Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-09-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON CONSIDERED.

AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON CONSIDERED.
Reflections of an Elcvating Character
Wholesome Food for Thought = Study
ing the Scriptural Lessons Intclligently
and Probably.
[From the Chicago standarl.l
The lesson for Sept. 16 may be found in
the first thirteen verses of the twentieth
chapter of Numbers.
INTRODUCTORY.
We have leaped over thirty eight years
almost without noticing the transition. It
is the hiatus of unfaith, the dark period of
the wilderness soiourn. The time is chiefly
remarkable for it's utter emptiness. A mere
record OF marches and countcr-marches:
the rebellion OF Korah and the circumstance
regarding Aarons rod alone give it signit-
cameo. You have returned from Il summer
1urlough to take up again the morning
paper. and you are surprised to see how
readily during your respite you have gotten
along without the daily budget of the
after all! It is faiths record alone that is
great and abiding. Look over in the eleventh
of Hebrews and you will find it, the calen-
dar of faith There is not one entry for all
these decades OF the desert. For how many
| OF us are there such lapses in heavens
books? The rock OF refreshing with which
this lesson deals begins, with all it's features
OF sadness. u new chapter OF faith. and the
thread Of sacred narrative is again resumed.
| WHAT The LESSON TEACHES.
And tie people abode az kadesh. They
| have come back to the place from which
they started Three decades before they
had made this the scene of the great apos-
tasy. Now it is to become the scene Of
grace renewed. 1t is a favorite and apt saying
Of Moody's that the sinner must pick him
self up just whore Adam fell down-at the,
place of dfsobedience. Or rather, as that
| Bible-taught man himself would say, he
must there be lifted up by power above
himself. his. own heart consenting. Ka-
desh OF departure from God can. alas! be
found in every mans experience. May
there also, by Gods grace, be found for us
| who peruse this lesson kadesh of the smit-
ten rocn and of mercy's token of refresh
| ing
and there acas no acater 1t opened i'll, but
mans extremity is Gods opportunity. 1t
opened. Indeed, some .one has remarked
that the very failure of the water supply.
which had followed them all through their
journeys. was an indication that they We're
land that flowed with milk and honey. Tho
scarcity of water should have been taken
but as sign of promised blessings draw
ing on apace. 1t was like that darkest hour
of the night which ushcrs in the day.
Aaad the people chode acith Noses. That
was the way the people received this provi-
dence: not with patient and hopeful waiting
upon God. who behind Il frowning provi-
dence still hides IL smiling face: but with
murmurings and chidings. All. it is the
perhaps, to go back like their fathers i'll
mutiny and rebellion. but with similar in
gratitude and dullness of heart. They fret
j where they should have prayed. they COM
ises. 1t has been suggested that some Of
the old Egypt-fed generation were still
among them, but that is not necessary. 1t
is enough to know that they were mortai,
like ourselves with much of human selfish
ness and short-sightedness, much OF the
odd Adam" in their natures.
1t is no place of seed. No, Of course not.
No place of seed or of figs or of vines had
been promised them this side OF Canaan.
Had Israel been faithful She would long ere
this have been enjoying fruitful land. but
she exchanged it for unbelief and the desert.
God does not want us to stop with any barren
kadesh on the borders of the land. He makes
it seedless and waieress to hasten us for
ward into the goodly possessions that await
us. How often just on the edge OF tho
blessedness Of salvation, in the rough
coasts of contrition and unrest, men have
staggered and stopped, grieved at their
New York pew-holder to the evangelist, Il
0 wish you had never come with this preach
l ing OF yours; you promise peace, but have
, not had one moment of peace since you be-
! gan" He was nearing the borders OF the
, land.
, From the presence OF the assembly into
lie door of tie tabernacle. A large remove.
from the noisy turmoil of the people to the
appeal. and it represents to us the true
policy for the minister and the servant of
the Lord Jesus Christ in times of perplexity
and disruption. The door of the tabernacle
voices are harshest. The old Ironsides
leaders found it hard by. the battle, field.
J Thomas Fuller lets us into the secret in his
l Good Thoughts for Bad Times" COM
8 pany of men calling themselves the Liberty
/, Party met in 1888 j. G. Whittier was one
of their secretaries. Around them were
! angry men. 1t vas day session; you see.
they did not dare meet at night for fear OF
!. the mob. But shutting themselves away
; from u hooting world they first went to God
in prayer and then issued their righteous
I declaration against the crying iniquity OF
! that day. Planting our feet on the truth OF
God as u rock" etc.. etc. They came out OF
. that council chamber, that Gods taber-
nace ready to suffer and to wait. There is
. need for such resort to-day.
. Take the rod. The word was familiar
v one. 1t was the token of Gods special help
Q in time Of need. 1t was the rod taken a,
! bled proud Israel. that brought the tossing
8 waters back to their. wonted place. thai
y made the rock at Rephidim to turn into ;
y fountain. Take the rod it is Gods com
q passion tuuL speaks. Iucv Iluu luNlteu nlIt
o to cast them off. but in spite Of their I'M
o grateful cries he follows them still witt
# mercy. This is matchless long suffering
behold. this is our God. Il cannot do any
y thing with him." said the perplexed teache
= of the bad boy in John Wanamakers school
~ Il will bring this boy up" said the Superin
% tendent. read his name out in the schoo
IS and publicly excommunicate him." 1t woul,
is have been his just desert. for he was will
1t fully disturbing the whole school. Said
le young lady: Let me have the boy; wi
2, try to save him." He was given to hel
"a q though with misgivings. 1t was a has
y battle. he tried her soul grievously. but sh
!. gave her whole care to that one lad. and Il
j. last he came to her home one day weepin
and saying, Il want you to forgive me" ain
the rebel was won. Where did that youn
lady learn her lesson but from the tende
j. merceS of him who gave water to his ull
J. tilial people at Kadesh?
AZ This is tie ,rater of Meribah. What is it
- 1t is Gods peace and pardon, set owe
20 against mans rebellious strife: it is God
u compassion in response to mans complain
Is it is Gods love rebuking the unmeeknes
a. and unmercifulness of his servant. Mer
e. bah stlife. Good, by Gods grace. out
j. evil. Strife. Do you know we have bee
a wondering whether it does not represel
~ the genesis OF good many local churche
~ fbotr 70 Of God hA1