The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04
LESSON FOR JUNE s
NATHAN REsukEs DAVID.

NATHAN REeUKEs DAVID.
LESSON TExT-n Samuel ll:22-l2:7a.
GOLDEN TExTlCreate in me a clean
heart o God.-Psalm S1:lo.
This il q lesson that demands great
care In its presentation and treatment,
which will differ widely according to
age. For the younger the briefest sort
OF statement that David fell in love
with Uriah's wife and to obtain her
had her husband killed will be suff-
cient. With such, throw the emphasis
upon the danger Of harboring evil
thoughts and the need Of heart purity
(see Golden Text.
With adults. however, some time
may be devoted to the social evil
which is such a menace to every ma
ton. care being taken lest the discus
sion become morbio. or that we neglect
to emphasize the fact that the cure
is not In regulation or reformation but
In the regeneration Of the human
heart. =.
I. David's Many Coco Deeds, ~
Samuel, z and 8. AS q background
for his most repulsive sin David had q
long list of excellent deeds. His de-
sire for a better abiding place for the
ark was not according to Gods will
for two reasons: first, that an ornate
house might easily corrupt, through
idolatry, the spirituality of the Hebrew
religion; second, David was a man of
war and therefore not qualified for
temple building. Though denied, David
did not despair, but at once provided
that his successor carry out his desire.
Again, David's treatment of Mephibo-
sheth, Jonathan's son, in accordance
with the covenant made between those
two men, is al inspiring episode and
one of great spiritual suggestiveness;
it has furnished material for countless
sermons.
u. David's One Great Sin, n Sam.
ueI, 1856. David's victories over his
enemies are dismissed in a few
verses, yet his sin is set forth in de-
tail-another evidence Of the divine
origin and inspiration of the Bible.
David had followed the example Of
n~eighboring kings and taken to him.
self many wives, evidently regarding
his fancy as supreme and himself as
above the law. David was "off guard"
in the matter Of temptation. a danger
u position for all, both soldier and
civilian. David had had too long and
too great a period of success and pros
perity after his long period of priva-
ton, and this led to carelessness and
pride. David was "of duty" indulg-
ing in cas- while Joabsd did his fighting.
A0 q rncN1t hn hono mo ON odpr1tornp
and a murderer, and the record in no
way seeks to palliate his guilt. From
all this the record brings to us many
important lessons. Outwardly pros
porous n his army successful. Da-
vid must have felt in his heart the
spiritual blight in2he words, but the
thing was evil in the eyes of the
Lord" ". ~ r. W; no psalm writ
ing then.
~. Nathan's Parable, u. Samuel,
12:1-7. 1t is an evidence of Gods
grace that he sent his servant to re-
Duke and restore this man after his
own heart" Such Is his mercy, for
he does not will that any should per-
ish but that all might come to the
knowledge of forgiveness ezekiel
| OO.11p MdItucW GO.Ct). 4NO pdIdUIc
aver had its desired effect more quick
ly han this one. 1t brought conviction
and repentance ". 49, and led I o the
writing of the fifty-first psalm. 1t al
a delicate task set before Nathan thus
to rebuke the king, yet it reveals the
essential nobleness Of David in that
he did not become angry. Nathan's.
a and his wisdom are revealed in
his approach and in the way he led
David to condemn, unwittingly, his
own course of action. This was bet
ter than to begin by upbraiding and
d~enunciation. Verse two suggests, in
ferentially, Gods great goodness to
David, which made the offense one OF
gross ingratitude. The picture of the
rich man selfishly sparing his own n
Selling the poor mans treasure-his
all, which lay on his bosom. drank
from his cup and was as a child, ex-
hibits the worst sort of scoundrel.
No wonder David grew indignant
(Romans 2:1) and declared that such
a man lis worthy to die" ". 6 r. W.
~. Thou Art the Man"-v. "a. Thus
far the story is n all too common.
then and now, of the strong crushing
the weak and glorying in their selfish
nes What follows Is the evidence
of Gods response to mans repentance.
the parallel to which has nowhere else
been found in the ancient world. The
glory Of it is that David heard AID
needed Gods messenger. The whole
sordid story with its resultant action
ON David's part brings is many price
less lessons. ID That man who had
lived a life of faith and communion
fell most m%iserably when he neglected
his duty and took his eyes of God.
There is a grave danger ahead Of the
a who begins to trife with sin Il
Cor. 10:12). (2) Though a man fall
(the godly MANI yet he is not utterly
cast down. There is pardon for the
vilest sinner and the most abject
backslider. David's murderous hands
and Sustained soul found pardon
FPS. 80 and SD. CD A mans sins.
though he may find pardon. will cloud
all of his future.
David felt 1t in his own lie and fam
lily: both daughter. and sons felt its