The St. Louis Republic., 1903-10-24
THE suNDAr-scHooL LEssov.
For November 1, "AbsGIom aud Da-
Md" I'll samuel ", I-I.l

NAus' NlA samuel INf l-l-.l
CoNTENT-Our last historic lesson.
studied October Il. vas In the seventh
chapter. The eight intervening chapters
treat David's Sin with Bath-sheba. tho
murder Of Uriah. the preaching Of David,
lAe death or his child. the birth OF Solo
mon. the sUbJugatlyu OF The AiumghlIes,
the sin and murder OF AmInon, the flight
Ct Abs1lom TO GcsLur. his mother home,
his return 70 Jerusalem through the inter
cess!on OF Juub and his reconciliation
with David The evils OF the pJlygamOus
system were beginning 10 appear IN the
household Of David, who. us previously
mentioned hnd followed the custom OF
las eru Kings. IN violation Of the law OF
nature and OF God tGen- Il. Isl From
this time forward be reaped Just retu
button In the rIyElrie- and iealOusies Of
numerous wives and their sons. Gal Vi.
- II was apparent that IN u few years
the throne would be vacated. Many as
pirants. fCTgetfui 0f all prUpTiety. were
was filled with factions whose movements
caused the King much unrest.
FEEPARATION-Th first son OF David.
ArlIngu. was dead tll sam xiii, >. -, and
CEiliab. also. iuasmuCh as he waz never
mentioned, the second son. had probably
deceased This made Absaloln. the third
son, heir 10 the throne His mother Was
4ta1cdl. the daughter Of IaluaI. King Of
Gcshur. Syrian district lying on the
northeast OF the Holy Land I'll sam ILL.,
- While a fugitive 40 his father-in-law's
ceIvvd the purpose which afterwards
dominated him, or no may have feared
that unless early and decisive measures
were adopted Blth-sheba's son might
supplaut him. He therefore prepared
whiie his father was living 70 gain regal
powers As soon as David had been
work. Ills first act was TO secure Chariots
aud horses. contrary TO tic law iDut- XVI.
-ol. but no one would know that he had
any purpose contrary to his fathers will
Ne HHHa
him az an advance guard. This invested
him with dignity. constituting him 4 mill
tary officer, emitting him 20 respect
JGDGNENT-Having thus a place In the
Government. AhsIlUm sought opportunity
Tor the exercise OF authority. Had there
been war he might have distinguished
himself IN battle But as X was q time OF
peace, he was compelled 10 enter into the
affairs Oi ordinary lie The administI1-
ton Ot justice was loosely conducted
David had given attention 70 foreign wars
and neglected domestic interests AS a
result. many came with complaints ana
found no one O. hear them. And 50 "Ah-
salon stood beside tie way OF the gate
where AL manner Of differences were ad-
JustCd tEN. Zyiii l6l. the courtroom OF
those times. ana Eay- an attentive ana
sympathetic ear 10 all who came. Il was
a valuable service which he rendered. ap-
preciated by the people with whom he
came IN contact. because he was the
Kings SON. II was q service that might
have been rendered with a praiseWOrthy
father. But below every other considera-
ton was the sinister desire for the
INTRIGUE-Absa did not stand in
the gate TO Judge men he had no righs
TO do that The King had not deputed
him TO such business He was there 10
win the dissatisfied. those who came for
justice and found Il not. His method was
adroit. tNerses 3 and - He first took
sides with the complainant After hear
ing. he pronounced the cause Just. psalm
81 cal on = nHHaA IN al
Next he declared that there
was no one authorized TO sit on the case.
the same as TO say that the Department
OF Justice was failure. probably not far
from the truth. That assertion was
to awaken criticism upon David.
Then came the third point for which tn
desire that be might be made Judge
CPrOv. Nxv, SO. and promise that h-
would 40 the honorable thing by each
complainant. BY these secret artihces.
nate. Absulom intrigued day after dav IN /
the public places dedicated TO the rights
or men. seeking TO bring the Government
u his father into contempt and TO elevate
himself as the disintercsted benefaCtor. !
Whiting and anxious 70 serve the people
HYPOCRiSN-He who would gain fol- !
lowing among men must convince them |
OF his regard Universal humanity IS 50 |
Intent on personal gain as never 10 trust |
one who does not with unselfish surrender !
become a servant II was. therefore. nee
esslry for AbsllOm to do more than |
ny, uouncs a c2u@c 1Ggt. regret that there I
vas no one 20 adiudge Il and offer himself 4
as WILLING TO adjust the grievance. He 1
must exhibit the disposition q his heart. |
That hr did with cUnsummate skill. When /
any one approached 90 do reverence 10 1
him. he put forth his hand and kissed the I
person He knew what grace q puts up0n I
the great To be courteous and condescend- |
Ing. and how much IL wins the common Il
people. Psalm X. 81 Ahsal9m was a ttypl- I
cal ottcs-seeker. and his kind has been /
in this country IN great num- ]
bers. HIS hypocrisy was successful. He 4
stole the hearts Of the men of Israel Just 4
as now many n sChemer has been per
,erred 10 another OF greater worth. CRom. 1
xvi. isJ
SALON. TO take the decided step for the 4
throne OF his father The cnariots. the i
the admirers and followers Il
gained In the gate were only preliminary. |
be declared King. IL + impossible 10 .tate 1
Uhy he selected that city Some think Il
hat Judah had become measurably dissat-
SIZED with David because they were /
merged and overlooked in the large E7n-
oire he had established Others think that i
Absalom had gained the most followers
y here his father did QI Sam Il. IL |
Whatever his motive. he resorted TO \
David that while absent in Geshur ne had /
vowed 10 serve the Lord n permitted TO Il
return TO Jerusalem and now asked 10 20 Il
% Hebron for that purpose Ostensibly /
he uut forth a religious errand. while &C
ually he p-ovoscd rebellion He knew that
David would do as he did-send him away /
Xith a MESSING.
ALBIES-Before leaving Jerusalem for
Hebron AhsalCm took measures to secure
Jopuar support when he should be in Il
rested with kinEly prerogatiye- spies or
messengers were sent into all the tribes.
hat the entire Israeliti-h nation might be
made aware At ore ard the same time OF Il
What vas about 20 transplre- II Is prob
.ble that these messengers went TO those
Who, hy hattering word and ohsequious 1
Kiss. had been made friends OF the young L
nan An agreed signal, the sound OF tho
rumpet. should proclaim TO them that
Absalom reigned. These arrangements
,erfected. Absalom set out for Hebron. as