Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-12-25
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON CONTENTS
FOR DECEMBER IT.

Introduction The lessons TINS quartz
mark the time between the bringing III
of the ark to Jerusalem under David anu
the dedication of the temple. IN Tue ms
tory of David and his sons we see the greas
truth emphasized that whatsoever man
soweth, that shall he also reap Odllns
the quarter Gods love and mercy nave
been extolled and we have seen the JOY
that comes through forgiveness
Summary.-Lesson l. Topic; bringing
the ark to Jerusalem. 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 is not snown'
Uzzah dies for touching it; David IS dls:
pleased; the ark is left at the mouse Of
Obed-edog; three months later DAVID
takes the ark and brings it into Jerusalem I;
The priests and Leyites and chief men are
called together; a great procession IS
formed; sacrifices are frequently oferea;
there is music and singing. 1t was tho
| greatest dav of David's life. =,
III. Topic: Gods promises to DAVID.
| David desires to build house for the
lord. Tie ark was on Mt. Zion and David
was living comfortably in his own mouse
of cedar; David spoke to Nathan the
prophet about his desire and Nathan at
once encouraged him to proceed with the
building. But God spoke to Nathan, IN,
forming him that David'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 tina
house. The Lord said that He would es'
| tablish David's throne forever.
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 greas
wickedness; the kings heart was tender;
! he 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, and
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 il
| Gods service.
". Topic: Gods mercy and love. This
is one Of the seven so-called penitentnl
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 tor
mercy; with the opening sentence OF this
psalm we near hin say, Diesset 10 ii0
whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin
is covered" he speaks here also OF his deep
repentance and of his confidence in God
God was to be his mighty deliverer.
V. Topic Absalom's rebellion. The
bitter fruits of David's own unhoiy course
are now being seen; David's sons were
wicked; Absalom was a wicked, proud
young man; he was renowned for MS
beauty; he laid a plot to overthrow the
government and seize the kingdom; he
stole the hearts of the people by his sub
tletv; he then lied to his father and went
to Hebron and set up government OF hlJ
wards Jerusalem. David fed from the city
and crossed over Jordan and established
headquarters at Mahanaim.
VI. Topic Putting down the rebellion.
When David fed from Jerusalem he re-
fused to take the ark with him. Absalom
and his army marching from Hebron en-
tered Jerusalem the same day; Absaom
at first intended to follow David immedi'
ately and overtake his father while he was
wesry, but he finally decided to take more
time and raise large army Absalom was
king in Jerusalem about three months; he
then went out to battle with David's war.
riors; Absalom's army was defeated and
he was slain. David mourned over tho
death of his son.
VII. Topic: Praise and thanksgiving
for Gods goodness This is one of the
psalms supposed to have been written by
David during the latter nart of his life IL
contains two figures: |. The Shepherd and
his sheep. Q The Host and his guest.
Christ is the good Shepherd; His people
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 intemperancc.
The wise man writes of the curse of strong
drink This lesson refers to the personal
experiences Of the drunkard as well as to
the influence of strong drink in general.
Strong drink causes poverty; it 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. Topic: 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 were assembled and
David commissioned his son to perform
the great worl! of building house for the
Lord; David had MANY sons, but among
them all Solomon had been chosen for
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 Gideon: the
Lord appeared to Solomon and asked him
what he desired most; Solomon replied
that because he was young and ineXperi
enced and the kingdom was great, he most
of all desired wisdom 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.
ri. 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 large building surrounded with sew
eral courts. and was to contain many ar
ticles Of furniture. When it was finally
built the arb was brought in and the house
was dedicated; Solomon offered the ded
catory prayer; God accepted the house and
filled the temple with a cloud
XII. Topic: Wise men seeking Jesus.
When Christ was born n Bethlehem OF
Judea, in the DAYS of Herod, wise men
came from the East seeking Him; they
knew of the coming Messiah, and were
directed to Bethlehem by a star; they
went to Herod and asked him about
Christ; Herod secretly decided to kill
Jesus; he asked the wise men to inform
him concerning Christ in order that he
too might go and worship Him. but the
.nrI aod has %l.n,v nd