The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-11-04
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR NOVEMBER 8.

Subject: David Grievc5 For Absalom-
2 Samuel 10 b Golden Text,
Prov. 17:25-Commit Verse IS
Commentary.
TIME.-1o22 B. c. PLACE -
Mahanaim.
EXPOSITION. Tidings Of Vic
tory, 24-31. 1t will not do in teach
ing this lesson to confne oneself 70
the verses assigned. Absalom a
laid his plans with great shrewdness !
and skill. But he had left God out IN 8
all his calculations (ch. 1874, x.
W.. That omission was fatal. IL
was in answer to David's prayer that
God "had ordained to defeat the good
counsel Of Ahithophel" (cf. 2 Sam.
$500. Hushai had appealed sue
cessfully to the vanity of Absalom IN
his attempt to overthrow Ahithopheps
counsel (ch. 17:11). In this time OF
seeming general detection from David
there were really many who stood by
him still (ch. 15:19-21, 1927; 17:l7,jJ
1920, 27:29; 1879. At last a for1
nidable army had rallied to his sup
port (ch. 1871, p. 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
overwhelming final victory that shall
end our David's conflicts with His
foes (Rev. 19:11-21; 2 Thess. .2:8).E
More people of David's enemies were
destroyed by the hand of God In this
battle than by the hand of Dav1d,e Y
soldiers ". 8; CT. Judges $40, 2l).S
.Absalom had longed to meet the SER
wants of David, but when he met them
1t was to his dismay and ruin (v.9),. :
AbSalom was not now riding In a
chariot with horse and fifty men to
run before him (cf. Oh. 15:1), but on
3 mule with his men running away
from him. 1t was an appropriate end
for Absalom that he should be hanged =
(De. 21:23; CT. De. 27:16, 20). We
all deserve to be hanged, as for that
matter (Gal. 3:10). The only thing
that saves US from it is that
other was hanged in our place tGal.
3:13). The destiny Of all who treat
their parents as Absalom treated his
father will be like to Absalom's
prov. 1920, R. W.. Absalom was
deserted by all at the last, even the
mule that was under him went away"
Absalom paid dearly for the injury
that he had done Joab at an earlier
day (ch. 1929, 30). Joab was a.
vengeful man, and had been waiting
all these years to get even. All U
mean treatment of others Is likely to
come back some day upon u 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,as
but what kindNof tidings? Then when
another appeared in the distance the
heart of David beat faster than ever.
Then when he was told that 1t was
Ahimaaz, and he was sure that 1t was
good tidings that he brought, tear
for Absalom filled his heart. Poor
David! Sin is awful costly! The ftrst
word of Ahimaaz to David was
peace" (R. v. Marg. v. 2S). That
| is the message that the gospel brings
to every contrite sinner (Ro. 10.l5).
| Ahimaaz bowins himself before the
king with his face to tho earth ". ~,
R. W. It 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 COM
fess .(Phil. 2:10, ID. Ahimaaz as
cribed all the glory for the victory to-
/ Him to whom it belonged (cf. Gen.
1920; Ps. 1851; 144:1, 2; Rev.
1919. It 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, lis the
young mai 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 OF
the safety of their sons too late.
Ahimaaz avoided the question, but his
answer was ominous. David felt that.
The Cushite, too, ascribed all the VIC.
tory to God. So did David himself
(ch. 22:4S, 40; Ps. 1912, 81. Ven
geance belongeth to God, and He had
avenged David on all those that rose
up against him (cf. De. 32:35, 36;
Ps. cal; Ro. 1910.
III. David's Overwhelming Grief
Over Absalom, 80, SO. This is one OF
the saddest scenes in all history, and
one of the most instructive: David's
first question of the Cushite, as OF
Ahimaaz, was, us the young man
Absalom safe?" The Cushite's an
swer was not direct, but it was none
the less unmistakeable. 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 father who
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 VIII 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 foes
1Lu. 1874, 42). David said of Absa-
lom, Would God I had died for
thee" Christ did die for His enemies.
David seems to have never recovered
from this sorrow. All over these
chapters is written in large letters,
WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETHs
THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP"
Splinter Breaks His Jaw.