The Brinkley argus., 1915-06-04
LESSON FOR JUNE 6 NATHAN REBUkES DAVID.

LESSON TExT-II Samuel 11:2-2:7a-
 GOLDEN TExT-Create in me . clean heart O God-Psalm 51:10
 This is 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 sum- 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 na- tion, 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. pavid's Many Good Deeds, U Samuel, and g. As a background for his most repulsive sin David had 2 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 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.
 IL. David's One Great Sin, Il Sam uel, 11:6. David's victories over his enemies are dismissed in 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 or neighboring kings and taken to him. self many wives, evidently regarding his fancy as supreme and himself as above the law. David was "offsguard' in the matter of temptation, a dangerT ous position for all, both soldier and civilian David had had too long and: too great period of success and pros-' perity after his long period of priva- tion, and this led to carelessness andl pride. David was of duty" indulg- ing in ease while Joab did his fighting As a result he became an adulterer' and a murderer, and the record ill noI way seeks to palliate his guilt. From all this the record brings to us many important lessons. Outwardly prOs- porous and his army successful, Da- vid must have felt in his heart the spiritual blight in the words, Out the thing was evil in the eyes of the1 Lord" (v. 27 R. V); no psalm writ- ing then
 III. Nashan's Parable, II. SamueIs 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 3311 Matthew 23:37). No parable
  ly than this one. It brought conviction land repentance (v. 13) and led to the writing of the fifty-first psalm. It was 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, unwittingly, his. own course of action. This was bet ter than to begin by upbraiding and denunciation. Verse two suggests, in ferentially, Gods great goodness to David, which made the ofense 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 ACCdCu 0ou mCoSCu6Cl LID WAOAO sordid story with it's resultant action on David's part brings us many price less lessons. CD That man who had lived a life of faith and communion fell most miserably when he neglected his duty and took his eyes of God. There is grave danger ahead of the man who begins to trifle with sin q Cor. 10:12). (2) Though a man fall Cthe 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 5D. (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 fsee chapter 13), and it brought forth David's immortal lament over Absalom.
 David's trusted friend joined the sons rebellion and caused David great sorrow tsee 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,