April 1924
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
238
known children to boast how much their goodness ex ceeded others because they went to Church and Sunday School, while they quarrelled at home, and school, and on the playground, and were generally troublesome, thinking all the while the attendance at both Church and Sunday School excused their meanness. Then, I’ve known them to be proud of being able to pray aloud in Junior meeting, and look down upon those who are too shy to do this. Have them understand that all these sins are as bad as the sins of the Jews, and will be punished just as theirs were. God wants an all round goodness on our part, and we cannot have that without- keeping close to Jesus. Goodness in thought, word, and deed-, is only obtained through con stant watchfulness, and humbleness, and prayer, and above all earnestly seeking Christ’s help. Memory Vérse: Eph. 5:1, 2; 6:10, 11. i s i “TOO BUSY”' ■ The Lord had a job for me, but I had so much to do, I said: “You get somebody else— or wait till I get through.” I don’t know how the Lord came out, but he seemed to get along, But I ‘felt kind o’ sneakin’ like—-knowed I’d done God wrong. One day I needed the Lord, needed him right away— And He never answered me at all, but I could hear Him say Down in my accusin’ heart—-“Nigger, I’s got too much to do. You get somebody else or wait till I get through.” Now, when the . Lord has a job for me, I never tries to shirk; ;• I drops what I have on hand and does the good Lord’s work; And my affairs can run along, or wait till I get through Nobody else can do the work that God’s marked out for you. — Paul Laurence Dunbar. i*y? w> “WHOSE FAITH FOLLOW” Hebrews 13:7 Such an interesting and suggestive letter came to us the other day that we cannot forbear passing it on to our read ers. It is a splendid illustration of the truth that “none of us liveth to himself” but that we are, consciously or un consciously, exerting an influence, for good or ill, not only upon our immediate associates, but in ever-widening circles upon some whom we may never see. The writer says: “I am sending a little money to be used in any way you think best— perhaps to send The King’s Business to some one. It is not my Own, but God’s, so do not thank me, please. I am also sending some of my own to be used for the work. I read in your paper of a young man who told God that if He would help him to get a cheaper place to room, he would send the money he saved to you. ****So I have been saving a tenth, in addition to God’s portion, to help in your work.” OCTOBER AND JANUARY K. B.’S WANTED! We desire to thank those friends who have so kindly responded to our call for back numbers of the King’s Business, and are taking it for granted that they will respond to the present need for copies of the OCTOBER and JANUARY issues. We need at least 150 to supply the demand. S é
4:4. Deborah’s appearance on the scene is remarkable, one who stands out uniquely in the sacred history of her nation. There was no predecessor and no successor like her. The palm tree under which she dwelt may mean the open-air court where justice was administered during her judgship. While a judge, she was not a military leader, hence the call for Barak to rally Naphtali and Zebulon which were in proximity to the enemy and suffered the heaviest oppression. This was not her call, but God’s call communicated in some special way to her, and it was God, and not Barak, who was to deliver the enemy into their hands, (v. 7). 4:21. Jael’s deed is not to be judged by itself in the abstract still less by the light of the gospel, but according to the code under which she lived and the knowledge of the divine will as it was then known among men. Deborah understood her and read clearly her swift decision and un scrupulous act, and saw back of all the purpose of serving Israel. Her praise of Jael was therefore with that knowl edge though she would not have done the deed she praised. B-Practical Com. It must not be supposed that although her action was foreknown to God, it was sanctioned by Him; neither that because Deborah praises it in her song (c. 5 ), therefore she is pronouncing a eulogy on the moral character of the woman.—Gray.
ELEMENTARY Kate H. Haus
After awhile* Joshua died, 110 years old. Almost his last words reminded the people that not one good thing that the Lord had spoken had failed, and urged the people to trust and obey God. After Joshua died, the people met
with many defeats at the hands of their enemies because they did not obey God. When they cried to God in their de feats, God gave them judges to rule over them, and lead them to victory. As long as they served God, they had rest from their enemies, but when they served idols, then God allowed their enemies to conquer. After three judges had ruled them, they again fell into idolatry. God punished them again by letting the enemy, under captain Sisera with his army conquer them. He treated them most cruelly. God raised up a woman named Deborah to help them when they cried to Him. She was a prophetess, and God told her what to do. She sent for Barak and told him to .take his army and go fight their
enemies, and she would help. But Barak was afraid to go alone, and said if she would go with him he would go. She went with him and sure enough, Sisera and his army was conquered. (Read carefully these chapters and touch upon the victories of the other judges also.) The lessons here for the children are very practical. They have enemies, who are continually trying to get the best of them. As long as they watch, and pray, and obey God, these enemies cannot touch them to conquer them. But when they get proud of their goodness, and thing they are being good all through their own efforts, then it is they sin. Many times a child will think himself or herself better than others, because he or she commits no open sin. I’ve
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