TH E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
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kind to others, because the Lord Jesus has been so kind to us. APPROACH: Have you ever heard a boy or girl shout: “You just wait! I’ll get even with you” ? In our lesson today, David could have said that to Saul. But he did something much better. LESSON STORY: Saul was the king. He was tall and handsome, but in his heart were wicked thoughts. He was angry at David, because he knew that some day God would make David
He is to bless them, do good to them, and pray for them. This passage, speaking of the principles to prevail in the kingdom when it will be set up upon the earth, has been unduly pressed by somé individuals to the extent of causing “love” ' to be emasculated and perverted. Let God Himself be the example of true love. No one will deny that God loves, and at the same time none will deny that God sends judgment. Sometimes judg ment is the greatest manifestation of. the love of God. Mere sentiment would allow evil to continue even to the destruction of the body politic, but not so love. The love of God is either a hardening blaze or a soften ing warmth, depending upon the attitude of the person upon whom that love shines. The ways of God are to characterize the Christian’s conduct, not in order that he may become God’s child, but because the Christian al ready has been brought, into God’s family by grace. Points and Problems 1. "Thou shalt not kill" (Ex. 20: 13). Care needs to be _taken with this Scripture, as with all Scripture, to in terpret it in harmony with other por tions of God’s Word. Because some have failed to do this, they have ar rived at erroneous conclusions. There are those who go so far as to say that we have here a prohibition against the taking of all animal life. That this is Tt false conclusion is clearly evident from the fact that God Himself, in connection with the pro visions of the law of which this com mandment is a part, told the people what animals they could eat (Lev. 11). Furthermore, the entire sacrificial system of the Old Testament was based upon the shedding of the blood Of animals. Some have also seen in this com mandment an argument against cap ital punishment and war. That this is not so, can be seen from the fact that the law also provided for the infliction of the death penalty upon those guilty of certain crimes (Lev. 20). God also has given to govern mental powers the right to bear the sword (Rom. 13:4). They are ordained of God for the purpose of maintaining law and order even though at times it means bearing the sword. This harmonizes exactly with the right given to human government at the time of its establishment: “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed” (Gen. 9:6). What then is meant by this com mandment? Evidently it must mean that the individual has no right to take personal vengeance upon an of fender. The emphasis needs to be placed upon the first word of the command, "Thou shalt not kill.” Ven geance belongs to the Lord as is clearly, set forth in Romans 12:19.
BLACKBOARD LESSON
“Vengeance is mine; I will r e p a y , saith the Lord.” He oftentimes works through human government to bring this vengeance to pass. 2. "First be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift" (Matt. 5:24). The picture of the text is that of a worshiper who has brought his sacrifice to the priest. Suddènly, he remembers a brother who has something against him. Even though it may cause consider able amazement on the part of the other worshipers beholding him, he is expected to leave the unfinished cere mony and go to make things right with tfte offended brother. If this principle were carried out in the church today, how many pious cere monies would be interrupted! In many, cases people are in no condi tion of heart to worship. Some wrongs need to be righted. Offended brethren need to be reconciled. The testimony of many churches and individuals is marred because of such hatred. The Word clearly teaches that love for the brethren is one of the evidences of the new birth (1 John 3:3,4). Golden Text Illustration 1 J ohn 3:15 How easy it is to hate people! How e a s i l y unreasoning antipathy, pre judice, repugnance, dislike—they are all more or less synonymous with hate—gain a foothold in our hearts! Many people cherish these ,unbroth- erly states of mind, not toward every body, but toward certain social groups, or particular individuals. The old jingle sets forth the senselessness of it: “I do not like thee,' Dr. Fell, The reason why I cannot tell; But this one thing I know-full well; I do not like thee, Dr. Fell.” Charles Lamb once said, in his own whimsical way: “Don’t introduce me to that man. I want to go on hating him, and I can’t hate a man whom I know.”—Five Thousand Best Modern Illustrations, by Hallock. While the King Slept E xodus 20:13; M atthew 5:21-26, 38-45 ; 1 S amuel 26 1VJEMORY VERSE: “ Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32). AIM: To show that we should be
king. So Saul tried to kill David. Once He threw a spear at him, but God took care of David and > told him to hide from the a n g r y king. One day, while he was looking for David, Saul put up •
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his tent on a hillside, not knowing that David could see him from the, valley. At night, David and one of his men crept near. There were Saul and his soldiers — all sound asleep. David’s friend whispered: “Let’s kill him! This is our chance.” But David answered softly in words like these: . “The Lord will punish Saul, in the way He thinks is best. That is not for us to do. We must show Saul that we want to be kind to him for the word’s sake.” To show Saul how close he had been to him, and yet had not hurt him* David took the spear and the bottle of water that had been beside the . sleeping king, and went away. When Saul woke up, and learned of David’s kindness, he was ashamed of him self (1 Sam. 26:21). And David learned a lesson, too—that kindness always pays. Our Memory Verse tells us why. Object Lesson H ealing a H ater OBJECT: A capital “H.” (Make the “H” by using a piece of white paper 8 % x ll inches. Fold, making the size 8%x5%- On top of this paper place 2 pieces 8 % x 5% inches. With the fold to tfye left, % inch from the fold cut up 5 inches. From this point turn right to -within % inch of the fight side, where you turn straight down. Cut the same way down from the top 2Vs inches, leaving a crossbar for the “H” 1 inch deep. Color the top “H” black. Cut the remaining “H’s” in the middle of the crossbar. Open the fold which is now a cross and Color the inside red. There will be two “H’s” left, cut in the middle of the crossbars. Color one gold to represent heaven, and the other one black, yellow, and red, to represent the fire of hell. Re place in, original positions and thumb tack to the blackboard. If stems of thumb tacks are placed alongside of the “H”. instead of through it, the low-
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