The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-11-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VI, FOURTH QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, NOV. 8.
Text of the Lesson. ~ sam. xviii, "a
33-Memory Verses. 3i-33-GoIden
Text, Prov. xvii. - Commentary
Prepared by Rev. ID. VI. stearns

copyright, 1903, by American Press Association.
The prominent feature OF this lesson
is the grief of loving father over an
erring son, and il cannot but suggest
the loving Father Of Luke XIV and the
welcome given 10 the prOdigal son.
while both carry us back 10 the record
i'm Gen. iii of the Lord seeking His
wandering ones, who by listening TO
the serpent had turned away from Him
who had created them and had given
them all things richly TO enjoy. David
would gladly have died for his son, but
it is written, Hereby perceive we the
love of God because He laid down His
life for us" and God commendeth His
love toward us in that while we were
yet sinners Christ died for us" Il John
iii, 1G; Rom. V, 81. David did what he
could To prevent his soldiers from kill
ing Absalom (verSe - but his pride was
his ruin verse with xiv, 2G), and the
Lord permitted him TO be slain xvii,
IA. God our Father is not willing that
any should perish and has made such
provision by the sacrifice of His Son
that none who hear Of it need perish
QI Pet iii, 9; John iii, 80.
AbSalOm represents those who at all
costs are determined to live unto them
selves. even though they kill father or
mother In so doing. The coming anti
christ will be a more fully developed
AbsalOm, for he shall do according to
his will. and he shall cXalt himself and
magnify himself above every god and
shall speak marvellous things against
the God of gods" dan. ri, 800. Yet he
shall come to his end and none shall
help him dan. ri, 40.
The words stand ever true: Say We
TO the righteous that it shall be well
with him. Woe unto the wicked;
il shall be i'll with him" lisa. ill.,
10. H. Yet the conflict between light
and darkness, between Christ and
Satan. will continue with increasing
enmity and vigor on Satan's part until
the coming OF our Lord to overthrow
the devil and his followers and to es-
tabish His kingdom I'll ThesS. ii, s;
Rev. xvii. Il; xix, -. %; Xxx, 1-3, 1O).
While the thousands of David's fol-
lowers, under the leadership of Joab
and Abishai and lttai, contended with
the followers of AbSalom oversees 1-S),
David eagerly, and no doubt prayer
fully, awaited the result Verse %.
The title "watchman." used here five
times. and the word "tidingS," used at
least nine times i'm this chapter, sug
geSt two very helpful lines of study.
In this case it is the kings Waterman
looking for tidings from the field for
the king. but the great contrast with
the gospel story is that here the king
is fearful lest his son shall be slain,
whereas i'm the gospel the King, our
Father in heaven. gave His only Son
TO be slain for His enemies. David's
love centercd upon Absalom, but God
so loved the world that He gave His
only bcgotten Son that sinners who
deserve to perish might not perish. but
be saved and share the glory of His
kingdom. He is seeking for those who
are willing 10 be bearers of the good
tidingS of great joy which He desires
all people to hear duke Ii, 1O), but there
are few who, like AhimaaZ, say. Let
me now run and bear tidings" Verse
10, although the Lords call still is,
'Whom shall | send and who will 60
for u.s. lisa vi. s. The gospel of
the blessed God (Acts XX, "a; | Tim.
I, IL. is the greatest good news that
mortals ever heard, yet few seem to
believe it even among those who pro-
fcSs To. for good news makes people
glad and often so glad that they must
tell ii TO some one, but i'm how many
do we see the gospel act that way?
Then. may the question not well be
asked of the majority of processing
Christians, Have YOU really heard
the goSpelf" The Waterman brings TO
mind lisa. xii. g. :; xxi, II, -, and
points us to the time when the true
Son of David shall sit on David'S
throne and reign i'm Righteousness. All
kings shall fall down before Him, all
nations shall serve Him lisa. xxi, l,
Il: rs. Xxi, IL. David's grief over
AbsalOm verse 33) suggests the Lord
Jesus weeping over Jerusalem. and re-
calls the words: IF thou hadst known,
even thou. at least in this thy day, the
things which belong unto thy peace,
But now they are hid from thine eyes
80 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that
killest the prophets and stonest them
which are sent unto thee, how often
would have gathered thy children to-
gether even as a hen gathereth her
chickens under her wings. and We
would not" luke xix, AZ; Matt. xiii
81.
He who uttered those words of
lamentation also said, 80 Israel. thou
hast destroyed myself; but in me is
thine help" 30 Israel, return unto
the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen
by thine iniquity" QIos. xiii, Q; xiv.
u. He is still saying, Come unto Me-
and Him that cometh unto Me | will
In nowlse cast OUT Matt xi. %; John
vi. 81. We must beware lest under
any circumstances we seem to take
sides against God. for whatever God
permits we must stand with Him even
though it be against ourselves and
against those dearest to us, for IL is