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THE K I NG ' S B U S I N E S S
Jerusalem, his great desire was to build a splendid temple for its permanent abode. This was praiseworthy in the highest degree. It did not seem right to him that- he should dwell in a palace of cedar while the house of God was but a tent. It would be well in these days if those who are disposed to lavish their resources upon their own indul gence, shared this conviction. God and His cause always have a higher claim upon us. If we gratify our selfish de sire for enjoyment or display and give little or nothing to send the Gospel to a lost world, we are guilty before God. Although David was discouraged from carrying out his purpose in that particu lar way he desired, yet he was com mended for it and his spiritual instincts were true. Benevolence should be made a matter of justice. We should first of all be just to God as good stewards of his manifold bounties. FRIDAY, Aug. 6. Deut. 28:1-14. Blessings for Obedience. The relation between blessing and obedience is manifest, intimate and un alterable. It is not an arbitrary associa tion by the Almighty, it is inherent in the nature of things. “ Say ye to the righteous, it shall be well with him. Woe to the wicked, it shall be ill with him.” Isaiah 3:10-11. The natural consequen ces of the transgression, while they form a part of the penalty of sin, do not ex haust that penalty. The natural re sults of obedience, while they make a .great moral recompense, are but a small part of the ensuing blessing. There is a personal element to be recognized and added, in the case of disobedience, the holy wrath of the law-giver and in the case of obedience, the Divine com placency and approval which is Heaven within the soul. Psalm 19:11, which de clares that in keeping His command ments there is great reward, does not exclude a future reward for keeping them. The blessing of obedience covers the present and the future. SATURDAY, Aug. 7. Col. 2:12-23. A Heart of Kindness. The Bible represents the human heart as deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Is. 1:5-6. Jer. 17:9. Even where there is so-called natural kindness, God is to be recognized as the author of it and is to be praised for it. Its source is found in the love of God like the instincts of the lower animals.
The heart is a fountain out of which flow the issues of life. Water can never rise above its level. When a new heart has been received through the regenerat ing power of the Holy Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit appear, among which are loving kindness and tender mercy. In stead of praying “ Give me a heart like thine,” when we have received Him, we have his own heart and that heart can be depended on to function sacrificially and Divinely in every life where it throbs with heavenly power. SUNDAY, Aug. 8. 1 Thess. 5:14-24. Royal Precepts. The Bible is an infallible and all-suf ficient guide in all matters of faith and practice. It not only determines the doctrines that we should hold but the deeds that we should do. It supplies not only moral information but gives definite direction in the practical duties of daily life. Its information however is confined to principles. It should not be used like a nautical almanac nor treated like a fortune-telling book. If it binds to any particular form of ex ternal conduct, it is to such only as apart from age or locality, it enjoins upon man as man. This excludes as not binding whatever acts are narrated as mere his tory, or were performed by inspired men unless in some way commanded, also whatever acts though commanded can be shown to be binding only locally and temporarily and have not the same rea son for being done as when first en joined and those acts which are com manded in the Old Testament alone. MONDAY, Aug. 9. 2 Sam. 11:6-17. David and Uriah. During the campaign against the Am monites, David remained at home. It would have been better if he had gone to the field of battle, His self-indulgent luxury led him into temptation and wrought his fall. One sin requires an other and a deeper one for its conceal ment. It was the “ matter of Uriaih” even more than the matter of Bathsheba that awakened the anger of the Lord against David. In other words it was David’s sin of deliberation and determi nation, rather than his sin of sudden and impetuous passion. Both were bad enough to be sure, but it was after a year of hypocrisy, silence and self-deceit on David’s part that the prophet Nathan was sent to the king to voice the Divine
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