The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-07

tCoryright. 1905, by American Press Association1
In the last lesson we left David fee
ing from Absalom because Of the re-
bellion, but it was still manifestiy true
"the Lord preserved David whitherso-
ever he went (viii 6, Ia The coun-
sci of Ahithophel, who left David to
join Absalom. was as IL n man had in
quired at the oracle Of God. but in an
swer to David's prayer that God would
tura the counsel OF Ahithophel into
foolishness God saw ft to do ii
through Hushai, David's friend (xv,
81. 81. 81; xvi. %; xvii. 14. There is
great comfort to a believer In the
words of Ps. xxxiii. 10, IL, The coun-
sci OF the Lord standeth forever, the
thoughts OF his heart to all genera
tons" See also lisa. xiv, "a, and IL Is
our privilege to rest in the assurance
OF the AL things" Of Rom. viii, IS; ii
Cor. ", 10, and TO take even the ours
ing OF a Shimei xvi. 5, 12) as per
mitted by God to show His power in
due time and change the curse TO
blessing. See the sequel to this event
in chapter xix, 10, 20. IL We would
have perfect rest We must believe firm
ly that the Lord is roundabout His
people, as the mountains, as hedge,
as a fire, and that nothing can pos
sibly come through without His per-
mission, not even the barking Of a
dog eek. II, y.
The phrase "David's friend" (xv, 81;
xvi. 16 reminds us of Abraham, the
friend of God I'll Chron. Xxx. I; lisa. XII,
,oI So Y do
Il have called you friends" John XIV.
49,. Why not be more worthy Of such
a royal friend? The friendship OF this
world is enmity with God, and IL is
impossible to be a friend of the world
and of God too JAS. iy, A.. The man
ner of Ahithophers going out of this
world az, 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 Shobi
and MachIr and Barzillai met David
and his people with so much kindness,
makes us remember the kindness of
God to Jacob in some Of the dark days
and that we, too, have the ministry of
angels as we'll as of visible friends
xvii, 81, 20: 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, Deal
gently 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
miserably by the hand Of Joab and
thrown into q pit and covered with q
heap of stones 40. His beautiful
head of hair was seemingly his ruin
(verse 8, chapter xiv, 26). How often
| 1t is that what one prizes most be
comes the undoing of such one! Pride
of any kind always leads to a fall
| David was prevented from going out
with the army, the people saying thai
| it would not matter IL half of then
died, but that David was worth ter
+ thousand of them (verse ~, so he re
manned In the city and sat between the
two gates to wait and watch for It'd
| ings, while the Waterman went up tC
the roof over the gate that he might
| see afar of and advise the king. David
hoped for good tidings, but 1t mus
have been with a sorrowful heart and
some forebodings. The two prominent
words In our lesson verses. watch
man. and "tidings," suggest to vi
many things and give us whole
study in themselves. Because of q
we'll beloved Son given for US, the only
begotten Son Of God, the angel said t.
| the shepherds, Behold, l bring yor
! good tidings Of great JOY, which shall
be to all people" duke II, 10), but tbs
majority of those to whom the goot
news has come seem not to care
whether others hear or not. Thu
lepers outside of Samaria put US II
shame, who said in the midst of plenty
! while others were perishing. I'VE d.
not well: this day is a day Of good It'd
ings. 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 VIZ
have known it and why we did no
come sooner to tell their friends wh<
have died without hearing, ought Il
search us to the very heart. Do we be
! lieve the cry Of the Waterman, 9Th,
morning cometh, and also the night,
and, as We think of Israers blindness
what about obedience to the command
in lisa. Il, o, margin? Alas, there ar,
many who. like Ahimaaz. the son o
Zadok, insist on running. but have NJ
tidings, and therefore their running ii
in Tho f1 loi hut
must receive 1t before we can run and