The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-02-21

TEX OF ehe LESSON zen. KILL t-iGs
Memory Verse, s-Golden Text, Prov.
X, 22-commensary Prepared by Rev.
o, N. stsarns.
Abrams going down to Egypt was
certainly a mistake on his part, for
there was no altar to the Lord there
nor any new revelation from the Lord,
and Abram d~ishonored the Lord by
fear and deceit and brought upon him
self the rebuke Of a man Of the world,
q heather king. By all our conduct
we are either honoring or dishonoring
the Lord, magnifying Him or magnify
ing ourselves, and we would do we'll
to test everything by this test. He ia
able to take care Of His own people
and His own work under all circum.
stances, and all He asks of us is a
whole heart for Him, such an abiding
shall not be hindered in working u
His good pleasure.
When at any time we wander away
from the Lord the only thing to do lie
to return as quickly as possible, for He
is ever calling the wsnderer to return,
as in lisa. ". Z; Jer. Iii, il, %; Hos.
xiv, /, 2. and the word Of encourage.
meut awaits both the unsaved and the
saved, Him that cometh to NE ! will
in nowise cast OUT John vi, 80. II
IL good TO see Abram back at the place
Of the altar between Bethel and Hal
and to hear him calling on the name OF
the Lord oversees 3, A. and to know that
the Lord has abundantly pardoned him
according to His word.
1t may seem strange to some to see
Abram very rich in cattle, in silver
and In gold Verse q Notwithstanding
his wanderings from the Lord, but let
such consider their own mercies and
say If they have not been dealt with in
loving kindness beyond all their de.
serts. Sometimes the Lord would draw
US back to or closer to Himself by His
great mercies, and we have all and al
ways reason to say, ut is of the Lords
mercies that we are not consumed, be.
cause His comparisons fail not Uam
fiji, 20.
Lot also was rich in flocks and herds,
and his herdmen and those Of Abram
could not agree. So to prevent strife
Abram told Lot to take his choice of
territory and that he would take that
which Lot did not desire. Thus mag.
unanimous could this great man afford
to be because he was the friend of God
and the Lord was his portion. Being
q witness for God before the Canaan.
ties and Perizzites who dwelt in the
land, he could not tolerate strife, for
''the servant of the Lord must not
strive" on Tim. ii, "a.
Weakness, lowliness and submission
are always becoming in a child of GOD.
but never strife, not even to maintain
our so called rights. We are exhorted
to take wrong and suffer ourselves to
be defrauded rather than strive before
unbelievers q Cor. vi, 6. y.
without regard to the character OF
the people who lived on the plain, who
are described as wicked and sinners
before the Lord, exceedingly" Lot
chose the plain OF Jordan, because he
saw that ii would admirably suit his
numerous f1ocks and herds oversees
1913. It is said that "he lifted up
bis eyes," but it was only to behold the
low and fruitful valley Of the Jordan.
He did not behold the Lord mol con-
slider His win In the matter. It was q
case of self only.
1t was good for Lot to be with
Abram, but not so good for Abram to
have Lot With him. Separation from
Lot was really to Abrams advan-
tage and evidently pleasing to the
Lord, for the Lord had another mes
sage for Abram al 500 as Lot was
separated from him Q4-1D. There was
q renewed assurance that the Lord
would give him the whole land and the
promise that his seed would DO as the
dust OF the earth Verse 49,
In verse 10 see this friend of God
dwelling with Him at Hebron, which
signifies fellowship, away above the
sinners OF Sodom and in communion
with God with his altar unto the Lord.
This prepares US for the record in
chapter xiv of the capture and captiv-
ity OF Lot and his goods by the four
kings, while Abram, living above and
away from all the turmoil, is able to
go with his 31S trained servants and
rescue Lot and his people and all his
goods. While mixed up with the world
we cannot expect 10 have victory over
il, and 1t is only as we dwell at He
bron In fellowship with God that we
"a hope to rescue others from the god
of this world. First we see Lot pitch
ing his tent toward Sodoua, and then
we see him dwelling In Sodom (xiii, u:
xiv, 12). Later we shall find him a
ruler in Sodom, sitting in the gate
getting ON in the world.
In the end of chapter xiv we have a
wonderful record Of a most remarkable
man, a king and a priest type of the
Lord Jesus Christ when He shall be a
priest upon His throne, a priest forever
after the order Of Melchizedek Zech.
vi, 10; Ps. OK, ~. Here we have for
the first time the title 'the Most High
God, possessor OF heaven and EARTH
and because Abram was blessed by
Him he was able to turn his back upon
the tempting offer Of the king Of So
Aom concerning the goods. RI the church
today knew the Most High God and
His blessing she would never be guilty
OF seeking the goods OF Sodom TO help
har arrv M, hor vvnrk Tshara fe rn4h.