SIN, THE PLAGUE OF THE SOUL

1 KINGS 8:3

A. "WHAT PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION SOEVER BE MADE BY ANY MAN, OR BY ALL THY PEOPLE ISRAEL, WHICH SHALL KNOW EVERY MAN THE PLAGUE OF HIS OWN HEART, AND SPREAD FORTH HIS HANDS TOWARD THIS HOUSE."
  1. Our text is a portion of that great intercessory prayer of King Solomon:
    1. It indicates the purpose of the temple "and house of prayer" - Isa. 56:7
    2. Since God's presence appeared in the most holy place, above the mercy seat: the eyes of the worshippers turned toward the temple of God - Dan. 6:10
  2. But Solomon was thinking also of the plague of the heart - sin and God's remedy for the staying or removal of this plague:
    1. He was praying that the people, who were plagued with sin, could turn to the mercy seat for help.
    2. Here is a wonderful lesson for us to pray for.
B. SIN, THE PLAGUE OF THE SOUL
  1. Sin attacks the heart:
    1. Because out of it are the issues of life - Prov. 4:23
    2. It is the very fountain and mainspring of life - Matt. 15:19, 20
    3. If the heart is defiled, the whole life is defiled; if the heart is sick, the body is sick too - Isa. 1:1-19
  2. A plague:
    1. The term plague was originally applied to the disease of leprosy - Lev. 13:2-29; 14:3-12
    2. But this word is used, also, for other rapidly spreading and odious diseases known to men - the Plague in London; in India, and other countries that felled untold numbers of victims.
    3. Our text, however, refers to sin in the heart which seeks to destroy life itself - Prov. 14:28. It has marred the image of God - Gen. 5:1-3; Song of Solomon 1:6
  3. Harm of the plague of the soul:
    1. It has made the heart deceitful and desperately wicked - Jer. 17:9
    2. Our Lord gives a vivid description of what the plague of sin does to the heart - Matt. 15:19, 20
    3. Paul uses similar expressions - Gal. 5:22, 23
    4. The effects of the plague are -
      1. Loathsome
      2. Destroys all the energies of body, soul, and spirit - Luke 15:15-18; Rev. 3:17
      3. It pollutes everything that it comes in contact with - Jas. 3:16; Jude 8
      4. It is incurable, so far as man's ability is concerned
C. GOD'S REMEDY FOR THE PLAGUE OF THE SOUL
  1. The precious blood of Jesus Christ:
    1. Is the only effective means against the plague of sin - 1 John 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19
    2. It is God's open fountain against all uncleanness - Zech. 13:1
  2. The Word of God:
    1. Has inherent power to heal the affected life - Ps. 107:17-20
    2. Is God's means to create a new heart and plant into the heart an upright spirit - Ps. 51:10; Ezek. 36:26-28
  3. The Holy Spirit
    1. The Holy Spirit is God's workmaster, who brings about a new creature through faith in Jesus Christ - Zech. 4:6; John 6:63
    2. As we yield to the Holy Spirit our lives become changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ our Saviour - 2 Cor. 3:17, 18
    3. Thank God that there is a balm in Gilead and also the great Physician of the soul. Only He can heal the soul of the plague of sin - Jer. 8:22; 46:11


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