Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-08-10
international gessolt.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VII, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 13.

| Memory Verses. 23-25-Goidau Text,
Jas. v, 1G-Commentnry Prepared
by the Rev. d. NJ. Stearns.
ICopyrisht, 1901, by American Press Association
1919. And the Lord said, Shall hide
from Abraham that thing which do!
We must suppose that the lesson COM
mittee did the best they knew how in Sc
lectiug the portions which they have as
signed to us for study, but how they
could be led to omit such a portion as
chapter xvii is something Of a mystery.
We trust that all teachers will think it
worth while to look ut the portions pass
ed over. Last weeks lesson showed US
Abram made sure, as we supposed, py
the Lords message that all would be as
God had said, yet in chapter xvi we read
that he turned from God to listen to an
earthly suggestion, which brought much
trouble into his household and led to an
interval Of IL years in his life Of which
We know nothing. Compare xvi, 16, and
xvii, /; Jer. xvii, 5. In chapter xvii the
Lord appears to him under a new name,
the Almighty God (El-ShaddaD, the
Mighty God who is all sufficient con-
6rming and stating more fully the cove
nant and giving him the token. WHICH sig
niiied death to the flesh (Col. ii. 11); Civ
ing him also new name by putting the
principal letter of His own name Jeho
yah (Jhvh) in the midst of his old name
Abram. We cannot know the all suftl-
cheney Of God till we are willing to have
done with self and walk before Him.
Sarai's name is also changed, and Abra-
ham is assured that the time has come
and within a year Sarah shall bear to
him the promised son. The visit Of the
Lord and the two other heavenly ones to
Abraham in the heat of the day, their
acceptance of Abraham's hospitality and
the message to Abraham confirmed to
Sarah lead us to the beginning Of today
lesson. Let the Lords question to Sarah
in verse IA, first clause, along with Jer
xxxii, II, and John xiv, 13, II, lead us to
expect great things from God.
20, q. The Lord is q righteous judge
and speaks Of Himself here as carefully
inuuiring into matters. He shall not
Judge after the sight Of His eyes neither
reprove after the hearing Of His ears,
but with righteousness shall He judge
lisa. ri. 3, ~. Everything on earth cries
to Him, and He hears and will in due
time see to it. Note carefully Gen. iv. III:
Elk. iii, Z: Hab. ii, IL; Jas. V, 4: also ere.
atoms groans in Rom. viii, ". God
hears it all.
90. abraham stood yet before the
Lord" The other two visitors went to-
ward Sodom, and their visit to Lot and
his rescue by them are recorded in the
next chapter, references to which we hnd
from the Lord Himself in Luke xvii, ~
so. Abraham standing before God makes
us think of Elijah and Elisha and also of
Gabriel II Kings xvii. 1; II Kings iii, IA;
Luke i, 19). To appropriate and live in
the power Of Ps. xvi, s. is very proper
and helpful thing to do. remembering
that the Lord seeth not as man seeth, for
man looketh on the outward appearance,
but the Lord looketh upon the heart u
Sam. xvi. y. He says. 10. am with
you alway."
23-2G. shall not the Judge of all the
earth do right?" In the rest Of our les
son we see Abraham as the interccssor,
as we afterward see Moses, Samuel. Dan
lei and others, all typical Of Him who
ever liveth to make intercession for III
from. viii. 81; Heb. vii. 25). We read
that Abraham drew near. and 1t is our
privilege to draw near with true heart.
in full assurance Of faith, and to come
boldly unto the throne of grace. that we
may obtain mercy and find grace to help
in time of need (Heb. X. %: iy, 16). We
may come not only for ourselves. but for
live chiefly for others, and the more we
renounce self and live for others the more
we shall be like Him who never pleased
Himself nor sought His own will nor His
own glory from. XIV, 3; John vi. SO; viii,
5O) By His precious blood He has made
us nigh who once were far off and has
given us access to God at all times (Eph.
ii, 13: Rom. v, q. with such blessed as
surances for our encouragement as John
xiv. 13. II; XIV. Z, 16: Mark xi. 24: John
Y, IA, IS.
27-32. Fearing that there may not be
| so righteous in Sodom. Abraham contin-
ues to plead that the Lord will spare the
city for the sake Of 45, 10, 30, 20, I'D.
and the Lord said that He would spare
the city if ten righteous people were
found in it. Six times Abraham pleads.
Some wonder how it might have been if
he had still kept on, but it would appear
| that Lot was the only righteous man in
the city, and we would not have known
that he was righteous but for II Pet. ii,
Z, S. 1t would seem that his wife and
two daughters were delivered for his
sake and that he was delivered for Abra,
hams sake (chapter xix. 12. 29). That
the righteous by their intercession can
bring blessing to others is evident from
the record of the centurion. the woman of
Tyre and Sidan, the four friends (Math.
viii, 10: il. 2; XIV. 2S). That there may
be such q state of affairs that even the
prayers of the righteous cannot avail we
learn from Jer. XIV, /; Ezek. xiv. IA. ~.
where we see that such men as Moses.
Samuel. Noah. Daniel or Job could not
bring deliverance. Abraham did not
plead on the ground Of any goodness in
himself. for he spoke 0? himself as but
dust and ashes tversc 21). but only on the
ground Of the great need and the right
eousness Of God. We may learn good
lesson in pleading from jeremiah. who
said, 80 Lord, though our iniquities testi-
fy against us. do Thou it for Thy names
sake" Ucr. xiv, y. In Jesus name is
our great strength.
33. "And the Lord went His way as
soou as He had left communing with
Il