The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-08-28
SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
SEPTEMBER 1.
Lesson Text: 6 The Fall of Jericho" 7"
Joshua W., S-2O-Golden Text;
Hebrews XII, 30-Com-
mentary.

mentary.
2. "The seven Priests bearing the seven
trumpets Of rams horns passed on before the
Lord" At Gilgal the reproach Of Egypt was
rolled away in connection with the rite of
circumcision. the feast OF Passover was
kept, and the mama that had come from
heaven so faithfully all those forty years
ceased after they had eaten the old corn OF
the land (chapter v, S-l2). Joshua also had
taken second place in command. the Lord
Himself being the Captain of the host (v. H.
15). Now under their Captains orders they
are beginning their march around Jericho.
which city was straitly shut up because Of
Israel (verse y.
9. "And the armed men went before the
priests that blew with the trumpets." The
armed men, the priests. the ark, all the peo-
pie. Such was thu order Of the procession
as they marched around the city. The ark
is the symbol Of the presence Of the Lord and
all was being done 'that all the people OF
the earth might know the hand OF the Lord,
that is mighty, and that they might fear be-
fore Him" Gv., 24). Whether the trumpets
were rams horns or silver, their sound was
suggestive OF atonement, by virtue Of which
God can deal with man.
10. 'Ye shall not shout, nor make any
noise with your voice, neither shall any
word proceed out your mouth, until the day
bid you shout" This WAS very trying to
their humanity. Their God had divided the
Red Sea and the Jordan for them, had fed
them with food from heaven and brought
water from the rock for them. He was the
mighty God Of Jacob. and He was going to
make the walls Of Jericho fall down fat, for
He said he would (ve-se 81. and the hearts
of many must have longed to cry out to
those scoffers on the walls: "Our God will
bring down those walls. He will conquer
you." But there was to be not word from
Israel till the appointed time. With the ex
ception Of the blasts from the rams horns
the great host passed round in silence. See
Zech. H.. 13.
II. $50 the ark of the Lord compassed the
city. going about it once" Not word
about the people doing it. at is God who
worketh." and ''the Lord alone must be ex-
alted" (Phil H.. 10; lisa. H., 11).
1914. "And the second day they compassed
the city once and returned into the camp, so
they did six days" Day after day the same
procession and the same order. No sound
but the horns of the priests. Not word
from the people-iust the silent marching
of the mighty host and the quiet and order
ly return to the camp. The walls of Jericho
stand firm, and probably the scoffers' hearts
turbed, and it is even possible that they find
some amusement in watching the daily pro-
cesslon, the priests and their horns will have
their share Uf ridicule, and there may have
been many a surmise and even joke about
what was under the blue cloth on those
mems shoulders (Num. iv., 5, g.. 1nfdelity
is about the same in all ages, and the hard
speeches of ungodly sinners Dude, 15) are
klways plentiful. 1t Is ours to bear the ark
j patience and meekness and faith, giving
/ clear and consistent testimony as to the
only way OF redemption through the blood
of the Lamb. and at the appointed time the
walls of infldelity will crumble andthe king
)om will be the Lords Obadiah. 21).
! Is. "Only on that day they compassed the
tty seven times" This is the record Of the
i.yenth day. There must have been unusu-
al interest in Jericho Un this day as they
beard the sound of the rams horns earlier
than usual and saw the hosts, instead OF re-
turning to camp, start to compass the city
second time. Then a third time, and
fourth time. and fifth, and q sixth. The
interest must have been intense. and we may
imagine the walls fairly crowded to watch
these unusual proceedings.
16. "Shout, for the Lord hath given you
the CITY," This was the command Of Joshua
to the people rs they went round the seventh
time. How their pent up feelings would
break forth; what shout it must have been
from hundreds Of thousands OF voices; shout
after shout. a prolonged shout that almost,
II not altogether, made the earth to tremble!
The city was given to Israel before ever they
compassed the city once (verse q. 1t was
theirs by the word Of the Lord. now 1t Is to
become theirs visibly and actually. Many
things are ours in Christ which We will not
visibly and actually enjoy till His appointed
time.
II. "Only Rahab, the harlot, shall live" :"
BY faith she perished not with the unbe-
levers (Heb. XII, 80. S1). The scarlet cord
in ner window was the outward evidence Of
her faith, and she rested. on the words OF the
spies whom she had befriended, saying. ac-
cording unto your words, 80 be it (ii., 2D.
Through her faith deliverance came to her:
father and mother and brethren and kindred
(yerse 23). She afterward married Salmon
(who may have been one Of the spies) and
became the mother Of Boaz (See Ruth w., 81
and Math. l.. s..
18. Keep yourselves from the accursed
thing The whole city and all in it We're
devoted to be utterly destroyed (Verse II,
margin, and verse 21), and this was warn
ing for Israel's good. If we get mixed up
with cursed things we will bring a curse up
on ourselves. The only redemption from the
curse Is through Him who was made curse
for US (Gal. ill.,. 13). This was typified in
the scarlet cord in Rahab's window.
19. But all the silver and gold and ves-
sells OF brass and iron are consecrated unto
the Lord" In Mum. XXI, we read that the
people were permitted to take Of the spoil
and give unto the Lord a portion, cleansing
everything by fire or water (Num. XXI. 23),
but in the case OF the city Of Jericho all was
to be the Lords, either for destruction or for
His treasury. Jericho being the first city
taken may account for this-a first fruits
unto the Lord. The story of Achan in the
following chapter shows the nature and pun
ishment of the sin of covetousness, with
which see also Acts ", lilo.
90. "The wall fell down fiat, so that the
people went up into the city, every man
straight before him, and they took the city"
They slew every living thing and burned the
city with fire (verses 81, 24) and Joshua
pronounced curse upon the man who would
rebuild it. 1t becomes US to say, Just and
true are Thy ways Thou King OF Nations
(Rev. xv., 81. His way is perfect" and
some day we shall see perfect agreement
between all His doings and the fact that
"God is Love-" He is good and doeth good,
and the Judge of all the earth cannot but do
right.-Lesson Helper.