The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-07
International SundaySchoof
 Lesson
Fourth Quarter Lesson VI. samuel
 xviii, 24-33. November 8, 1908.
DAVID GRIEyEs FOR ABsALoNl
[ tmRmrmnesNmaa maaIENammmnMwmEa

DAVID GRIEvEs FOR ABsALOM.
 The fate of the Hebrew monarchy trembles in the balance. Once more. now ih his old age, David is fugitive. The graphic narrative describes his small force as hungry, weary. thirs- ty." On the other hand the "conspir- cy Is strong" and the rebal army "in- creases continually" Humanly speak ing. the fortunes of the aged mon arch are past retrieving. But stand still and see a salvation conspicu- ously providential.
 The gilded youth, never so dazzling in the charms of his person, enters triumphantlY the capital his father has just evacuated with weeping. He proceeds at once to the abominable thing common among oriental victors the commission of that unpardonable crime which fixed the character of the war as one of exterminatio ton.
 A council of war Is now called. The oracuiar Ahithophel advices immediate pursuit by twelve regiments of picked men. which he offers to command the object being the dispatching of the king, whose person was the only ob- struction In Absalom's path. What an incarnation of filial unnaturalness! The proposed killing of his. father pleased the son.
 Hand of Providence intervenes! Prayer of David Is heard! The counsel of the sage of Giloh, best advice from a merely military standpoint, Is made to appear folly. The Archite, spy and traitor, adept at sophistry, succeeds in having the Fabian policy adopted. and thus insures Abs6lom's ruin and Dav- ids deliverance.
 In this darkest hour of his checkered career. the best traits of Davids mo- ble character shines resplendent. He needs not the regalia of royalty. He is kingly without it. One sees in him "a great man. bending under the judi cial visitations of Providence." While his throne Is shattered, his family dis rupted. he maintains his self possess sion and shows his sagacity. In the black enamel setting of apparently IT, retrievable misfortune, his piety, sub mission, generosity. prudence, shine like instrous jewels.
 David's genius for generalship now asserts itself. He puts the natural bar rier of the Jordan between himself and the rebel army. He ensconces himself in the splendid fortress of Mahanaim. When the battle impends. he chooses the field where his bush whacking guerrillas will have every advantage, knowing that the wood could devour more people than the sword" The uncompromising protest of his troops Is all that restraints his lioh heart from taking the field in per son. With the undying, unquenehable affection of the patrenal heart, he has 1t upon the commandant of each division that they deal gently with the young man."
 Now, upon the very site of his fore father Jacobs wrestling, David enters into an agony of soul. The king, like the patriarch, has brought his grief and peril upon himself by his own misdeeds. The points of contrast are, that David Is in a gate, instead Of glade; 1t is daytime. instead of night; and 1t is a son that approaches in hos tile mien, instead of brother as In Jacobs case.
 Unfilial treason receives it's deserts that day. There Is defeat with Absalom's vanity forestalls his escape and insures his doom His ambrosial locks identify him. as does the very beast that bears him.