The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-10-28

rs. 37:5-Commit Verses 22-24
Commentary on the Lesson.
TINiE.-A. D. 60. 61.
PLACE.--On the Mediterranean.
EXPOSITION.--I. Paul Tempest
Tossed, 1910. Gentle breezes and
tempestuous winds alike await the
faithful servant of God Tvs. 13, 14), ,
but both come from the same hand,
our Fathers hand. It is He who
commandeth and raiseth the stormy
wind (Ps. 107:25). He maketh
winds His messenger (Ps. 1914, r.
W. Both the balmy south wind and
the fierce Euroclydon furthered Paul
on his course toward the imperial
city, where he was to give his testi-
mony for his Master and toward the
New Jerusalem. The gentle breezes
from the south are more pleasant but
not more wholesome and useful than
the wild, bowling northern gale. We
may all well thank God for that tenn
pest, for to 1t we owe the precious les
sons of this chapter. If it should
ever be ours to face the terrors of
cyclone, let us not forget from whom
1t comes and whose loving purposes it
carries out. 1t was probably hard
for Paul during that fourteen days
storm to discern the wise and gentle
hand of God in it, but it was there,
and we can see 1t now. It is interest
ing to note how, as the tempest over
took Gods faithless servant Jonah
(Jonah 1:4), so also the tempest
overlook His faithful servant Paul.
They were both sailing the same sea,
but one toward the duty to which
God appointed him; the other away
from the duty to which God appoint
ed him. Gods most faithful servants
will not always find smooth sailing.
The child of God may always have
peace within (Phil. 4:6, z; Is. 1858;
Jno. 16:33), but he will not always
have peace without. That one who is
being fiercely tempest-tossed ". 1S)
does not prove at all that God has
ceased to look upon him with favor.
Paul was never nearer to God than at
this moment, when he was being
tossed pitilessly about by the raging
Mediterranean, and perhaps undergo
ing the throes of seasickness. Never
was Paul more faithful. Oftentimes
the best thing for us to do when thus
tempest-tossed is ''to tighten the
ship" ". 1S). Many of us are car
ryin% too much cargo for such
stormy voyage as this world presents,
and the tempest is Gods call to un-
load (Heb. 1871; Phil. 3:7, s; Matt.
1920.
ii. "Be of Good Cheer, For Be-
lieve God" 2O-2G. 1t was very nat
ural when neither sun nor stars shone
upon them for many days and no
small tempest lay upon them, that all
hope that they should be saved should
be taken away, but it was entirely
unnecessary. God is able to save in
the darkness as well as in the sun
shine and in the tempest as we'll as
in the calm. There was at least one
man on that boat whose hope was
not gone, for God had said to him,
Thou must bear witness at Rome
also" (ch. 23:11), and he knew that
through storm or through sunshine
God would somehow get him to Rome
to give his testimony. Those were
manly words of Paul in verse 81. 1t
was not a mere taunt, 81 told you
So" but simply deft reference to
the judiciousness of his former ad-
vice that he might gain the more re-
spectful hearing for his present
words. The darker and stormier the
night the likelier are the angels of
God to appear If we are indeed His
Sometimes they stand beside us and
we do not see them, we are so taken
up with the darkness and the bowling
of the storm. Paul's short descrip-
tion of his relation to God ". 23) is
full of meaning. 1t is great thing
to look up to the infinite God and
say, II am His" to say it intelligent
ly and with deep realization of it's
meaning. 1t gives a blessed solem-
nifty to our entire life. 1t also gives a
sense of security. God can take care
of His own property (Jno. 1928,
29). Paul did not stop with saying,
Whose | am" but went on to add.
"Whom also | serve" Many say they
are His, but do not prove it by serv-
ice. Paul loved to think and sneak
of himself as the servant of God"
(Rom. 1:9; 2 Tim. 13; Tit. I'D.
II is a position of great dignity and
also of great security (Dan. 3:17.
26, 2S; 6:16-20) and blessedness and
reward (Jno. 1890. Much that is
called serving God is really serving
self, But Paul's whole life was SER
vice rendered to God Fear not"
that is what Gods messengers are al
ways saving. Take up your concord
ance and look up the occasions upon
HhlNu bOu says " I1lo bSlNdulS,
Fear not, BE not afraid" and SIM
liar words. There may be fourteen
days continuous storms and no sun
or stars appear, but God still says, !
Fear not" God reveals His plan to
Paul. Thou must stand before Gaze
sar." Well, then all the Eurocly- |
dons that ever struck the sea cannot |
founder the ship on which Paul sails |
until he is near enough the land to
swim ashore. His enemies thought |
that Paul must stand before Caesar
because he was malefactor; the real |
reason was that God had testimony
to be given there tcf. ch. 9:15). Paul |
had built better than he knew when !
he appealed to Caesar 1t is a great |
thing to have godly man in the ship !
in storm ". 24). 1t Is a great |
thing to have a godly man in the |
home or the church or the commu-
nifty. Mark we'll Paul's closing words
in yerae "a