The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-11-18

~ the word Of John
the Baptist: 1T is not lawful for thee
TO have thy brother Phillips wife"
Herod has put away his lawful wife
and stolen Herodias. his brothers
wife. HerOdias was a willing party
to this aduterous act, for she gladly
left her husband for the money, power
and social position which would be
hers as the wife of Herod, and she
hated the man Of God. who dared say.
1T Is not lawful"
These words Of John brought con-
viction Of sin TO HerOd. He had laid
hold OF John and put him into prison
for Herodius' sake. Herod knew In bis
heart that he must give account for his
sin. He knew that Judgment sooner
or later would fall upon all sin. While
he may never have heard, "Be sure
your sin will find you out" Numbers
~ ;23), yet he knew II was true: the
1T Is not lawful" from John the Bape
fist brought il forcIbly 10 his mind. II
Is so with every man. ut Is not law
ful" rings In the conscience Of every
sinner. bringing with 1t the conviction
of sin.
The conviction was followed by Her
DDS conflict with sin. In verses 1920
We are told "Herodias would have
killed John; but she could not for
Herod feared john" He knew he was
a man Of God and that TO trine with
such a nun was to trifie with God. So
Herod observed" him; meaning he
saved him from the wrath of Herodias.
He was trying to fool God when he
could not fool himself. Further. he
ibid many things" but net the right
thing. Moreover. Herod "heard John
gladly" He was moved by the fear
less preaching OF John and. perhaps.
Ike another ruler. he felt like saying.
almost thou persua1est me-" But.
like so many who have felt the conflict
with sin, he put Off from day to day
doing the one thing he knew he should
do.
Herod's conflict ended In catas-
trophe from his sin. In verses 21-25
we read of the fatal birthday banquet.
To some II might appear TO have been
fatal for John. because he lost his
life; In reality II was fatal for Herod.
because he lost his soul. The guestr
were gathered, a brilliant company OF
courtiers. Wine flowed freely and
revelry was supreme. But over all the
brightness and gayety there hung "a
pail like the smoke Of perdition. II
came from the remembered words OF
the man In the dungeons silence. "It Is
not lawful"
"But In spite Of these remembered
words. Herod comes TO the edge of the
precipice over which he will stumble
to unutterable woe. With his heart
made merry with the wine and his pas
sions all Inilamed he watches the
abandoned daughter Of Herodias as
she dances before him. lie Is soon
caught In the whirl Of the passionate
dance; II trips him and he falls utter
Ing the oath: Whatsoever thou shalt
ask me. will give II thee. unto the
half Of my kingdom"
The braxen woman. already instruct
ed by her mothers hate OF the man OF
God. asks for the head Of John the
Baptist on platter. Herod Is stiII
upon the edge Of the precipice. there
remains one last choice for him. ana
upon that choice hangs his eternity.
The story ends with Herod's choice
OF sin. In verses 26-27 we are told he
''was exceeding sorry; but for his
oath's sake. and fsT their sakes which
sat with him. he would not reject her.
Herod felt sorrow Indeed. but II was
not the sorrow that worketh repent
ance. but that which worketh death.
He feared the seorn OF his courtiers
more than the wrnth Of God He
chooses a harlot instead Of purity:
death instead Of life, hell Instead Of
heaven.
What he chose that day lie still has
with him. but the woman In now
stripped OF her beauty and stands In
all the hIdeousness OF naked sin: the
courtiers OF whom he WAS afraid that !.
day now curse him Tor his folly and
Instend OF the cooling drought Of wine.
Is the cry for drop of water 10 cool
the parchesi tongue. Over MI he may
sim hear the UNDECIDED warning from
John: I'll Is not lawful"
Let Us not he too hard on Herod I'M
III sure there Is no man Of God saying
10 us III Is not lswfui." Let ms BE-
certain there Is 10 fatal SIN hurrying
us along the path which led Herod to
an eternity OF shame and woe. The
writer knows not whnt particular sin
the reader may he clinging TO. but "
u Is there. whatever II Is. cut II on
while yet there IL opportunity.
Remember that Christ died for our
sins and now the message Is to ell.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and
fhou shall he saved from sin and from