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The Commentary

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 9, 1888

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 10.

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The Commentary.

ABRAHAM'S PLEA FOR SODOM.

LESSON 11.—SABBATH, MARCH 17.

1. Who came to Abraham while he lived in Mamre?
"And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre; and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him; and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground." Gen. 18:1, 2.
2. Who were these men?
"And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham stood yet before the Lord." Verse 22.
"And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom; and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground." Chapter 19:1.
3. Did Abraham recognize the Lord as one of the three men?
4. How did Abraham show his hospitality?
Chapter 18:3-8.
5. What exhortation based upon this occurrence is given to us?
"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Heb. 13:2.
6. When the men rose to go, what did Abraham do?
"And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way." Gen. 18:16.
7. What did the Lord say?
"And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?" Verses 17, 18.
8. Why did the Lord honor Abraham in this manner?
"For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him." Verse 19.
9. What did the Lord say of Sodom and Gomorrah?
"And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous." Verse 20.
10. What did Abraham say to the Lord?
"And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city; wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked; and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Verses 23-25.
11. What reply did the Lord make?
"And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes." Verse 26.
12. In what spirit did Abraham continue his plea?
"And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes." Verse 27.
13. What was the second request, and the reply?
"Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous; wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it." Verse 28.
14. What concession did the Lord still further make in answer to Abraham's earnest prayer?
"And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake." Verse 29.
15. How did Abraham still further pray, and what was the result?
"And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there." Verse 30.
16. For what still smaller number did the Lord say he would spare Sodom?
"And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake." Verse 31.
17. Finally, how many righteous persons did the Lord say would save Sodom?
"And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake." Verse 32.
18. In this simple narrative, what scripture do we see fulfilled?
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16, last clause.
19. Cite some notable instances where wicked men's lives were spared on account of a righteous man. Acts 27:21-25; Job 42:7-9.
20. What relation do the righteous sustain to the people of the earth?
"Ye are the salt of the earth." Matt. 5:13, first clause.
21. Will the presence of righteous men always be sufficient to save the wicked from merited punishment?
"Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast; though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness." Eze. 14:19, 20.
22. What is the only safe place for people to occupy?
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler." Ps. 91:1-4.