August, 1942
TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON Commentary Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Childrens Division Object Lesson .Golden Text Illustration By B. B. S utcliffe By G retchen S ibley By H elen F razee -B ower By E lmer L. W ilder By A lan S. P earce Points and Problems B y A lva J. M c C la in , President of Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Ind.
SEPTEMBER 6 , 1942 THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM: PAST AND PRESENT I n A n c ie n t S odom — G enesis 13:13'; 19:23-25; D euteronomy 32:31-33 I n A n c ie n t I srael — A mos 6:1-7
without thought of God (cf. 3 Pet 2:6-9). II. I n A ncient I srael (Amos 6:1-7) Politically, materially, and religious ly, the times were prosperous; but there was injustice and oppression, wickedness and vice, in the nation (cf. 2 Ki. 14:23*29j. The people, es- 'pecially the leaders, were - blind to "the prevalent signs of revolution, the immorality in society, and idolatry in religion. They forgot the holiness of their God, and hence, in spite Of their sinfulness and the certain judgment tp come upon it, they were “ at ease in Zion” . (v. 1 ). Unaware of the use- le^pness of outside help, they put their trust “in the mountain of Samaria” which was as a broken reed. They had put aside their responsibility as heads and leaders of the nation. And they forgot the teachings of history to which their attention was called (v. 2) by the m e n t i o n of Calneh (Babylon),.and Hamath (Syria), and Gath (Philistia), all of whom had been under the judgment of God for the same things as were then in Israel (cf. Isa. 10:9; Gen. 10:10; Ezek. 27:23; 2 Ki. 14:25; 18:34; 2 Chron. 26:6; 1 Sam. .5:8). • Their conduct is described in a six fold manner (vs. 3-6). Because the judgment did not fall immediately, they “put far away the evil day,” the very thing t h' at cavbs ed it to be brought nearer, (v: 3; cf. Eccl. 8:11). They lived in luxury and idleness (v. 14), forgetting that their freedom and possessions had been given them ,for the service of others, not for selfish indulgence. They were extravagant (v. 4), not caring' that such living would have a softening effect upon them and their nation. They indulged in impious music, turning to another use the instruments David had made for the purpose of glorifying God (v. 5). They were deep drinkers (v. 6 ), thus degrading themselves morally and mentally, and adding to their sacrilege. They used “ chief" oint ments, profaning the perfume that should be held sacred for God alone (v. 6 ). They were not-grieved for the national wound that made them a divided nation, thus revealing their lack of patriotism. The judgment upon them was to be expected (v. 7). They would be come captive to their enemies, and
Genesis 13:13 But the men of Sodom *vere wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly. 18:23 The sun was risen upon ‘the earth when tot entered Into Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom aud upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the tord out of heavens v 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. Deuteronomy 32:31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies them selves being judges. 32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter: 33 Their wine is the poison of drag ons, and the cruel venom of asps. Amos 6:1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom ¿he house of Israel came! 2 Pass ye unto Calneh, and' see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be. they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than yonr border? 3 Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; 4 That lie upon bbds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the sthllr 5 That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David; 6 That drink wine in bowls,'.and anoint themselves with the chief .ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. 7 Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched them selves shall be removed. GOLDEN TEXT: «The way of the un godly shall perish** (Psa. 1:6). DEVOTIONAL READING: Psa. 1. Outline and Exposition I. I n A ncient S odom (Gen. 13:13; 19:23-25; Deut. 32:3.1-33) B HE STATE of the p e o p l e of Sodom was one of hardness against all t h a t came from underlying principle was one of liv ing wholly for self. Nothing might interfere w i t h their pursuit of pleas- [ Lesson material is based on outlines of International Sunday School Lessons copyrighted by the International Coun cil of Religious Education and is used by its permission. Scripture portions quoted are from the King James Ver sion unless otherwise stated .]
ure and of business. They turned deaf ears to all Warnings from, God. W h i l e tolerant of Ldt, who was a righteous man, i. e., a “justified” man (cf. 2 Pet. 2:8), they were so only as long as he and his religion did not interfere with their wicked purposes; They themselves w e r e exceedingly wicked, thus courting their own doom. The judgment that fell upon them was sudden and complete (Gen. 19: 23-25). Not only were the inhabitants of the plain, destroyed, but also all that grew upon the ground was ruined to such an extent that the scorched earth became uninhabitable. In volved in this fearful judgment was all the property of Lot, all that he had amassed since leaving Abraham and choosing to dwell in the midst of this wicked people. The rain of brimstone and fire was literal, as our Lord indi cates (cf. Lk. 17:29). And ever since that day, the destruction of Sodom has been referred to as a sample of the fearful judgment of God upon sin. The cause of Sodom’s condition and ultimate destruction is brought to light in the comparison between the living God and all other objects of worship (Deut. 32:31-33). The people of Sodom had a god and a religion, but both were fountains of poison. The “vine of Sodom” p r o d u c e d “grapes of gall,” the word meaning a poisonous plant, and drinking that wine left the cruel venom of asps under their tongues. We should remember that the judg ment meted out to Sodom is recorded as an example of the punishment of all who would live for time and sense
God. They were “ sinners before the Lord,” or, “ against the Lord.” Their
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