T HE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
219
When He would use a razor, he goes outside for one. Isaiah 7:20. “ The Lord shall shave with a razor that is hired.” O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men! THURSDAY, Feb. 5. Ezra 4:1 -2 4. Samaritan Hostility. In this chapter one reason at least may be discovered for the historic and hereditary hatred of the Jews for the Samaritans. The dwellers in Samaria bitterly opposed the rebuilding of Jeru salem and the temple, and finally caused the work to cease for a time. The Jews neither forgot nor forgave. Patriotism kept the feud alive. They had kindlier feelings for the heathen than for the Samaritans in spite of the strain of Jewish blood which they possessed. A nation can no more afford to hate than can a man. Hate sours the milk of human kindness and turns the wine of life to gall. FRIDAY , Feb. 6. Luke 10:29-37. A Good Samaritan. flan any good thing come out of Samaria? A priest and a Levite had passed by a wounded traveler with in difference but a certain Samaritan saw him, pitied him, tended him, mounted him on his own beast and trudged be side him to a place of safety. Jesus asked the lawyer which was the neigh bor to the man that fell among the thieves. The lawyer was not so stupid that he could not see the point. He will not however reply “ The Samari tan,” because he excluded Samaritans and Gentiles from his definition of neighbors. He answered therefore by a periphrasis, “ He that showed mercy to him.” Then Jesus said, “ Go and do thou likewise. I who am the friend of publicans and sinners, hold up the ex ample of the Samaritan to thee.”
SATURDAY, Feb. 7. John 4:7 -4 2. Jesus in Samaria. A glance at the map of Palestine shows Judea in the south, Galilee in the north and Samaria between. When Jesus left Judea for Galilee, John 4:4 states that He must needs go through Samaria. With Him, however, the necessity was rather spiritual than geo graphical. There was another route to. Galilee which made a detour across the Jordan and went up on the eastern side. It was much longer and incon venient but the Jew took that way rather than step on hated Samaritan soil. The Saviour doubtless had in mind the interview with the woman at Jacob’s well. This might have been His objective and the reason for His jour ney to Samaria. Be that as it may, here was the seed sowing that pro duced the fruitful harvest of Acts 8:5-17. SUNDAY, Feb. 8. Acts 9:32-43. Peter at Lydda and Joppa. This section marks the broadening of the church and the extension of the Gospel which promises to go far be yond Judea. New laborers are pre pared and God’s hand is manifested more powerfully than ever before. Two notable miracles find a place in the nar rative. The mighty works which had been promised in John 14:12 had not been wrought before because they had not undertaken to carry out the great commission and preach the Gospel everywhere. They were impossible while the Gospel was confined to Jeru salem. They show that the Gospel had lost nothing by going abroad. It gained immensely. The story incident ally reveals alsp how the faith of the saints had increased for when Dorcas died they send for Peter without delay. Was it not that he might undertake the unheard of task of bringing her back to life?
Made with FlippingBook HTML5