The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-31
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON
Nov. 4, 1902 SAM, XIV, 1-12-David
and AbsalOm.

ana ADS0IOm.
Absalom was OF imperial presence and doubly-
royal descent. Purple became his style OF beauty.
| A dia1 lem seemed indispensable confne his
phenomenal locks That personal comeliness,
for which his grandfather's house justly
| famed. all came together in him as in common
center. He was the nations ornament, the peo-
pies pride.
Added to this charm of person and fascination
| OF exalted birth. there was a manner ingratating
to the last degree Absslom good mix
err" full Of the arts and Establishments Of the
| ideal politician of modern date. He affected pomp
of state. cut at the same time allowed no one
TO make obeisance him. promptly embracing
every man as his fellow and equal He had an
eye geography in the distribution of his cour-
tesies, so that In every tribe and quarter there
should be some one whom he had hypnotized by
his high art
| Absaom feigned intense personal interest
| in the case of every applicant to the royal court
| of appeals He forestalled the appellate court
He uttered innuendoes concerning his fathers
negligence: My father has a hobby for building
and conquest. He leaves himself no time for
the adminstrs ton of justice. He fails to APP
| point a deputy even. II 1 judge would see
that your wrongs righted. But am power
less
So silly Israel was duped by transparent arts.
| He walked into the net spread In his very eye
| Absalom, veritable thief that he was. appro-
| priated to himself the popular love and loyalty
that belonged by divine right to his father. He
| kept at this artful business with consummate
pertinacity for four years. AT length he felt
| assured that the harvest of disloyalty he had
| been sowing was ready to be reaped.
David is pleased at the signs OF religious fervor
| in his Maynard The fathers heart. in
genuous and devout beats fast he hears the
proposition of the young prince to go to holy
Hebron and pay the VOW he had made to God
| In the days Of his exile. He will not put a
| straw in his way. On the contrary, he dismisses
him with his benedietion.
The. last touch OF strategy the part of Abb
| SALON. is to associate with himself 200 of the
chiefs Of church and state in his pilgrimage to
the shrine of the patrarchs. He will add,
| whether they intend it or not. the prestige of
their names to his cause. Compromised already,
| the probability strong they will cast in their
| fortunes with the revolt.
| BY means of a Gordon Of trumpeters. skillfully
posted, Absalom's coronation is telegraphed in
single day throughout every tribe of the nation.
| 1t is a coup-de-main, a master stroke of policy.
Multitudes flock to the standard OF the idolized
| rebel. The conspiracy has undoubted elements
OF strength. But its greatest acquisition is in
| the person of Ahithophel. Davids prime minister
and confidential counselor-a cunning and ex-
perienced prince of statecraft.
| The flight of David infinitely described by
| eyewitness, makes one Of the most significant
| and pathetic of Hebrew history. Bare
| footed and with covered head. he goes down into
| Kedron, and Olivet. toward the wilderness.
| weeping as he goes. His household and his loyal
/ 600 attend him. mo more striking picture of
| great man under adversely drawn"
| The black treason of son seems all the more
| odous in contrast to the self-obivous loyalty
| of the gentle prince Ittai. When David gener-
| ously urges him not to join his fortunes to a
failing cause he pledges his featy with oath.
| Again, the lofty faith of the unhappy King is
| shown In his declining to imperil the ark by
making it his talsman. His grievous Christening
is already bearing its peaceful fruit. Competer
submission never found expression, except on the
lips of David's greater son: Here l. let
| him do seemeth good unto him. He shows
still more clearly that he recognizes his present
disgrace a judicial visitation of Providence in
the patient endurance of the epithets. stones and
dust cast at him by Shmei.
| Dsvid's native sagacity and his expedients.
learned in the emergencies incident to his life
as a fugitive, avail him now. He provides means
of keeping himself informed to the doings of
his son. He prays that the counsel Of Ahithophe
| may be brought to naught, and proceeds to
swer his own prayer by means Of Hushais du-
plicity. Finally, he chooses the best possible
position, strategcally. mobilizes and officers his
troops and awaits the issue.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
Absalom is the Benedict Arnold OF Hebrew his
tory. He is a triple traitor-to God his father
his country. He cleared the way to the throne
by fratricide under cover of avepging his sis
ter's honor Patricide itself would rot have
daunted him.
He became this triple-dyed traitor by almost
imperceptble degrees. He at first vain of
his good looks; then, luxuriant in person, table
and equipage; then. an aspirant for power final
ly, INSCRIPTIONS to the means of securing II.
Doubtless he first aspired to be associated with
his father in reigning At last his heart was so
indurated with pride and ambition that he hesi-
tated not to supplant, and. If need be- kill him.
A at with his father! Pitiful sight.
Alas not uncommon II every boy whose pur-
pose counter to his fathers pious ambition
concerning him was to literally take up arms IL
would look as II the days of the civil war had
| come again.
Davids sorrowful retreat Is emblematic of
|