The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-04-23

CONTEXT-Our lesson closed, leaving
Jesus in Judea. After answering the aw-
yer luke X. SD. He proceeded on his
journey and came into the city of Beth
lehem. There he accepted the hospitality
OF Mary and Martha, both Of whom
showed their appreciation OF their distin-
suished visitor. the former by sitting at
his feet to learn. the latter by ministering
to his comfort. That home was destined
70 become the resting place and asylum In
after months. even to the end of his earth
~ ministry Mark Xt. III. Leaving Beth
any Jesus went forth with his disciples
into retirement. The place and events of
that seclusion are wholly unknown. Prob
ably he continued the instruction which
had been interrupted by the lawyer. seek
ing to bring the whole company into full
est sympathy with eGch other and with
himself. Sweet and holy converse it was.
too ntimate and delicate to find record on
the pages of those sketches that have been
preserved Tor the disciples OF the after
centuries.
CCCASION-Our present lesson pertains
TO the close of that private interview Je-
sus mad been engaged in prayer. perhaps,
With him.. as with us. there are times of
desired communion at the throne Of
mercy. and there are times when one
ought to he alone with God. Some one
urged Jesus on this occasion TO teach the
disciples to pray. His example had awak-
ened their desire and made them con-
scious of their ignorance and weakness. 1t
was pleaded that JOIN the Baptist had
done the same with his disciples-an in
tereSting fact in the ministry o. that en-
inent preacher. Christ's prayer meeting
and they desired to know the secret. Je-
sus granted the request. showing that
while any petition offered in sincerity
must be acceptable, a mark of pieS (Acts
TX. III. vet one needs instruction In order
TO render this service in its best manner.
(Eccl. V. II Ministers ought now TO OBJ
serve this fact and do likewise
ANALISlS-The response of Jesus to
the request of the disciples may be divided
into two parts. He first gives a. model of
prayer oversees 2-D substantially the same
as that found in the ordination sermon
Matt. vi, 9-1S). except that the conclud-
ing doXologv is omitted. That model will
be treated here under two heads. the petit
ton for the divine honor and glory. and
those for the benefit of the petitioner. the
latter being purely human. After the form
of prayer Jesus offers the encouragement
to pray verse 5 4 and 1n under three heads
friendship. promise and sonship. He ev-
identity felt that his disciples would need
encouragement more than a model, for he
occupied more time and space with the one
SO. Men are more in danger of ceasing 10
pray altosethes than they are Of employ
ing improper language. But here Jesus
correlates the method Of prayer and the
assurance Of its value. making each topic
clearer and more forceful by the truth
contained in the other. and SO exceeding
the request OF the people.
D1VINE-In the form Jesus begins with
three petitions. pertaining. primarily to
God. but involving also the welfare of
men-reverence for his name, the coming
These were all prominent Old Testament
themes. GAv. X. 3: Zech. TX. 81 Indeed
the decalogue only formed and eniolned
eek Ky. SD hat for which the Chris
the essentials OF Righteousness are OF uni
versal obligation. Matt v: 49, These pc
titions are set in new light by two i'm
offered In a filiai spirit. God being regard
ed as n Father. While glimpsss Of such
relation were obtained in the former time,
into It. and cause them to act according
to 1t. Matt. V. is.) The praye was also
to be offered with thoughts Of another
world; in which God IS perfectly honored
to set ND here n heavenly Kingdom in
place of the sin and suffering that now
PERSONAL-After this higher view and
desire for Gods glory and mans good.
the petitioner may descend to himself To
be sure the individual Is included in the
anything beyond. 1t would be quite enough
to cry. Our Father. thy will be. done"
And vet Jesus encourages prayer for self,
the reason Sc sr for which iinr5 app T e a9 , on tenn tern.
porallties-not riches. not honors; but
daily ~bread-reallv the portion which a
father sees a T child lr needs , each day il t ~
curb the carly desires and to cultivate
humility and trust. We are not to infer
man must have nothing more than
6J Wealth is a gift of God to be used
for his glory. After seeking food man
should turn to his spiritual interests re
toward his fellow. Matt VI.
And after pardon for past Of
he must seek protection AGAINST "
ture temptations We are sinners N y
world of sin, seeking help unit. that Is
gained.
FRIENDSHIP-Having completed the
model. Jesus next gave the ground Tor
hope that prayer will he erectusl. HIS
of friendship. Suppose a man who
an unexpected visitor should go at
to borrow bread from a friend. Al
succeed. IL persistent. the friend
being anxious to avoid annoyance. By
this illustration Jesus does not insinuate
our heavenly Father IS ever lndis-
an unreasonable hour: that DELAY IN an
swering is occasioned by, his ndisposition:
that he finally complies to be relieved: on
the contrary. we know from many pass,
ages that God is ever waiting to hear and
bless. and that there is never a time wnen
may not approach. The thought which
friend. a mere man, would yield under q
pressure to n plea for bread. how mucn
more surely would God attend to the cry
OF his child pertaining to such weishty
matters. 1t is not a case Of parallel, but
of contrast.
PRoMISD-After his Illustration Jesus
eiveS his own word on the subject, a pre-.
cept and a promise. ASK. seek. knock
he says, keeping in mind the importunate
man at the door of a friend. and to the
phases of genuine prayer. In this
he admits that men need to be in earnest
the throne of Grace James v, 16). as a
method OF moving God after the manner
Of moving men. but as a method of pre-
pairing and testing the petitioner. Pro-
supplication develops the faith on
which divine blessing is conditioned. We
sometimes appear TO wrestle with God.
Gen. xxi. "a. when. in fact. we wrest'e |
with ourselves. But when we have at |
aimed the spirit of prayer Jesus says the
will come. His word is out as
ground of confidence. He goes beyond
promise. and states a fact or law.
Every one that asketh receiveth." There
s no failure on the part of God to be- |
stow. All the failure. IL there be any. is |
It the other end. limited wholly to the |
'pir1t and mode of him who asks.
SONSHIP-By this time. encouraged by |
What they knew Of human friendship and
" their confidence In the Master. the dis
,iples were prepared to look into the |
If the subject nf Drayer and To- |