The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-06-15
INTERNATIONAL,
SUNlYSQlOOL
LESSON
tby e. Q. SELLERS, Acting Director of
sunday school Course of Moody Bible
Institute, Chfcago)
LESSON FOR JUNE 20
PRAYER FOR THE TEMPTED.

The style of this psalm closely re-
the first part of the psalter. From
Its structure and character, it is to
be credited to David In it are pre-
sented complaint, prayer and conf
dent hope of relief. 1t is petition for
denverance from sins to which his af-
tiictions tempted him, and from the
enemies who caused his aff1iction.
|. Prayer. my prayer directed"
wv. l, p. There is good reason for
believing David wrote this while go
ing through the experience recorded
IN | Samuel "a. 1t is evident he is
passing through a time of great stress
and was in dire need of help for he
urges haste in giving heed to his
call, duke 1918. 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, It
have called thee" Every human help
had failed and faith fearlessly turns to
God. Can God be urged? Surely we
are taught that God respects his
''remembrancers" who cry day and
night psalm 40:13; 69:17, IS; 70:5;
71:12; 143:D. To fold the hands
weakly and to "bide his time" is usu-
ally an evidence of spiritual debility
involved in a true exercise of prayer
True faith knows but one way of de-
liverance, that of prayer (Phil. 4:6, y,
and those who call IN faith get deliv-
erance (Rom. 1913. Such prayer,
the fruit of heart and lips, is before
God "as incense and it's effectiveness
does not depend upon it's being pre-
sented in the tabernacle-it is sac
rifice" of praise well-pleasing to God.
We are to pray to God through his
Son and in the Holy Spirit. Such
prayer is set forth before him as a
sacrifice of sweet smelling SAVIOR.
II. Practice. Incline not my heart
to practice wicked works"
w. ~. Such prayer as here suggested
demands a preparation of purity. AS
the incense" was prepared with
great care eek. 30:36) and it's fra
GRANGE was brought out by fire (Rom.
1925, 27; Eph. 6:18), 80 likewise there
must be a continual practice of prayer
and an absence of wicked works"
In no way are we SO apt to sin as
with our lips, but back of the lips is
the heart Matt. 1911; Luke 6:45).
The tongue can no man tame Games
$3.50, yet God is able and his way is
70 nj no OF
the mouth filled first with prayer and
praise and then with evil is contrary
to reason and to Gods commands.
David recognized that the heart is the
source of wicked works." and prayed
that he be not even inclined to
them Matt. 6:13i Jam. 1:13). If he
keeps the door" We have a safe guard
Ps. 127:D. God permits circum-
stances to come upon lis which test
our inclinations and our desires. Da-
vid, feeling his cwu weakness and
wickedness, pleads for a heart that
is not inclined to evil and as a further
safeguard that he be delivered from
the intercourse with men that work
iniquity." Association with such men
separate us from God lisa 59:2). Thus
David prays for a separate life. To
lust after the dainties of the world
and to participate therein soon leads
to having the hands occupied in
deeds of wickedness" ". R. W.
III. Position. Let him reprove me"
W. ST. Faithful are the wounds Of
q friend" This seems to be the po-
sition David desired to occupy, one
that would be "a kindness" to him.
Such correction is as sweet oil. Oil
is healing and soothing and here SYM
bolizes the healing effect of correc-
ton. Fools hate reproof, wise men
plead for it. David not only welcomed
wisdom but (see r. W promises to
pray for such friends when calamities
come upon them and in the time when
they are overcome by wickedness.
When such are cast down by the rocky
roadside they shall hear my words,
says David, and they will be sweet.
The psalmist's experience, when hunt
ed as partridge, taught him how to
appreciate the petitions of Jonathan,
his friend, whose words to him were
sweet" A careful reading of verse
seven reveals David's dire extremity
| (see Am r. VI. Death stared him
in the face. His soul was torn as zone
ploweth and cleaVeth the earth"
w. Protection. In thee do put my
| trust Or. VI. Though thus brought
| low David knew where 10 turn, and
one to whom he could look. The
| church of Christ needs to look to
| God. to become like him. 1t needs the
| Transforming, encouraging, energizing
vision. David is now taking his eyes
off the difficulties and fixing them on
| the one who enables him to over
| come. Look unto me and be We
saved" Literally his prayer is
make not my soul naked" or pour
not out my soul" David had made
proof of God among the sheep, at
| the court, as a fugitive, on battlefield,
in adversely and in prosperity, even in
gross sin, yet God had not forsaken
him Our David has promised to abide
with all who put their trust in him
| John 1418 R. W. AS his enemies
had set their snares God had oeliv-
cred David from them. Satan's gins
or snares are pride, passion, sensual
! ity, intemperance, sloth, greed, NAL
| ice, covetousness, hatred, falsehood,
| ond On on int orr11 in h1o lief paCilV