Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-06-02
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson x-Second Quarter, For
June 6, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES,



Prepared by Rev. o. N. stearrs.
Instead of assigning US 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 tchapter ix1. the
committee has given US In this lesson
one of the worst phases of the human
heart. which Is always ana only de-
ceitful above all things and desperately
wicked lJer. xvii O. 10. 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 tf1k the
greatest sinner may be saved and the
greatest backslider- forgiven and re-
stored. To find such development Of
our sinful human nature in ssch
man as David after all that the Lord
had done for him is truly humiliating
and should lead us all TO say. Woe IL
me- for who Is there 10 whom the
prophet might not say concerning this
or some other phase of our sinful ma
ture. Thou art the man" xii. a.
When we remember that the thought
of fooiishness Is sin and that a sinful
look is In the sight Of God equal to
sinful act Prov. XIV, 9. Matt V, .,
and that. as C. H Sturgeon said.
whatever the Lord Jesus Christ
would not think or say or do Is sin It
leads one to cry ont. .ssod be fnerrifui
to me- a sinner and TO say, If thou.
Lord. shouldest mark iniquities.
Lord. who shall siand?~ duke xviii.
IS; Ps. cxxx. 3. A. But the comfort h
that He can make the vilesr whittier
than snow fPs. Ii. n. II is interesting
to note that. while the child yet lived.
David tasted and wept and hay all
night upon the earth, for he said.
who can tell whether God VIII be
gracious to me. that the child may
iiveg- But when the child died and
the will of God was known then he
said: Wherefore should | fast: Can
l bring him sack againf shall 20
to him. but he shall not return TO me-
oversees 1923. When those dear to US
are sick and we cannot tell what the
viii Of God is for them and us 1t be-
comes Us TO walt earnestly upon Him
for their health. but always In sub
mission to His will When He has
made plain His will whatever II may
be. It becomes us to say. Even so, Fa-
Their" for we know that las for God,
His way is perfect fMatt. xi. &c: Ps.
xviii. 3o,. In verses "a. Is. we have
the two names OF Bathsheba's next
child, Solomon and Jedidixh. 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
to Dat1d, Behold. son shall be born
to thee who shall be a man of
rest. and / viii give peace and
quietness unto Israel in his days" q
Chron. xii, 81. He said, His name
shall be Solomon" which, according
W t4C Ak4Af XII. LACAki6 IIuACA0AC-
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 L.
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 Jona-
than's sake. He found that there was
son OF Jonathan who was lame on
both feet, his nurse having lef him
fall when he was FIVE years old rs she
took him up to flee with him at the
time OF his fathers death III 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 az
this time at Lo-debar. which signifies
no pasture. and that is where all sim
ners are. His name also signifies the
condition OF every sinner. David sent
TO where he was and brought him into
his presence. and Mephibosheth fell on
his face and did reverence. So the
sinner when brought face 10 face with
the Saviour chat is by faith feels like
saying. as Peter did when overwhelm-
ed with loving kindness. Il am sin
full man. O Lord U.uke v. g.. David
restoring TO him all that he had for
feited because OF Saul reminds us that
ell we lost in Adam and more is given
back to us in Christ and all in grace
COR His names sake
How beautiful 10 see Mephibosheth
dwelling in Jerusalem and eating con-
tinually at the kings table. even
though he continued lame on both his
feet ok. 13l. Every saved sinner Is
privileged to dwell by faith in Jeru-
salem. City OF Peace. and to feast upon
the good things provided by the king.
but while we stay in these mortal