The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-07-07
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON u, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, JULY 9.
Text of the Lesson, lisa. xxxviii, is.
Memory Verses, 4-0-Golden Text,
rs. xIvi, documentary Prepared
by Rev. ID. VI. Stearns.


copyright, 1905, by American Press Association.
This sickness and recovery of Heze-
kiah in answer to prayer which is Civ
EN- in one verse in III Chron. xxi "a,
is recorded more fully in our lesson
and with even more fullness of detail
in III Kings Xxx. But, as in last week $
lesson, the fact of its being three times
recorded indicates its special impor-
lance and asks our special attention
to it. The testimony to HeZekiah in
III Chron. XXI 20, 81. could scarce
ly be improved upon, but in the rec
ord now before us there are many
sad things, the manifestations of the
, deceitful heart that is in every one.
What a contrast between the people
whom the Lord now uses in His serv-
ice. unreliable in soul and body, sinful,
well today, sick tomorrow and dead
the next day, and the same people in
their glorified bodies, without sin, new
er sick requiring no time for eating
or sleeping, serving Him day and night
unwearily and whole heartedly and
perfectly. Those who understand it
cannot but groan within themselves
waiting for the redemption of the body
{Rom. viii, 23).
How would you take it? Try to
put yourself in HeZekiah's place and
consider if you are ready for such
message. w Id you say, THANK God,
glory dawns; to die is gain; to be with
Christ is very far better" or would you
do as HeZekiah did-turn your face to
the wall and weep sorely? Inasmuch
as our stay in these mortal bodies is
uncertain and health is no assurance
that we shall stay, it is certainly wise
to have our house in order always, all
our affairs as far as possible in a salts
factory condition, and, then, our sins
being washed in His precious blood,
we can say always, ANY time you
want me, Lord, l am ready" Oh Tim.
iv, %.
We must remember that HeZekiah
had not the light that we have. There
was no crucified and risen and ascend
ed Christ in his day, yet Moses when
he was called In full health made no
complaint Deut xxi, 40, 80; Xxxiv,
90. Isaiah, the prophet, brought the
message to HeZekiah, and he at once
gave himself to prayer, and before the
prophet had left the middle court the
word of the Lord came to him, saying,
Turn again and tell Hezekiah, the cap
tain of My people, thus saith the Lord,
the God of David, thy father, | have
heard thy prayer, | have seen thy
tears; behold, | will heal thee"
How rapid the communication be-
tween earth and heaven, how beautiful
to have an anOinted ear like lsaiahs,
IN tune with God; to hear His wireless
messages even as we walk the street!
How great the privilege and power Of
prayer which can take hold of God
even for the prolongation of our so
journ in Il mortal body if it seems best
to Him. That a man who was about
to die should be up and about in three
days was nothing short of miracle,
and yet while it was a direct answer
TO prayer, some means We're used by
the prophets orders QI Kings Xxx, y.
II
levers should deem the use Of means
inconsistent with the prayer of faith.
The king did not seem satisfied with
the simple word of God by the prophet
and SO asked for a sign that the Lord
would do as He had said. The Lord
graciously gave him a sign and even
gave him his choice of two signs. How
fnl iS co
to indulge His unworthy and unbeliev-
ing children! But let us not forget
Blessed are they that have not seen,
yet have believed" and Blessed is she
that believed, for there shall be per
Torrance of those things which were
told her from the Lord" Let our mot
to be, Il believe God that it shall be
even as il was told me" John Xxx, %;
Luke i, 45; Acts xvii, 25).
The writing of Hezekiah after his re-
covery from his illness as given in our
lesson chapter contains many most sug
gestive sayings. such as verses 15-11:
He hath both spoken unto me, and
Himself hath done it. | shall go softly
all my years" The bitter in soul de-
UNeTeu anu All SllS put AVA Dul
how easy it is to say and how difficult
TO do. If all our good resolutions were
kept and all our VOWS performed what
q good testimony for God there would
be But, alas, how sad TO read, "Heze-
kiah rendered not again according to
the benefit done unto him, for his heart
was lifted up; therefore was wrath up
on him" I'll Chron. xxi, 2J).
When the king of Babylon sent let
tiers and a present 10 HeZekiah after
his recovery from his illness Hezekiah
proudly and boastfully magniied him
self instead of Jehovah. and displayed
all his treasures in his house and in his
kingdom. AS consequence of this
the prophet was sent to the king with
a message from the Lord, under which
Hezekiah again humbled himself and
thus averted wrath I'm his days. Let
us lay to heart that when visitors come
to us there is nothing we say to them
and nothing we show them that Is not
noticed and heard in heaven. 1t GER
tainly does become us to go softly, to
humble ourselves TO walk with God, re-
Do, 81, vi A