The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-11-03
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON CON.
MENTs FOR NOVEMBER 8.
Subject: David Grieves For Absalom,
2 Samuel 10 - Golden Text,
Prov. 17:25-Comnit Verse %
Commentary.

Esr0V. 17:25-COmm1r verse 20
Commentary.
TIME.-1o22 B. G. PLACE
Mahanaim.
EXPOSITTON.--I. Tidings Of Vic
tory. 24-S1. It will not do in teach-l
ing this lesson to confine oneself to-
the verses assigned. Absalom had
laid his plans with great shrewdness
and skill But he had left God out in
all his calculations (ch 17:14, r.
w. That omission was fatal 1T Z
was in answer to David's prayer thar
God had ordained to defeat the good
counsel Of Ahithophel' (cf. 2 Sam.
15:31l. Hushai had appealed sue
cessfully to the vanity of Absalom in
his attempt to overthrow Ahithophelss
counsel (ch. 17:11). In this time Of
seeming general detection from David
there we're really many who stood by
him still Och. 15:19-21, 32-37; It'll,
1920, 1929; 1879. At last for
midable army had rallied to his sup
port (ch. 1871, ~. David's chief
concern was about Absalom. and his
parting word to his generals was to
deal gently with him ". 81. The
overwhelming victory which was the
result of the battle is a type of the
ON0I WAClllAu6 lludA tlCLOIy LudL 6udIl
end our David's conflicts with His
foes Grew. 19:11-21; 2 Thess. 2:S).
More people Of David's enemies were
destroyed by the hand of God in this
battle than by the hand of David's
soldiers ". 8; CT. Judges $50, 21).
Absalom had longed to meet the SER
wants of David, but when he met them
1t was to his dismay and ruin Nv. 81.
Absalom was not now riding in
chariot with horse and fifty men to
run before him (cf CHI. 15:1) but on
a mule with his men running away
from him. 1t was an appropriate end
for Absalom that he should be hanged
Ode 21:23; CT. De. 27:16, 20). We
all deserve to be hanged, as for that
matter Goal. 3:105. The only thing
that saves us from 1t is that an
other was hanged in our place Goal.
3:13). The destiny of all who treat
their parents as Absalom treated his
father will be like to Absalom ~
prov. 20:20, r. W. Absalom was
deserted by all at the last. even "the
mule that was under him wentsaway.D
Absalom paid dearly for the injury
that he had done Joab at an earliefe
day (ch. 1929, 30). Joab was
vengeful man, and had been waiting
all these years to get even. All our
mean treatment of others is likely to
come back some day upon our own
heads with compound interest How
the heart OF David trembled when he
was told that a man was coming rum
ming. He knew that he had tidings,
but what kind of tidings? Then when
another appeared in the distance the
heart of David beat faster than ever.
Then when he was told that it was
Ahfmaaz, and he was sure that it was
good tidings that he brought, fear
for Absalom filled his heart. Poor
David Sin is awful costly! The first
word of Ahimaaz to David was
Peace" (R. v. Marg. " 2S). That
is the message that the gospel brings
to every contrite sinner Gro. 10:15).
Ahimaaz bowling himself before the
king with his face to the earth ". %.
r. w. 1t was not only in honor to
the king, but also in worship of God,
whom he Immediately proceeds to
bless But before our David every
knee shall bow, and every tongue con-
fess (Phil. 2:10, I'D. Ahimaaz as
cribed all the glory for the victory to
Him to whom it belonged (cf. Gen,
1920; Ps. 1851; 144:1, q; Rev.
1919. 1t was Jehovah, and Jeho-
yah alone, who had delivered up
Dayid's enemies. And it is He, and
He alone, who delivers up ours. But
David had but one thought, Is the
young man Absalom safe?" All,
David, you should have thought Of
that years ago, when you took that
awful step that plunged Absalom into.
eternal ruin. Most fathers think
the safety of their sons too la
Ahimaaz avoided the question, but ~
n-IL Lr.
The Cushite, too, ascribed ali the vicf
tory to God. So did David himself,
(ch. 22:48, 40; Ps. 124.2, 81. VenS
geance belongeth to God, and He had
avenged David on all those that rose
up against him (cf. De. 32:35, So;
Ps. 94:1; Ro. 1910.
III. David's Overwhelming Grief
Over Absalom, 81, So. This is one Of
the saddest scenes in alk history, and
one of the most instructive. David's
first question of the Cushite, as of
Ahimaaz, was, rs the young man
Absalom safe?" The Cushite's an
swer was not direct, but it was none
the less unmistakeableA In an instant
David knows that Absalom is dead,
and he knows that the ultimate re-
sponsibility for the ruin Of the son OF
his love rests upon himself. Who can
measure the agony OF the Tatner VINO
looks upon the temporal and eternal
ruin of his son, and knows that he is
himself to blame for it all? That is
an agony that every father who wan.
ders into sin may expect to face The
enemies of our David will ultimately
all be as that young man was. David,s
sin was no sufficient excuse for Absa-
lom. He had brought ruin upon his
own head. Our David too sorrows
over the ruin of His bitterest foea&
(Lu. 1874, 42). David said of Absa5
lom, Would God / had died foI*
thee" Christ did die for His enemiese
David seems to have never recovered
from this sorrow. All over thes>
chapters is written in large letterssy
WHATSOEVER A NAN S0WETEIs +
THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP" !
Gucnoo ia Taff TxsS:Ir