The Denver star., 1915-07-03
SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson l.-Third Quarter, For
July 4, 1875.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

The TERNAT IONkl SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, II Sam. xviii, lis
Memory Verse, Golden Text, Eph
vi, 1-commsntary Prepared by Rev.
q. M. stsarns.
Our lesson title is "Absalom's Fail
ure," but "Absalom's sin and over
throw" might perhaps have been bet
ter. There is not so much of profit in
precedes and follows, and as this is our
last lesson in this book we must gath
er all we can IN the space at our dis
posal. Our last lesson was in chapter
XII, and because Of Davids great sin
he was told that the sword should new
er depart from his house and that the
Lord would raise up evil against him
There Is always a reaping from all
sowing, either good or bad Gal vi, q;
Hos. viii. .. Chapter Kill tells of the
beginning of his household troubles
and of the fight of Absalom and his
sojourn three years in Geshur. Chap
ter xiv tells Of the plea Of the wise
woman Of Tekoa and of Absalom's re-
turn to Jerusalem and reconciliation
with his father after dwelling two
years there without seeing his face
xiv. 1888. Absalom's remarkable
beauty is described in verses 25, 26.
The utter helplessness of the sinner
and the great mercy Of God are most
suggestively mentioned by the wise
woman in verse IA.
Chapter Nv describes Absalom's re
bellion and the plight Of the king. and
would have been a much more sugges-
tive and helpful chapter than the one
assigned US. David's crossing the
Kidron and going up by Olivet (verses
%. 3O - so suggestive of our Lords
doing the same thing because of the
rebellion Of His son Israel Gohn Xviii.
u. The notable words Of devotion on
the part of David's servants and Of
Ittai the Gittite (verses Is, 2D should
be our continual heart words to our
Lord Jesus. See also the devotion Of
Hushai. David's friend. In verses 32-37.
and David's submission to the will Of
God in verses 25, 26 Chapter xvi tells
OF Shimers cursing and how David
left him wholly to God. Chapter xvii
describes the suicide Of Ahithophal be-
cause the counsel of Hushai was pre-
ferred to his. 1t also tells of David's
friends who 30 kindly cared f0r him
at Mahanaim- Our lesson, chapter
Xviii, tells OF the battle between Absa-
lom's army and that Of David and Of
the defeat Of the former and the death
Of Absalom. 1t IL truly pathetic to
listen to David's instructions to the
leaders Of his hosts, Deal gently for
my sake with the young man, even
with Absalom" Verse 81, and then to
hear his heartbroken cry when he
learned that Absalom had been slain:
20 my son Absalom. my son. my son
Absalom! Would God / had died for
thee. o Absalom. my son, my son"
(verse 33) See also xix, 4. Does 1t
not help to make more real the love Of
God in giving up His only begotten
Son to die for us? Uohn Ill. 10: John
Ill. 10: iv, 0. 10; Rom. viii. 80.
The folly OF seeking to make a name
for oneself is seen in verse IS. A grand
Illustration Of the significance Of the
command in Hab. II. 2. is seen in les
son verses 1892. The words are. Write
the vision, and make 1t plain upon ta-
bles. that he may run that readeth It,"
but they are generally misquoted. that
he that runs may read" as II one
could take 1t in as they do the adver-
tisements by the roadside when trav-
cling sixty miles an hour by train.
The true meaning evidently is, get the
message correctly and then run and
tell 1t. In our lesson Cushi had the
message, for he had seen what he was
to tell. Although insistent, Ahimaaz was
the ieetest messenger, he knew moth
ing. and his running was in vain
oversees 81, %. 3O), and he had to stand
aside. And there are many running
today whom God never sent. They
know nothing. but the worst of it Ii
that they take pride in not knowing
and yet insist that they haye been
sent 1t is blessed to be able to say,
THAT which we have seen and heard
declare we unto you" I'VE cannot
but speak the things which we have
seen and heard" q John 1. 3: Acts
iv, 2O).
After Absalom was dead an lsraei
longed for David. and said one 10 an
other, why speak ye not word Of
bringing back the king?" David him
self sent to the priests and elders OF
Judah. saying. "Why are ye the last
to bring che king back to his house,"
Then as one man they sent eae mes
sage, Return thou and all thy serv-
pnts." So the king returned XIX.
0-15). Shimei. who had cursed him
was one of the first to meet him and
confess his sin md seek forgiveness