The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-09-10
IE sabbath SCHOOL LESSON
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
SEPTEMBER rs.
Lesson Text. "David's Gratitude TO
God." II samuel xiii, 4O-5i-
Golden Text; n Samuel xii,
documentary.

~ -ror lnou mast Rirded me with strength
20 osmle. @ Them that rose up against me
hast Ihou subdued under mo-" The whole
OF this chapter Is repeated In the book of
Psalms as number is, the Holy Spirit thus
calling special attention 10 this portion of
HIS writings through David. In chapter
xxiii., l-3, IL Is written that whatever the
sweet psalmist Of Israel spako II was tho
spirit OF the Lord speaking by him. II Is
well Tor us when we recognize the whole
Bible as written by tho Spirit OF God for our
benefit Verso OF this chapter says that
David spake these words unto the Lord when
delivered from Saul and all his enemies. In
this first verse OF our lesson aud throughout
the psalm he acknowledges that God had
doue everything for him.
IL. "Thou hast also given mo the nocls
OF mine enemies, that [ might DESTROY them
that hate mo" There are many things In
the Psalms which tho church cannot appro-
pirate or apply to herself. tits not for us to
nave the necks OF our enemies or destroy
those that hnto us. These thugs are peculiar
TO israel and TO tho King OF Israel the Son
OF David, when He shall come in Ills glory
TO destroy lsraors enemies and establish the
kingdom. Our mission as members of tho
body OF Christ IL TO suffer mcekly even for
well doing; TO be east out. hated and killed
Tor His sake, nud yet 90 take Il all patiently.
49, They looked, but thero was mono To-
save, even, unto the Lord, but Ho answered
L.. =.
Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but TIs
will not hear them, as they have behaved
themselves I'll in their doinCs." And in
Prov. l., %, "Thcn shall they call upon Me
but will not answer; thoy shall seek No
carly, but they shall not ind Me-" These
who seek simply from fear and only because
they dread His judgments may not expect 20
be heard. But see the contrast In Jer.
XIX, i3.
43. "Thcn did beat them as small as tho
dust OF the earth See similar figure in
II Kings Kill. Z, and Mic. vii. TO- Tc bc
thoroughly subdued is very humiluting. but
everything or person that is exalted against
God must be brought low Elsa. ii.. ii. 10.
10 be cheerlully subject aud willing to bo
subdued for Gods glory is very blessed. aud
Il Is the privilege OF every believer 10 be- as
clay in tho hands OF the potter for Gods
glory and for our highest good lisa. Xiv, 50.
"A. Thou hast also delivered mo from
the strivings OF my people" Some OF these
strivings are included in the long wars be-
tween the houses OF Saul and David and the
later strifes throughout all the tribes OF
Israel Chapters ill.,, /; xix, ~. Trouble
from enemies without Is bad enough, but
trouble within nation or church or family
Is much worse. Yet from ali He Is able to
deliver. When He speaks of being head OF
tho nations and people whom He knows
not serving Him. we think OF tho sure
As. "Stangers shall submit themselves
unto Me. As soon rs they hear they shall
be obediont unto Me-" This also makes us
think OF Messiqh's reign when "they that
dwell in tho wilderness shall bow before
Hin. and His enemies shall HEX the DUST
(Ps. xxi. O). Sons OF strangers shall build
up lions walls, and their kings shall minis
ter unto Israel Elsa. lx., l0). Tho word
submit" Is In the margin rendered "lie or
yield feigned obedience. IL is the same In
Ps. Xvi, 3, and margin, and points to those
who in the millennial reign Of Christ will
only DO nominally subject and will follow
tho devil when he is loosed from the pit
(Rev. Xxx, 7-i0).
40. strangers shall fade away, and thcy
shall be afraid out OF their close places"
They shall move out OF their holes ike
worms OF the earth. They shall be afraid OF
the Lord our God and shall fear because of
thee (Nlic. viii, l7). 1t shall be u firm rule.
as with rod OF iron, and those who havo
evil in their hearts shall fear TO do Il because
OF the swift judgments that shall be sent on
evildoers. The awful judgments Of tho
lribulation period shall not soon be forgot
ten.
AZ. "The Lord liveth. and blessed bo my
rock, and exalted bo the God OF the rock OF
my salvation" In the Lord Jehovah Is tho
Rock OF Ages strength Qsa. XVI, 4, mar
Rn). He Ia the God of truth, the living
God, the King Of eternity. Al His wrath tho
earth shall tromble, and the nations shall not
be able to abide His indignation der. ~, 10,
nargin).
4s. at is God that avengeth mo and that
brngeth down the people under me-" Ii
was one OF the blessed habits OF David's life
10 see and acknowledge God In everything.
When he had saul In his power and might
easily have slain him, he preferred 70 leave
him TO God. When Absalom drove MIN
from his throne, he said, seeing Gods hand
In 1t. Let Him do 10 mo as seemeth good
unto Him." When Sinner cursed and
stoned him, instead OF letting Abshai kill
him, he said that II the Lord wanted him 10
endure this he would not even ask why U
sam. XVI, 10; IL sam. xv.. 20; xvi, lO)
40. Thou also hast lifted mo up on high
above them that rose up against me. Thou
hast delivered me from tho violent man" In
tho morning OF tho resurrection. the morn
Ing without clouds Chapter kill, ~, nor
morning when God shall help Israel (Ps.
XVII, O., margin), when the upright shall
have dominion over the wicked (Ps. Xix,
lD. when our Lord shall come in His glory
aud by the brightness of His coming destroy
hat wicked one, the man OF sin (lI Thess.
H., 3. 81, then shall we see the complete full
hllment of these things Of which David sang
and OF which he in his own experience had
but only partial fullllment.
so. "Therefore l will give thanks unto
Thee, o Lord, among tho heather. and will
sing praises unto Thy name" Gods pur-
pose with Israel in the past and in the future
ls the same and that Is 10 make Himself such
a name through them in the eyes OF all Ma
lions that all the Nations may turn 10 and
submit to the one living and true God for
their good (Josh. iv., "a; II Sam. viii. 90, "a,
Eek. xxSvii., ~. IS; Rom. xi., ~, l5).
ST. "He is the tower OF salvation for his
king and showeth mercy 10 His anointed,
unto David and TO his seed forevermore"
While David was His anointed, ho was type
Of the Me, slah, Son Of David, in whom all
the promises will surely be fulfilled. Tho
New Testament begins and ends with the
Son OF David (Math. 1. /; Rev. xxii., iG). for
L begins and ends with Israel and the king.
dom OF God on earth. The sure and ever
lasting covenant OF God was Davids COM
tort In his diving hour (chapter xiii, 81.
There Is nothing so sure as the promises OF
iod.-Lesson Helper.
THE ARMOR or LIGHT
The Christians armor Is well called the