Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-07-02
LESSON FOR JULY a.
ARSALOM'S

~ ObOy Sool
parents in the Lord; for this is right
Ephesians 81.
His ~connivance with Joab, in the
death of Uriah, was a costly bargain
for David, and the development of sin
in his family with it's long train of
fearful consequences teaches US that
sin respects not person nor position.
The dark story of chapter 10 involves
Absalom's flight and Joab's strategy in
getting him back to Jerusalem (ch.
IA. All is not as well, however, as it
outwardly appears, for Absalom the
beautiful Q4:25) soon stole the heal
of the ten tribes, Israel (ch. 49,, from
his indulgent and Indifferent parent.
Then follows the story of that fathers
fight and of the sons entry into the
capital city.
This entire story is one of the most
wonderful dramas recorded in secular
or sacred history. 1t may be divided
roughly as follows: Act [. Absalom
Stays his brother. Act II. David fails
to become fully reconciled. Act III. Alb
salom's rebellion Act ". David's
grief. The lesson for today has to do
with Acts III. and ".
Act III. Scene 1. David's Flight
and Finesse, chapters Is, f16 and IL.
"A foolish son is a grief to his father.
and bitterness to her that bare him
(Prov. 17:25). On the other hand an
indulgent and an Indifferent father
brings grief to his son.
l. Coaaa . The R,+kIa of Mounf
Ephraim (chapter 49,. David at the
Gate, V. Is. The place where David
numbered" ". II his followers was
Mahanaim (17:27), where Jacob saw
the two hosts" of angels (Gen. 32:1,
p. What David saw was quite diff
ferent. AS he waited he had time to
contemplate that other time that he
remained behind when he ought to
have gone forth to battle and which
resulted in the sin for which he was
ever 10Y suffering (ch. HID. Alb
salon was shrewd as men count
shrewdness, but he made n fatal
omission in planning his campaign,
he left God out of his reckoning (ch,
1874 r. W. David's use of Hushai
was fully justified by the situation
into which this reckless son was pre-
cipitated, still it is probable that David
listened to the advice of his followers
". 81 more willingly because of his
reluctance to fight against his own
SON.. 1t is, indeed, a sad, sad spectacle
to see David stand watching his army
go out to battle, perhaps to STAY his
son, and his -exhortation ". s. to his
three captains falls upon dull ears in
the case of Joab. David's chief con.
Germ was for Absalom, not for himself
nor for his army, but the time when
his anxiety would avail had passed
Every man pays dearly, sooner OF la
ter, for his sin; the longer he waits
the greater the reckoning.
Scene 8. Absalom's Defeat, Wv. 6
10. The battle was SO planned tina
I the advantage of the forest was on Da
vid's side and more of the enemies o
n David were smitten by the hand o
God ~. 81 than we're slain by thu
servants of David. These mel
brought judgment upon themselye
through their ~disloyalty to Cod
chosen king Judges $40, 21) and il
, this we see a type of that final victor,
! which shall end our David's engage
y ment with his foes (Rev. 79:11-21
s II Thess. 2:S). Men who today ar
{ disloyal or disobedient to God
l chosen King can only expect "a cel
tain fearful looking for Of judgment an
fiery indignation which shall devou
y the adversaries'' CHeb. 10:2O. At tn
y end of the battle proud Absalom is nc
V found in his chariot, but helplessly Ell
tangled in the crown of his pride.
Scene q. AhsaIom's Death, w. ILL
"Absalom CHANGED to meet" ". 9
W; there is no chance in the prov
dences of God. His desire to NEE
ia David's servants is granted, yet thu
IN meeting brought Absalom dismay. d
feat and ruin.
Joab now takes matters into hi
r. own hands. He held David in h
power and had a debt to pay Absalol
(ch. 14:29). Most dearly did Absalol
pay the penalty to this vengeful, tim
abiding soldier. Joab was not confer
to slay this proud youth, but, to sho
K his contempt, he cast the dead bod
III into a pit and raised over it a gre;
ut heap of stones ". ID. So Absalom
10 proud monument ". 49, failed of i
intended purpose David's victor
was complete; even so will be the l
innate victory of our greater Davit
4 (Phil. 2:10, ID.
Act Nv. David's Grief, V. 1913
IN Scene I. The Messengers. Again OF
attention is centered upon the grie
IN stricken father. His anxiety is 81
Id cere and heart-breaking, but it
tardy. The first messenger, Ahimaa
IT. is a good man, but brings not goo
en- news. Is our message one of life
id of death? The second messeng
gives a diplomatic but a blunt answ
to David's anxious inquiry. VIII
a cared David for his enemies, his arm
40 nay for himself, if only the "youl
to man" were safe.
sr- Application. rs the young m;
safer" Industrially, socially, physics
at ly, morally, spiritually, his safety q
e. dends upon the guidance of the hon
lis the father and the church. Only
n. parents hear and obey the Master
words, Bring Iny SON nllneF tLul
SAD is the young man safe. Davit
m sin was not, however. sufficient eau
Mt for Absalom's DOWNFALL; he court
at his own ruin John $40.
re- David's sorrow finds it's counterps
of in the grief of Christ luke 1874, AZ
OF. David's cry that he might die for A
cir SALON finds its fulfillment in the ia
4l,4 CL-;~+ lia lio For Lic aponioc
The great outstanding lesson of II
entire drama, extending from t
Sc eleventh to the nineteenth chapte,
a is: Whatsoever a man soweth, tn
yet shall he also reap
dc
Comfort for All.
When of old, a little company
intin1atnc uNnrn dnnrnsSad and "a.