The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-10-09
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON CONSIDERED.
Reflections of an Eievating Character
Wholesome Food for Thought = Study
ing tho scriptural Lessons Intelligentiy
and IhrontabIy.

Reflections of AN Eievating Character
wholesome Food for Thought - Study
ing tho scriptural Lessons Intelligentiy
and IGofitabiy.
The lesson Tor Sunday. Oct IS. may be
found in Sam. q: LIZ.
INTRODUCTORY.
In the last lesson the people solemnly
chose leader, Now. no less solemnly.
David, the chieitain chosen. acknowledges
Tor himself leader the Lord most high.
IL was essentially the taking OF name.
and with that name the assertion OF a char
acter as well as the acceptance of an alli-
ance. David's city and kingdom. no less
than the ark. was 10 be henceforth called
10y the Name. the name OF the Lord OF
hosts. what's in "a namsY" we say. A
great doaL Everything. In fact. We lose
si.ht very frequently OF the significance Of
names because the suggestion of the
nomenclature ceases To be prominent in
thought or act. Bethel. house OF God, had
To be revisited by Jacob and the old ex-
perience revivfied and the OLD name re-
Vitali2ed by means of the new and stronger
one. Eli Bethel God OF the house of Bethel.
snail not this lesson bring us back TO an
apprehension Of the meaning OF that name
by which the ark Of God" is caedl
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
To bring up from thence the ark OF God.
As soon as David has established himself
IN Jerusalem he sends tor the ark. 1t is
wise expedition. Religion should have its
place in AT the beginning Of things. Whilst
We are caring Tor the head ana the hand,
Jet US mind also the requirements OF the
heart. Let this little city. springing up in
"A new country. remember 10 plant along
with its stores and shops "A church OF the
Lord Jesus Christ. Let this new house,
mold, beginning according 10 the ordinance
OF God, the rearing OF new home roof and
new domestic economy. see 10 IL that the
altar OF God is also reared. Let this indi-
vidual who. looking forth upon life duties
has just commenced planning career OF
usefulness In the world. receive at once the
Lord Jesus Christ into the heart.
llayed before the Lord. The Lord is
pleased with the tributes OF his creatures,
however lowly. Those instruments OF iir-
wood would seem very crude Tor the rendi-
tion Of sweet sounds. The harps and psal-
teries. as then used, might bring forth
sounds 10 offend our modern critical taste.
Little music for us in those old-tashioned
timbrels, and the comets and cymbals
might seem TO give forth more noise than
harmony. Well, remember it was before
the Lord. He would listen for the heart 8
music. We must confess We hear strange
things In the name OF sacred song in places.
The sounds that break forth from the Sal
walton Army Hall make all the delicate
senses TO start back. shocked If not stun
ned. The slow, drawing hymns OF one
congregation. and, contrarwise the light
and sometimes frivolous ditties OF some
others, are not what all OF us would desire.
And yet what comfort 10 know that the
One TO whom, at first, the morning stars
sang together and the sons OF God shouted
for JOY. is pleased with all that is wrought
in faith, taking all the varied strains for
what they were meant TO be and bringing
them together in the sweetest harmonies in
the higher spheres And yet let that which
we render TO God be always our best Only
that Is worthy tribute.
And there he died by tle ark OF God.
Think OF it, Right beside the ark OF life a
scene of death. and that which was for
granting salvation became the swift convoy
OF destruction. But so 1t was when the
ark tarried in Philistia; so also when with
sacrilegious hand Israel hailed il on TO the
battlefield OF Aphek-brought 1t there to
their own discontinue. SAVIOR of death
unto death" as well as Of "liie unto life. q"
Paul the apostle called himself. Such in
deed is the ministry OF reconciliation,
wrongly approached. To those who rudely
and heedlessly. trusting proudly in them
selves. put forth human hands on that
which is divine and think 20 mend the ways
and words OF God. the good may even work
evil UZZah's ofense was no venial one.
He knew the law; he knew the sacredness
of the ark: he presumed that circumstances
might readily alter the holy requirement.
o be sure he acted hastily, almost thought
lessly. But we'll we know that our sudden
acts under mOmentary pressure sometimes
best reveal TO us the prevailing thought
WITHIN. Well may we pray, Who can I'M
derstand his errors? cleanse thou mo from
secret (hidden) faults. Keep back thy serv-
ant also from presumptuOus sins, let them
not have dominion over me: then shall
be upright. and l shall be innocent from
much transgression.
And the Lord blessed Obededom. This is
the brighter picture. Here is the SAVIOR OF
lite unto life. David was disheartened.
There was something Of encouragement in
his half inquiry. half lament: How shall
the ark OF the Lord come to me?" Now
he has his answer. 1t is by reverent and
loyal demeanor toward God. Israel had
forgotten. perhaps, in those troublous days.
TO look up to God as she should. Quick as
a fash the lesson Of Gods unapproachable
majesty is burned in upon her at Perez
Uzzah. Now follows another needed les
son-that Of hope and trust. 1t is taught
there from the home of Obededom. Who
he was. we know not. How God blessed
him. we can but conjecture. Whether in
land or store, in spiritual or temporal gifts.
in hearts desire or boon unasked, IL mat
tiers not: this we know, God used Obe-
/ dedom, in his grace, as the witness to a
! great and wholesome truth. His house,
hold, for their iaita, became for king and
nation. as it were. city set upon hill
whose light could not be hid God give us
more Obededom households to-day, and
all the more IL the sky be overloaded.
Because Of the ark of God. God cares
for IL. Keep reverently near TO the ark. II
was when the ark went first ard the people
followed that they came safely over Jordan.
IL wa 10 accompanying but dTh III llS
spirit. indeed, that they made their exodus
out of Egypt, and IL was while passing
around Jericho in the wake of the sacred
receptacle that the proud walls OF that city
fell. Keep the Word and Spirit OF God at
the forefront. he il our ambition TO accom-
pany that ineffable Truth with loyal. rev.
: erent following:
Jesus still lead on,
Till our rest be won;
Heavenly Leader, still direct us,
Still support. console, protect US,
Till we safely stand
In our Fathorland."
With gladness. 1t is a day Of gladness
when, with hearts made ready. the ark at
! last comes in. JOY goes with the Lord.
/ Break forth into JOY, sing together ye
waste places Of jerusalem" cries Isaiah
! when he sees the coming of the Lord. 20.
let the nations be glad and sing for Joy.
! the Psalmst eXclaims when a prepared
people beholds the advent OF righteous
governor. And there was great Joy in that
city," we read over in the lists OF the apos-
ties regarding the little town of Samaria.
Why was it? No great political achieves
ment or commercial advantage. or Imam
cial endowment such as cities sometimes
! think Il worth while TO rejoice over. IL
was simply that humble man, Philip by
name, went down 20 the city OF Samaria
and preached Christ unto them. and the
people with ono accord gave heed" May
such heed be given and such entrance TO