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K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
August 1930
obeyed God fully, renouncing his old land with its false religion, and yielding up even the new land and the son of promise. Lesson 2. July 13. “Jacob (A Selfish Man Transformed).” Gen. 25:29-34 ; 28: 18-22; 29:18-20; 33:1-4, 18. Golden Text, Matt. 16:26. Central lesson—the discipline of faith. Jacob, unlike his brother, Esau, valued the spiritual birthright. He was wrong in deceiving his father and robbing his brother. He showed his natural ten dency to scheme and oheat when in the house of Laban. But his will was at last conquered and the grace o f God trans formed him. Lesson 3. July 20. “Moses (A Coura geous Leader).” Ex. 3:1-12. Golden Text, Heb. 11:27. Central lesson—the en durance of faith. There were three per iods in Moses’ life. (I ) His forty years’ training in Egypt ; (2) his discipline as a shepherd in Midian; (3) his ministry as the leader of the Exodus. The first period ended in failure. At the end o f the sec ond, disciplined and humbled, he was ready for service. God’s presence with him assured o f victory. He endured be cause he kept his eyes upon the invisible God (cf. Heb. 11:27). Lesson 4. July 27. “Deborah (A Leader in a National Emergency).” Judges 4:1- 10. Golden Text, Isa. 35 :4. Israel was in distress. Because o f sin they had been delivered over to their foes. Deborah, strong in faith, summoned Barak to lead the armies of Israel. He shrank from the task but Deborah’s courage made up for his lack of faith. God gave victory and saved the nation from disaster. Lesson 5. August 3. “Naomi and Ruth (A Study in Racial Relationships).” Ruth 1:6-10; 14-22. Golden Text, Acts 17:26. Famine had driven Elimelech and his household to Moab, a land which to an Is raelite would properly be called the ene my’s country. There sorrow and bereave ment came to the home, leaving Naomi and two widowed daughters-in-law. Na omi set her face toward the homeland. Orpah wept at the thought of parting, but turned back to her own people and her own gods. Ruth forsook all and became a worshiper of Jehovah. She was re warded by becoming an ancestress of king David. Lesson 6. August 10. “Hannah (A Godly Mother).” 1 Sam. 1:9-18, 24-28; 2:19. Golden Text, Prov. 1 :8. In bitter ness because she wsts childless, Hannah asked a son from God and promised that he would be given back to God. Her prayer was misunderstood by Eli, the high priest. His rebuke brought forth a noble defense from Hannah and she was sent away in peace. When the son, Samuel, was given, he was dedicated to God and trained for the service of the tabernacle. Central lesson—God answers true prayer. Lesson 7. August 17. “ Saul (A Man o f Great Possibilities Who Failed).” 1 Sam. 9:15-17, 25-27; JO :1; 19:9-11; 31: 1-4. Golden Text, 1 Cor. 10:12. Israel failed in demanding a king. God granted thejr request. Saul was a man of great stature who would appeal to the imagina tions of the people. At first humble, he soon turned from God. At last he was forsaken of God and died a suicide. Cen tral lesson—Saul failed because he did not do right in the sight o f the Lord. Lesson 8. August 24. “Jonathan and David (A Noble Friendship).” 1 Sam. 18:1-4; 20:14-17, 32-34, 41, 42; 2 Sam. 1:
false peace by saying there can be no judgment. 8. When a preacher declares the whole counsel of God his message will always be effective though it may not always bring repentance (cf. Acts 20:27). 9. Jonah was wonderfully pleased with himself, but displeased’ with God. He is the type of a Christian in whom self is never more than half dead and who obeys God only when God’s policemen are on his track. 10. Jonah had been forgiven much, but he was unwilling that Nineveh should be forgiven. God is not willing that any shall perish (cf. 1 Pet. 3:9). 