The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-10-30
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON \. FOURTH QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES, NOV. I.
Text of the Lesson, II sam. Nv, I-I2.
Memory Verses. 4-6-GOIden Text.
Ex. M, I2-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. ID. VI. stearns.

Memory Verses. 4-6-GOIden Text.
Ex. m, I2-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. ID. VI. stearns.
Copyright 1903, by American Press Association
After the everlasting. unconditional
covenant made with David concerning
his son, who would be Israels Messiah,
and the kingdom of righteousness, as
recorded I'm our last lesson in this book
(chapter VIII. we read OF Davids great
prosperity and righteous reign will. 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 Absaiom fled TO
the king of Geshur and remained there
three years, but through the pleading OF
the wise woman of Tekoa, employed 10y
Joab. he came back To Jerusalem and
dwelt two whole years without recon-
Citation To his father, after which,
through Joab's intercession. the king
became reconciled TO him, saw him
and kissed him xiv, 2S. 80. Absa-
lom signifies father of peace" but his
conduct suggests one who is of his IA
Their the devil John viii, Al. The
kings Kiss To Absalom was the loving
kiss of a heartbroken father welcoming
his erring sou, 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 i'm four
teen years that we have had this por-
ton of this chapter assigned as a 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-
ccit and lying and treachery and rebel
lion even against his own father. Per
hapS there was no one more wicked.
His INSCRIPTIONS 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 10
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. 10. Il; Dan. vii. -; viii. "a. p; ri,
&c. III Thess. ii, 3. 4 Rev. xiii. 81; xvii,
Il; xix. 10. 20. There are many fore
shadowings on Il 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 gooc
words and fair speeches. deceive the
hearts of the simple: those who under
pretense Of worShping God have only
in view their own promotion and posi-
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. IA
so shall our Lord Jesus return and reign
on Davids throne. and the work Of
righteousness shall be peace and the
effect Of righteousness quietness and
assurance forever lisa. tx. 6. I: xxi.
10. There are many ahithOphels fool
iSh brethren, the name signifies who
stand high before men in relation 10 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 i'm this dark
hour, Behold thy servants are ready
to do whatsoever my lord the king
shall appoint" and 10 Ittai. who said,
"As the Lord liveth and as my lord the
king lvcth. surely in what place my
lord the king shall be, whether in death
or life, even there also will thy servant
be- oversees II, 2D.
To mere natural sight II looked dark
for David, but God had promised that
the kingdom would be established for
ever. and there were some who had
faith i'm God and were also ready TO die
with David rather than live with Alb
salon. The time was. and i'm China
only two years ago. when TO live meant
TO deny Christ. but many confessed
Him and died for Him. See i'm Rev. Kill
1917, Il description of coming days. and
see in Rev. xiv. Oil; XIV, 81. the future
of those who deny Christ i'm order TO
live and the future of such as die for
His sake May we have the spirit of
Ittai and of Ruth and Of Elisha ruth
i, Is, Il; III Kings If, ., 4. 6, 81, and may
our determined stand be that Of Paul in
Phil. i, %; iii. $40. Note David's sub
mission and recognition of God in this
great trial Behold. here am |. let
Him do TO me as seemeth good unto
Him" Oversees %, 2G). Over the same
brook Kidron Verse %; John xviii. u
went the Son OF David on the night OF
the agony i'm Gethsemane and the be-
trayal by Judas Iscariot, and the faith
full followers were very few. From the
same Olivet Verse 30) the rejected Christ
returned To His home in heaven. and
TO the same Olivet will He come again
to overthrow His enemies and establish
the promised kingdom with Jerusalem
as center acts /. II. 10; Zech xiv. ~,
therefore let us obey Isa. xii, g, Z.