T h e K i n g ' s B u s i n e s s
December 1928
751
I n t e r n a t i o n a l L e s s o n C o m m e n t a r y Heart of the Lesson — K. L. B. :: Outline—David L. Cooper :: Children—John A. Glasse I
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Man is a moral being; therefore a moral government is necessary. Our na ture and circumstances demand it. There must be a sense of accountability to a Supreme Being or the race will face nothing but disaster, and religion will perish from the earth. Men will not pray unless they believe in an all-wise Father, interested in their affairs and able to do for them what they are unable to do for themselves. George Muller of Bristol, England, un dertook to demonstrate to an unbelieving world that God is a living, present, prayer-hearing Father and that He proves it by answering prayer. He carried on His orphanages for sixty-five years, "never once appealed to man for help, al lowed no need to be made known, and even withheld reports lest this should be considered an indirect appeal. Every need was supplied, often in an almost miracu lous way. Men who believe in the God of the Bible can still challenge the world. He who, walks in fellowship with God, hav ing come to know Him through accep tance of His Son, and who finds Him a present help in time of need, gives a demonstration of the fact that “He is and that He is a rewarder of them that dili gently seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). Dr. Calderwolf once said: “The divine existence is a truth so plain that it needs no proof, and a truth so high it admits of none.” , The Bible nowhere argues the existence of God. It is taken for granted. The firmament, with its innumerable orbs, perfect order, balancing and circling, ar gues forever the existence of a Supreme Being, separate from all creation (Rom. 1:19-20). The earth itself, with its marks of intelligent design on every hand and adaptation of means to ends, instinctively argues against the notion of blind chance. Let us now consider the God revealed in the Bible. 1. G od is a personal B eing (Jer. 10:10- 16). “He is the living God” (v. 10)—ex ists as a personal Being. “An everlasting King’’— -He rules and directs the universe. He has “wrath" —He is capable of emo tions. He controls “nations." He “made the earth" (v. 12 )—designed and created it. He has "wisdom" and “ discretion” (v. 12). “He uttereth His voice” (v. 13)— has will. He is interested in men, for Israel is spoken of as “His inheritance” (v. 16). Turning to Psa. 94: 7-11, we find that He “hears” (v. 9) and “sees” (v. 9) ; that He “ chastiseth” men (v. 10) ; "teaches man knowledge" (v. 10 ) ; “know- eth the thoughts of men” (v. 11 ). 2. H e is an in fin ite B eing . “Great is our Lord and of great power, His under standing is infinite” (Psa. 147:5). So great is He that His "greatness is un searchable” (Psa. 145:3). See also Job 37:22-23; Isa. 40:28. 3. H e is an invisible B eing . " N o man hath seen Him at any time” except as He has manifested Himself in His only be gotten Son (Jn. 1:18). He is the “King
future life, rewards and punishments, hope for the coming of a universal broth erhood, acceptance of the Bible as His revealed will and of Christ as His Son and our Saviour. Upon these things the Christian life is built. All go when one gets the notion that “God” and “world” are two names for the same thing. If the liberal view spreads widely, there will soon be no need of a church. It will have no excuse to exist if there be no personal God to whom men are accountable.
January 6 , 1929 God the Father L esson in O utline I. The Father’s Sevenfold Character. Ex. 34:4-7. II. The Father’s Mercifulness shown in : 1. Material gifts. Ps. 103 :l-5. 2. Gracious dealings. Vs. 10-14. III. The Father’s Strength Imparted to His Needy Ones. Isa. 40:27-31. IV. The Father’s Shepherd Care over His Flock. Matt. 6:24-34. V. The Father’s M e e t i n g Spiritual Longing. Jno. 3 :3-6; 4 :20-24. VI. The Father’s Fellowship with His Children. Rom. 8 :14-17. VII. The Father’s Great Love. 1 Jno. 4:7-16. V \7E enter now upon a three months’ vv course of topical Bible study. We find many Scripture passages assigned for each study and the ordinary student will tations. They are as follows: Exo. 34: 4-7; Psa. 103:1-5, 10-14; Isa. 40:27-31; Mt. 6:24-34; Jn. 3:3-6; 4:20-24 ; 8:40-47; Rom. 2:2-11; 8:14-17; 1 Jn. 4:7-16. We shall endeavor to give a treatment of the topic such as we believe is needed in these days. We are being told by some that all now believe in God since it has been discover ed that God is not separate from His creatures— all is God. The attempt to explain the origin of the universe by the evolution theory largely accounts for this modernistic view. The God revealed in the Bible, how ever, is a personal Being, possessing in telligent^ and will, the Creator, Preserver and Governor of the universe. He is seen as entirely separate from all creatures. The name “God” is not simply a sacred name for all existence. He is not just a force or energy which has developed the world through a natural process of evolution. He is not merely a law of the Universe. We may as well understand that we cannot cling to the Bible and ac cept these liberal views. The two cannot be reconciled. A thoughtful study of the Bible will show that belief in a personal heavenly Father, separate from all creation, is the most fundamental of facts, the very first essential of spiritual religion. Upon this belief rest the influences that control life ^-responsibility to God, prayer, belief in find it difficult to work up a lesson from these scatter ed references. We suggest t h a t the s t u d e n t take the passages assigned for this lesson as separate daily medi
THE ASS HE stanzas t h a t follow link our Christmas Eve with those lowly fellow creatures with whom we are all one in the kingship of life. The ass was the royal beast of burden for many an Eastern king. Two at least will ever be remembered as among the immortals of the animal world; the one which bore the unborn Son of David into Bethlehem, and the one up on which “in lowly pomp He rode to die." The author’s name, Eleanor Baldzvin, will be famil iar to the majority of our cor respondents: Since the dawn, With careful tread I have gone Where Joseph led Up the white and dusty road With my precious load. Now the starred Blue night grows dim. It were hard To follow him Through the dark with weary feet Were her voice less sweet i The caressing Of her hand Makes .a blessing O f command: “Hasten then, thou patient one, For my little Son.” Joseph’s face Is drawn and gray, Slow his pace And blind the way — A t the inn they gave no heed To my Lady’s need. It is I Who go before, Gently try The stable door — “Lowly cattle, lowly kin, Welcome Mary in!" WfSs-Our Dumb Animals.
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