The Green Forest tribune., 1915-06-04

ms IS lesson that demands great care in it's 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 suffi- c1ent. 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 menace to every ma ton, care being taken lest the discus sion become morbid, 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 Good Deeds, II Samuel, and g.. As a background for his most repulsive sin David had long list of excellent deeds. His de sire for better abiding place for the ark was not according to Gods will for two reasons: first, that an ornate house might easily corrupt, through 1dolatry, 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.
 II. David's One Great Sin, II Sam uei, 11:6. Davids 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 neighboring kings and taken to him. self many wives, evidently regarding his fancy as supreme and himself as above the law. David was of guard" in the matter of temptation, a danger. ous 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 "off duty" indulg ing in ease while Joab did his fighting. AS a result he became an adulterer and murderer, and the record iii no way seeks to palliate his guilt. From all this the record brings to us many important lessons. Outwardly pros. hi fI11 vid must have felt in his heart the spiritual blight in the words, "but the thing was evil in the eyes of the Lord" (v. 27 R. VI; no psalm writ ing then.
 III. Nathan's Parable, II. Samuel, 12:1-7. It is an evidence of Gods grace that he sent his servant to re- buke 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 33.11; Matthew 23:3D. No parable ever had it's desired effect more quick ly than this one. It brought conviction and repentance (v. 13) and led to the writing of the fifty-first psalm. It was 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 task and his wisdom are revealed in his approach and in the way he led David to condemn, unwittlngly, his own course of action. This was bet ter than to begin by upbraiding and denunciation. Verse two suggests, in- Gods great goodness to David, which made the offense one of gross ingratitude.
 W, Thou Art the Man"-V "a. Thus far the story is one all too common, then and now, of the strong crushing the weak and glorying in their selfish ness. 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 and needed Gods messenger. The whole sordid story with it's resultant action on David's part brings us many price less lessons. G) That man who had lived a life of faith and communion fell most miserably when he neglected his duty and took his eyes off God. There is a grave danger ahead of the man who begins to trif1e with sin q Cor. 10:12). (2) Though man fall (the godly man) yet he is not utterly cast down. There is pardon for the vilest sinner and the most abJect backslider. David's murderous hands and sin-stained soul found pardon CPS. 32 and 51). (3) A mans sins, though he may find pardon. will cloud all of his future.
 David felt it in his own life and fam fly; both daughter and sons felt it's blight (see chapter 13), and it brought forth Davids immortal lament over Absalom.
 Davids trusted friend joined the sons rebellion and caused David great sorrow (see 11:3; 23:34; 15:21 and Ps. 55:12-14.
 A human book would cover up, omit or seek to palliate such an act by one of the great of the earth (cf. the story of Napoleon and Josephine), yet Inc Rible tells all the facts to serve