June, 1939
238
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psa. 84:11). But alas, the voice of human nature often drowns out the call and com mand of our loving Lord, and we go on our foolish ways thinking that we can do bet ter for ourselves than He can do for us. Leaders continue to try new schemes and peculiar systems in the hope that men’s troubles will be soothed and problems solved, only to find the troubles increased and the problems becoming greater enigmas than ever. But simple obedience to the Word of God always leads to peace which the Lord bestows. 1. "W alked in the first ways o[ his fa ther David" (v. 3 ). One of the tragic things that we notice even in the lives of the best of these kings is the contrast between their “first ways” and their latter ways. David, Asa, Jehoshaphat—they are all alike in this respect. They begin well, but the years bring failure and disaster. What Is the lesson that we need to leam from this de pressing record of deterioration? It is not that all of the Lord’s saints get worse in stead of better, but rather that is is almost impossible for sinful human nature to stand prosperity and the glory of high position. When men become accustomed to positions of luxury and rulership, they tend to be come impatient, intolerant, and selfish. Dav id arranges for the death of a loyal subject in order that he may have Bath-sheba. Asa is angered at the rebuke of a godly prophet and throws him into prison (16:10). Jeho shaphat becomes ambitious and joins him self to wicked King Ahaziah, and his “ships were broken" (20:35-37). Let us not com plain if the Lord leaves us in humble and inconspicuous places, nor if He sometimes leaves us in hardship and suffering. These things may be the very mercies of God for us. The winds of temptation beat fiercely upon those in high places. It is in the day of our greatest successes that we need most to “watch and pray.” 2. "Moreover he took away the high places" (17:6). But had not his father Asa taken away these “hjgh places" and de stroyed the idols? And the answer is Yes. But we must leam that this kind of work is never done as long as we live in a lost world of sinful men. The devil never rests. The destruction of the "high places” must be done all over again for every generation. The ancient heresies and idolatries are al ways springing up again under new names and labels. 3. " And they taught in Judah . . . and went about throughout all the cities . . . and taught the people" (17:9). This was the greatest and most important characteristic of the reign of Jehoshaphat. He was not satisfied with the destruction of the “high places” and the false gods, but went on to inaugurate a great teaching campaign throughout all the land in order that the people might know God’s written Word. Spiritual revivals and evangelism are im portant matters, but their results can be conserved only by a definite campaign of teaching the Word of God. Preaching which is divorced from teaching is worth little. W e need instruction as well as ex hortation. Points and Problems
Golden Text Illustration M a t th ew 6:33
Lord, as he steadily obeyed Him, until no one was willing to offer battle to him. Fear came upon all the nations round about, and Judah was free from the alarm of war. Moreover, instead of bringing him into war, even the enemy nations of the Philis tines and Arabians brought him gifts of money and of cattle until he waxed “great exceedingly." He was proving in his own experience the truth of the word of his God, spoken centuries before Jehoshaphat ever was bom (cf. Deut. 5:29; 7:12; 28:1, 5, 7 ). Having such a record as this one before us, it seems strange that any one should hesi tate to obey the voice of God. It is con stantly true that "no good thing will he ASTHMA HAY FEVER—-A British M issio n a ry from India com p le te ly , fre e d of Asthma 17 years ago will be very pleased to send helpful information on request. Mrs. K. Roberts, 35 Roxboro St., W. Toronto, Canada
A ship having been wrecked off one of the islands of Fiji, a boat’s crew that got ashore from the wreck were in the greatest possible terror lest they should be devoured by the Fijians . . . Two of them found a hut and crept into it, and as they lay there wondering what would become of them, one suddenly called out to his companion: “All right, Jack, there is a Bible on this chair; no fear now!” . . . The safety of goods and chattels, even the respect for life itself, is rightly associated with the Bible.—1,000 Tales Worth Telling, by P ickering . A King Who Loved God’s Book 2 C h ro n icles 17:1-19 Memory Verse: "O how love I thy law!” (Psa. 119:97). Approach: You remember in our story last week that King Asa of Judah turned to the Lord God for help. He had his men tear down the altars to the heathen gods, and when he started out to fight with his
enemies, he prayed to God for help. His son Jeh o sh ap h a t, when he ruled the ki ngdom of Judah, was the same kind of king. He loved God and followed Him. Lesson Story: You can be sure, then, that Jehoshaphat had a prosperous reign.
He prospered because he followed the God of his father. He saw that the altars to the strange gods were torn down, and he built up the walls about his cities. And this was not all that he did. He knew that the only way that the people could obey God was to know what God’s law said. You remember that long before this time God had given the law to Moses, and it had been written down so that the people might know just what the law said. But many times the book of the law was lost or forgotten. Wise Jehoshaphat got out the book and gave it to the Levites, the ones whose work it'was to teach the law to the people. And Jehosha phat took the Levites and his princes and sent them out to different parts of the coun try to teach the people. Jehoshaphat did the two things which a man who loves God should do. He prayed to God, and he read and followed His Word.
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Object Lesson A S u r pr ise P ackage
Objects: A large cardboard cross, maga zine pictures of bread, a quart of milk, meat, clothing, and a house. (Color the cross red, [Continued on page 242]
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