The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-08-29
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 8
CoNouERING EVIL.

tMay be used with temperance applIca.
tom
LESSON TExTs-I Kings nn-s: Ephe.
SLAMS b.6-2I
GOLDEN TExT-Have no fellowsb,r
with the unfruitful works OF darkness
but rather reprove thcm.-Ephesians b.iI
DEVOTIONAL READING-Romans u,
q to 1910.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
Neutrality-suspicious. s:is; Psalms
Ai6, Luke Glib. 1g:H-is. Romans 7:I4: s,
II; ii Timothy "a
The robbery and murder Of Naboth
is one OF the darkest OF human deeds.
Failure TO recognize the righteousness
OF Naboth's position, and 10 master his
own personal selfish desires. resulted
In this dark deed.
.. A Notable Example OF the Tri.
umph Of Evil Il Kings q :1.2g).
i. Ahab's covetousness wv. 1-6).
Near the kings palace lay a plot OF
ground belonging 90 simple farmer
which Ahab sel1shly longer for. M
both. loyal TO the law OF God and exer.
cising his personal rights. refused 10
part with II. though the king offered
him what II was worth. or even bet
ter one In exchange. With Naboth II
was not matter OF money value, but
OF loyalty To God and his fathers. IL
doubtless would have been gain 10 him
20 have complied with Ahab's desire.
for he offered Its worth In money, OF n
better one In exchange. Naboth put
principle before worldly gain. or even
n reputation with the king. Ahab In
stead Of conquering his selfishness
sulkily refused To eat.
2. Jezebel's wicked plot wv. 5-16)
When she found Ahab pouting she
took matters into her own hands. C)
She tainted Ahab ". -. A weak man
cannot stand TO be tainted, especially
by woman. (2) A mock trial given
wv. S13). The charge made against
Naboth was false. They played the
hypocrite. His death was secured I'M
der the pretense OF justice. Jezebel
desired Naboth out of the way. so she
secured false witnesses against him.
go He was stoned TO death ". 13).
(D Jezebel informs Ahab OF Naboth's
session Of the vineyard wv. 14-10).
& The doom announced wv. 1920.
az BY whom-Elljah wv. II. 1S).
Al the command OF the Lord, Elijah,
who had fed from Jezebel. goes TO
meet the king as he entered upon the
possession OF Naboth's vineyard. He
went 10 take possession but could not.
God always finds n man 10 bring TO the
sinner the fruit OF his wrongdoing.
(2) What II was wv. 1926. (a) A
shameful death ". 19). The dogs
were to lick his blood In the place
where they licked the blood OF Ma
both. There Ii a retributlve justice In
the judgments which God metes out 10
sinners. Whatsoever a man soweth.
that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:D. |
sinner should be assured that his sin |
will find him out. (b) Obliteration OF |
posterity wv. n. 22). II was best
that the children OF such a man should |
be cut on 80 that there might be an
end 10 such a wicked dynasty. II
come 10 such a state as this. The dy-
nasty which In responsible for the
blood and sorrow OF the world at this
time would better end and Its poster
Ity be obliterated from the earth.
4. Ahab's repentance wv. 27-29).
Through his humiliation he gained
! respite from judgment God allowed
him 10 go for awhile before he permit
ed the judgment 10 fall upon him. A
lew years later he was slain In the
)attle OF Ramoth-Gilead (chapter
2 :37).
u. How to Overcome Evil (Eph.
Il :1s).
/. BY separation from II ". ~. The
My way TO overcome evil Is To refuse
fellowship with II, TO withdraw from
l. Lot, who had entered into fellow
hip with the Sodomltes, was overtaken
With disaster; but Abraham. who was
eparated from IL. was able TO deliver
lin.
2. by reproof ". ~. II Is not !
nough 10 merely refrain from prac- ,
Icing evil. No neutral position is pos
lble. There must be victory over Il
must be defeated. Antagonlsm OF
he evil Is necessary.
3. BY watchfulness ". 1D.
Living In the light OF Christ Is nee |
ssary In order Ia overcome evil. De
option Is ON every hand. (
4. by u circumspect walk wv. IS, s
81. f.,
Pitfalls are all about us. To walk
lthout looking about us is most fool
IN, because the evil one is on the \
lert. doing his best TO cause US to '
tumble. q
o. BY sober life ". 1s). a
Q. by being filed with the Holy
plrlt ". 1s).
Those who would overcome evil
ust abstain from intoxicating liquors
ld all the influences OF the world :
hlch unduly excite. b
The Splrit-fllled believer has the wis h
I'm and power TO overcome. 1,