The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1908-10-10
Sabbath School
Lesson !. October 4, 1908.
Lesson II. October II, 1903.
GODS PROMISES TO DAVID.
q Chron. ~

nation in the capital city This les
son develops his purpose to make Je-
rusalem the permanent abode OF the
symbol OF the divine presence. The
first two verses contain brief record
OF a conversation between the king
and his minister. Nathan. The king
makes a prol osal. The minister as
sents.
But the minister had dream that
night God made known plainly his
will with reference to the proposal Of
the king and Nathan went next day
and told the king. This record is in
verses 3 to =.
Verses 10 to u record the prayer or
address OF David TO God Here, then,
is the chapter.
l. \ Purpose Expressed. Vss. Ia
H. \ Prohibition. VS.. !.
III. A Statement OF Reasons. VS.. SO.
" 4 Divine Message. Vss. ia.
" The Prophets Report. vs.. IS.
Here the teaching will end.
|. The Proposal. 1t was made by
the king to his minister II was a
noble religious purpose. II was poll
tically wise. II was the natural out
growth OF David's deeply religious ma
ture. II looked well on the face OF it.
For the king, only man, to dwell in
a noble palace, while God. the eternal
Sovereign, had his home in a tent.
seemed homogeneous. 1t was natural
for the minister to think as David did,
and he spoke as he felt when he said,
DO all that is in thine heart" He
thought also that he knew the mind of
God. He found out later that he was
mistaken.
II. God made the prohibition He
appeared in a vision to Nathan. How
no one knows We still believe that
God makes his will known to men.
However, Il was done. Nathan must
not build my house" Thinking that.
he had but one course open. There
have been monarchics in which the
minister would have lost his head who
said at night to his king, DO all that
is in thine heart" and returned in the
morning Ia say. God prohibits thee
from building him 4 house" Many a
king would have said. You are blow
ing hot and cold" Many would have
asked. How do you know So much
more about Gods will this morning
than YOU knew last night,
Ill God gave Nathan reasons 10
repeat to the king II never have
dweh in cedar house" Wherever |
have gone with your fathers. tent has
been good enough for me Do not
blame Yourself Tor not building me an
house. Inc judges were not com.
mandcd To de- it. You have not been
In the twenty second chapter OF !
Chronicles. David gave to solomon
another reason which God gave why he
would not have him build He had
been man 81 war, God wanted n man
81 peace To- build his temple That
man was solomon II is quite unusual
for God tn give reasons why he acts in
one way or another. We are. how.
ever. continually asking, How;
WHY" We do wrong. Let God act.
II is nur duty 10 hear and obey
". The divine message which Ma
than was allowed To give was most
gracious First God recalls to Davids
mind wha, he had been You were
only shepherd boy Nou were out
on Rc,hchcm'S hills Now YOU are
king. ard splendid palace is your
home |. God have done all this tor
YOU You were nothing but humble
peasant. | have made thee one 81 the
great 81 the earth
II is good to remember what We
have been Too many forget cur
country has in it now many persons
who were insignificant and poor VINO
have become rich aud who have for.
gotten all about their past. They need
some one who will dare 10 be Ma
than. 10 tell them how sinful and fool
ish they are
After God had reminded David ri
what he had been, and how the change
in his circumstances had come, he goes
on To tell what he will he Here -
where the lesson gets lis title.
There are several promises about
nine, al made to- David. part arc
abou, the nation. part are about HIM
self. part are about his son.
ist. !, the promise ui permanent
home ipr the nation That was
satisfying promise 10 a patriotic king
Permancucc +, wonderful thing How
few ui Us have anything that looks
even a little Ike pcrmancncc,
ed i the promise that their Can
aantish enemies who had made so
much trouble ior FIVE hundred years
almost. should trouble them no more.
nat was llr great dNNlc\cUtnl OF
David, reign. He Subducd all cncm
les who were round about
cd Is the promise oi a house,
line. q dynasty House IN VS. 10
does not mean building # means a
continual succession OF kings oi the
line OF which he was the first That
was most welcome promise Today
men have no certainty that the work
they do shall be continued in their own
line Fortunes seldom remain in the
same family for four generations.
David must have rcjoiccd when he
heard that
4th The promise now becomes de-
finite One oi thy sons shall succeed
thee when thou dicSt No mention is
made OF the one, but David could trust
God for that
sth Still more emphatic is the
promise, He will no, have to struggle
or fight. | will establish his kingdom
9th This is the great promise. Gle
shall build me an house" David would
not live to see it, but he could prepare