Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-03-06
LESSON FOR MARCH 9
THE DESTRUCTION OF soDoM.

THE DESTRUCTION OF soDoM.
LESSON TEXT-Gen. 1921; 1923.
GOLDEN TEXT-"Cone ye out from
among them. and be We separate saith
the Lord, and touch no unciean thing
Cor. 6:l7,
No teacher of this lesson should
omit a study of chapter is, even
though he may not refer to it explicit
ly In this connection. We have there
presented believers privilege, ~
friendship ". I'D (a) with God, (b)
with man. t2) Intercession, " 30;
(S} knowledge, v. 25, ] c. The art.
the power, the place, the glory, the
spirit, of intercession. yes, the bless
ing of intercession is to be coveted
by all believers Abpaham's interces-
sion prevailed though outwardly 1t
seemed to fail, see 1926. The pre-
pared teacher ought also be famii-
liar with the story of the change of
Abrams name and of Gods dealing
with Abroham and Sarah as re-
corded in chapters IL and 18.
Lot and Sodom.
l. The Warning. w. 17-23.-Lot had
pitched his tent towards Sodom."
and now the time for the execution Of
another Judgment upon sin had ar
rived. God, however, here gives us
another illustration of his mercy
which always precedes judgment. That
mercy was not only TO a righteous
man, one who had therefore degree
of worthiness, but also to an unde-
serving member of the same family,
see IL aad Acts. 1881. First of all,
Lot is called upon to separate himself
from his neighbors. Lot attempted to
convey this warning to his sons-in-law,
but 1t was too late, his testimony, his
manner of life, his aims, and his am
billions had corresponded with theirs
for such a period of time that the
fact of his belonging to the family of
the promise was forgotten and ''he
seemed as one that Knocked unto his
sons-inlaw." God is calling us from
the corruptions and the plaques CT
Babylon (Rev. 18:4) and to separate
ourselves from Sodom. see the golden
text. While God is long suffering
e. Peter, 3:9) we must also remem-
Der that If men will sin willfully, II
they persist in their wickedness, judg-
ment is sure to follow, 10, also 2
Peter $40, IL. When judgment does
come, as 1t did in this case. God knows
how to save his own, 2 Peter 2:7-9.
The voice of sin cries from our cities
today. The voice of poverty, Of In
temperance, of injustice, and 1t
reaches before the face of the Lord"
GAS. 5:4) and unless America heeds,
unless men repent. God will most GER
tainly punish, Acts 1890, 81. This
punishment of Sodom was not only
the development of their own wicked
ness. but by direct agency of Gods de-
stroying angels. Look up the subject
of Judgments.
Lot, we are told, was a righteous
man, Peter 2:7 but. he was most
sadly connected with the world, and
hence lost his testimony ". 14). The
church Of today is constantly hinder
ed by the incubus of believers of this
type. God expects the disciple to SO
separate himself from things that
though he may be "in the world, he is
not of the world
Even Lot was ioath to leave (vv.
Is, 16), and later many of the Isreal-
ties were full of regret over the miss
ing lesh-pots Of Egypt. The angels
of God had to fairly drag Lot out Of
the doomed city. He came near losing
his very life as he persistently chung
to his property. The greatest weapon
and the most efficient one the devil
has to use in his warfare for human
souls is representation.
Gods Patience.
The long suffering and patience OF
God are most wonderfully shown In
verse 16, and the whole secret OF Lots
salvation was that the Lord was mer-
ciful unto him. Eph. rs.
III. The Destruction, Wv. 23-29.-Lot
escaped to a little city, Zoar, which
God In his mercy promised not to de-
stroy ". 2D, and 1t was not till Lot
was clear of Sodom that destruction
CdmS. dCu CUulu not break Ills worn.
He had promised Abram, aad had
Abram pursued his opportunities,
chapter Is, doubtless even Sodom
might not have been so utterly de-
stroyed There was, as has been
suggested. probably volcanic erup-
ton of gases, petroleum, etc, but
there accompanied 1t supernatural
manifestation also, for it trained
down. v. "a. The words looked
back" referring to Lots wife, imply
more than q mere passing glance. Her
heart was in the city she was leaving,
that city so full Of pride, of bread,
and of ease, Eek. 16:49. She died as
did Pliny at Pompeii, suffocated by
the gases, and her body became in
crusted with the salt.
Life is gift of God, we hold 1t only
upon certain conditions; we can
choose good or evil. God loves us
and wishes all men to be saved. prom
ises pardon to the penitent and fore