The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-12-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER ~


Introduetion.-The lessons this quarter
mark the time between the bringing IN
of the ark to Jerusalem under DAVID ana
the dedication of the temple. In the his.
tory of David and his SONS we see the great
truth emphasiDed that "whatsoever man
soweth, that shall he also reap" During
the quarter Gods love and mercy have
been extolled and we have seen the JOY
that comes through forgiveness.
the sumRatyjsS1hl arR TO- Jerusalem: H. The ark was a
small chest; the lid was called the mercy
seat. 1t was sign of the divine presence;
for seventy years it had lain in neglect;
David now decides to bring 1t into Jeru-
salem. Proper reverence ls not shown;
Uzzah dies for touching it; David Is dis.
pleased; the ark is left at the house 81
Obed-edom; three months later David
takes the ark and brings it into Jerusalem;
the priests and Levites and chief men are
called together; q great procession 10
formed; sacrifices, are frequently offered;
there is music and singing 1t WAS the
greatest day of David's life {.
=. II. Topic: Gods promises to David.
David desires to build house for the
Lord. The ark was On Mt. Zion and David
was living comfortably in his own house
of cedar; >: David spoke to Nathan the
prophet about his desire and Nathan a.
once encouraged him to, proceed with the
forming him that Dayid's. desire could
not be granted; he mad been man OF war,
and there was still much to do in estab-
fishing the kingdom. He. could prepare
the material, but his son should build the
house. The Lord said that He would :es>
tablish David's throne forever. r. ~
III. Topic: David praying for forgive.
ness. When David was about fifty years
of age he committed two great sins. About
a year afterwards the Lord sent Nathan,
the prophet, to him to show him his great
be saw his sin and mourned exceedingly.
This psalm shows the depth of his repent
ance. He pleads for forgiveness, and that
his transgressions may be blotted out; Ind
that he may be washed and .cleansed. David
has great confidence in God, and prays
earnestly that the Lord would still uphold
him with His free Spirit. He resolves to
employ his life from this time fully IN
Gods service. ".
is one of the seven so-called penitential
psalms; it has reference to the forgiveness
that was granted David after he had com
mitted his great sin. In psalm ffty-one
we see him repenting and pleading for
mercy; with the opening sentence OF this
psalm we hear 'him Say, blessed S ne
whose transgression is forgiven, whose SIN
is covered" he speaks here Also of Eis,d deep
repentance and Of his confidence in God.
God was to be his mighty deliverer. Z ! T..
". Tonic: Absalom's rebellion. The
bitter fruits of Davsd'B own unholy course
are now being .seena Dayid's sons were
wicked; Absalom was a wicked, PROUD
young man.! he was renowned for his
beauty; he laid a plot to overthrow The
government and seize the kingdom. he
stole the hearts of the people by his sub.
tlety; he then lied to his father an3 went
to Hebron and's up q government OF ms
own; he soon started with an army to-
; wards Jerusalem. David fed from the city
and crossed over Jordan and established
headquarters at Mahanaim. '> -
W.. Topic: Putting down the rebellion.
When David fled from Jerusalem he re.
fused to take the ark with him: Absalom
and his army marching from Hebron en-
tered Jerusalem the same day $Absaloni
at first intended to follow David immedi.
ately and overtake bis father while he was
weary, but he finally decided to take more
time and raise.a large army. Absalom was
king in Jerusalem about three months; he
riors; Absalom's army was defeated; and
he was slain. David mourned over the
VII. Topic: Praise and Thanksgiving
for Gods goodness. This is one OF; the
psalms supposed to have been written. by
David during the latter part Of his life:f 1t
contains two figures: ]. The Shepherd and
his sheet. 2, The Host and his guest.
Christ is thefgood Shepherd; His petple
are the sheep; the divine Shepherd gives
soul rest, soul satisfaction and soul liberty.
David is abundantly supplied so that his
Gun runneth over.
VIII. Topic: The woes Of intemperance.
The wise man writes of the curse OF strong
drink. This lesson refers to the personal
experiences of the drunkard as well as to
Strong drink causes poverty; j. mocks peo-
pie; destroys happiness; brings sorrow,
contention, wounds, redness of eyes; by it
many are deceived; it ruins character and
destroys the prospects of eternal life.
TX. Touic: Solomon's duties outlined.
After David's victory over Absalom he re-.
turned to Jerusalem; he was now growing
old and a new king must be selected; Da-
vid's Choice was his son Solomon; the
princes, of Israel Mere assembled and
David commissioned his son to perform
the great work of building a house for the
Lord; David had many eons, but among
Lnem all SOIONOn Udu ueeH CHoscu 1ol
the throne; David charges Solomon to
know God and serve Him perfectly.
X. Topic: Solomon's request and Gods
reply. Soon after Solomon became king
he assembled the people at Gibeon; the
Lord appeared to Solomon and asked him
what he desired most; Solomon replied
that because he was young and ipcxperi-
enced and the kingdom was great, he most
Of all desired wisd ON and understanding
in order that he might guide the affairs OF
the nation Alright. The Lord was pleased
with this request and not only gave him
wisdom. but also gave him riches and
honor in abundance.
XII. Topic: The various services at the
dedication Of the temple. As soon as Solo,
mon was made king he began to. prepare
for the building of the temple; the mate
rial was nearly all ready; the temple was
to be a large building surrounded with sew
eral courts. and was to contain many ar.
tic,es of furniture. When it was finally
built the ark was brought in and the house
vas dedicated; Solomon offered the dedI:;
catory prayer; God accepted the house and
flied the temple with cloud.
XII. Topic: Wise men seeking Jesus
When Christ was born in Bethlehem OF
JrGea, in the davs of Herod, wise men
came from the East seeking Him; they
knew of tho coming Messiah. and were
directed 70 Bethlehem by a star; they
went to Herod and asked him about
Christ: Herod secretly decided to kill
Tes,ls: he asked the wise men to inform
him concerning Christ in order that he
too might 60 and worship. Him, but the
Lord warned these men and they returned
another way, thus defeating Herod.