May 1927
308
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
incomprehensible book, but the careful message of a loving Father, whose minute attention regards the smallest things of our earthly experience. The angel, having aided Peter in every particular wherein he was unable to assist himself, forthwith departs from him. Now, says Peter, I un derstand all about it. God Himself has delivered me from Herod, and from all the expectation of the Jews. “Now I know.” How few of God’s children, at the time, seem to understand the meaning of His dealings with them. Old Jacob could not say,«“It is enough,” until he had first said, “All these things are against me.” And often it is departure, like that of the Beloved in the fifth of Canticles, which alone awakens the indolent soul to quickened apprehension of His watchful love. But Peter was a man always prompt to action. Directly he comprehended his circumstances, he is found, with a touch of his own vehemence, knocking urgently at Barnabas’ sister’s door. His appear ance sets the praying assembly nearly be side themselves with joy and surprise. It is the very last watch of that last night which completed that sorrowful week of protracted supplication. To behold him, at such a time, is indeed a marvel o'f mar vels 1 But I am constrained to say here, how often I have been pained at the sacre- ligious handling this portion of the nar rative has received from some who have passed judgment upon the faith of these believers,, “Behold their doubt,” say such, “they asked for his deliverance, and now they do not believe the answers to their own prayers.” Such can not have given the text a candid examination. The word Luke uses is one of great dignity in the New Testament. In .not one of the seven- teén instances where it occurs does the least shade of unbelief attach itself to the meaning. On the contrary, as in Acts 10: 45, it supplements and describes the joy of the faith already in exercise. In frequent instances, the word thus rendered “as tonished,” refers to the effects produced upon the people by the doings of the Lord Jesus. “His mother was amazed." There was no unbelief in Mary’s heart concern ing the marvelous ways of her holy child. Perhaps the disciples had tinged and shaped their faith by certain human prob abilities, and were looking for a deliver ance more simplified and less extraordin ary. But expect deliverance, in somé form, they undoubtedly did. And God honored the confidence which His own gracious dispensations had provoked. From ages past this story has been re garded as one of th e .strongest evidences of the power of prayer. Peter’s affliction has taught the devout that God’s chasten- ings are always His highest mercies. Peter’s prison has been a sweet refuge to many a tested saint; and Peter’s deliver ance the high tower of hope from which expectant souls have been inspired with courage to shout, Glory! and Victory 1 God Takes Care of Peter Acts 12:1-17 Memory Verse'. “He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5 :7. Approach : A great steamship was cross ing the ocean. A little boy lost his ball overboard, and went to the captain and asked him to stop the ship while his ball
was found. This, of course, could not be done. Later a little g i r l dropped h e r doll down a hatch way. She went to t h e captain, w h o went down to the engine room and b r o u g h t the doll back. Still later a
prison and touched Peter and raised him up, and the chains fell off from his hands. Peter seemed dazed; it was, all like a dream. The angel took Peter out of the prison, and when they came to the iron gate of the city, it opened of its own accord. After passing one street the angel left Peter, and then Peter knew it was not a dream, but that God was helping him to get away from the wicked king. Now, here is the best part of our story. What were Peter’s friends doing while he was in prison? They were gathered in the home of Mark praying for Peter, that God would save him, and God heard and answered their prayers. Now, where do you suppose Peter went, for it was night time? He went right to the house where his friends, the people of the church, were praying for him, and knocked at the door. A young woman named Rhoda, came to the door, and when she heard Peter’s voice, she was so happy she forgot to open the door, but ran back to tell the others in the house, and they said she was mad, that it was not Peter. She said it was surely he, and Peter kept knocking. When they opened the door and saw Peter they were surprised. We are just like those people, we for get what a wonderful Saviour Jesus is, and that He has power to do anything. Peter told them what God had done, and asked them to tell the other believers, and he went to another place. Let us bow our heads and thank the Lord for His, loving care. —o— FRED S. SHEPARD ’S BLACKBOARD OUTLINE
man fell overboard. The captain, when told of it, ordered the ship stopped, had boats lowered, and the man was saved. When the vessel reached the harbor, the captain, going ashore for other matters, bought for the boy a better ball than the one he had lost. All these requests were answered in the very best way. Prayer brings God’s help, in God’s own way.—-Ar nold’s Practical Com. Lesson Story: How many of you know some little boys and girls at school who come from other countries? How do you treat these little foreigners ? Does the Lord Jesus love the little children from Africa, China, and other parts of the world just as He loves us? (Review, em phasizing need of telling all people of Jesus that they too may be saved.) You look so bright and happy this morning, and that is the way all who love Jesus should look, for He takes such good care of us. Our story tells us how He once took care of Peter, when he was in great danger. Our Lord can take care of us in places of danger just as well as in places of safety. We remember how Peter was in prison' before, and God sent an angel and opened the doors and told Peter to go and preach again. Peter is again in prison, and the wicked king has killed James, the brother of John, and is going to kill Peter, too, if he can. Peter was sleeping between two,soldiers, bound with two chains, and other soldiers were watching, so there was no chance for Peter to escape. Although Peter knew the king was planning to kill: him next day, he was sleeping peacefully. That very night an angel came to the
P E R I L
a PPARENT
RAYER / \ ANSWERED ROTECTION -*■ ^SSURED He careth for you.—1 Pet. 5 :7.
■S'4. M Êà J une . 19, 1927 Peter Teaches Good C itizenship L esson T ext — 1 Pet. 2:11-17; 4:1-5
ing for its lusts nor looking for its re wards. As a sojourner in a strange land (2:11), he lives to reflect credit upon the country to which he belongs and to honor his King. The world has a right to ex pect that the man who claims heaven for his home should have heaven’s ways about him. The instructed Christian knows that the powers that be are ordained of God (Rom. 13:1, 2), and that the only possible excuse he can have for not obeying the law of the land is that it requires him to do what the Word of God says he must not do. “For the Lord’s sake” (2 :13) he is to submit to ordinances and governors. The man who looks upon civil authorities as of the devil, an encroachment made by the rich and by political schemers upon the rights and welfare of others, certainly knows nothing of the Bible. “There is no power but of God” (Rom. 13:1). Christianity recommends no particular
'TH E portion selected by the lesson com- mittee has to do with the pilgrim char acter of the children of God, rather than “good citizenship” in general.' The Chris
tian’s abiding citizen ship is in h e a v e n (Phil. 3:20), b u t surely this does not mean that he is to shirk all responsibili ties here on earth. The believer has an e a r t h l y citizenship
which is to be kept in harmony with his heavenly one. This is the patriotism of the soul. A man who lives as though his voting place is heaven will certainly be an ideal,citizen here on earth, doing every thing within his power to uphold right eousness and to oppose evil. The Christian, however, can be an ideal citizen only insofar as he remembers his pilgrim character. He is on a journey through this world, and therefore not liv
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