The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-02-26
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON TX, FIRST QUARTER, lNTERNA-
TioNAL SERIES. MARCH s.

Memory Verses, 23-2G--Golden Text,
Luke xviii. - Commentary Pre-
pared by Rev. ID. NJ. stesrns.
Copyright. 1907. by American Press Association
cannot find in me a willingness to
pass over chapters xvi and xvii with
their man. important events. written
for US by the Holy Spirit, and one i'm
portant lesson of chapter xvi Is that
God will always do as He has said,
and not in any roundabout or wrong
way, for He cannot be partner to
anything wrong. Concerning the prom.
ised son 1t Is finally written. The
Lord visited Sarah as He had said,
and the Lord did unto Sarah as He
had spoken" xxi, H.
Ten years had passed since Abra.
ham entered the land XVI, 81, and, no
son having been given, the devil has
a trap for Abraham, into which he
falls, making lot of family trouble
and seemingly breaking intimate fell
lowship between Abram and the Lord
for thirteen years. Compare xvi, 16,
and xvii, /. In chapter xvi, I'll, note
the first mention of the angel of the
Lord -four times), and in connection
with poor, wronged outcast wom-
an, and take comfort from the min
istry of angels Heb. !, III. Find
greater comfort in the truth that
God lives and sees and cares Xvi. 10,
Ii. and margin). Note how important
is submission not only to the good and
gentle, but also to the froward xvi, Q;
| Pet. ii. Isl. Submission Is said to be
the highest mission on earth. II is in
teresting to notice that of the seven
men mentioned in Scripture as being
named before their birth lshmael is
the first.
After the thirteen years OF silence
the Lord revealed Himself to Abram
by q new name, the Almighty God (El
ShaddaD, or the God who is all suffi,
Gent or enough. This name Is used
more often in the book of Job than In
all the rest of the Bible and can only
be understood and appreciated when
we are brought to the end OF ourselves
and our own resources Job xiii, ), O.;
then IL we walk before God uprightly.
sincerely xvii. l. marginl. we will see
the all sufIiciency of God. Then fol.
low in this wonderful chaptef the
covenant with Abram confirmed.
Abrams change Of name to- Abraham
by putting into 1t the principal letter
OF Gods name. Jehovah: the rite of cir
cumcision, suggesting death to the
flesh. and the assurance that the long
promised son would be given the next
year and his name would be Isaac.
Today's lesson chapter begins with
another appearance OF trs Lord to
Abraham. the sixth. I~thInk. IL have
counted correctly. and this time He Is
accompanied by two angels. the three
appearing as men. and they accept
Abraham's hospitality and rest under
the tree while water is brought for
their feet and an abundant meal pro
vided by Abraham and Sarah. OF
which they all partake Contrast the
unleavened cakes which Sarah quick.
~ makes with her three measures Of
meal with the leavened bread Of the
woman OF Matt. kill. 80. II you feel
like saying how gladly you would have
stood by or helped prepare the food or
shared IL with them. think OF John
xii. l-3, and see the same Lord. and IL
that does not help then believe Rev.
III, 90.
See the reinsurance OF a son for
Sarah. hear her unbelIeying laugh and
the Lords patient rebuke and His
searching question. rs anything too
hard for the LOrdg" Cverses o TO 1J1
Compare Jer. xxi, II, q. and say
before Him II Won are believing or IN.
believing.
The visitors rose up and looked 10.
ward SOdom, and Abraham went with
them to bring them on their way. and
20 the four start OF, and we can easily
imagine Sarah following them with
her eyes as far as she could see them
and thinking many things 10 her heart.
Soon the two angels are on their way
to Sodom. and the record Of their visit
to Lot and their hurrying him and bis
wife and daughters out Of the doomed
city Is found In chapter xix along with
the story Of the destruction Of the cities
because OF their sin. The angels Inabll.
Ity 70 destroy the cities until Lot was
safely out suggests that the church
must be taken out Of the earth before
the judgments can come upon IL on,
Lord Jesus indorses this record also
luke xvii, $500 end tells ~ that as
II was so IL shall be again at His com.
Ing. Contrast the willingness with
which the visitors accepted Abraham's
hospitality and Lots difficulty In eon
straining the angels 10 enter his home
Turning back TO our lesson and "a
our Lords words. "Shali I hide from
Abraham that thing which dor
fYerse ~ we are reminded Of Amos
III. Z. Surely the Lord God will d.
nothing. but He reveaIeth Ills secret
unto his servants the prophets" WI
therefore do well II we take heed q
all prophecy and are foolish " we d.
not lIT Pet. |. 10; Luke xiv. 21l. Thu
Lord IL looking for those with WHOM
lie cau commune. for lie seeks fei
Ia.,,aI,f,. Mill, 49, III fvhruf vvt n