?
Because he has begun to taste ntox-
icating drinks.
Because he has given up his life 10
regular money making.
Because ne is reckless in his way of
handling money.
Because his thoughts are not pure
Because he has lot of opinions that
are false.
Because his parents do not set him a
good example.-A. Il. Schauffier
80. Went up to the chamber To be-
alone I'm his sorrow. The deepest sor-
row "treads the wine-press alone" 'And
wept." Tears are the safety-valves OF
the heart.''-Albert Smith. 20 my son
Absalom" There is not i'm the whole of
the Old Testament a passage of deeper
pathos than this. The simple beauty OF
the narrative is exquisite; We are ir-
resistibly reminded of him who. - nile
he beheld the rebelious city OF JeriI-
salem and thought of the destruction IL
was bringing upon itself wept over il
duke l9:4D. Cook. Would God | had
died for thee" So Moses Gen. 32:32) and
40 ST. Paul tRom. 9:s) would have sacri-
feed themselves. had it been possible. to
save others. His wish to die in Absaloms
stead was no mere extravaganza of grief
David knew his own peace was made with
| God: he could die at any time. If Ab-
salon were spared I'm life. he might vet
repent. One OF the bttercct Ingredients
In this cup of sorrow was the conscious
| ness that his own sin was partly the
| cause of Absaloms fate. 1t was part OF
| the doom uttered BY the prophet, TIE
| sword shall never depart from thy house"
| Twice now had the sword slain his sons
| All his efforts TO prevent il had been IA
| vain. Had David not failed i'm his ~
| ample and In his training. perhaps Ab-
| SALON. would have been different young
| man.