The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-06-29
LESSON FOR JULY 4
ABSALOM'S FAILURE.


LESSON TExT-II Samuel 1S1-15
GOLDEN TEXT-Children obey you,
parents in the Lord: for this Is right
Ephesians 6:L
His connivance with Joab, in the
death of Uriah, was a costly bargain
for David, and the development of sir
In his family with its long train OF
fearful consequences teaches us that
sin respects not person nor position
The dark story of chapter Ii involves
Absalom's flight and Joab's strategy IL
getting him back to Jerusalem (ck.
14. All is not as well, however, as il
outwardly appears, for Absalom the
beautiful 14:25) soon stole the hear
of the ten tribes, Israel (ch. 15), from
his indulgent and Indifferent parent
Then follows the story of that fathers
flight 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 l. Absalom
Stays his brother. Act II. David fails
to become fully reconciled Act Ill Alb
salom's rebellion. Act ". David's
grief The lesson for today has to dc
with Acts III and ".
Act Ill. Scene I. Davi6's Flight
and Finesse, chapters Is, 16 and II
and bitterness to her that bare him.
prov. 1920. On the other hand an
indulgent and an Indifferent father
brings grief to his son.
Scene 2. The Battle of Noun,
Ephraim (chapter 1917. David at the
Gate, v. 1-5. The place where David
numbered" (v. u his followers was
Mahanaim Q7:27), where Jacob saw
the two "hosts" of angels Gen. 80: 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 tC
have gone forth to battle and which
resulted in the sin for which he was
even now suffering (ch. HID. Alb
salon was shrewd as men count
shrewdness, but he made one fata
omission in planning his campaign
he left God out of his reckoning (ch
1874 r. W. David's use of Husha1
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
". g more willingly because of his
reluctance to fight against his own
son. 1t is, indeed, sad, sad spectacle
to see David stand watching his army
go out to battle, perhaps to STAY his
son, and his eXhortation ". 81 to his
three captains falls upon dull ears in
the case of Joab. DaYid's chief con
Germ was for AbSalom, not for himself
nor for his army, but the time wher
his anxiety would avail had passed
Every man pays dearly, sooner or la
ter, for his sin; the longer he waits
the greater the reckoning.
Scene 8. Absalom's Defeat, W. 6
10. The battle was go planned that
the advantage of the forest was on Da
vid's side and more of the enemies Of
David were s1nitten by the hand OF
God ". 81 than were slain by the
servants OF David. These mer
brought judgment upon themselves
through their disloyalty to Gods
chosen king Judges 500, 21) and In
this we see a type of that final victory
which shall end our David's engage
ment with his foes (Rev. 79:11-21
II Thess. 2:8). Men who today are
disloyal or disobedient to Gods
chosen King can only expect "a Ger
tain fearful looking for of judgment an6
fiery indignation which shall devoul
the adversaries' (Heb. 10:27). At the
end of the battle proud Absalom is not
found in his chariot, but helplessly en-
tangled in the crown Of his pride.
Scene q. Absaiom's Death, W. Ills
"Absalom CHANGED to meet" ". r
W; there is no chance in the provi
dences of God. His desire to meet
David's servants is granted, yet that
meeting brought Absaiom dismay, de
feat and ruin.
Joab now takes matters into his
own hands He held David in his
power and had a debt to pay Absalom
(ch 1920. Most dearly did Kbsalon
pay the penalty to this vengeful, time
abiding soldier Joab was not content
to Stay this proud youth, but, to show
his contempt, he cast the dead body
into a pit and raised over 1t a great
heap" Of stones ". I'D. So Absalom'
proud monument ". 49, failed of its
intended purpose David's victory
was complete; even so will be the I'll
innate victory of our greater David
phil 2:10, III.
Act w. David's Grief, v. 1888
Scene 1. The Messengers. Again oul
attention is centered upon the grief
stricken father. Ills anxiety is sin
cere and heart-breaking, but it is
tardy. The first messenger, Ahimaaz
is a good man, but brings not good
| news. Is our message one of life OF
Of death? The second messenger
gives a diplomatic but a blunt answer
| to David's anxious inquiry. What
cared David for his enemies, his army
nay for himself, if only the young
man" were safe.
Application. rs the young mar
safer" Industrially, socially, physical
ly, morally, spiritually, his safety de
| dends upon the guidance of the home
| the father and the church, Only as
-