11. Jonah thought more o f his reputa tion as a prophet than he did of the salva tion of the many helpless sinners of Nineveh. There have been many other prophets like him. 12. The story of Jonah ends at a point where his selfishness stands out in bold relief over against the wonderful love of God. We would like to know whether he changed his attitude before he died. If he did not, what a warning his life and record are to those who love to have their own way. * * * G olden T ext I llustration When Kitig Edward and Queen Alex andra of Britain were in Naples, they were anxious to visit the church of Santa Chiara, which was founded in 1310 by Robert the Wise. The church was closed, as the monks who were entrusted with its keeping were taking their midday meal. The Royal party knocked at the door, and the sacristan behind it, thinking they were beggars, replied : “ Go in peace.” In order to get “peace,” prince or pauper alike must come as beggars, for “ God, is no re specter o f persons.” * * * God’s Love for all the World Jonah 3:1-5, 10; 4:10, 11 Memory Verse. —“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). Approach.- —God loves the world. He gave His Son for “whosoever” will be lieve in Him. But they must know the Gospel story before they can believe, and
Beside the Cross ■Oppress’d with noonday’s scorch ing heat, To yonder Cross I flee; Beneath its shelter take my seat; No shade like this for meI Beneath that Cross clear waters burst, A fountain sparkling, free; And there I quench my desert thirst; No spring like this for me! A stranger here, I pitch my tent Beneath this spreading tree; Here shall my pilgrim life be spent; No home like this for me! For burdened ones a resting place Beside that Cross I see;' Here I cast off my weariness No rest like this for me! —Horatius Bonar.
east, but Jonah ran away and went in the opposite direction. He went to Joppa, the nearest seaport, and boarded a ship bound for Tarshish, in southern Spain. Jonah tells why he fled from God’s call (Jonah 4:2). But his heart was not at rest. He became so weary with the struggle that he went to sleep in the midst of a great storm. The heathen sailors were afraid, and cast into the sea the cargo that would lighten the ship. Then Jonah was awak ened that he might pray to his God. Prob ably Jonah’s heart was too full Of con flict for him to talk to God about it. The sailors decided that the storm had been sent as a punishment on somebody, so they drew lots to determine who was guilty, and when the lot fell to Jonah they questioned him. When they heard about his God they were afraid to cast Jonah overboard, but he told them to do so. God had “pre pared a great fish” to carry Jonah to the coast of Palestine. Then. God again called him, and this time Jonah obeyed. Read the story of his journey, his mission, the message that he gave, and the response of the people to that message. Jonah did not always obey God gladly and willingly, nor was he always ready to believe God knew best. But how patient and loving God was with him! His love and mercy for all the world are boundless and He would have us make known this love to others, saying gladly: “ I’ll go where You want me to go 1” Prayer. September 28, 1930 The Greatness of the God-Fearing (Review Lesson) Golden' Text: “The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; a good under standing have; all they that do his com mandments ; his praise endureth for ever” (Psa. 111:10). ' . Lesson 1. July 6. “ Abraham (A Pio neer o f Faith).” Gen. 12:1-3; 13:7-12;' Heb. - 11:8-10. •Golden Text, Heb. 11:8. Faith and obedience are but two sides of the same truth. Abraham believed God in spite o f every temptation to doubt. He
many have n e v e r heard it. We can all help send them the G o s p e l , by our prayers, giving, and obedience to H is voice. Lesson S t o r y.-r> Jonah’s name means “a dove.” His home was in Gath-hepher, Galilee, about three miles northeast of
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Nazareth. Jeroboam II was king of Israel at this time, and Jonah prophesied that he would restore the territory of Israel (2 Ki. 14:25). This prophecy was ful filled. , Nineveh was a wonderful, great city, the capital of Assyria, so large that it would have taken three days in Jonah’s time to cross it (Jonah 3:3). It was a wicked, idolatrous city, and Jonah heard much about it, because he lived on the highway from east to wèst where travel ers to and from Nineveh passed, God spoke to Jonah and told him to go
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