The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-04-17

Sunday, April Is.
Read and study Genesis 1913;
l9:23-25; o
CRIBS 23:29-32.
If Sodom be the symbol of the
city and country stepped in mani
fold iniquitics including intemper-
nee, we have in the four passages
before us: The vice Of Sodom,
showing that intcmpcrancc de-
bauches; the vengeance on Sod
ON, showing that intemperancc
dcSpoils; the vine of Sodom. show
ing that intemperance depraveS;
and the venom from Sodom, show
ing that intcmperance destroys.
Let no tent today be pitched to-
ward Sodom!
WlCKEDNESS Genesis l3)
Debauchcry featured the wick
edness Of Sodom. See On the
Queen Of the Plain. The Situa-
ton was beautiful. As Abraham
and Lot behcld it from the hills It
seemed to them as fair as the gar
den Of the Lord and as fruitful as
the land of Egypt. 1t was in a
fertile valley, filled with vine
wards, olive orchards, barley
fields, flocks, and tceming and
prosperous life. Five cities
flouiishcd in the neighborhood,
Sodom sitting proudly on her
throne as the queen of the dis
trict. She carried on an extern
sive commerce, being q great trai-
fic route from the EuphrateS TO
the Nile. Astounding in wealth,
rich in culture, RECALLED with every
amusement, Sodom was a type OF
the city in its glory. Recall (2l
the Sins Of Sodom. The beautiful
city was the very ccsS-pool OF I'M
ouity and black indcc dwaS the
catalog of sins named by Ezekiel
Q6:49): pride. fulness of bread,
and abundance of idleneSs was in
her and in her daughters: neither
did she strengthen the hand of the
poor or needy" It's lustS were no.
to,ious. It's pride was. manifest in
conceit. haughtiness and irrever,
ance. 1t made bread-winning and
moncy-making the main things, so
that it's citizens cared more for
what they ate aid had than for
what they were. 1t also had q
great idle class in its population.
It was selfish, Withholding from
the needy, depressing them social
ly..gpolitically' and financially.
WOE Genesis l9) ~ ,.
Destruction followed the woe OF
Sodom. Here is On the picture
of ,city that went to its woe. the
decree went forth from on HiHr
that Sodom should be overthrown.
The warning angels came, but the
Sodomites sneercd. At last Lot
and his daughters left the city
The hour of doom had arrived.
The morning miSts were lifting on
the hills. All at once liquid fire
began to fall. Soon the streets
ran with flames, the walls crumbl-
ed under the intense heat, every
living thing was completely de-
stroyed, and the whole city with
its environs were swallowed up in
the awful conflagaration. Here
also is (2) the picture of a man
saved as by fire. To Sodom Lot
had gone in search OF wealth;
There he had won money and
fame, built his home and reared
his family, spent the strength of
his manhood and the best years Of
his life. Almost dragged out OF
the doomed city, Lot and his two
daughters hardly reached the safe
slopes of the surrounding hills
when the fires Of Justice fell.
WINE deuteronomy 32)
Depravity Haunted the wine IN
Sodom. Note 4 double contrast
here. % There is a contrast in
the foundation of character. In
this song six times God is called
Rock, and on no other foundation
can be built for time and ctern-
ity. (2) There is a contrast in
fruitage in conduct. Over against
the good vine in Il well-kept vine
yard sustaining a fine family