The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-11-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER 8.
-~3s.

..-v@1aSs
Subject: David's Grief Over Absalon''
Sam. xviii, 24-33-Golden Text, Prov.
xviii, 25-Memory Verses, 31-33-Cou.
mentary on the Days Lesson.
+. The battle array Tvs. 49,. l. The
time was about three months after Absa'
lom assumed the throne. 2. The place was
the forest of Ephraim in Mount Giead,
not far from Mahanaim, where DAVID was.
This region is still covered with thick oaks
and tangled bushes, and thorny, creepers,
growing over rugged rocks and rulnous
precipices. 8. The army of Absalom must
have been very much larger than Davids,
for 2O, 900 men were slain, besides the many
that escaped. But they had no such disci-
pline and organization as David's troops.
and no "Old Guard" like David's band OF
900 heroes. 4. The army of David was dl.
vided into three divisions under three able
generals. Gideon had divided his handful
into three, that he might make q simulta.
neous impression on three different parts
of the Midianite host, and thus contribute
the better to the defeat OF the whole. So
David divided his army into three, that,
meeting Absalom's at three different points
he might prevent concentration OF the
emery sst tsas would l,vs have swallowed up his
II. The defeat and death of Absalom
Tvs. s-iO. Absaiom met the servants OF
David in battle and was defeated. In his
flight Absalom rode upon mule. For him
to ride upon a mule-perhaps Davld's own
was a mark of royalty Il Kings i: 80,
3S). His head caught in the forked boughs
of tree, and he hung there, stunned and
helpless. Perhaps his long, thick hair got
entanglcd, but there is nothing to support
the common idea that Absalom was sus-
pended merely by his hair. Josephus says
that his hair was "entangled." Then Joab
took three darts and thrust them through
the heart of Absalom. He alone felt strong
enough to disobey the king. He did the
act for David's own sake. Doubtless he
thoroughly believed that Absalom's death
was the only effectual way of ending this
most guilty and pernicious insurrection,
Absalom living, whether banished or i'm.
prisoned, would be constant and fearful
danger. Absalom dead, great though thel
kings distress flor the time might bs,
would be the very salvation OF. the country.
Joab held back the people from furtH Her
slaughter. Absalom's body was cast into a
pit and great heap of stones th3own
upon it.
Swift runners brought the news from the
battlefield to the king. "a. "Yhe two
gates" The heavy Notifications Had prob
ably an outer and an inner gate !ak the base
of a battlemented tower, in WI 4ich was a
chamber" ". 33). On the fiat Hoof of this
tower. but shaded from publiifview, David
waited to hear tidings Of thY battle. The
the gateway would leave st1me space be.
tween that and the. inner. Compare Eli
going out. and sitting by the ayayside
watching for the coming of some lElnneI
from the field Of war Il Sam. 4: rS3l
"Watchman." Every gate and outpost Of
the tower would be guarded by .yigilant
watchmen at such u time Roof" The
fiat roof of the gateway on the side of the
outer wall. The picture of the anxious
watcher at the gate of Mahanaim gives us
a faint insight into the heart Of the Father
above. The world is full Of Absa loms who
have risen up against their heavenly Father;
1913. eff he be alone" David judged
that if the man was running alone he was
armv had been routed many fugitives
would have been coming together. Unto
the porter" One stood at the top of the
tower, and the other was below to attend
to opening and closing the gate. "A good
man." David had had proof of his fidelity
during the progress of the war, and was
sure that such as he would not be chosen
for the thankless work of bearing bad
news. "All is WELL" This in the Hebrew
is one word. peace" It was the usual
word of greeting. Fell down." An act of
homage to the king. Delivered up" Lit:
orally, "shut up" restrained and confined
within bounds, instead of leaving them at
large.
derness in the words which reveals the
more anxious about the welfare of the
"young man" than about the issue of the
battle. David was thinking of the ominous
words, The sword shall never depart from
thy house. The sword had devoured one
son; was it now to claim another? And
where would it stop? Ahimaaz saw the
kings distress and gave an evasive answer.
IL the young man safe? This is question
every parent and every friend of young
men should ask. Is the Young man safe
from intemperance, from bad companions,
from had books, from dishonest conduct.
from had habits? Is he safe in Jesus
Christ? Is he safe in a good home and
among good influences? Is he safe for this
world; Is be safe for eternity? Ask your.
self. also, what you are doing to make him
and keep him safe?
3O-32. "Stand here" He has given his
message, and is thus dismissed to rest after
the toilsome running. He is, however. al
lowed to place himself near, that he may
hear what further tidines the Cushite
brings. "Cushi." An Ethiopian slave in
the service of Joab. Hath avenged"
Hath pronounced favorable verdict in his
cause and delivered him out of the hand of
his enemies. Enemies of my Lord" The
Lord hath done thee Justice on thy enc
mics. He answered the question about
Absaiom indirectly, yet SO, as, not only
clearly to make known his death. but also
to express condemnation upon his hostile
attempt against his father and king.
". David mourrs for Absalom ". 3S):
SO. Much moved" Seized with violent
trembling and grief. "The chamber" An
apartment in the upper part of the tower
of one of the gates; the nearest place
where he could be alone. "Wept." Loudly
lamented. 20 my son Absalom!' There Ia
not in the whole of the Old Testament a
passage of deeper pathos than this. The
simple beauty of the narrative is exquisite.
and we are irresistibly reminded Of Him
who, while He beheld the rebellious city Of
Jerusalem and thought of the destruction
it was bringing upon itself, wept over it
luke l9: 4l). "Died for thee" So Moses
lex. 80: 32) and 80 st. Paul rom 9: 81
would have sacrificed themselves, had it
heen possible to save Others His wish To
die in Absalom's stead was no meBa extrav-
agance of grief. David knew his own peace
was made with God; he could die at any
time. If Absalom were spared in life he
might yet repent. The causes of David's
grief were, l. David's love for Absabm.
;. The bitterness that Absalom had come
10 such sad end 3. The consciousness
that his own sin was partly the cause.