Mower County transcript., 1903-10-28
THE lSUNDAY Y SCHOOL.
LESSON y, FOURTH QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, NOV.

Text OI Ine Lesson, II Sam m. XIV, liz.
Memory Verses, 4-6-Golden Text,
Ex. xx, 12-Commentary Prepared
by Rev, D. NJ. Stearns. .. -,
copyright, 1908, by American Press Association ]
After the everlasting, unconditional
covenant made with David concerning
his son, who would be Israel's Messiah,
and the kingdom of righteousness, as
recorded i'll our last lesson in this book
Chapter wiz, we read Of Dayids great
prosperity and righteous reign viii, 15).
Then comes the record Of his great sin
and repentance, the sin Of Amnon and
his death at the hands of his brother
Absalom, after which Absalom fled to
the king of Geshur and remained there
three years, but through the pleading Of
the wise woman of Tekoa, employed by
Joab, he came back to Jerusalem and
dwelt two whole years without recon-
ciliation to his father, after which,
through Joab's intercession, the king
became reconciled to him, saw him
and kissed him xiv, %, 33). Absa-
lom signifies ''father Of peace" but his
conduct suggests one who is of his IA
ther the devil John viii, AZ. The
kings kiss to Absalom was the loving
kiss of heartbroken father welcoming
his erring son, but the kiss of Absalom
Gf he did kiss his father was like the
kiss Of Judas when he betrayed his
Master. This is the third time in four
teen years that we have had this por-
ton of this chapter assigned as lesson
instead of the much more helpful and
suggestive portion following, but we
are asked today to study verse %,
which is some improvement.
The story of Absalom is one of de-
ceit and lying and treachery and rebel
lion even against his own father. Per
His unscrupulous self seeking, even at
the cost of his fathers life, is sugges-
tive Of the devil, who would if possible
dethrone God, and who will yet seek to
do so ere the age closes. Make a care
full and prayerful study of the follow.
ing passages and be ever on your guard
against all such manifestations. lisa.
xiv, 13, ID; Dan. vii, 25; viii, "a, 25; XII,
SO; II Thess. H. 8, 4; Rev. xiii, 81; xvii,
Il; xix, 10, 20. There are many fore
shadowings on a small scale-politi-
clans who will not take up matter
without first considering how it may
affect their own political prospect;
/, those who, for their own ends, by good
words and fair speeches, deceive the
hearts of the simple; those who under
in view their own promotion and possi-
bly, the overthrow Of some just person.
How desperately wicked must have
been the heart of Absalom, who, with
profession of devotion to God on his
lips and his fathers blessing sounding
in his ears, goes forth to carry out his
devilish designs against his father. Yet
there is an ever increasing multitude
who are disobedient to parents and in
open rebellion against God III Tim. iii
10. But as truly as David returned
and sat on his throne in peace xix, l4)
so shall our Lord Jesus return and reign
on David's throne, and the work of
righteousness shall be peace and the
effect of righteousness quietness and
assurance forever lisa. tx, 6, Z; xxi
10. There are many ahithophels fool-
ish brethren, the name signifes) who
stand high before men in relation to the
king but who, while outwardly profess
ing allegiance, are really on the side OF
the enemy Let us turn from the dark
picture Of self and sin to the faithful
few who said to David in this dark
hour, Behold thy servants are ready
to do whatsoever my lord the king
shall appoint" and to Ittai, who said
GAS the Lord liveth and as my lord the
king iveth surely in what place my
lord the king shall be, whether in death
or life, even there also will thy servant
be" oversees Is, 2D.
To mere natural sight it cooked dark
for David, but God had promised thai
the kingdom would be established for
ever, and there were some who had
| faith in God and were also ready to die
with David rather than live with Alb
| salon. The time was, and in China
only two years ago, when to live meant
to deny Christ, but many confessed
Him and died for Him. See in Rev. xiii
1911, description of coming days, and
see in Rev. xiv, Gil; XIV, %, the future
Of those who deny Christ in order tt
live and the future of such as die fol
His sake. May we have the spirit Of
Ittai and of Ruth and of Elisha (Rutf
i, 16, II; II Kings ii, 2, 4, 6, 81, and may
our determined stand be that of Paul il
Phil. i, 20; iii, $40. Note David's sub
mission and recognition of God in thi!
great trial, "Behold, here am I, LEI
Him do to me as seemeth good untt
Him" (verses 25, 26). Over the same
brook Kidron (yerse %; John xviii, 1
went the Son of David on the night O.
the agony in Gethsemane and the be
trayal by Judas Iscariot, and the faith
full followers We're very few. From tn
same Oliyet Verse 3W the rejected Chris
returned to His home in heaven, ant
to the same Olivet will He come agail
to overthrow His enemies and establisl