The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-11-03
The SUNual oy.lvJL.
lssson vl.-Fourth Quarter, For
Nov. s, 1903.
9HE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

= .
TSse Of the Lessen, u Sam. xviii, 24-as.
Memory Verse, ss-eolGcn Text,
Prov. xvii, documentary Prepared
BY Rev. D. M. Stearns.
Ispyright. 1905. by American Press As,ociation.] ]
In the last lesson we left David fee
ing from Absalom because Of the re-
Espllion, but it was still manifestly true
<he Lord preserved David whitherso-
SFer he went" will. g. 14l. The coun-
"a of Ahithophel, who left David to
sssln Absaloul, was as if q man had in
&uired at the oracle Of God, but in an
asver tc David's prayer that God would
sarn the counsel Of Ahithophel into
aolishness God saw fit to do It
1rough Hushai. David's friend (xv,
q. "a. 81; xvi, %; xvii, IA. There is
sreat comfort to believer in the
words Of Ps. xxxiii. 10, II, THE coun-
essl Of the Lord standeth forever, the
Shoughts of his heart to all genera
stons." See also lisa. xiv, "a. and it IL
Gnr privilege to rest in the assurance
q the 'all things of Rom. viii. 2S: II
Cor. iv, Is, and to take even the ours
isag Of Shimei (xvL s, 12, as per-
esitted by God to show His power In
Sre time and change the curse to q
blessing. See the sequel to this event
ka chapter xix, 16. 20. If we would
fave perfect rest we must believe firm
q that the Lord Is roundabout His
H4oople, as the mountains, BIS q hedge,
o a fire, and that nothing can pos
Sgbly come through without His per-
s2ission, not even the barking Of .
Dag (Ex. xi. y.
The phrase "David's friend" (xv, 81;
ggi, 16tl reminds us Of Abraham, the
sgiend of God QI Chron. xx. {; lisa. XII
q Jas. Ii. 23), and Of our Lords words.
4 have called you friends" John xv.
Eg,. Why not be more worthy Of such
o royal friend? The friendship Of this
yorld Is enmity with God, and 1t 10
arpossible to tbe friend Of the world
end Of God too (Jas. iy. a. The man
r.ar Of AhlthopheTs going out OF this
world IL, 23) has grown to be the
common thing in our day, not hanging.
but the taking Of his own life, another
Sodication that the return OF the King
Seaweth near. Mahanaim. where Shoh
end AIachir and Barzillai met David
and his people with SO much kindness
snakes us remember the kindness Of
God to jacob In some Of the dark daye
ind that we. too. have the ministry OF
cngels rs well as Of visible friends
xvii, q, 20; Gen. xxi, q.
Our lesson chapter opens with the
going forth of David's army under
Soab, Abishai and Ittai with the words
! Of David ringing in their ears. Deal
Gantly for my sake with the young
man, even with Absalom" (verse 81.
The armies met, and David's followers
were victorious. There was a great
Slaughter of Absalom's followers.
and Absalom himself was slain
nlserably by the hand Of Joab and
Garown into u pit and covered with
Aeap OF stones QTl. His beautiful
head of hair was seemingly bis ruin
syerSe 8, chapter xiv. 26,. How often
L is that what one prizes most be-
upmes the undoing of such one! Pride
ef aDv kind always leads to q fall.
David was prevented from going out
with the army, the people saving that
L would not matter if half Of them
died, but that David was worth ten
thousand of them (verse 81, so he re-
NAMED In the city and sat between the
tTo gates to wait and watch for It'd
lags. while the watchman went Up to
Ghe roof over the gate that he might
zee afar of and advise the king. David
hoped for good tidings. but it must
have been with a sorrowful heart and
aone forebodlngs. The two prominent
words in our lesson verses. watch
man" and "tidings." suggest to US
many things and give US whole
study in themselves. Because Of
well beloved Son given for US. the only
Gegotren Son Of God, the angel said to
ehe shepherds, Behold. bring you
good tid!ngs Of great Joy. which shall
Be to all people" duke Il. 10,, but the
majority OF those to whom the good
aews has come seem not TO care
whether others hear or not The
Apers outside of Samaria put Us to
shar.e, who said in the midst Of plenty,
while others were perishing. I'VE do
not we'll: this day Is day Of good i'd
&gs. and we hold our peace"
a common question asked by those
Who hear for the first time Of the Won
drous love of God. as to how long we
have known 1t and why we did not
come sooner to tell their friends who
aave died without hearing, ought to
search US to the very heart Do we be-
Geve the cry Of the watchman. THE
morning cometh. and also the night
and, as we think Of Israers blindness.
what about obedience to the command
a lisa. Il, 8. margin? Alas. there are
many who, like AhimaaZ. the son Of
Hadok. insist on running, but have no
Iidings, and therefore their running is
% vain. The message Is plain. but we
must receive it before We can run and
1ell It. See Hab. II, 2. Make it
plain that he may run that reHdeth it.
not. as often quoted. that he that runs
may read. which is not in the Scrip
+ure. We see in our lesson the grief Of
loving father over the untimely death
Of wayward son, and our hearts are
%ouohad Inv tba cry Of the broken