The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-11-05
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SmSoo,y-'Scf'o0f
INTERNATIONAL LEsa0N cOsi'
MENTs FOR NOVEMBER 8.

Subjecti David Grievco For Absaiom,
2 Samuel fe - Golden Text,
Prov. 17.25--Comrnit Verso e3
commentary.
TIME.--1023 q. G. PLACB.--
Mahanaim.
EXPOeYTIoN.--H. Tfdfngs Of Vic.
tory, 24-81. II will not do In teach.
ing this lesson to conhne oneself to
the verses assigned. Absalom had
laid HE plans with great shrewdness
and skill. But he had left God out In
all his calculations (ch. 17:14, r.
W. That omission was fatal. II
was in answer TO David's prayer that
God had ordained to defeat the good
counsel OF Ahithophef (cf. Sam.
15:8D. Hushai had appealed sue
cessfully to the vanity of Absalom IN
his attempt to overthrow Ahithophel's
counsel (ch. 17:1D. In this time OF
seeming general detection from David
there we're really many who stood by
him still (ch. 15:1e-21. 82-37; 17:17,
1890, 27:29; 1890. At last for
mldable army had rallied to his sup
port (ch. 1871, 81. David's chief
concern was about Absalom, and his
parting word to his generals was to
deal gently with him ". 81. The
overwhelming victory which was the
result OF the battle Is a type Of the
overwhelming final victory that shall
end our David's conflicts with His
foes (Rev 10;11-21; 2 Thess. 2:9).
More people of David's enemies were
destroyed by the hand OF God in this
battle than by the hand OF Davids
soldiers ". 8; CT. Judges $50, 21).
Absalom had longed 70 meet the SER
wants of David, but when he met them
It was to his dismay and ruin ". 81.
Absalom was not now riding In a
chariot with horse and fifty men to
run before him (cf. ch. 15:1), but on
mule with his men running away
from him. II was an appropriate end
for Absalom that he should be hanged
(De. 21:29; CT. De. 27;16, 20). We
all deserve to be hanged, as for that
matter (Gal. 3:10). The only thing
that saves us from II Is that an
other was hanged In our place (Gal.
3:13). The destiny of all who treat
their parents as Absalom treated his
father will be like to Absalom's
prov. 20:20, r. w. Absalom was
deserted by all at the last, even "the
mule that was under him went away"
Absalom paid dearly for the injury
that he had done Joab at an earlier
day (ch. 1929, 30). Joab was a
vengeful man, and had been waiting
all these years to get even. All our
m can treatment OF others is likely to
come back some day upon our own
heads with compound interest. How
the heart OF David trembled when he
was told that a, man was coming run
ming. He knew that he had tidings,
but what kind of tidings? Then when
another appeared IN the distance the
heart OF David beat faster than ever.
Then when he was told that 1t was
Ahimaaz, and he WAS sure that II was
good tidlngs that he brought. fear
for Absalom filled his heart. Poor
David! Sin is awful costly! Tho first
word of Ahimaaz to David was
peace" Or. v. Marg. Y. 28). That
is the message that the gospel brings
to every contrite sinner (Ro 10:15).
Ahimaaz bowIng himself before the
king with his face to the earth ". 28,
r. W. 1t was not only in honor to
the king, but also IN worship OF God,
whom he Immediately proceeds to
bless. But before our David every
knee shall bow, and every tongue con-
fess (Phil. 2;10, 11). Ahimaaz as
cribed all the glory for the Victory to
Him to whom It belonged (ct. Gen.
1920; Ps. 1851; 144:1. 2; Rev.
1919. 1t was Jehovah, and Jeho-
yah alone, who had delivered up
David's enemies. And II Is He, and
He alone, who delivers up ours. But
David had but one thought, 'Is the
young man Absalom safe?" All,
David, you should have thought OF
that years ago, when you took that
awful step that plunged Absalom into
eternal ruin. Most fathers think OF
the safety of their sons too late
Ahimaaz avoided the question, but his
answer was ominouA David felt that.
The Cushite. too, ascribed all the vic.
tory TO God. SO did David himself
(ch. 22:48, 40; Ps. 124:2, 81. Ven.
geance belongsth to God, and He had
avenged David on all thoDe that rose
up against him (ef. De. 32:35, SO;
Ps. 94:1; Ro. 1870.
ii. Dayid's Overwhelming Grief
Over Absalom, SO, 83. This Is one OF
the saddest scenes In all history, and
one OF the most instructive. David's
nrSt question OF the Cuehite, as OF
Ahimaaz. was, els the young man
Absalom safer" The Cushite's an.
swer was not direct, but 1t was none
the less unmistakeable. In an instant
David knows that Absalom is dead,
and he knows that the ultimate re-
sponslbility for the ruin of the son OF
his love rests upon himself. Who can
measure the agony OF the father who
looks upon the temporal and eternal
ruin Of his son, and knows that he Ia
himself TO blame for II allf That ia
an agony that every father who wan.
ders into sin may expect to face. The
enemies OF our David will ultimately
all be as that young man was. Davids
sin was no sufficient excuse for Absa.
lon. He had brought ruin upon hia
own head. Our David too sorrows
over the ruin OF His bittsrest foes
(Lu. 1874, 42). David said OF Absa-
lom, Would God had died for
thee" Christ did die for HIS enemies.
David seems to have cover recovered
from this sorrow. All over thess
chapters is written in large letters,
WHATSOEVER A MAN DOWETH.
THAT SHALL HID ALSO REAP"
Prisoners of Spain.
OF course, the pardon OF Porte