The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-06-02
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson x.-Second Quarter, For
June 6, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

6oioSn ie<e, RS u, lO-Oommentary
Prepared by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
Instead of assigning us a helpful les
son, such as chapter viii, which we
briefly touched upon in our last, or the
beautiful story of David's kindness to
the son of Jonathan Chapter ix), the
committee has given US in this lesson
one of the worst phases of the human
heart, which is always and only de-
ceitful above all things and desperately
wicked DER. xvii, o, 1O). He who alone
knows and can search the heart has
caused this and all similar records TO
be written that we might see more
clearly that all are sinners and that
there is none righteous-nO, not one
but that Jesus Christ came into the
world to save sinners and that the
greatest sinner may be saved and the
greatest backslider forgiven and re-
stored. To find such n development of
our sinful human nature in such a
man as David after all that the Lord
had done for him is truly humiliating
and should lead us all to say, Woe is
me?' for who is there to whom the
prophet might not say concerning this
or some other phase of our sinful ma
ture, ''Thou art the man" xii, q.
When we remember that 1.-The thought
of foolishness is sin" and that a sinful
look is in the sight of God equal to a
sinful act prov. xiv, 8; Matt. V, 81
and that, as G. II. Sturgeon said,
'Whatever the Lord Jesus Christ
xvO11Id NOT fbinI- m. COW or do &c Gin n
leads one to cry out, God be merciful
to me, a sinner" and to say, IF thou,
Lord, shouldest mark iniQuities, o
Lord, who shall stand?" duke xviii,
13; Ps. cXXX, 3, A. But the comfort is
that He can make the vilest whittier
than snow Ops. Ii, y. 1t is interesting
to note that, while the child yet lived
David tasted and wept and lay all
night upon the earth, for he said,
''Who can tell whether God will be
gracious to me, that the child may
live?' But when the child died and
the will of God was known then he
said: Wherefore should 1 fast? Can
1 bring him back again? l shall go
to him, but he shall not return to me-
oversees 1928. When those dear to US
are sick and we cannot tell what the
will of God is for them and us it be-
comes us to wait earnestly upon Him
for their health, but always in sub
mission to His will. When He has
made plain His will, whatever it may
be, it becomes US to say, Even so, Fa-
ther," for we know that 'as for God,
His way is perfect CAIatt. XII, &c; Ps.
xviii, 30). In verses "a, %, We have
the two names of Bathsheba's next
child, Solomon and Jedidiah. The lat
ter, as in the margin, signifies ''be-
loved of the Lord" for the Lord loved
him and sent by the hand of Nathan
to name him. The Lord called him
Solomon before he was born, saying
to David, Behold, son shall be born
| to thee who shall be a man OF
rest. and 1 will give peace and
quietness unto Israel in his days" q
Chron. xxi, 81. He said, His name
shall be Solomon" which, according
to the margin, means 'peaceable.'
There are just seven men in the Bible
story who were named before they
were born-five in the Old Testament
and two in the New Testament. Find
the others and consider them. Let US
give the rest of our time to the very
suggestive story of Mephibosheth in
chapter tx.
When David came to the kingdom he
made inquiry for any who might be
living of the house of Saul that he
might show them kindness for iona
than's sake. He found that there was
son of Jonathan who was lame OF
both feet, his nurse having let hin
fall when he was five years old as she
took him up to flee with him at the
time of his fathers death Oh Sam. iv
| A.. His being lame because of the
fault of another reminds us that the
| whole race is lame on both feet be
cause Adam let us all fall. He was a
this time at Lo-debar, which signiie:
no pasture, and that is where all sin
ners are His name also signifies the
condition of every sinner. David sen
to where he was and brought him int
his presence, and Mephibosheth fell OF
his face and did reverence. So thu
sinner when brought face to face witt
the Saviour chat is by faith feels Xix,
saying, as Peter did when overwhelm
ed with loving kindness, 81 am sin
full man, o Lord" duke V, g.. Davidi
restoring to him all that he had for
feited because of Saul reminds us tina
all we lost in Adam and more is givel
back to us in Christ and all in grac,
for His names sake.
How beautiful to see Mephiboshetl
dwelling in Jerusalem and eating con
tinually at the kings table, ever
though he continued lame on both hi
feet ok. 49,. Every saved sinner i
privileged to dwell by faith in Jeru
salem, City of Peace, and to feast upol
the good things provided by the king
but while we stay i'm these morta
} bodies we will never get over our lame
ness, but will have to say to the end
81 know that in me-that is, in m
: hesh-dwelleth no good thing" Ron
vii, 49,. Some believers seem to tax
pleasure in talking of their lameness
their love is cold. their faith is veal
they are this and that and very misera
BILE sinners. Better far to keep thei
Iameness out of sight and enjoy an
5 talk of the kings bounty.