The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-07-23
IHE SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JULY 20.
Lesson Texts Goods Promises to
David" 2 Samuel vii, 4-t6-
Golden Text: Psalm Xxi,
documentary.

"phat night the word OF the LORD came
unto Nathan" David had son called
Nathan. In whose line was Mary. the mother
OF our Lord (II Sam. ", IA; Luke iii. sl).
but this Is another Nathan, who was n
prophet In the time OF David and Is first
mentioned In verse OF this chapter and af-
terward over twenty times in this book and
in Kings. The greatest thing about him
was that he was "a messenger for God In
verse ., however, he seems TO have gwen a
message from himself which was not In ac-
cord with the mind OF God. To be alwavs
under the control Of the spirit OF God, and
speak only the words of God. and do only
the things OF God, ia a life that was seen
only In our Lord Jesus Christ,
o. 90 and tell my servant David, Thus
saith the Lord" hoain in verse 8 the Lord
says, NY servant David" and in verses 10.
ri, 2o-29, David speaks of himself ten times
as Thy servant" In Isa. Kilt, 1, God saws
OF HIS Son, "Behold My servant" To be n
whole hearted bond-servant OF tho Lord
Jesus Christ IL the highest position in .he
line OF work for God that He can enjoy. IA
20 fellowship and renl comr1uuion. we are
HIS friends, but as to service may We b. true
servants.
6. 81 have not dwelt in any house since
the time that brought up the children ~
Israel oct OF Egypt" As David dwclt in his
mics he contrasted his surroundings with
those Of the ark Of God dwelling In a tent
and had II in His heart TO build a house for
the ark. Nathan's word, "Do all that il In
thine heart. for the Lord L. with thee" was
very encouraging. but the Lord f. now talk
ing differently TO David. The wisdom Of tho
best ot men Is not always tho wisdom OF God.
and many work that looks good IL not n
port OF Gods plan, or II Il is the time has not
come foi II.
7. "spake word with any OF the tribes
saying. Why build ye not mo an house OF
cedarp" II Is not for the servant to suggest
10 his Lord what should or should not h.,
done. The servant is to be .'willing and
obedient" and 'rcady TO do whatsoever our
Lord the King shall appoint" lisa. T., 10; III
San. xv.. i5). II we thus hold OURSELVES
ready to walk In His ways, that Ia all He
asks OF us.
8. II took thee from following the sheep
70 De ruler over my people. over Israel" Ii
Il we'll to remember whom we were and what
We wero when God called Us. Il is
well to continue little in our own sight and
never think anything OF ourselves When
called 20 special service for God, we must
bear In mind who calls us ("I took the..")
anu that He has In view for US some special
work. In this case II was 20 be "ru!or over
Israel"
y "And was with thee and have cut Off
all thine enemies and have made thee "A
great name" Sec how God did everything
and every fundamentally was simply that
which God saw III 10 use. Whatever was
done He was the dooer OF II CGsn. xxXix..
22) l rejoice to beieye that God has a rr,,,
pared life for each OF His children, aud a
prepared service tor every moment W that
ife (Eph. H., 100. aud II wa are only willing
and cheerfully subject to Him He will work
It all ont TO glorious consumma,ion.
10. Moreover. will appoint place for
~ Ia, L. Il a
Tho fact that when they arc thus planted
thcy Will move no more nor be afflicted any
more II In perfect accord with many similnr
statements, such as Jer. xxxi., 3S-40; xSNii..
III Amos tx, 10. aud still awaits funllment'
All events which, 10 US may seem aud niay
"a Jlar N tie futAre- are TO Him, who sees
the end from the beginning. n present reality
aud are as sure OF fulhllment. however un-
llkely Il may seem, as II actually accom-
plished.
IL. "Also the Lord telleth thee that-tha,
He will make thee an house" The word
house" may signify dwelling, whether
tent, temple or palace; also n place contain
Ing anything, or ones family or posteritv.
The following verses show that hero 1t means
posterity and kingdom.
~. II will set up thy seed after thee, and I
Will establish his kingdom" The Apostis
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 tho next verse In Peters
sermon says He would be raised from ths
dead. To Abraham were promised the land
ana the prosperity as the stars and as the
sand. and now 20 David ara promised tho
Kingdom. the throne and the king.
~. He shall build an house for my name,
and | will establish the throne Of Hts king.
dom forever" Tne church which Is being
now builded together for a habi,ation OF
God, through the Spirit, upon the founda.
tion OF the apostles and prophets (see chap
ter ill.,, 81, Jesus Christ Himself being the
chief cornerstone (Eph., H., 2O.22), IL never
called kingdom, but Is nm elect company
out OF all Nations to rule with Him ia His
Kingdom. The kingdom will have Israel,
all righteous. for its center and Jerusalem
the throne Of the Lord, for Its capital Elsa.
L., 81; Jer. Ill.,, I'D.
IA. "It He commit iniquity. | will chasten
him with the rod of men," etc. Bishop
Horsley gives this reading; "Wnen guilt Is
laid upon Him" And DR.. Clarke says, In
suffering for iniquity." OF solomon IL
might be said, "If he commit niqui,y," but
not OF Christ, and we have already proved
from Peters sermon that the seed referred 10
Is Christ aud not Solomon.
Is. But Ny mercy shall not depart away
from him, as took II from Saul" Whatever
reference there may be here to Solomon IL
OF tho kingdom. David evidently under
stood II OF some one In the far future. See
the last clause OF verse 10 and note these
various readings. This Is the manner OF
tho man who is God the Lord" Guther).
And this is the law of the man." the Adam
(konnicott). "And this Is the Arrangement
about the man" (Horsley). Stier's comment
is Thou speak1st Of an eternal kingdom
in which no man can De king. He must be
God and man because He Is 10 be- My Son,
and yet He Il 10 be King for ever and ever,
which belongs 20 God alone"
16 "Thy throne shall bs established for.
ever" Gabriel said 10 Mary that her Son
should sit on the throne OF His father David
duke T., so, 32), and this agrees with Isa.
TX, o., Z. See IN verses -, "a, OF our lesson
chapter the story OF "ths everlasting
Nation" Read Jer. XXI, 35-37, and be
simple enough TO believe that God means
what He says. Tho only solution OF the
eastern question Is the restoration OF Israel
and the return OF their Messiah. See Isa-
lxil., 9, 7.-Lesson Helper.