The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1908-11-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson W.-Fourth Quarter, For
Nov. 8, 1908.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
fext of the Lesson, n Sam. xviii, 2433.
Memory Verse, 80 Golden Text,
Prov. xvii, documentary Prepared
by Rev. D. NJ. Stearns.

by Rev. -. W. StearnS.
copyright, 1908. by American Press Association
In the last lesson we left David fee
ing from Absalom because of the re-
bellion, but it was still manifestly true
1.-The Lord preserved David whitherso-
ever he went (viii, 6, AZ. The coun-
sci of .Ahithophel, who left David to
quired 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 fit to do it
through Hushai, David's friend (xv,
81, 81, 81; xvi, %; xvii, IA. There is
great comfort to a believer in the
words of Ps. xxxiii, TO- IL, 1.-THE coun-
sci Of the Lord Standeth forever, the
thoughts of his heart to all genera
tions." See also lisa. xiv, "a, and it is
our privilege to rest in the assurance
of the "all things" of Rom. viii, IS; 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 in
due time and change the curse to a
blessing. See the sequel to this event
in chapter xix, 16, 20. If we would
have perfect rest we must believe firm
ly that the Lord Is roundabout His
people, as the mountains, as a hedge,
as a fire, and that nothing can pos
sibly come through without His per-
mission, not even the barking of a
dog CEx. XII, y.
The phrase "David's friend" (xv, 81;
xvi, 16) reminds us of Abraham, the
friend of God Oh Chron. Xxx, Z; lisa. xii,
8; Jas. ii, 23), and of our Lords words.
Il have called you friends" John XIV,
15). Why not be more worthy of such
a royal friend? The friendship of this
world Is enmity with God, and it is
impossible to be friend of the world
and of God too JAS. iv, A.. The map-
ner of AhithophePs going out of this
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 well as of visible friends
xvii, q, %; 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 pit and covered with a
heap of stones %. His beautiful
head Of hair was seemingly his ruin
(verse 8, chapter xiv, 26). How often
it 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 that
it would not matter if half of them
thousand of them (verse 81, 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 to
the roof over the gate that he might
see afar off and advise the king. David
hoped for good tidings, but 1t must
have been with a sorrowful heart and
some forebodings. The two prominent
words in our lesson verses, watch
man" and ''tidings," suggest to us
many things and give us a whole
study in themselves. Because of a
well beloved Son given for us, the only
begotten Son of God, the angel said to
the shepherds, Behold, 1 bring you
good tidings Of great joy, which shall
be to all people" duke ii, 10), but the
majority of those to whom the good
news has come seem not to care
whether others hear or not. The
lepers outside of Samaria put us to
shame, who said in the midst of plenty,
while others were perishing, 1--WE do
not well; this day is day Of good It'd
ings, and W. 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 we
have known it and why we did not
come sooner to tell their friends who
have died without hearing, ought to
search us to the very heart. Do we be-
lieve the cry of the Waterman, 1.-THE
morning cometh, and also the night"
and, as we think of Israel's blindness,
what about obedience to the command
in lisa. xl, 8, margin? Alas, there are
many who, like AhimaaZ, the son of
Zadok, insist on running but have no
tidings, and therefore their running is
in vain. The message is plain, but we
must receive 1t before we can run and
tell it. See Hab. ii, g MAKE it
plain that he may run that readeth it.
not, as often quoted, that he that rune
may read, which is not in the Scrip
ture. We see in our lesson the grief of
a loving father over the untimely death
Of hayward son, and our hearts are
touched by the cry Of the broken
hearted father
What about the heart of God as He