Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-02-17
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VII, FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
RATIONAL SERIES, FEs. 10.

Lex ca EnS lesson, 0en. XVIII, s-s--o- Stl-
cry Verses, es-ec Golden Text, Cen.
xviii. cs-conmcntary by the Rev. d. 81.
stcarns.
The text CT this lesson and the title,
Goods Judgment on Sodom, are some
what rerplexing The proper text for the
tile is in tho next chapter, and it seems
% me that better title fer the text as
,igned would be " Abraham's Intercession
For sSoiom.a viii not take up the les
ron verse by verse, as is my custom. but
taking the topic assigned viii gather soIne
helpful lessons from the whole story in
the two chapters xviii aad xix
XVIII, Eel, The Lords visit to Abra-
ham and communion with him. The in
cident of the visit Of the three heavenly
ones, Jehovah Himself and two angels, to
Abraham, his providing food for them and
their eating it under the tree il in many
respects the only one of the kind in the BIZ
BILE. It is true that in the days of his hui
initiation He dined in many homes, and
even after His resurrection did eat with
His disciples Luke xXiv, ~, 49,, but be
fore He became man this is the only in
stance Of such intimate fellowship as a
mSn with man. 1t reminds Us Of the fell
lowship that must have been in Eden and
suggests to us the coming days when the
tahernaclcof God shall be with men, and
lie viii dwell with them REV. xxi 81.
But we have privilege now. which seems
to be enjoyed by very few, OF the constant
presence and fellowship Of the Lord jesus
(Rev. iii, 20; John xiv. %; II Cor. vi, I'D
IL we would only determine to be wholly
His, and only and always His, presenting
our ho,lies unreservedly as living sacr-
fee, He would certainly accept and fill
these temples for His glory tRom xii, l, y.
The Lords question, Shall | hide from
Abraham that thing which do2 reminds
US that it is written, "Surely the Lord
God viii do nothing, but lie revealeth
His secret unto His servants, the proph
cts" Amos iii, y. And His own words
in John Nv, Is, II have called you friends,
for all things that ! have heard Of my i'a-
thcr have made known unto you show
US low intimate lie would like to be
with us.
XVIII. 22-33. Abraham's intercession
for Sorioln. The angels have passed on to
Sodom, and we SHALL iaeet tben in the
next section, but now Abraham is alone
with the Lord, and feeling his own un-
worthiness he yet ventures, though he be
but dust and ashes verse 25), TO plead
with the Lord to spare Sodom. While we
wait for the coming Of the Lord both
righteous and wicked all dieand Ere often
taken cut of this world in the sarie dis
4stcr, cyclone, earthquake. shipwrcck,
snlGshup or what not, but the upright
shall have dominion over others in the
morning FPS Xix, 80. Ia the tJuest sense
the righteous can never perish John iii, ld),
The destroying Of verse IS can only refer
to their being cut of in the overthrow Of
the city 50 Abraham pleads foY the sake
of the righteous whca he hopes are 60 he
found there that the city may be spared.
He thinks there A&y be 30 and asks and
receives. Fearing there may nos lie 80
many, he comes down to "a, then To 80,
then 30 and 20 and finally 20 10 and re
ceives the assurance that II there are 10
righteous mon in Sodom the city viii be
spared. The sequel proves that thcre was
but one righteous man to he found dI
Pet. ii. :, s.. and while he would pass in
most Of our churches today, perhaps IN all,
even his own children had not much con
fiaonca in him. On the power OF inter
cession consider the pleading Of Moses
Mum. xiv, 70, 90l, and remember that
even fer such IS lot the little town Of
Zoar wus spared (XiX, I'D. On the ether
hand, note tnat wicko,lncs3 may become
50 great that the intcrcession Of a Noes
or II Samuel may not avail, nor She pres
ercc Of Eoah, II Daniel on job suffice
- deliver der. Ky, i lZek. xiv. Il, 2ul.
Oar Lord jesus is not represented ~ in.
larccdiag for sinners John xvii, -, though
tie lid pray for them at the cross, lut He
ever liveth TO make intercession for His
own Heb. vii, 25) Verse 80 says the Lord
went His way, and Abraham returned TO
his place Separated for little outwardly
but not in heart What word that is in
Thess. iv, Il, which shall he fully true
Of all believers soon-"f forever with the
Lord"
XIX, 1928. The rescue Of Lot. What
contrast between their ready acceptance Of
Abraham $ invitation and the angels pref
erence Of the street TO the house Of Lot
xix. 1871 Is there anything in our hearts
or lives or home or business that would
make the lord or the angels desire to stay
outside? In verses II TO Is consider how
Inconsistent the life OF Lot must have been
that his testimony should only cause his
children 10 mock mt him. In verses ., 10,
see the carucstness OF the angels as they
[
the band to hasten their escape In verses
"a 10 20 see Lots porverseness and linger
ing and evident clinging to Sodom, but
he was saved for Abraham sake verse
2g) The angels went into Sodom; so we
must 20 where sinners are il we would
reach them. They did not mince matters,
but spoke very plainly Of the coming de
5truction We should speak as plainly as
Il, g I. 3 q
ishment and the lake Of fire and birthstone
and the worm that dieth not. The angels
worked hard 10 save very few, and they
but poGr specimens. We cannot estimate
the valge Of one soul. II we had only the
Old Testament record, we would not think
lot "A righteous man. Therefore judge
nothing before the time until the Lord
come a Cor. iv, b.
XIX, 24-20 The Judgment upon Sod
ON The Lord Jesus believed that iira
and birthstone camc from heaven and de
stroyel Sodon aud all her people aud that
I Lots wife Became pillar Of salt fLube
xvii. %, 30 lie also believed that there
was deluge ia the days OF Noah and
that Jonah was three days and nigh:s in
the belly u u fish duke xvii, q Aiath.
xii. 40.j We should have no fellowship
III A4iA ~ AlS tiAAiih tAiN1 t-AN W l1NA AAA-t
Jesus and teach that these things ARE not
true Gal l. s, 0; II Jol~ tx, ~. In the
verses referred to In Lake xvii our Lord
I plainly teaches that when He shall come
back in His glory the conditions Of affairs
o. earth shall be about as they were be-
/ fore the deuga and ia Sodont It IS also
plainly taught that as Noah was safe 10
the ark before the dcluge came, Lot ont Of
/ So1om before the fire, Rahab ont Of Jeri
cl,o before the destruction, 50 al trHe BE-
I levers shall De with the Lord before He
shall he revealed in flaming fire lisa. XVI
I 20. ~; Lake xxi, Sc Rev. iii, l0l.
I In verses z1-29 consider Abraham dwell
Z ing in peace and safety aud fellowship
with Jehocah TT Hebron. Learn now 10
dwell with ticd and in God and have moth
ing TO dowth aodom exceptto rescue PEG
pie from 4