August, 1940
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
296
I NT E RNAT I ONA L L ESSON Commentary Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Childrens Division Object Lesson Golden Text Illustration By B. B. S utcliffe By G retchen S ibley By G race W . K ellogg By E lmer L. W ilder By A lan S. P earce Points and Problems B y A lva J. M c C lain , President of Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Ind.
An hour spent in contemplation of the greatness of these soul blessings (which are possessed by every believer) would do more to increase the volume of praise to God than would the be-: stowal of thousands of fresh blessings, taken as a matter of course and soon forgotten. HI. T he B asis for P raise (10-18) The Bible is the only Book that frankly faces and adequately describes man’s sin, and then reveals what God has done concerning sin. The Old Testa ment tells what He has done: removed the sins of the penitent one as far as the east is from the west; the New Tes tament tells how He has done it: by the sacrifice of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence “he hath not dealt with us after our sins” (v. 10), but according to the grace that gave His Son to die for sin, and to save sinners. The Bible also is the only Book that depicts God as a Father. And as the Father, He pities the weakness of His children; He knows their frame and re members that they are dust. He is aware of all the human frailty, of all the force of circumstance, ignorance, and tyranny of habit that oppress His children. And knowing all this, He puts upon them no burden for which He does not supply sufficient strength to bear it. Moreover, the Bible is the only Book that matches the brevity of earthly life with the everlasting mercy of God. We can praise Him because it is “accord ing to his mercy” that He saves us (Tit. 3 ;5 ); hence the salvation of God is an everlasting salvation, as His mercy is everlasting. Points and Problems 1. ConsideY the grand movement of the entire Psalm 103. As one has writ ten about it: "This Psalm has been compared to a stream which, as it flows, gradually acquires strength and volume till its waves of praise swell like those of the sea” (Aglen in Ellicott’s Com mentary). It begins with the note of personal praise, “Bless the Lord, O my soul” - rises from earth to heaven in its climax (vs. 19, 20); and finally returns to the personal note with which it be gan, "Bless the Lord, O my soul.” 2. “Bless his holy name” (v. 1). The adjective “ holy” indicates the lofty spir itual heights h-’ the speaker.
SEPTEMBER 1, 1940 PRAISING GOD FOR HIS BLESSINGS P s a l m s 103, 107
Psalm 103 il Bless the Lord, O my soiili and all that is within me, bless his holy name. v _ , . * Bless the Lord, O my sonl, and xor- aret not all his benefits i # 3 Who forglveth all thine iniquities) who heaieth all thy diseases) 4 Who redeemeth thy life from de struction; who crowneth thee with lov ing-kindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satlsfletK thy mouth with good things; so that thy yonth is renewed like the eagle’s.N 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed out transgres sions from us. 13 Like as a father pltieth his chil dren, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; he re- membereth that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are as grass t as a flower of the field, so he flourish- eth. 16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall' know it no more. 17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto chil dren’s children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, an£ to those that remember his command ments to do them. LESSON TEXT : Psa. 103:1-5; 10-18. - GOLDEN TEXT ; “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psa. 103:2). DEVOTIONAL READING; Psalm 110* 12-19. Outline and Exposition I. T he C haracter o f P raise (1, 2) O F ALL spiritual exercises, the highest is to be found in the giv ing of praise to God. Prayer gets things from God, but praise gives to Him (cf. Psa. 50:23). Praise should be deliberate, not merely spontaneous in times of special blessing. For example, in 'voicing his praise to the Lord, the psalmist was conscious of what he was about to do; he approached it with a de liberate intention, and he called upon his [ These, lessons are developed from outlines prepared by the Committee on Improved Uniform Lessons of the 1n- ternational Council. The outlines are copyrighted by the International Coun cil of Religious Education and used by permission. Scripture portions quoted are from the King James Version un less otherwise stated.] "
soul to engage in this highest of all spiritual employments. Time should be set aside for seasons of praise, as well as for prayer. Again, praise should be personal. “Bless the Lord, O my soul” (v. 1). The personal aspect suggests something of the dignity of every soul—of MY soul —that God Himself waits for its indi vidual sacrifice of praise. Moreover, praise should be fervent. “ All that is within me” (v. 1), is called ’upon to engage in praise. Fervency in prayer is frequently enjoined. But here fervency in praise is desired—such fer vency as will cause the praise to rise in the midst of any circumstance. The more one knows God, the more heartfelt will be the adoration that is given to Him. Furthermore, praise should be ra tional, and it will be if there is remem brance on the part of the believer of what the Lord, in grace, has done. For getfulness is the great thief of praise. God’s mercies are taken for granted be cause they are so numerous and con stant, and many times the favor of the Lord is accepted without so much as a “ thank you” to Him. H. T he R easons for P raise (3, 5) Dealing with the soul, the Lord for gives as the Judge, heals as the Phy sician, redeems as the Kinsman, and crowns as the Rewarder. All these gra cious operations, and many more, ,should be called to mind, and the remembrance of them should be blended in praise, thus glorifying God. Man is so completely ruined by the Fail that he does not recognize his need of these soul blessings; he thinks chiefly of the body, and thus he misses health and strength and spiritual ministration for his soul.
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