515 onstrated forevermore His supremacy over all the powers of darkness and of evil. Never again need that conflict be repeated. The world has been over come but we must overcome it by faith. 1 John 5:4. The flesh has been nailed to the cross but we must through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body. Satan himself has been conquered once for all but we have to hide ourselves in Christ so that the evil one may not touch us. We are more than conquerors in all things through Him that loved us but there will never be a time when we shall not need to overcome by the word of our testimony and the blood of the Lamb. The victory of the child of God is not in himself but in Christ. “ We will triumph in thy victory.” Psalm 205: (margin American Revision). MONDAY, May 17. 1 Samuel 8:1-9. Israel’s Demand for a King. God’s ideal government for Israel was a theocracy. God Himself would be their ruler, the people would recognize Him as such and would acknowledge the leaders whom He would appoint. The failure of this plan was not in the sys tem itself but in the failure of the peo ple to fully obey the Lord. There were a number of reasons why the people demanded a king. The sons of Samuel were not fit to be judges. The people wanted to he like the nations around them. There was a Remand for a strong leader to defend them from their enemies. Samuel was sad at the de mand of the people for a king, but God told him that they were not rejecting him as judge but they were rejecting God Himself as their true king. Samuel told the people plainly how a king would oppress them but God permitted them to have their way. TUESDAY, May 18. 1 Sam. 8:20-80. A Message From God. Israel did not ask Samuel to inquire of God if it was His purpose to give them a king. They assumed that they
THE K I N G ' S B US I NE S S less activity. Rev. 4:8. FRIDAY, May 14. Acts 27:30-25. A Servant of God. Caesar rebuked the sailors who were giving signs of fear in the stogrm as if it were incredible that the boat which carried Caesar and his fortune should founder. We applaud his calmness in danger while believing it to be the prod uct of superstition. Paul on the deck of the sinking ship was actuated by faith, simple and yet sublime, “ I believe God.” This was the secret of his courage and safety. The servant of God while in the path of duty is immune and immortal. Christ on the pinnacle of the temple is safer than in the city street bel'ow. If God sends a servant of His in to a pest house, he is safer there than in a sani tarium. Danger not self-sought is per fect safety if it be incurred in the path of obedience to Divine command. SATURDAY, May 15. Joel 3:9-17. The Weak Becoming Strong. Joel uses the phrase “ The day of the Lord” five times. In the Old Testament this usually refers to the execution of judgment on the earth. In the New Testament it refers to the judgment of the last great day. Jehovah makes Is rael’s grievances His own and considers them as having been done against Him self. The nations are summoned to quit their peaceful occupations, to arm themselves and come to the valley of Jehosaphat. There the great question between them and God is settled and the harvest is reaped. This corresponds to the harvest of the wheat and tares in Matt. 13:37-42 and also to the harvest of Rev. 14:18-20. There is a double fig ure in all these passages, viz.: the har vest of the grain and of the vintagé. The harvest is the end of the age. SUNDAY, May 16. 2 Cor. 2:12-17. Triumph in Christ. Our blessed Lord in His victorious death, resurrection and ascension, dem-
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