The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-27

lessons of the quarter were historical
They fall under tive heads-six OF then,
treating Of Joshua, and the others of the
judges. A complete study or even read
ing of the two books from which the les
| sons were taken would show an intimate
relation. the one narrative gliding natur-
ally into the other with but a slight
break. The great captain, the successor
to Moses, prepared the way for a. pure
theocracy. which after his decease was
but imperfectly realized. chiefly because
the people were not fitted for It. Their
contact with the natives of the land tend
ed to diminish their loyalty to Jehovah,
while their tribal system afforded only a
weak bond Of union.
FIRST LESSON.-oct. 3, Joshua En-
couraged." Joshua, /. 1-11.-God spoke di-
rectly to Joshua as He had done with his
illustrious predecessor. The scope of the
divine address briefly outlined the duty
and policy Of the new leader, and may
be named in few points: l. The call to
cross the Jordan and enter Canaan. 9.
The new bestowal of the country with
prescribed boundaries, as it was given
centuries before to Abraham. 8. The con-
dition of ownership-conquest and possess
sion 4. The promise of victory over the
Inhabitants of the land because of the di-
vine presence, the one sure support. s..
The charge to be strong and courageous.
G. The direction TO mediate in the law.
SECOND LESSON.--Oct. T.. Crossing
the Jordan" Joshua, iii. 9-iv. 1.-The
prompt response of Joshua TO the Lord s
instruction revealed his character as wor-
thy of the trust committed TO him, de-
scribing the mode Of the crossing, and
appointing twelve men, one out of each
q n avent
The complete fulfillment of his word
showed that he had indeed heard the
voice OF God. The ark. borne by priests,
was carried to the middle of the stream.
and there held until Israel had passed
over. Then the twelve representatives of
the tribes took each a stone upon his
shoulder and bore il to the west side.
THIRD LESSON.-Oct. 10. "The Fall OF
Jericho Joshua, vi. S-20-Very soon af
ter the crossing a remarkable event
showed not only the mode of conquest.
but also the presence of God with the,
people. Israel was led to the plain near
one of the best fortified cities of the land.
u. stronghold supposed to be ;mpreenable.
made ready for any subsequent attempt.
But the reduction of the city was to be
in such a, manner as to
convince all that it had not been done by
the military power of Israel, but by the
of the Almighty. A process
sion moved seven times, around the place
and on the seventh round great shout
was made and the walls fell down fiat.
FOURTH LEssON.-oct 20, Joshua
and Caleb Joshua, xiv. 5-15.--When the
spies were sent out to view the land. by
the direction of Moses. two only returned
with good report. having faith in God
While the other ten perished In the will
derness during the wandering. these two
faithful souls were rewarded by being
permitted to enter the promised land. The
conquest having been completed an al
lotment of the territory to the tribes ap-
propriately followed. Caleb. one of the
spies, of the tribe of Judah, then eighty
years old, came to his companion and
asked what was promptly given, posses
sion in the southern country.
FIFTH LESSON.--Nov. 2 ."Ci,ies OF
Refuge" Joshua, XX, 1-9.--The practice
OF personal revenge was common through
out tho ancient world. If one man slew
another, the relatives OF the latter were
to pursue the murderer and put
him to death. This generally brought
speedy justice to the man-slayer and in
certain conditions of society worked little
harm to any one. But in the settlement
of Israel in Canaan a fixed form of gov
was established and all relations
In life We're regulated by statute. Of
enses were punishable only by law, and
that involved q conviction before a COM
petent tribunal. In effecting this change
certain cities were appointed to which one
might flee and await a trial
SIXTH LESSON.-No. Q, "Joshua's =
Parting Advice Joshua. xiv, 14-a5.-
rhe death of great man is a serious
oss, often a calamity, to people /,
iutics of his high office as captain and
Judge. as to merit and receive the affec-
lion of all. With fatherly tenderness
when he was about to depart he called a
public assembly at Shechem. and there
sought to impress upon the officers of the
government the solemn obligations that
'ested upon them. His address called all |
o fear and serve the Lord, as the funda- |
mental condition OF national prosperity |
lie required them then and there to ayow
~ renouncc their loyalty to Jehovah.
o be steadfast. Having so affirmed this
/ covenant was made. |
SEVENTH LESSON.-Nov. ID, "The |
rime of the Judges" Judges. ii. lie |
This brief extract does not fully describe |
he condition of Israel during the period |
hat followed the death of Joshua. CON-
monty called the period OF the Judges.
t does, however, refer to the chief influ- |
'nceS that were operating for and
against the public welfare There is first |
| mention of the fact that in the days or |
Joshua and OF contemporary elders who
survived him the people served the Lord. |
'emainina true to the vow which had
,een made. But the succeeding genera
ion having no personal knowledge OF |
Jehovah, departed into idoatry, and
served Baalim, the god of the land AS a |
esult, God punished them by delivering
hem into the hands OF enemies, but In
mercy at intervals raised up deliyerers.
EIGHTH LESSoN.-No 30. "World's
temperance Lessons" Isaiah, xviii, lis |
1t Is noteworthy circumstance that a |
'rophet of Israel, living b. C. 7a5, should |
'e employed to teach temperance to the |
written twenty-siS centuries ago on the |
nbJect are Just as appropriate as the !
most advanced utterance OF our time,
made by scientists and reformers The |
rink habit here condemned praoticed In |
'amaria, brought upon the land the same |
Wis as are common In our day. Human
ty Is substantially the same in all ages
nd lands Vices that drag one people |
own appear to curse the peoples. 1t Is
he same old story, told again and again.
ut little needed. The warning voice OF |
he past scarcely moves the men OF the
resent
NINTH LflSSoN.-Nov. 30, Gideon and
ne Three Hundred" Judges, vii. is, 1921.
lsW.#a. 4. als.a.l n