The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-03-04

GOLDEN TEXT--.-Come ye out from
among them, and be ye separate saith
the Lord, and tolch no unclean thing
. Cor. 6:17.
No teacher Of this lesson should
omit q study of chapter Is, even
though he may not refer to it explicit
ly in this connection. We have there
presented believers privilege, Cd
friendship ". I'D ta) with God, tb)
with man. CD .Intercession, v. 90;
CD knowledge, v. 25, c. The art,
the power, the place, the glory, the
spirit, of intercession, yes, the bless
ing of intercession il to be coveted
by all believers. Abraham's interces-
sion prevailed though outwardly 1t
seemed to fail, see 1926. The pre-
pared teacher ought also be fan1il-
far with the story of the change of
Abrams name and Of Gods dealing
with Abroham and Sarah as re-
corded In chapters IL and Is.
Lot and sodom.
I. The Warning, w. 17,23.--Lot had
pitched his tent towards Sodoln,"
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 a degree
of worthiness, but also to an unde-
serving member Of the same family,
see I'll and 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 it was too late, his testimony, his
manner of life, his aims, and his am
billions had correspondent 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-in-law." God is calling US from
the corruptions and the plaques of
Babylon (Rev. 1870 and to separate
ourselves from Sodom, see the golden
text. While God is long suffering
e Peter, 800 we must also remem-
Der that if men will sin willfully, If
they persist in their wickedness, judg
ment is sure to follow, Is, also 2
Peter $40, IL. When judgment does
come, as it 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 it
reaches before the face of the Lord"
GAS. 5:4) and unless America needs,
unless men repent, God will most GER
tainly punish, Acts 1880, 81. This
punishment of s,odom 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 righteous
man, Peter 2:7, but he was most
sadly connected with the world, and
hence lost his testimony ". 14). The
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 loath to leave wv.
Is, 16), and later many Of the Isreal-
ties were full of regret over the miss
ing fiesh-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 procrastination.
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 lner-
ciful unto him." Eph. 2:8.
II The Destruction, Wv. 23-29.--Lot
escaped to little city, zoar. which
God in his mercy promised not to, de.
stroy ". 2D, and it was not till Lot
was clear of Sodom that destruction
came. God could not break his word
He had promised Abram, and had
Abram pursued his opportunities
chapter IL, doubtless even Sodom
hight uOI nave USrA 81 OtCo41y NC
stroyed. There was, as has beer
suggested, probably a volcanic erup
ton of gases, petroleum, ETC., but
there accompanied it a supernatural
manifestation also, for it trained
down." v. "a. The words looked
back" referring to Lots wife, imply
more than mere passing glance. Hel
heart was in the, city she was leaving
that city SO full of pride, of bread
and of ease, Eizek. 16:49. She died az
did Pliny at Pompeii. suffocated by
the gases, and her body became in
crusted with the salt.
Life is gift of God, we hold IL only
upon. certain. conditions; we car
choose good or evil God loves VI
and wishes all men to be saved, prom
ises pardon to the penitent and fore
tells doom for the impenitent. Mr.
Moody's story Of Judge Lott would
| be effective In presenting this lesson
Present to the boys the slogan O
/ "cleap living; clean speech: clear ath
letics." Forget not to show love Il
strangers, Heb. 1872. Sodom needed
i ten men to redeem it. What Almeri
can city has but ten righteous mer