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THE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
from the throne. Absalom went about among the people and told, them if he was ting he would be a better king than his father and would help them when ever they were in trouble, and he gath ered a large number of people together with horses and chariots to fight against his dear old father. This grieved David and made him very sad to think that his son could wish him dead so he could be king. Even though Absalom had an army of men and chariots to fight against his father, the Lord had made David king, and He was watching over David.. One of David’s friends heard that Absalom was coming down to the city where David was, and he sent word to David and told him to make haste and flee away before Absalom’s army could come down and kill him and all the men with him. King David took his men and went away and when Absa lom and his army came they could not find David, but he went on trying to find David. Absalom was riding a mule and as he was riding along his hair caught in the limb of a tree and he could not get loose, and the mule would not stop but went on and left Absalom hanging in the tree by his hair, and of
course he was in a helpless condition. While he was hanging there some men came and killed him. When the men in Absalom’s army heard that their lea der was dead they would not fight against David any more. When David heard that his son Absalom was dead he mourned for him and felt very badly. Even though Absalom was a very wicked son, David loved him. It is natural that fathers should lpve their children. Now we see that the seeds of selfishness, and hatred which Absalom had allowed to grow in the garden of his heart, grew day by day until at last Absalom reaped his harvest which was death. The Bible says the way of transgressors is hard. Transgressors means those who disobey God’s word. Absalom found it a very hard way, and so does every one who disobeys God. Let us sow in the gar den of our hearts seeds of love to God and obedience to our parents, and then we will reap, not death, but everlasting life. Closing Prayer: Dear heavenly Father we thank thee for. father and mother, and help us to honor them in everything we do.
Ü Ü AUGUST 22, 1920 A PRA Y ER FO R PARDON . Golden Text: “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” Ps. 51:2. LESSON TEXT Ps. 51:1-17. (Read Ps. 51:1-17; Ps. 32:1-7.)
(1)^ Have mercy upon me, O God, ac cording to thy loving kindness: accord ing unto the multitude of thy^ tender mercies blot out my transgression. (2) Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (3) For I acknowledge my transgression: and my sin is ever before me. (4) Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. (5) Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (6) Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. (7) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, ind I shall be whiter than snow. (8) Make me ^to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may re
joice. (9) Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. (10) Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (11) Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. (12) Re store unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy (a) free spirit. (13) Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. (14) Deliver me from blood- guiltiness, O God, thou God of my sal vation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. (15) O Lord, open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. (16) For thou desirest not'sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. (17) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God thou wilt not despise.
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