Lessons from Bible Characters
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and persecuted because he preserved his virtue and integrity. David,
the chosen messenger of God, was hunted like a beast of prey by his
enemies. Daniel was cast into a den of lions because he was true to his
allegiance to heaven. Job was deprived of his worldly possessions, and
so afflicted in body that he was abhorred by his relatives and friends;
yet he maintained his integrity. Jeremiah could not be deterred from
speaking the words that God had given him to speak; and his testimony
so enraged the king and princes that he was cast into a loathsome pit.
Stephen was stoned because he preached Christ and Him crucified.
Paul was imprisoned, beaten with rods, stoned, and finally put to death
because he was a faithful messenger for God to the Gentiles. And John
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was banished to the isle of Patmos “for the word of God, and for the
testimony of Jesus Christ.”
These examples of human steadfastness bear witness to the faith-
fulness of God’s promises—of His abiding presence and sustaining
grace. They testify to the power of faith to withstand the powers of
the world. It is the work of faith to rest in God in the darkest hour, to
feel, however sorely tried and tempest tossed, that our Father is at the
helm. The eye of faith alone can look beyond the things of time to
estimate aright the worth of eternal riches.—
The Review and Herald,
September 12, 1912
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Solomon’s Life of Backsliding
The life of Solomon is full of warning, not only to youth, but to
those of mature years and to the aged, those who are descending the
hill of life and facing the western sun....
When Solomon should have been in character as a sturdy oak, he
fell from his steadfastness under the power of temptation. When his
strength should have been the firmest, he was found the weakest of
men.
From such examples as this we should learn that watchfulness and
prayer are the only safety for either young or old. Satan will so shape
circumstances that unless we are kept by divine power they will almost
imperceptibly weaken the fortifications of the soul. We need to inquire
at every step, “Is this the way of the Lord?”
As long as life shall last, there is need of guarding the affections
and the passions with a firm purpose. There is inward corruption,
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