The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-16
SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOB
SEPTEMBER 20.
Lesson Text: Destructive Vfces,n
Prov. XVII, 22-33-Golden
Text: Psalm XVII, 25-
Commentary.


Commentary.
20. understanding Is wellspring Of life
unto him that hath 1t, but the instruction OF
fools is folly" In verse 16 OF this; chapter
we read that wisdom Is better than gold and
understanding than silver; and again in
chapter iv.. 7, "Wisdom Is the principal
thing; therefore get wisdom, and with all
thy getting get understanding" In I Cor.
l., "a, we read, "Christ the power OF God
and the wisdom Of God" We conclude,
therefore, that the wellspring Of life Is none
other than the living water, which Is the
gift Of God and which becomes in US we'll
Of water spnuging up into everlasting life
(John w.. 49, God Himself Is the fountain,
and when we receive Christ we have God in
us (Jer H., 13; John dv., 23).
23. 1.-THE heart Of the wise teacheth his
mouth and addeth learning to Its lips" II
is from the heart that all proceeds. An evil
heart gives forth all manner OF evil (Math.
~, 18, 19), and a good heart gives forth
that which Is helpful, for out of the abund-
ance Of the heart the mouth speaketh (Math.
xiii, $40, The natural heart or car1al mind
Is enmity against God and never can be made
subject to Him (Rom. Will, .: but God Of
Ezsk. I11vi., 2s), OF, in other words, ANEW
birth or a new creation CJohn ILL.,, 8, IS; II
Cor. ", ID, and this Will send forth good
words from the lips. .g.alE.
"a. pheasant words are as ali honey
comb, sweet to the soul and health to the
bones. d" II we keep the words of God in u.s.,
they will by the Spirit be fitted in our lips as
the Spirit may desire to use them prov.
xii, 1S). The people wondered at the
gracious words which proceeded out of the
mouth Of our Lord Ouke w., 22). but they
Him (John xiii, 49).
25. "There Is a way that seemeth right un-
to the man, but the end thereof Is the way
OF death" There is but one right way, and
that Is he who said, ~ am the way" It Is
Gods way OF reaching US and our only way
Of reaching God. There is one other name
given under heaven by which We can be
saved John xiv, s.; Acts w., 12). Whatever
may seem right to US. If the Lord Jesus is
not the center OF it and the author of It, it Is
not Of God, and therefore must be the way
of death and not Of life Il John H., 1917; ",
l2).
26. "He that laboreth laboreth for him.
self. for his mouth craveth 1t of him." What
multitudes spend all their strength In get
ting something for themselves, something to
eat or drink or wear or enjoy! All this ts
folly. And one who could do 1t as perhaps
no other mere man that ever lived tried 1t to
the utmost and his testimony Is on record
in these words, "Behold. all was vanity and
vexation of spirit. and there was no profit
under the sun" Gee. H., 1D.
"a. San ungodly man diggeth up evil, and
In his lips there Is as burning fire." The
margin says "a man Of Belial," and the R.
Y. says "a worthless man" All such are
servants of him who began the work Of evil
On the earth In the garden In Eden and
whose constant business is to stir up strife
and burnings. Happy are they who escape
the everlasting burning where heris doomed
to dwell Qsa. xxxiii., a.; Rev. Xxx. 10; xxi,
3.
%. "a forward man soweth strife, and q
whisperer separateth chief friends" It
seems to me more and more that II we were
only familiar with the Bible Spirit would
bring to mind as we read what He has else
where said upon this or that topic, and thus
we would have the best Of commentaries,
sven the Spirits own explanation Of His
own words. he now brings TO mind Jas.
ILL.,, 1416, "If ye have bitter envying and
strife In your hearts. glory not and lie not
against the truth. This wisdom descendeth
not from above, but is earthly, sensual,
devilish."
29. "a violent man enticeth his neighbor
and leadeth him into the way that is not
good" The devil and his followers are a
This business increasingly day and night,
Sunday and weekday. Deceit and destruc-
ton are his work, and there is nothing good
in him. God Is good and giveth Himself to
each one who receives Jesus Christ His Son
with the assurance that goodness and mercy
shall follow us, and we shall find all His
ways pleasantness and peace. 1t is, how
ever. narrow way. and will not admit the
world, the flesh or the devil.
80. i'He shutteth his eyes to devise for
ward things. Moving his lips, he bringeth
evil to pass" he closes his ewes against the
light and will not see the goodness OF God.
his deeds are evil and his heart and tongue
and lips are the property Of his master for
evil purposes. His mouth pours out evil
! things, and his thoughts are an abomination
to the Lord (chapter xv., 26, 28). Gcd per-
mits him to bring his evil thoughts to pass,
but they vsll prove his own destruction.
81. "Ths5o head is crown OF glory
II 1T be found In the way OF Righteousness.
The sinner may prosper and live a long life
on the earth, but there ia nothing glorious
about his life, for 1t is only ripening for
white hairs of the righteous man are crown
of glory, for they point forward to an etern-
ity OF bliss and purity with Him whom John
saw on Patmos having His head and His
hairs white like wool, as white as snow (Rev.
l., 14) There Is a 80 the beautiful promise
for such one, Even to your old age am
land even to hoary hairs will l carry you"
elsa. XVI, 4).
80. "He that is slow to anger Is better than
the mighty, and be that ruleth his spirit than
he that taketh CITY," BE that IS slow to
anger appeaseth strife and Is OF great under.
standing (chapters xv., IS; dv., 29). Anger.
wrath and malice are OF the flesh and OF the
devil, but by the grace Of God, having re.
ceiyed Jesus Christ, and being thus born OF
God, we may have victory over the oeset'
ting sins OF our old nature. He saves us
from the wrath to come, but He Is also able
10 save US from ourselves CMath. l., n. and
from our sins. It Is for US to yield to Him
and cry, "Thlne Is the power" Il Chron.
xxx, 1i).
SS. "The lot Is cast into the lap, but the
whole disposing thereof is OF the LORD.
However things may seem to 50 at present,
the final disposition of everything Is OF the
Lord. He permits the wicked to choose
their own evil ways and continue in them
and for time to prosper. he also permits
the righteous to be afflicted and suffer, ou'
the end will declare His justice. It becomes
US continually to say, "Just and true arr
Thy word" "Show me Thy ways. Lord
Grew. xv., 8; Ps. XIV, 4).-Lesson Helper
.e eop ccAMEN,