206
T HE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
20; James 5:16; Prov. 15:29; Psa. 109:4; Matt. 18:19; Acts 1:14.) There is no more beautiful picture than that of the church upon its knees, doing business for God. What things can be accomplished through prayer! What failure there if from want of prayer! How we rob God by failing to pray,—^rob Him of the glory which would come from granting our requests. The meeting was not over when Peter appeared at the door of Mary’s house. Perhaps that was why they were unprepared for the immediate answer. It was so direct, so sudden, so personal. It seemed almost too good to be true. Rhoda was so happy she could not restrain herself for joy. Her faith was childlike; the others were slow of heart to believe (Luke 24:25), They sought to explain away the mira cle. It is easier to believe in ghosts than in the miracles of Christ. The most astonishing thin'g in the world is the credulity of unbelief. Some think unbelief is a sign of intelligence, but /“Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (4) PERPLEXITY AND DISCI-) PLINE, vs. 18, 19. “ He sought for them and found them not.” Where is Peter? That was the ques tion of the morning. Herod had fin ished his devotions and whetted his sword, but the bird has flown. He examines the keepers. They cannot ex plain the escape. Herod cannot read between the lines, so the guiltless jail ers are sentenced to death. (5) PRIDE AND DESTRUCTION, vs. 20-25, “ It is the voice of a god * * * and he was eaten of worms.” Herod enjoyed for a season his high- priced popularity, but he had to reckon with God at last. He had a grand re ception, made a great oration, but not one word of it is recorded. He no doubt exalted himself, plumed himself, glorified his position and power (Prov.
16:18). Josephus says that Herod’s ruling passion was popularity and self glory (Jer. 9:9; 23:24). He is a typfe of the Anti-Chrst (Dan. 7:8) in that by flattery he sought to please the Jews, and was suddenly destroyed. (Isa. 11: 4; 2 Thess. 2:3-8.) PRACTICAL POINTS (1) If angels be for us, need we care if council and soldiers be against us? (2) King Herod removed James’ head, but King Jesus rewarded him. (3) Ten words tell the tale of the tak ing away of a chosen apostle. (4) When Peter went to prison, the church went to prayer. (5) Herod had a surprise for the peo ple, but God had a surprise for Herod. (6) Prayer for the prisoner was turned into praise for his presence. (7) When Peter reached the street, he was expected to use his senses. (8) An angel met Peter and delivered him to life; an angel smote Herod and delivered him to death. m Subject Illustration— Deliverance. “ You are under arrest! You are dis turbing the peace!” snarled a police man, breaking off the first public prayer of Eva Booth, in the streets of London. She was still in LESSON her early teens, ILLUSTRATIONS a slight slip of W . H. P ike a girl, and as the bullying of ficer tightened his grip on her arm, she was dragged shrinkingly with him, a prisoner. Almost instantly a number of fists landed on the policeman. When the crowd retreated he had two broken legs and a mess of bruises. For two weeks the little girl in the army bonnet paid faithful visits to the helpless man - in the hospital and when released he became a warm friend of Eva Booth and her cause.
Made with FlippingBook HTML5