The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-06-17
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDMSGlOOL
LESSON

By E o. SELLERS, Acting Director Of
Sunday School Course OF Moody Bible
Institute, ChicagoD

U
The style Of this psalm closely re-
sembles the known psalms OF David In
the first part OF the psalter. From
its structure and character, Il 10 to
be credited to David. In II are pre-
scented complaint, prayer and conn.,
dent hope OF relief II Is q petition for
deliverance from sins to which his af-
Elections tempted him. and from the
enemies who caused his afYiiction.
.. Prayer. MY prayer directed"
wv. 1, ~. There N good reason for
believing David wrote this while go
ing through the experience recorded
In | Samuel 20. IL 10 evident he is
passing through Q time OF great stress
and was In dire need OF help for he
urges haste" In giving heed to his
call. Luke 1919. David looks to
Jehovah as his only and sure helper.
We are told to omit the first word
unto" in this verse and to read. Il
have called thee" Every human help
had failed and faith fearlessiy turns
God. Can God be urged Surely w
are taught that God respects his
"remembrancers" who cry day and
night" psalm <o:is; ss:i7. Is: 70:s;
7l:l2: 1870. To fold the hands
weakly and to ''bide his time" 10 usu-
ally an evidence OF spiritual debility
and OF q desire to shirk the work
involved In . true exercise OF prayer.
True faith knows but one way Of do
liverance, that OF prayer Phil. <:s. y.
and those who call In faith get deliv-
erancs rom ie:l1. Such prayer.
the fruit Of heart and lips. 10 before
God "as incense" and It's effectiveness
does not depend upon Its being pre-
scented In the tabernacle-it 10 soc
rifcs' Of praise we'll pleasing to God.
We are to pray to God through his
Son and In the Holy Spirit Such
prayer 10 set forth before him ~ .
sacrifce Of sweet smelling SAVIOR.
%. Practice. incline not my heart
TO practice wicked works"
". ~. Such prayer ~ here suggested
demands . preparation Of purity. A.
the Incense" wss prepared with
great care tEx. 3o;3s) and its fra
srsncs was brought out BY IRE IRON
s:7s. ~; Eph- s:is. so likewise there
must be q continual practice Of prayer
and an absence OF wicked WORKS"
In NO way are We 90 apt TO stu ~
with our lips. but back OF the lips 10
the heart Matt. lS:ii: Luke s;<6).
The tongue can no man tame tJenes
s:O. yet God 10 able and his way 10
To cleanse the fountain To have
the mouth nlled nrst with prayer and
praise and then with evil 10 contrary
to reason and to Gods eommsnds.
David recognized that the heart 10 the
source Of wicked works." and prayed
that he b. not even Inclined TO
them Matt. SIS: Jan. i:ig. II he
Keeps the door" Ne have . safe guard
Ps. li7:D.
90. Pesltien. Let him reprovs me-
w. 5-7. Faithful are the wounds OF
q friend" This seems to BE- the %
sition David desired to occupy, one
that would BE- - Kindness" to him.
Such correction 10 ~ sweet OIL OIL
10 healing and soothing and here sym
bolires the healing effect OF corsc-
ton. Fools hate rsproof. wise msn
plead for Il. David not only welcomed
visdom but lsee r. W promises to
pray for such friends when caiamities
come upon them and In the time whom
they are overcome by welcomes.
When such are cast down by the rocky
roadside they shall hear my worda"
says David. and they will be sweet
The psalmists experieacs. when hunt
ed a. . partridge. taught him how to
appreciate the petitions OF Jonathan.
--his friend. whose words to him were
sweet" A carsful reading Of verse
seven reveals David's dire extremity
(see Am. n. W. Death stared him
in the face. His soul was torn ~
plowsth and cleavsth the earth.
~. Prstsetien. In thee DO put my
trust" (R W. Though thus brought
low David knew whore to turn. and
one to whom no could look. The
church OF Christ needs to look to
God, to become like him. Il needs the
Transforming. encouraging. ensrgizing
vision. David 10 now taking his eyes
on the difhculties and liking them on
the one who enables him to over
come. Look unto me and be 70
saved" Literally his prayer 10
make not my soul naked" or pour
not out my soul"
Whoever else . man harms by MS
sin he harms himself most.
Saloonkeepers and their sons most
frequently I'LL the grave Of the drunk
ard.
Gamblers nearly all lose their easy
gains.
They that take the sword perish
by the sword" Our only safety ID 10
hovah.
God 10 constantly answering TINS
last prayer. and We do see the wicked
falling into their own nets lPs. u
1915; s7:i<. Is; Ex. 7:i0.
This lesson has strong Temperance
suggestion and application. U Pray
ers that God will hear; (O Prepare
ton OF the mouth and heart; (O Pc
tition for reproof TO learn thereby;
90 Protection from temptation ana
trial