Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-30
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
BY DR.. MARION McH. HULL
For Nop. 4

1t has been our custom TO give
some other lesson on the days as
signed to prohibition lessons; not
because we are not heartily in IA
vor of prohibition, but because the
passages of scripture selected are
usually so forced out of their true
setting to teach a lesson that they
were never intended to teach, that
We are not willing to be parties
10 that crime. So with one OF the
passages today. To make the 101st
Psalm teach temperance or world
wide prohibition is to do violence
to the scripture, and we are not
willing to be guilty of that. And
the object of this protest is to en-
phasize in another way the fact
that the only fair way to study the
Bible is to discover what God says
in it, rather than to force into it
some ideas of ones own, no mat
ter how good these ideas may be.
The 101st Psalm was first sung
by David when he brought the ark
to Jerusalem. He had captured the
strongnoAo a the Jebusites and
wanted not only to make it his
capital city, but the city of the
Lord. When he brought the ark
from the house of Obededom, his
plan was halted by Uzzahs defec-
ton and death. During the next
three months he found out where
his mistake had been and deter
mined to do it in the right way
next time. After the Levites had
taken six steps and no harm had
come, he realized that he had Gods
approval, and sang the 30th Psalm.
AT the foot of the hill he sang the
first part of the Gath Psalm, and
before the gates; the latter part of
the same Psalm. Then after he had
placed the ark in the tabernacle he
sent all the people home, and he
himself came into his own house.
1t was here then that he sang the
101st Psalm as an expression of his
own policy as king over all Israel,
and as to what he desired in max.
ing the former stronghold of the
Jebusites the city of Jehovah. Va
rlous sins are mentioned as those
against which he will set his face,
but unfortunately for the passage
as teaching a prohibition lesson,
the sin of drink is not referred to
once. How damaging, therefore, to
proper reverence for the scrip
lures is the use of this wonderful
Psalm on this subject. Let us then
dismiss it from further considera-
ton here.
Proverbs 23:29-35
The passage in Proverbs IS
apropos. Solomon had ample oppor-
tunity for observing the effects OF
ic
vice. Noah got drunk a few years
after the flood: and men have been
drinking to excess ever since It is
taste which seems to be inherent
In the blood of everybody; for, like
so many of the devils devices, it
is attractive. 1t appeals to the flesh,
1t 10 good to taste. 1t appeals to the
eye; it is beautiful to look at as it
sparkles in the cup. 1t will mako
one wise-at least, that is the al,
lurement that is held out by the
arch deceiver. It is so easy, there
lore, for one to become a Victim
of it.
There is another fact which may
seem strange at first thought. Ma
ture has made such abundant pro-
vision for it. Every fruit has some
sugar which, under proper condi-
tons, will ferment and furnish ali
alcoholic drink. And in addition to
the fruits there are all the cereals
wheat, corn, rye, etc-and such
other staple foodstuffs as potatoes,
out of which this attractive thing
may be made.
Now given an inherited taste, all
attractive thing, and such ease OF
requirement because of the lavish
provision of nature-is it anv won
der that there are so many in every
cline and time which have become
addicted to it's use?
Another thing that must be stat
ed about wine. It's use is nowhere
in the Bible prohibited. Be careful
now in your thinking and in your
statements about this. It's use is
nowhere in the Bible prohibited;
but In many places by example, by
warning, by judgment, its abuse IS
severely condemned! For example,
When Noah got drunk on home breW
he became the cause of Sthe curse
on one of his sons that is still oper-
alive today on the sons descendants
In the prophets the judgment of
5oo on the sins OF, drunkenness is
frequently pronounced. Here in the
NOOh SAAO W oil IlIllS Is given
as to what its abuse will lead. And
IN the letter to the Corinthians it
Is, distinctly stated that no drunkard
snail inherit the Kingdom of Gsd.
ana lists them with that list of
those heinous sinners who, in the
last book of the Bible, are classed
as those who shall be outside the
city Of God.
Where then Is the dividing line be.
tween the use and the abuse of wine
or stronger drink? Is there any
monitor who will be at hand always
to say to the user, stop right here,
or you will be the abuser?"
Well. let us see. Here in the book
OF wisdom Solomon gives a vivid
picture Of the abuser. BY a series
or questions he let's us visualize the
abuse of alcoholic drinks. Who
/ ath wee? Who hath sorrow? Who
hath contentious? Who hath bab-
bling? Who hath wounds without
cause? Who hath redness of eyes?
tThose who are interested in the
questions of numbers will note that