The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-11-25

LESSON *. FOURTH QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES, NOV. 27.

Ii is helpful and necessary 10 keep
in mind that, as DR. Weston says, the
Bible is the story Of the conflict be
tween Christ and Satan for man and
mans dwelling place. this earth. HUI
mility, subsection 10 God, faith in God,
obedience TO Him, these are Christ
like, for among His first recorded ut
terances rs God manifest in the flesh
we have these Il must be about my
Fathers business" Suffer il 10 be
SO now" And these also are among
His most significant utterances: Il
came not 10 do mine own will" Il
seek not mine own glory" And 10 His
Father lie said, Il have glorified
lice, Il have manifested Thy name
duke ii, IL; Matt iii, 10; John vi, IS;
viii, 30; XVII f. ".
The opposite of all this, self will,
self assertion, self indulgence, pride, is
of the devil, and God is ever seeking
to win from the devil and give them
life, life eternal, abundant eternal life,
those whom the devil would destroy.
His love, He sometimes visits them
with His judgments, if perchance He
may thus deliver them from the wrath
10 come 10, all these things work
eth God oftentimes with man, TO bring
back his soul from the pit, TO be en-
lightened with the light of the living"
for lie says, Deliver him from going
"A "a ,,sV \
SON. dob xXxiii, 20, 80, 24).
The drunkards OF Ephraim in their
self will and pride said, I'VE have
made u covenant with death, and with
hell are we at agreement; when the
overlooking scourge shall pass
through, it shall not come unto us,
for we have made lies our refuge, and
under falsehood have we hid ourselves
Verse 1JJ. Inasmuch as the devil is
the father of lies, this was equal TO
saying. We have chosen the devil in
stead OF Cod and he will take care of
us.
The people, seeing the drunkenness
of their teachers and leaders, seemed
To think that Isaiah was no better
than the rest, and SO they despised him
and his teaching and said, Does he
think we are babes just weaned from
the breasts, that he comes to us with
his precept upon precept, line upon
line, here Il little and there a lutte:
Verses 8, 1OD SO in their sinful pride
and self indulgence, and vain conf
dence they despised him and his mes
sage But the Lord had prepared him
for this in His commission: go. and
tell this people. Hear ye indeed, but
understand not, and see we indeed,
but perceive not chapter vi, 81.
So He encouraged jeremiah when
He gave him his commission, They
shall fight against thee, but they shall
not prevail against thee, for i am with
thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee
der. 1, 19). So TO Ezekiel He said
Thou shalt speak My words unto
them whether they will hear Oh
whether they will forbear, for they are
most rebellious" (Ezek. ii, y. No true
prophet or apostle or faithful messen
ger of God is ever promised what the
world calls popularity or success. TIC
the twelve He said, Behold, send you
forth as sheep in the midst of wolves
! Matt. y, 10, and we are never taught
TO expect more than Paul found.
I All that is not of God however
much pleasure the sinner may find in
It and however he may glory in it, is
as a fading flower; nothing is really
enduring tuat is not of God, and there
is a day coming that Will declare it,
Ia the last two verses of the previous
chapter, in verse of our lesson and
in many places in Isaiah it is called
that day." then shall the hail sweep
away the refuge OF lies and the wa
/ tiers overflow the hiding place (verse
! 10, and all that is not of God shall
| perish, and the Knockers and the scorn
| full men who would not hear the word
| of the Lord Verse III shall find their
portion with the devil, whom they
chose instead OF God Matt. XIV, Az.
What then is the only remedy fol
the drunkards of Ephraim or any other
drunkards or self indulgent, self right
eous people? For there are many drunk
en-, but not with wine; many who stag
ger, but not because of strong drink
They are like people walking and talk
ing In their sleep; they listen TO words
Of men instead Of the word of God
and their worship Of God is with
mouth and lips only, and not with the
heart, for their heart is not right with
God lisa. xxx, 9-13; lvi. 1912. There
is no remedy but to hear the word OF
the Lord verse IA, forsake all false
foundations and begin to build upon
the foundation which the Lord God
has laid-the stone, the tried stone, the
precious cornerstone, the sure founda
ton verse 49,.
But before we can build upon this
foundation we must be cut down OF
our own foundation, just as truly as 9
board or pillar in the tabernacle, be
fore 1t could be placed upon the silver
or brass sockets and be part of the
tabernacle. had first to be cut dowI
as tree in the forest. No amount OF
reform or signing of pledges or resolu
ton will accomplish anything eterna
for any sinner: there must be new
! heart. new birth, which only Goo
can give The sinner must see his help
lessness and humbly receive the Lore