The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-02-15
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
FEBRUARY 1S.
Lesson Text: Goods Judgment on
Sodom," Gen. xvin., 22-33-
Colleen Text: Gen. xviii,
25-Com mentary.

The text OF this lesson and the title, Goods
Judgment on Sodom.' are somewhat per
picking. The proper text for the title IL in
the next chapter, and II seems to mo that
better title for the text assigned would he.
"Abrahams Intercession for Sodom." will
Lot take up the lesson verse by verse. as IL
my custom, hut, taking tho topic assigned.
will gather some helpful lessons from the
whole story In the two chapters xviii. and
XIX.
XVIII. i-2i. The Lords visit TO Abraham
and communion with him. The incident of
the visit OF the three heavenly Cres Jehovah
Himself and two angels. to Abraham. his pro-
yiding food for them and thci: eatirg It under
the tree Is In many respects the
only one OF the kind l., the Bible.
IL Is true that in ths days Of h.s humili-
alton He dined IN man. homes. and
even after His resurrection did eat with Hts
disciples duke xiv. ~. 49,. but before He
became man this il the only instance of such
intimate fellowship as man with man. II
reminds us Of the fellowship that must have
been III Eden and suggests to ia the coming
days when tho tabernacle Ut God shall bs
with men. and Hc will dwell with them
tRev. XXI. ~. But we have priyilcgenow.
which seems TO be- enjoyed hy very few. uf
the constant presence and fellowship of tho
Lord Jesus (Rev. iii.. 90; John XVI. - r.
Cor vi. i6). II We would only dctrrmin,
To bc wholly His, and only and always His.
presenting our bodies unrescrvelly ~ q liV-
Ing sacrifice. lie would certainly accept and
I'LL these temples FOR His glory lRou. xii.
], ~. The Lords question. Shall | hide
from Abraham that thing which | doi re-
minds us that II Is written, "Surelv the Lord
God Will do nothing. hut lie rcycalrth lIis
secret unto His servants the rCphets"
tAmos iii. ~. And Hts own words in John
Nv., 10, IL have called you friends. for all
things that have heard OF My Father have
slaN INaN l..
innate He would like to bc with III.
NNlll., ~ 81. Ahrahams interccsson for
Sodom. The angels have passed on 10 So
dom, and we shall meet them In the next Sec
ton. but now Abraham IL alone with the
Lord. and feeling his own unworthincsS he
yet ventures though he be but dust and ashes
verse 27). 10 plead with the Lord To spare
Sodom. While we wait for the coming ol
the Lord both righteous and wicked all die
and are often taken out OF this world In the
same disaster, cyclone, earthquake. ship.
wreck. smashup or what not. but the upright
shall have dominion over Others In the morn.
| ing lPs. Xix. lil. In the truest sense the
/ righteous can never perish (John ill.,, l6)
| The destroying Of verse 20 can only refer &C.
! their being cut off in the overthrow ot tn,
/ city. SO Abraham pleads Cor the sake ot tn,
| righteous whom he hopes are to les tount
! there that the city may be spared. He think
/ there may be ilfty and asks and receives
! rearing tnelr may not bo so many, u" come
down To forty-ilyc. then to forty. then thirty
and twenty and finally to ten, and re-
ccives the assurance that IL there are tel
righteous men In Sodom the city will b
spared. The sequel proves that there wa
hut one righteous man TO be found Oh Pet
H.. :. 81, and while He would pass in most o
our churches to-day. perhaps in all, even his
own children had not much confidence 1t
him. On the power OF interccssion con
slider the pleading OF Moses (Num. xiv. 10
. n and reminder that even for such a. Lo
ia little tow 4 T~"- 20 rcd xix, 2D
Z On the - '"kednes