Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-08-21
-------s -. -
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VIII, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. %.

DRY Verses, 4.0-GOlden Text, FIX, Xxx,
documentary by the Rev u. M.
stearns.
1 "And 1t came to pass after this that
Absalom prepared him chariots and horses
and 90 men to run before him." Absalom
was the third son of David, born in He
bron and his mother was Maacah daugh-
ter of tho king of Geshur Oh Sam. iii, 3,
81. Absalom signifies "father of peace"
bun his life would rather suggest one who
wiA3 of his father the devil (.John viii, 44).
because of the murder of his brother Ann
non, David S flrstburn, ho fled to the king
of Geshur and was there three years, but
through tho pleading of the wise woman
of Tokoa, employed by Joab, he came back
to Jerusalom and dwclt two years with
out reconciliation to his father after which,
through Juab's intcrcossion, the king be-
came reconcled to him, saw him and
kissed him (chapter xiv, rs, 33).
2. And Absalom rose up early and
stood beside the way of the gate The ex-
preston "roso up early signifies great
earnestness and is used many times in
jeremiah concerning Gods unwearied
earnestness in urging His people to repent
and turn to Him. In lsa V, l. it is used,
as here, concerning the carnestness of the
wicked for here we see Absalom in tho
place of public gatherings, kindly greet
ing the people who came to the king to
have their wrongs righted and seeking to
turn their hearts from his father to him
self Tho self seeking of the natural heart
is often seen in those who seek to advance
themselves, no matter who is overthrown,
but when this is seen in a son against his
own father then the devil is surely doing
special work.
3, "a bsalom said, moreover Oh,
that l were made judge in the land" He
speaks of the Justice that he would show
if he were made judge in the land, but it
should not require much penetration to see
that man who would treat his own
father as unjustly as he was now doing
would not be likely to do justly by any
one unless it might happen to servo his
own ends. l heard only this week of "A SEN
ator who said that no politician would
take hold of u matter without considering
, how it might affect his owl Aszs IDEAL pros
poets. 1t is the worlds way 10 live unto
oneself; it is only by the Spirit of God
, that we can deny self and live unto God.
8, 6. $50 AbsalUm stole the hearts of
the men of Israel" There was not finer
looking man in all Israel (chapter xiv, 25),
but perhaps not one with a blacker heart.
Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain,
but "a meek and quiet spirit is in the
sight of God of great price," and it is the
heart, not the outward appearance that
God looks upon (Prov. XXI 30; Pet. iii,
4; Sam. xvi, y. When the king kissed
Absalom xiv, 33), it was the loving kiss
of n heartbroken father welcoming his
erring son, but these kisses of Absalom
were more like the kiss of Judas when he
betrayed his Master, for every one was a
stab at his father heart. There are those,
a even in this day, both in the church and
out of it, who by good words and fair
speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. !"
Z. Let me go and pay my vow, which
. have vowed unto the Lord in Hebron"
. The margin of tho r.. V. says probably
after years, not 40 years. But what a
liar he was and how desperately wicked /;
t there was murder in his heart and that
q against his own father, yet he seeks to
hide it under prctense of paying vow
unto the Lord, while all his vows must
have been to the devil rather than to the
l Lord. Hebron was his birthplace, but it
was also the place where the bodies of
4 Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lay buried, and
t that his wicked heart could speak of He
i brOn, which signifies fellowship and car
ries us back to faithful Caleb, who fol-
q lowed the Lord fully, shows how hardened
in sin he had become.
j s. "If the Lord shall bring me again in
y deed to Jerusalem, then l will serve the
!. Lord" This, he said was the vow which
s he had made to the Lord wilhelm his ban
k ishment at Goshur. If David believed his
son, as he seems to have done, how com
forted he must have been by this evidence
a of his sons repentance. How little he
thought that with such words from his
sons lips the father of lies was in his
heart
8. And the king said unto him, Go in
peace" Believing him to be sincere he
@ gives him a fathers blessing, but there
q was no peace in that foul heart covered by
J., SO fair an exterior, for "There is no peace,
4 saith the Lord to the wicked" Elsa. lvii,
II 81. Peace was within his reach, as 1t is
within the reach of every one who has ever
heard of the Prince of Peace, but it can
l. only become the possession of those who
k are truly penitent and sincerely submit to
r Him as their Saviour and Lord. 1.-THE
work of righteousness shall be peace, and
the effect of righteousness quietness and
a. assurance forever" lisa. xxi, 10. $50 he
= arose and went to Hebron"
- 10. ''Absalom reigneth in Hebron. u
II With profession of devotion to God on his
lips and his fathers blessing sounding il
% his ears he COOS forth to carry out hi:
devilish designs against his father. The
, proclamation which he caused to bC
sounded forth WAS equal to his saying, 81
hereby rebel against my father and drive
him from his throne" David SO under
=, stood it, for he said unto all his servants
~ Arise and let us flee, for we shall not elsC
escape from Absalom," and the servant!
ot said, Behold thy servants are ready TO dc
le whatsoever my lord the king shall ap
es point" Oversees II, 49, Contrast the con
W duct Of the kings son with that of hi
u servants and Of Ittai the Gittite in verse;
10 To 81.
IL. They went in thoir simplicity, anC
T. they knew not anything" This is writer
Of the 200 men out of Jerusalem who wen
40 with Absalom. If we would follow Jesu
p in this spirit, simply trusting, not know
to ing nor desiring anything but His will
To what blessed peoplo VIC would be and wha