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THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
March, 1940
“Nothing that we can see.” . This red cross on the outside of this envelope reminds us of the cross on which Jesus Christ shed His blood in or der that we might be redeemed from sin. This tom heart reminds us of people who have sinned and need to be saved. God is always calling sinners to for sake their sins and receive His salva tion. In Hosea 6:1 we read, “Come, and let us return unto the Lord . . . he will heal us . . . he will bind us up.” In the New Testament we find another verse, written to Christians, “If we confess Micah 4:1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall he estab lished in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills: and people shall flow unto it. 2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us so up to the moun tain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall so forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strons nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into prunins hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword asainst. nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fis tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken It. 5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his sod, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephra- tah, though thou be little amons the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose soinss forth have been from old, from everlasting. 3 Therefore will he sive them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the chil dren of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and feed in the strensth of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be sreat unto the ends of the earth. 5 And this man shall be the peace . . , LESSON . TEXT : Micah 4:1-5; 5:2-5a. GOLDEN TEXT: “And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears Into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up a s w o r d against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Micah 4:3). DEVOTIONAL READING: Isa. 11:6-10. Outline and Exposition I. T he T ime of P eace (4:1-2) M ICAH’S vision embraces peace of the Lord’s government upon earth. There is no peace today, nor will there be until the Lord’s government is set up. Hence the time awaits Christ’s coming again to earth. The center of that government will be at Jerusalem, the literal city of Pales tine, and the words, “shall be estab-
our sins, he is faithful and just to for give us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). We will place this heart, reminding us of a sinner’s heart, in this envelope with the red cross, and then we will seal it. Next, we will cut the end of the envelope off with the scissors. (With draw the untom heart from the back compartment. Force the envelope wide open, allowing the audience to look into it ) The sin-tom heart that comes to Christ for salvation is made whole again. lished” (v. 1), assure the fulfillment of this fact. Certain signs will indicate when the promised kingdom is about to be set up, and many students think our times fulfill many of the conditions that must precede the coming kingdom. [Before Christ comes to reign, He will come for His own; cf. 1 Thess. 4:16-18.] However much our times may appear to be like those predicted, it is always un safe for one tb set dates for the Lord’s appearing. The word "mountains” in this passage refers to governments, which is usual in Scripture, and the Lord’s “mountain” will be set at the head of them all. The ruler or governor will be our Lord Jesus, appointed by God, and ac knowledging His responsibility to God rather than to the people. Hence He will rule withdut fear or favor of the people (cf. Psa. 2:6; Heb. 10:13; Phil. 2:9-11). He will be the righteous Ruler, governing with equity, justice and truth. All people,- high and low, will have justice administered for them, and the penalty for disregard of the law will be so sure and immediate that those who otherwise would desire to break the law will be deterred and will give at least a feigned allegiance to the Ruler (cf. Psa. 96:13; 66:1-3; 67:1-4; Jer. 23:5). H. T he C ause of P eace (4:3-5) All differences between nations 'will be brought for settlement before a court of international arbitration.- There will be only one Arbiter sitting in that court, our Lord Jesus Christ, and from His de cisions there will be no appeal. “He will judge between many peoples, and de cide concerning strong nations” (v. 3, R.V.). The implements of war will be de stroyed and the practice of war forgot ten, because the nations will have learned, in the house of the God of Jacob, to walk in God’s ways (vs. 2, 3). A further consequence will be perfect contentment and rest throughout the land, a time when “every man will ait
NO DISAPPOINTMENT If You Renew Your Subscription Promptly It is becoming increasingly difficult each month to sup ply BACK COPIES of THE KING’S BUSINESS because of the great demand due to the NEW LOW subscription price of 50 cents for one year. January issue is completely sold out. We cannot guar antee to supply back copies for cpming issues. Check expiration date on magazine wrapper or watch for envelope notice of ex piration. strong, like the richest plants and trees. : When He promised all these good things, and reminded them, too, that “the ways of the Lord are right” (Hos. 14:9), would you not have thought the people would have hurried to obey Him ? But they didn’t seem to care very much for their forgiving Father. Are we ever like these long-ago people, forgetting our loving Lord, and going on doing the things we want to do? Object Lesson A H eart M ade W hole OBJECTS: Two unused correspondence envelopes, two colored paper hearts, a small red cross, and scissors. (Cut down both sides and across the bottom of one envelope. Discard the irreg ular half of the envelope, a n d k e e p the complete side that bears the flap. Insert this side and flap in the uncut envelope with the gummed portion in the normal position for sealing the en velope. This will make a partition. Hide one of the colored hearts behind the partition, before sticking the two flaps together. This gives the envelope the appearance of being empty. Glue the red cross on the back of the envelope.) LESSON: What is in this envelope?
APRIL 21, 1940 MICAH’S VISION OF PEACE M icah
not only for Israel, but for the whole world as well. But such a peace as this awaits the establishment
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