The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-07-26
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

out md put tho battle In array at tho en-
tcring In of tho gate." Previous to this
we read that tho Lord had given David
rest from all his enemies; that tho Lord
preserved David whithersoevcr he went,
and that David reigncd over all Israel, OK.
ecuting Judgment and Justice unto all his
people Chapters vii, L. viii, q, IA, l5).
The Lord having shown His loving kind
ness to David in promising to make unto
MIN mn everlasting kingdom. David rests
upon tho word Of the Lord. and living In
| peace seeks to show kindness to all w
| saw in the last lesson his kindness to iona
than's son, and this chapter begins with n
| record Of his Kindness to Hanun, king of
Ammon, hut the princes of Ammon per
suadcd Hnnun that David meant evil, and
not good so he took David servants who
| had come with comfort for him and treated
| them shamefully. David did not take
this ingrattude and humiliation as incekly
| us he had done some others and started
,'oab and thu host Of his mighty men out
to punish Ammon. The Ammonites hired
helpers and gave David battle.
OIL. "If the Syrinns DO too strong for
mo, then thou shalt help mo, but II the
children of Amnon he too strong for thee,
then will come and help thee" Thus
said Jonb, thu captain of David host, to
his brother Abishai, with whom he d.
yidcd the army, Joab taking tho choice
men to contend with the Syrians, and
Abishai taking the rost to fight with the
Ammonites. Toab and Abishai were sons
of David sister Zerniah II Chron. IL, l6
II sam. Ii. 1s). There wero three sons
but Asahcl Ind been slain by Abner the
captain Of Saul's host.
IL. "Bo of good courage and let us play
tho men for our people and for the cities
of our God, and the Lord do that which
seemoth Him good. Thus .Joab encour
aged the hearts of his soldiers by remind
ing them that they stood for God and for
His land and people. Compare / Chron.
xix, III. There is no strength like the
knowledge that We are for God. standing
for Him rs His witnesses. IIe gave this
encouragement to Joshua, saying, BE
strong and of IL good courage be not
afraid; ithcr he thou dismnycd, for the
Lord thy God is with thee whithcrsoevcr
thou goest' (.Joshun !, o.. Nehemiah on
cournged his people with these words I" Be
not ye afraid Of them; rcnlembor the Lord
whirh is great and terrible and fight for
yonr brethren, your sons and your daugh-
tors, your wives and your houses (Noh.
Nv, l4). With whole hearted trust in God,
reliance upon Him, surrender TO Him, with
"a readiness to do His bidding. There must
also he the heart to say, Now let Him
that which sccmcth Him good. If lie will
eth apparent defeat for us, must be we'll:
II He willcth victory for us, it will DO well.
Whether He willcth health or sickness, life
or death, nll is we'll that He willeth.
Ill that God blesses IL our good.
And nnblcssed good is i'll,
And all is right that seems most wrong
II it be His sweet will.
"Christ shall be magnifled in my body
whether by lifc or by death" (Phil. 1, p0)
IS, a. "Thoy fled before him" Thus
did both Syrians and Ammonites before
.Ioab and Abishni, and .loab returned and
came to Jerusalem. II was written con-
corning Israel that Zone should chase
1000 and two put 10, 900 to flight. "Thc
Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise
UP against thee to be smitten before thy
face; they shall come out against thee one
way and flce before thee seven ways"
(Dout. xxi, 80; xviii, y. When Israel
went forth as tho people of God no armies
could stand before them, for God was with
them to fight their battles (Dcut. 1, 80; Ill,
2a). When they went In their own strength,
thuy werc easily overcome. With us now
in this present life 1t must DO whole |
hearted reliance upon God other for saliva
tion or for victory over self and sin; other
wise our enemies will bo too strong for us. |
But, Welding to md relying upon Him, we
shall sing, Thanks be unto God, who CIV
eth us tho victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ" Il Cor. Ky, 57).
10, 10. Tho Syrinns, chatting under their
defeat. gather others with them md re-
turn to fight with Israel, for the spirit of
rebellion against God Is not easily put
down. Tho spirit that was In Pharaoh md
Sonpacherib Is the spirit Of tho devil, who
would, II possible, dcthrone God Himself.
1t shall be fully manifest In tho Inst days
in the person Of the antichrist, who shall
with his armies make war against tho
Lamb of God md His armies, but tho
Lamb shall overcome them for Ho IL Lord
of Lords and King OF Kings (Rev xix, ~,
90, xviii l4) Tho last phase OF 1t shall be
Mt tho end OF the thousand years OF Christ's
personal rcign, when tho devil, looscd
from tho Dit, shall make his last attack
mon tho pooplo OF God Grew. xx, 7-l0).
Eyery Thought or net against God and His
word is n phase Of this awful spirit which
must finally find its home whore it bo-
longs with the devil and his angels.
II, is. David himself now takes tho field
and at least 40, 700 Syrans are slain and
also the captain Of their host. This also Is
euo0ostiyo of our Lord Himself coming
With His armies to overthrow the onemios
Of israel, when tho slain shall be 80 many
tbat tbe house of Israel shall DO seven
months buying tho dcad (Ezek. xxx.
1e). This Same Lord Jesus who has done
and who shall do such great and terrible
,iinss for Israel Is our Saviour and Lord
Nv His finished work He gives us eternal
because Hc lives We shall live
Who arc i'm Him, and In due timo wo shall
come with Him when He comes to judg
tho nations (col: III, u Key; 1i1. ~
iovn and wa need fear no evil. "If God be
for us, who can DO against us'"
10. "All the kings made peace with IL.
..e, and served them" In tho days Of
which wo have spoken. when our Lord
shall como IN power aud glory; ~ Is writ