Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-07
Sunday School Lesson for November Discussed
by Rev. J. E. Gilbert, D. D., Secretary
American Society of Religious Education.

ZA2 n


Ahimaaz outstripped Cushi and came
REPORTING-Ahim was rec
ognized while approaching, and David
said: He is a good man and bringeth
good tidings." A beautiful tribute (Ror.,
KID. Almost GREATNESS, the young
man cried. All is we'll" Falling upon
his face before the king. an eastern Gus
tom expressing reverence tNeh., viii:6);
he said: Blessed be the Lord. which
hath delivered up the men that lifted UP
their hands against the king" Victory
had been gained through Gods help. The
priest knew that David would rejoice
not more in the victory than in the rec
ognition of the Almighty's hand. This
was message enough. all the message
Ahimaaz had a minister of religion
preparing for sadder news psalm,
cXv:D. Then came the negro servant.
sterner and more direct. declaring Of
ficially: Il have tidings'' merely an
nouncing his errand THE Lord hath
avenged thee of all them that rose up
against thee" He began with recogni-
ton Of God. but he ended with less
agreeable words. Enemies with uplifted
hands. Avenged! The expressions were
calculated to awaken suspicious of this
evil that had befallen. David must have
anticipated the worst by this time.
1NQU1RING.-It is evident that
Ahimaaz and Cushi both supposed that
they were rendering a valuable service
to the king. With gladness they had
swept along the way to make him know
Of the victory. and they had reason to
expect commentator. But the first had
scarcely finished when David said: rs
Absalom safe?" Receiving an evasive
answer. he made the runner stand aside
and put the same question to Cushi,
after his speech. 1t would seem that
David was more father than king. He
was not Indifferent to the national well
are. Had he been he would not have
sent out his forces to fight, on the con-
fines of his dominion. But his heart
yearned for Absalom. Whatever of nat
hayward young man. 1t Is possible that
he hoped by some means his life might
be spared while the rebellion was sup
pressed. Remembrance of his own do
mestic sins may have Increased his anx-
iety.
REPLYING.-The answer of Ahimaaz
may have been according to his best
knowledge. or he may have suppressed
part of the truth. being unwilling to bear
the message. But Cushi, schooled to do
another's bidding withheld not the real
condition. True, he did not enter into de-
tails, and say that 10000 men lay dead
upon the field. that Absalom had been
thrust through with a dart welded by
Joab that he had been cast into a pit,
that stones had been piled upon him, as an
expression Of contempt (verse Id. He
did not even say in plain words that
AbsalOm was dead. but he did say what
same. There was no piety or pity in his
words. They were rather full Of retribu-
tive justice and of loyalty to the king
Cushi felt that, the young man had re-
ceived his deserts. fate due to all
rebels. He was thinking of the king
dom. but he spoke with admirable gen.
tleness and wisdom. because Of his re-
gard for the king.
WEEPING.Cushis words went like
arrows to the heart Of David. Abrupt
ly leaving the company. he FASTENED to
the chamber over the gate. With uncon-
trollable grief he cried. as he Went. 20
my son. Absalom. would God that l had
died for thee" The scene is one of the
most pathetic in all history, and 1t APP
peals even at this distance of time to
all the deeper feelings of human nature.
His conduct was quite different from
that of Aaron at the death of Nadeb and
Abihu Uev., x:6) and of Eli, who lost his
son in battle but was most concerned
Tor the ark of God. David on another
occasion was resigned to the will o. God
psalm xxxix:O. His grief was now
criminal. because it obscured the divine
judgment. He ought to have been thank
full for deliverance and submitted hum
bly, to Providence, but he was a man OF
tears and SORROWS and these revealed his
character and explained his career.
CONCLUSION.-Our lesson affords
instruction on four points: /. We see
how bad it is possible for a child to be.
ana what Is the late OF Maynard son
prov, xXiX:15). Pious parents are
most anxious for disobedient children. and
one might think their love is greater for
those who deserve it least Matt, xviii:11-
12). 3. Life has its dark and bright
sides. Blessings are accompanied by adj
versities. The salvation of a nation was
purchased by the death of a son. We
often pay dear for our great gains Dob,
ii:1O). !. We must learn to watch and
pray against inordnate attachments and
the unadvised language of passionate
grief. When man reaches the point that
he is lord of his pain, that he rules his
sorrow. then he is prepared for large
usefulness psalm XVII I'D.