The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-02-14
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
FEBRUARY IS.
Lesson Text: Goods Judgment on
Sodom,'' Gen. xviii, 2-"3-
Golden Text: Gen. xyiit.s
25-COmmentary.

Golden Text: Gen. xvlit.s
25-Commentary.
The text Of this lesson and the title, Goods
Judgment on Sodom." are somewhat per-
picking. The proper text for the title IS in
the next chapter, and it seems to me that
better title for the text assigned would be.
"Abraham's Intercession for Sodom." will
not take up the lesson verse by verse, as 1s
my custom, but, taking the topic assigned,
will gather some helpful lessons from the
whole story in the two chapters xviii. and
xix.
XVIII. LEI. The Lords visit to Abraham
and communion with him. The incident OF
the visit of the three heavenly ones, Jehovah
Himself and two angels. to Abraham. his pro-
viding food for them and their eating 1t under
the tree Is in many respects the
only one of the kind in the Bible.
1t Is true that in the days of His humili.
even after His resurrection did eat with His
disciples (Luke xiv. 42. 43), but before He
became man this Is the only instance OF such
intimate fellowship as a man with man. 1t
reminds US OF the fellowship that must have
been In Eden and suggests to US the coming
days when the tabernacle OF God shall be
with men, and He will dwell with them
Grew. xxi, 81. But We have a privilege now,
which seems to be enjoyed BY very few, OF
the constant presence and fellowship OF the
Lord Jesus (Rev. ill.,, 20; John xvi, % !; II
Cor. vi. 16). If we would only determine
to be wholly His, and only and always His.
presenting our bodies unreservedly as llr-
Ing sacrifice, He would certainly accept and
fill these temples for His glory (Rom. Kill,
1. q. The Lords question, Shall hide
from Abraham that thing which I do? re.
minds US that 1t is written, 'Surely the Lord
God will do nothing, but He revealeth His
secret unto His servants. the prophets
(Amos ILL.,, y. And His own words In John
1v., Is, Il have called you friends, for all
things that have heard OF My Father have
made known unto you," show us how In
innate He would like to be with US.
XVIII, 22-33. Abraham's intercession foi
Sodom. The angels have passed on to So.
dom, and We shall meet them in the next sec.
tion, but now Abraham is alone with the
Lord, and feeling his own unworth1ness ne
vet ventures though he be but dust and ashes
(verse 27). to plead with the Lord to spare
Sodom. While We wait for the coming o'
the Lord both righteous and wicked all Que
and are often taken out of this world In the
same disaster, cyclone, earthquake, snip,
wreck. smashup or what not, but the uprighi
shall have dominion over others In the morn
ing Cps. Xix. 14). In the truest sense the
righteous can never perish (John ILL.,, 16).
The destroying of verse % can only refer to
their being cut Off in the overthrow OF tht
city. SO Abraham pleads for the sake OF the
righteous whom he hopes are to he found
there that the city may be spared. He thinks
there may be fifty and asks and receives
Fearing their may not be 80 many, he comes
down to forty-five, then to forty, then thirt.
and twenty and finally to ten, and re
al he OF
righteous men in Sodom the city will b,
spared. The sequel proves that there was
but one righteous man to be found II Pet.
H., z. 81, and while He would pass In most oi
our churches to-day. perhaps in all. even his
own children had not much confidence In
him. On the power Of intercession con.
slider the pleading OF Moses (Num. xiv, 19.
20), and remember that even for such as Lot
the little town Of Zoar was spared xix, 2D.
On the other hand. note that wickedness
may become 80 great that the intercession
ofa Moses or a Samuel may not avail, nol
the presence OF Noah, a Daniel or Job
suffice to deliver (Jer. xv., Eek. xiv, IA
20). Our Lord Jesus is not represented as
interceding for sinners (John xvii, 81,
though He did pray for them at the cross.
but He ever liyeth to make intercession for
His own (Heb. vii, 25). Verse SO says the
Lord went His way, and Abraham returned
to his place. Separated for little out
wardly but not in heart. What q word thai
is in I Thess iv.. II, which shall be fully
true Of all believers soon-"foreYer with the
Lord?"
XIX, 1928. The rescue OF Lot. What
contrast between their ready acceptance o.
Abraham's invitation and the angels pref
erence of the street to the house of Lot (xix.
1-3)! Is there anything in our hearts Of
lives or home or business that would make
the Lord or the angels desire to stay outsidei
In verses IL to IA consider how inconsist
ent thelif Of Lot must have been that hi
testimony should only cause his children tt
mock at him. In verses is. 16, see the earn
estness OF the angels as they take Lot anG
his wife and daughters by the hand to haster
their escape. In verses II to 20 see Lot:
perverseness and lingering and eviden
clinging to Sodom. but he was saved fol
Abraaam's sake verse 29}. The angel
went into Sodom so we must 6,
where sinners are If we would reacl
them. They did not mince matters
but spoke very plainly of the coming de
struction. We should speak as plainly as
the Bible does OF hell and everlasting pun.
ishment, and the lake Of fire and birthstone,
and the worm that dieth not The angels
worked hard to save very few, and the,
but poor specimens We cannot estimate
the value OF the soul. II we had only tht
Old Testament record, we would not thinB
Lot righteous man. Therefore. judge moth
ing before the time until the Lord come q
XIX, 242s. The judgment upon sodom.
The Lord Jesus believed that fire and brlm.
stone came from heaven and destroyed
Sodom and all her people, and that Lots
wife became a pillar of salt Luke xviii,
29, 32). He also believed that there was
deluge in the days of Noah. and that Jonah
was three days and nights in the belly Of a
fish Guke xviii, q; Math. xii, 40).
We should have no fellowship With
those who think they are wiser than
Jesus and teach that these things are not
true (Gal. j., 8, 8; II John ix., 1I. In the
verses referred to in Luke xvii. our Lord
plainly teaches that when He shall come
back IN: His glory the conditions OF affairs on
earth shall be about as they were before the
deluge and in Sodom. 1t Is also plainly
taught that as Noah was safe in the ark be-
fore the deluge came. Lot out OF Sodom be-
fore the fire, Rahab out OF Jericho before
the destruction, so all true believers shall
be with the Lord before He shall be revealed
In flaming fire lisa. xvi, 20, 81 : Luke xxi,
36 Rev ill.,. 10).
In verses 27-2o consider Abraham dwelling
in peace and safety and fellowship with
Jehovah at Hebron. Learn now to dwell
with God and in God and have nothing to
do with Sodom except to rescue people from
it.-Lesson Helper.