Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-06-16
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson xll.-Second Quarter,
For June 20, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Ps- cxli--Memory
Verses, 3, 4-Golden Text, Ps. cxIi, 9.
Commentary Prepared by Rev. o. M.
Stearns.

Inls Is not such fascinating por-
ton for meditation as that of last
week. This tells OF workers OF In
iquity and the snares and gins and
nets which the wicked set for the
righteous Yet II IL written by the
same Holy Spirit. II seems somewhat
like coming down from the Mount Of
TRANSPORTATION to contend with the
devil and his works. 1t reminds us
that our adversary. the devil. still go
eth about and that we need the whole
armor of God for the daily conflict. and
if we would not be overcome nor grow
weary, we must consider Him who
endured such contradiction OF sinners
against Himself on our behalf II Pet
e, s, 8; Eph. vi. 1913: Heb. xii. 81. It
does not matter what particular part
Of David's life this psalm refers 10. He
was in the conflict from the time that
Samuel first amounted him: before that
privately as a shepherd: after that
more or less publicly till his death.
From the time that a sinner receives
the Lord Jesus and thus becomes His
redeemed property he Is In the conflict
with the world. the flesh and the devil
and can overcome only by the blood
OF the Lamb and absolute confidence in
Him (Rev. xii, Il: John V. A..
LORD. l cry unto thee so also in
Ps. clxii, /. 5, Il cried unto the Lord
with my voice" No place nor circum-
stance need hinder our cry to God. for
Jonah cried 10 the Lord from the belly
of the fish and was heard Jonah ii. /,
q. On this occasion David seems to
have needed help at once, for he said.
Make haste unto me-" When Peter
was sinking In the sea he needed help
quickly and cried. Lord. save mer'
And Immediately Jesus caught him by
the hand fAiatt. xiv, 80, 81. The thief
on the cross needed salvation quickly.
and he obtained it and went to para
disc. Prayer as incense reminds us of
Rev. V. 8: viii. 3. the latter passage
teaching us that the merits OF Christ
are necessary to make any prayer ac-
ceptable and that by those merits ev-
cry true prayer In His name reaches
the throne. We think OF the father of
John the Baptist offering incense in
the holy place while the multitude
was praying without. and we see by
faith our great High Priest interceding
for us as we continue here in prayer
Luke /. S-1ol. The evening sacrifice
reminds us that salvation and service
all depend upon His precious blood. for
He died at the hour Of the evening
sacrifice
We need continually to pray the
prayer Of verse 3. set q watch. o
Lord. before my mouth; keep the door
of my lips" for II any man offend not
in word the same is perfect man and
able also to bride the whole body Gas.
iii. 2. "Who so keepeth his mouth
and his tongue keepeth his soul from
troubles" prov. xxi. 231. Elsewhere
David said. II win keep my mouth
with bride while the wicked is be-
fore me" fPs. xxx. u. In Ps. lxxxiv.
10. the writer speaks Of being a door
keeper In the house of God. but here
David asks the Lord 10 be his door
keeper. The word Of God in our
hearts Is mentioned as remedy
against sin ops. xvii, 4; cxix, ID.
Verse of cur lesson sounds like:
Lead us not into temptation, but de-
liver us from the evil one. May the
thought Of our weakness keep Us far
away from all that is evil" Verse s
reminds US of Prov. tx, s. "Rebuke a
wise man and he will love thee" And
vet so good q man as Asa could not
stand a reproof, but imprisoned the
Lords messenger III Chron. xvi, l0l.
The marginal reading of this lesson
verse is helpful and also the revised
version.
In verse 8 we are reminded of the
prayer of Jehoshaphat. I'VE have no
might against this great company that
what to do. but our eyes are upon
thee" QI Chron. XXX. IL. There also
comes to mind Heb. xii. /. ,. LET us
run with patience the race that is set
before us looking unto Jesus. Let
thine eyes look right on. and let thine
eyelids look straight before thee"
prov. ". 90. II is necessary that we
look In the right direction and at the
right person. for our eyes affect our
hearts Clam. ill. 5D. 1t Is blessed
when we see no man any more save
Jesus only with our selves Mark tx.
s.. The last two lesson verses make US
think OF Hannah. who was hanged upon
the gallows which he had prepared for
Mordecai: also Of David's prayer in
ps. xxxv, 8. Let his net that he hath
mid catch himself See also Ps. vii.
Is. He made pit and digged it and
IS fallen into the ditch which he made, y
and Prov. XVI. %. who so diggeth
pit shall fall therein
We ean safely leave all the workers
of iniquity to work out their own ruin.
while we put our trust. In the Lord.
rely wholly upon Him and live only TO
Him. When we. can say from the