The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-12-24
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
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Golden Text, Pss. 90. 1-Frem Joshua
TO the Calling Of Samuel.
Summary. /. Topic: Joshuas
divine commission. Place: The Jordan, op.
posite Jericho. After Moses was dead
Joshua was told to arise and lead the peo..
pie over Jordan into Canaan. The Lord
told Joshua to be very courageous, for no
man would be able to stand against him
while he lived. He was also told to care.
fully obey the law which God had gwen
him. Joshua then commanded the people
70 prepare victuals, for in three days they
were to pass over Jordan.
IL. Topic: Israel entering Canaan.
Place: The Jordan, opposite Jericho. De.
fore they crossed the river two spies were
sent over, who brought back word that the
people were filed with terror. The ark OF
the Lord was to pass over tirst, and when
the priests who bore the ark stepped into
the water the river divided and the people
passed over on dry ground. Twelve men
had been chosen, who took twelve stones
from the river bottom and carried them to
Gilsal, where they were set up as a memo
rial.
Ill. Topic: The capture Of Jericho:
Place: At Gilgal, near Jericho. The Lord
gave Joshua careful directions as to how
to take the city Of Jericho. and then
Joshua told tn. people what to do. They
were to march around the city once day
for six days, and on the seventh day they
were to march around seven times. Then
the priests were to blow with the trumpets
and the people were TO shout. They, did
az the Lord had commanded them and the
walls fell down fat.
~. Topic: Caleb receiving his inherit.
ance. Place: Gilgal. It has been about
six years since the lsraelites entered Ga.
naan. They are now assembled at Giigal
to divide the land among the tribes.
Caleb was one OF the two good spies, and
Moses had promised him Hebron. Caleb
is now eighty-ive years old, but he Is still
strong and able to possess his ,nheritanee.
Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him He
bron. because he had wholly followed the
Lord.
V. Topic: Divine protection. Place:
Shiloh. The inheritance OF the tribe OF
Levi was iorty-eight cities, which were
quite evenly distributed among the tribes;
Six OF these cities were chosen as cities OF
refuge. Kcdesh. Shcchem and Hebron
were on the west of Jordan, and Bczcr,
Ramosh and Golan on the east. The
cities were on hills, and the one who acci.
dentally killed another could fee here for
refuge To-day Christ il our refuge.
VI. Topic: Joshua renewing the cove
nant. Place: Shechem. Joshua was now
an old man, and before he died he assem-
bed the people at Shechem and gave them
his parting advice. He called on them to
choose whom they would serve, Jehovah
or the gods OF the Canaanites. lie told
them that he and his house would serve
the Lord. The people also promised to
serve and obey the Lord. Joshua told
them that If they served the Lord they
would be blessed, but II they forsook Him
they would suffer accordingly.
Place: Canaan. Joshua died, being 10
years old. While he lived the people
served the Lord. A few years after his
death the IsrAelites forsook the Lord and
served Balaam. Because OF this the Lord
delivered them into the hands OF their en-
emies, AID the heather nations greatly
distressed them. The Lord raised up
judges which delivered them, but when
the Judge was dead the people corrupted
themselves worse than before.
VIII. Topic: The evil effects OF wine.
Place: Probably Jerusalem. The nation
had been prosperous. but in the midst OF
the prosperity the people had forssken the
Lord. They were especially given to-
drunkenness. The land was filled with
althiness. God pronounced woe upon
Ephra,m should be destroyed.
TX. Topic: The triumph OF Gideon.
Place: At the foot OF Mount Gilbea. The
Midianites were greatly expressing Gods
people. The Lord called Gideon as de-
iiverer. Gideon called the Israelites to-
gether and assembled an army OF e.000
men: requests the fearful and afraid" to
return home, and the army was thus re.
duced to 10000. The Lord then tested
them at the brook and only 800 men were
retained. and with this small force Gideon
put to fight the Midianitish army.
X Topic: Ruth's choice. Places: Moab,
Bethlehem. There was q famine in the
land of Israel and Naomi with her hus-
hand and two sons went to the land OF
Moab to live. The sons married Moabitish
women, but after q few years both sons
and their father died, leaving the women
widows. Naomi then decided to return to
Bethlehem. Orpah remained in Moab. but
Ruth clave to her mother-in.law and chose
the true God.
XI. Topic: The doom OF the ungodiy.
Place. Shiloh. The child Samuel assisted
Eli in the tabernacle service; God spake to
Samuel: Samuel at first supposed Eli had
called him. but afterward understood that
it was the Lord; the Lord told samuel
what He intended to do against Eli, be:
cause his sons had made themselves vile,"
and Eli had restrained them not"
XII. Topic: The birth OF Jesus. Place:
Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph were at
Bethlehem; nearby were shepherds keep
ing wItsh in the fields over their focks:
The angel of the Lord appeared to them; .
light shone around them: they were told
a Saviour was born; il they would go 10
Bethlehem they would find the young
child iE q manger: they went and found
all ms the angel had said.
Thouchts.-Those who fully follow the
Lord will receive rich spiritual blessings.
Whatever God commands us to do He is
ready to assist us in doing. We should
always remember God and His goodness
to Us. The things that are impossible for
us to do are very easy for the Lord to
periorm-it was not hard thing for God
TO overthrow the walls OF Jericho, and He
ran Just as ca1i!y overthrow His enemies
to-day. Although Caleb was promised
Hebron. yet it was necessary for him TO
rlaim his possession and then enter upon
it. and so now. Gods people must .'lay
hold" OF spiritual blessings il they would
he satisfied witt, the riches Of His grace.
When We fail to obey God we always suf-
Ter the penalty of our evil deeds. Parents
should carefully train their children.
Teachings is JOY in Christ for
the whole word. and there is joy in Him
:or you. Christ comes to reign in n very
humble way. ard it is only by humility that
we are enabled to enter His. kingdom. In
this His kingdom is wholly unlike the
kingdoms Of this world Humility is the
mark of the Son OF God and OF all His fol-
'owers We should glorfy and praise God
ior His great love IN giving His only hc:ots
zen Son to show us the way to heaven