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THE KING’S BUSINESS
unholy abomination for. a Jew.. We have seen such ruins cleaning spitoons for sa-. lpons for a glass of beer-slops and a bite pf second-hand free lunch. “His belly, and that empty, and diseased, was all that was left and all he thought about, as it had ever been. 8. The Recovery. Despite the elder brother and thanks to the loving father this; was possible and actual: "He came to him self.” The Lord suggests the idea of a “better self.” • He had mot been himself in such conduct. A charitable view of it. Yet true. Such a course as his is irrational. “He said” (to himself). He had done much drinking and little thinking. Now, that he was out of chink, he was out of drink and drink was out of him, he began to think. On “fancies wing” he sped from the citi zen’s country to the. father’s;, from the sty to from the “husks’’ to the “bread” the “want” to the plenty! He says nothing of the father’s welconte. How could he? He did not know. He would not venture to a claim on that fatherhood. He would say, “Hire me.” ' But he said, “My father,” even that perhaps helped him. Sinner, you know there is welcome, "I will arise,” was his' resolve, “and go to my father.” When he came to himself then he came to his father. “I have sinned.” Such was his confession, “against heaven and against thee’’—not only, a son’s, but a sinner’s con fession ; “and am no more worthy”—a true and complete repentance! . .9. The Reception. “His father saw . . compassion . . . ran . . . fell on his neck . . . kissed . . . said . . . Bring (quick) robe . . . ring . . . shoes . . . calf . , . eat . . be merry.” There are the strokes— what a pipture! what a gospel! 10. The Elder Son. Leave him out Where he belongs. Let us go'in to the joy and the feast with the father and his ser vants, wjth the found and his bright rai- rifeht. Leave him out—he Could go in if he —“the house where he was born, The little chamber where the sun Came peeping in a t morn;”
III. I nterpretation and A pplication . 1. The Father, the “Certain Man,” is God—benevolent ! bénéficient! love! 2. The Sons. (1> The younger,—those publicans and sinners, who made no. pre tense to. keep the law. (2) The Pharisees and scribes, who professed to keep it, who said of the rest, “This people who know not the law are accursed.” (3) But we are warranted by Scripture in classing gentiles under “ (1),” as against Jews under “ (2).” —Acts 13:46-50. Again, in its broadest jneaning, “ (1)’’ is the confessedly unchurch ed and, ungodly, “ (2)” the self-righteous in all ages. 3. The Goods. Equal life, with all its gifts, possibilities and opportunities, called elsewhere “talents,” or “pounds” (Matt. 25 : 14, 15; Luke 19:13). 4. The Demand. "Give, me,’’ is indica tive of man’s arrogant ,assumption of the blessings of Providence as their inherent right, independent of God’s, claims. • 5. The Division. "He devided.’’ God’s patient permission (Matt. 5:45; Acts 14: 16, 17; 17:29, 30;. Isa. 1:2). 6. The Journey. Out of partnership with God is Out of fellowship with Him, and that is to go and be far from Him. No space is so great as that which rolls between spirits; Men who “give bridle” to their lusts, ride as far as possible from the in fluence ,of the reproof and reproach the very presence of the wise and pure and wronged exerts. 7. The Wreck. Like an uncontrolled train with open throttle on the down grade, he who sows to the wind reaps the whirl wind. (Hosea 8:7). Such misfortunes “never come singly.” All was spent and then came a “mighty famine’’ to emphasize his im providence ; a famine of food ; of fortune ; . of friends ; of physical force ; his
“—— days were In the yellow leaf; The worm, the canker and the grief (Were his alone.”
H e “joined,” or “glued” himself, clung like an importunate beggar, "to a citizen," an alien, a gentile (poor Jew), who sent him. "to'feed swine,’’ a filthy job for any, an'
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