Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-11-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson VI.-Fourth Quarter, For
Nov. 8, 1908.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text Of the Lesson, II Sam. xviii, Pass
Memory Verse, 81 Golden Text,
Prov. xvii, 25-commentary Prepared
hv Rev, .. M. Stearns.

ing from ADSalom because VI Ihe i0
bellion. but it was still manifestly true
"the Lord preserved David whitherso-
ever he went" (viii, 6, 14). The coun-
sci of Ahithophel, who left David to
ioin Absalom, was as if man had IN
ouired at the oracle of God, but in an
swer to David's prayer that God would
turn the counsel of Ahithophel into |
foolishness God saw ft to DO IL
through Husha, David's friend (Xv,
81, "a, 81; xvi, %; xvii, Ia. There Is
great comfort to a believer in the
words Of Ps. xxxiii, 10, IL, 1.-The coun-
sci of the Lord standeth forever, the
thoughts of his heart to all genera
tons" See also lisa. xiv, "A, and II Is
our privilege to rest in the assurance
of the "all things" of Rom. viii, -; Ii
Cor. iv, 10, and to take even the ours
ing of a Shimei xvi, 5, 12) as per-
mitted by God to show His power ID
due time and change the curse TO
blessing. See the sequel to this event
in chapter xix, 16, 20. If we would
have perfect rest we must believe hrm-
" that the Lord Is roundabout HIS
people. as the mountains, as nedge'
40 a fire. and that nothing can pos
sibly come through without His per-
mission. not even the barking OF
dog (Ex. xi, q. o-
The phrase "David's friend XIV, 81;
wi 16) reminds us of Abraham, the
friend Of God Oh ChrOn. Xxx, I; lsa' Ali'
&: las. II, 23), and of our Lords words,
"J have called you friends John XIV,
IN. Why not be more worthy Of such
q roval friend? The friendship OF this
world is enmity with God, and 1t is
impossible to be friend OF the worid
and of God too JAS. Nv, 4. The man
ner Of Ahithophers going out OF TINS
world Q7, 23) has grown to be the
common thing in our day, not hanging
but the taking of his own life, another
/ indication that the return of the King
draweth near. Mahanaim, where ShoDl
and Machir and Barzillai met David
and his people with so much Kindness,
makes us remember the KINDNESS vi
Cod to Jacob in some Of the dark days
and that We too, have the ministry ol
angels as we'll as of visible 1rlehus
xvii, 81, %; Gen. xxi, y
Our lesson chapter opens with the
going forth of David's army under
Joab Abishai and Ittai with the words
of David ringing in their ears "Deai
gently for my sake with the young
man even with AbsalOm" (verse o..
The armies met and David's followers
were victorious. There was a great
slaughter of Absalom's followers
and Absalom himself was slain
miserably by the hand OF Joab anu
thrown into u pit and covered with q
: heap of stones 40. His beautllui
head of hair was seemingly his ruin
= Verse O. chapter xiv, 26). How OFTEN
it IS that what one prizes most be-
comes the undoing of such one! PRIDE
NJ anv kind always leads to a fall.
!, David was prevented from going out
. with the army, the people saying tha'
. n would not matter if half OF them
9 died. but that David was worth ten
thousand of them Verse 3, so he re-
e NAMED In the city and sat between the
two gates to wait and watch 1or uu
ings. while the Waterman went up tC
!, tho roof over the gate that he might
p see afar off and advise the king. DaVlo
r boped for good tidings, but 1t mus
II have been with a sorrowful heart anC
b some forebodings. The two promlnen
words In our lesson verses. "watcn
L man" and "tidings," suggest to u'
- many things and give us q whoi
studv in themselves. Because OF
N we'll beloved Son given for us, the OH.
begotten Son of God, the angel SAID u
l. the shepherds, Behold, | bring yo'
y good tidngs of great joy, which shal
D. be to all people" duke Ii, lO), but IN
I. majority of those to whom the goo
news has come seem not 10 car
whether others hear or not. In
lepers outside of Samaria put us I
Y shame. who said in the midst of plenty
- while others were perishing, I'VE q
not well; this day is day of good TIC
ings. and we hold our peace.
common question asked by thos
:. who hear for the first time of the VOL
drous love of God, as to how long W
have known it and why we did nc
come sooner to tell their friends VIII
IN have died without hearing, ought
20 search us to the very heart DO we d.
n. lieve the cry of the Waterman III
nm morning cometh, and also the night
of and as we think of IsraePs blindnes
lis what about obedience to the comman
i'll in Isa XII. O. margin? Alas, there al
n MANY who, like Ahimaaz, the son
~ Zadok, insist on running but nave
~ tidings. and therefore their running
in vain. The message is plain, but
D must receive it before we can run III
IN, tell it. See Hab. Ii, 2. Make
aid plain that he may run that readeth it
not. as often quoted, that he thar rul
NAV read, which is not in the Scri
Try ture. We see in our lesson the GRIEF
a loving father over the untimely dea
of q wayward son, and our hearts a
touched by the cry OF the broX
hearted father.
What about the heart of God as
me gave up His only Son. the holy OF
;oe to become a sacrifice for our sins
tbe sin bearer. a curse for us? Let each o
ty. say bearing my sins in His own boz
of, on the tree" Might he not say 10
III, as He beholds our Indifference, rs
the pothing to you all We that pass byT