Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-08-08
THE PRODIGAL SON,
LESSON V, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 8.

init Verses, 17-2O-Golden Text, Luke
XIV, 1s-Commentary by Rev. D.. NJ.
Stearns.
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per.
mission of II. S. Hoffman, publisher, Philadel.
phia.]
II. "And he said, A certain man had two
sons" This is the beginning of the third sec.
ton Of this parable, which is a continuation
of the lesson of last week. The whole parable
teaches the great love of God, the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit, for lost, and helpless,
and erring humanity; and the sympathy Of
the angels with God in His joy over the sal
walton of the lost.
II. "And the younger of them said to his
father, Father, give me the portion of goods
that falleth to me. And he divided into
them his living" The sin is seen in the sons
desire for the things of his father rather than
for the father and his love. The desire also
for independence Of the father and separa-
ton from him indicates the ingratitude Of
his heart and his insensibility to the fathers
love and care.
Is. And not many days after, the younger
son gathered all together, and took his jour-
ney into a far country, and there wasted
his substance with riotous living" The first
u oAo VI oAAo AOOC1liouS III ulu
is seen in Cain, who would not submit to the
kim requirements of a loving God; but pre-
ferring his own way event out from the
presence of the Lord" Gen. iv, 1) to do as
he pleased. 1t is seen in Esau, who preferred
a mess Of pottage to his God given birth
right Gen. XIV, 1894.
IA. "And when he had spent all, there
arose a mighty famine in that land; and he
began to be in want" When we turn away
from God, who is the fountain of living wa
tiers, and seek to satisfy ourselves with aught
else, even with the gifts of God, we are hew.
ing out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can
hold no water Uer. ii, 13), and sooner or later
we shall surely come to want.
10. And he went and joined himself to q
citizen of that country; and he sent him into
his fields to feed swine" The far country
into which he went from his own fathers
house and plenty is all about us. 1t is this
present evil world which lieth in the wicked
one gal. j, 4; I John v, lY, and which al.
lures us away from God. All who are un.
saved are said to be "far off, and because Of
their sinful and unclean natures are compared
to dogs and swine Eph. ii, ID; II Pet. ii, 90.
16. "And he would fain have filled his
belly with the husks that the swine did eat;
and no man gave unto him." First want
then worldly helps, and now a beastly nppe
tite.
II. "And when he came to himself, he
said, How many hired servants of my ia.
theirs have bread enough and to spare, and
I perish with hungerl" He had been so full
of self and self seeking that the Fathers
house had not been much in his thoughts, ex.
cept perhaps as the recollection of a restraint
which he could not submit to. But by hav.
s1.r lii, l,-;,.> r,,,t, L., lao, L.a. III h.
somewhat of the leanness Of his soul FPS,
cvi, l5. We read in l Cor. VS., of one being
delivered unto Satan for the destruction OF
the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the
day Of the Lord Jesus. And in Job xxxiii
1890, we read of dreams, visions, sickness
end Affections us means used by God will
men to bring back their souls from the pit,
to be enlightened with the sight of the living
Is. II will arise and go to my father
and will say unto him, Father, I have
sinned against heaven and before thee
In the story of the lost sheep and lost piece Of
money we saw the seeking shepherd and wo
man with the light. The sheep and the
money did nothing, the shepherd and woman
did all. But here is a responsible human
being who has gone astray like a lost sheep
and has been as insensible to his fathers love
as a piece of metal.
19. "And am no more worthy to be called
thy SON: make me as one of thy hired ser
wants." He was unworthy to be called the
son of such a father when he had plenty and
was living riotously, or even when he left
that fathers home, or when he demanded lis
share of the goods. But he did not know it
and could not, under those circumstances be
made to see it. The only way to humble hin
and bring him to his senses was tho way he
was allowed to take. Now he sees his sinful
ness and unworthiness as he could not other
wise have been made to see it.
&c. And he arose and came to his father.
All his conviction, and sense of unworthiness
and good resolutions, would awe gone fol-
nothing had he failed to take this step. 81
might have remained in the far country anG
died there full Of conviction and good resolu
lions. But here is the saving point, "He arost
and came" And now We shall see the re
suit.
"But when he was yet a great way off, his
father saw him, and had compassion, anc
ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Here is the love of God which said to on'
poor sinner, ''Tby sins are forgiven; thy faitl
hath saved thee; go in peace" And to an
other, "Neither do I condemn thee; go anc
sin no more" and which says to all, "Hiu
that cometh unto me / will in no wise cas-
out" duke vii, 4S, SO; John viii, II; vi, 81.
81. And the son said unto him, Father
Ihave sinned against heaven, and in thy
sight, and an no more worthy to be called
thy son." This was not all he had intended
to say (see verse 1g, but it seems to nave beer
as far as he got. 1t lisa high honor to DO /
servant of God, but He makes US His chill
dren, children of God and joint heirs with
Christ, when in true penitence we come tt
Him John j, -; Rom. viii, II; John XIV, 13.
If we confess our sins He is faithful and jus,
to forgive US our sins and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness Il John i, 81.
22. "But the father said to his servants
Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him
and put a ring on his hand, and shoes Oh
his feet" Think of Adam and Eve having
lost their fellowship with God and hiding
from Him because Of their sin; and see Got
clothing them with coats of skins which HI
had made Gen. iii, Ply. See the rob Of
Righteousness, and garments of salvation o.
lisa. Xxi, 10; II Cor. v, 81.
%. And bring hither the fatted calf, anc
kill it: and let us eat and be merry" If, il
the previous verse, We have forgiveness OIL
sins, and Righteousness. and full restoration
to position and inheritance and authority
here we nave true fello wship and great Joy
The foretaste is enjoyed here when He comes
in to sup with us and we with him REV. iii