THE KING’S BUSINESS
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IV. The Judgment Executed. T h e p o e t has well described it in the follow ing lin e s : H e o v e rth rew tho se cities.” T h e w arn ing w as sp o k en ; th e rig h t eous h a d gone, A n d th e p ro u d ones o f S o d om w ere feasting, a lo n e . . . H a rk th e grow l of th e th u n d e r, th e qu ak ing o f ea rth ! W oe, w oe to th e w orship, an d w oe to th e m irth!
“T h e b la ck sky has o p en ed— th e re ’s flame in th e air— T h e re d a rm o f v en g e an c e is lifted an d b a re ! T h e n th e shriek o f th e dy ing rose w ild w h e re th e song A n d th e low to n e o f love h a d b e en w ih sp e red a long ; F o r th e fierce flames w en t lightly o ’er p a la c e a n d bow er, L ike th e re d tongues o f d em o n s to b la st an d d e v o u r.”
The Heart of the Lesson
B y T . C . H O R T O N
LESSON VII. FEBRUARY 16. Golden Text— Gen. 12:2-3. M ore th a n fou r h u n d re d y e a rs h av e passed since th e m an N oah cam e ou t o f th e a rk in to a new w o rld . M a tte rs h a v e b e e n going from b a d to w o rse a n d G o d need s a m an to sta rt things in a n o th e r d i re c tion ; to tu rn th e tid e from th e h ellw ard to th e h e av enw a rd road . T h e re a re m an y p eo p le in th e w o rld , b u t H e tak e s th e trib e o f Shem . T h e re a re m an y fam ilies in Shem , b u t H e ta k e s th e fam ily o f T erah , a n d in th a t fam ily H e chooses A b ram . T h e re m ay h av e b e e n o th ers as go o d o r b e tte r th a n A b ram . M elchisedec w as th e n living in C a n a an an d w as a p rie st o f th e Most H igh, b u t G o d chose A b ram o f U r o f th e C haldees. In co n tem p la tin g th e life o f this rem a rk ab le m an of G o d it is well to face th e fa c t of G o d ’s sovereignty. G o d exercises th e righ t o f choice ¡n selecting m en fo r H is purposes. “H a th n o t th e p o tte r p ow e r o v e r th e clay, o f th e sam e lum p to m ak e one vessel u n to h o n o r an d a n o th e r u n to d is h o n o r? ”
Rom . 9 :2 1 . “O th e d e p th of th e riches b o th o f th e w isdom an d know ledg e o f G o d ! H ow un se a rch ab le a re H is judgm en ts, a n d H is w ays p a st finding o u t!” Rom . 1 1 :33. G o d called A b ram a n d H e called him in grace. It w as n o t w h a t G o d saw in A b ram , b u t w h a t G o d saw He could do w ith A b ram . G o d called A b ram . H e to ld A b ram what he was to do a n d th e n to ld him w h a t He, the Lord, would do. G o d gave A b ram th e lib e rty of obey ing o r refusing. It w as a call to separation from co u n try a n d k in d red , from all th ing s d e a r to his he a rt. It w as a call to sacrifice, it in v o lv ed th e y ield ing o f all things to G o d an d th e su rre n d e r o f his life plans, w h a tev e r th e y m ay h av e been. It w as a call to service. “ I will m ake th y service a blessing to th e w o rld .” H e w as to tre a d a n unseen p a th to an unknow n la n d a n d to d o a n u n accu stom ed w ork. But A b ram b e lieved G od , b ow ed his h e ad , b e n t his sh o u ld e r to th e bu rd en , an d d e p a rte d . The Compensation. “ I will m ak e o f th e e a g re a t nation , a n d I will
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