The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-07-22
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON ". THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, JULY "a
Text of the Lesson, III ChrOn. xix,
1-I1-MemOry Verses, 4-6-GOlden
Text, III ChrOn. XIX, I1-COmmentary
Prepared by Rev. ID. M. stearns.

| Text, III ChrOn. XIX, 11-COmme ntary
Prepared by Rev. ID. M. stearns.
| Copyright 1904. by American Press Association
1t is pleasant. as well as profitable.
TO continue meditating upon one who
did right in the sight of the Lord Xxx,
3d. for he sought 10 the Lord God of
his father, and walked in His COM
mandments. and his heart was lifted
| up in the ways of the Lord. and the
Lord was with him xvii. $50. He is
said TO have reigned twenty-five years
| Xxx, 80, but it is possible that three Of
those years were the last years of Asa,
his father, while he was diseased in
his feet In order to keep before us
some idea of where we are in the his
tory of these two kingdoms, it would
be well to consult Il comparative chron-
of Judah and Israel, such as may be
found in the appendix of most of our
good reference Bibles In a Baxter
Bible it is New Testament, page 1914.
From this it will be seen that the
twenty-five years of Ahab's reign in
Israel were about contemporary with
the first twenty-five years of Jehosh-
aphat's reign in Judah. The proph-
cts Of the time were Jehu, the son Of
, Hanani, in Judah, and Micaiah and
Elijah, in Israel. 1t will help us to
keep this in mind, as our next lesson
concerns Ahab, and the six following
keep Elijah before us. None of the
prophets whose writings we have has
up to this time appeared. Jonah, who
is the first, comes later.
Our lesson begins with the return Of
Jehoshaphat in peace to Jerusalem
from the battle with the kim of Syria,
in which he had been an ally with
Ahab and very narrowly escaped
death. Ahab, although disguised, fell
by God directed arrow from bow
drawn at a venture xviii, 2S-34.
Jehoshaphat began his reign exceed
ingly well and sent teachers through
out all the cities of Judah with the
book of the law of the Lord to teach
the people. one result being that the
fear of the Lord fell upon all the king
doms of the lands roundabout Judah,
and they made no war against Jehosh
aphat. The Philistines and Arabians
brought presents as well as tribute to
him, SO that he waXed great exceed
ingly and had riches and honor In
abundance xvii, 9-l3.
Then came his alliance with a man
who did more to provoke the Lord
God Of Israel to anger than all the
kings of Israel that were before him
xviii, l; | Kings xvi, 33. He allowed
his son Jehoram TO take Ahab's daugh-
ter to wife OI Kings viii, 1S), and
also joined Ahab TO fight against the
king of Syria chapter 49,. hence the
reproof of our Lord through Jehu
in our lesson, "Shouldest thou help the
ungodly and love them that hate the
LordT Verse p One feels like saying
Why could not Jehoshaphat let ungod-
ly Ahab alone and continue as he had
begun, TO walk with God? But is not
this matter of worldly alliances the
prominent sin Of our own time? In
marriage. in business. i'm religious mat
terS. is it not seen everywhere? How
few seem TO give any consideration to
III Cor vi. HIS. and are there many
even among Gods ministers who think
it wrong to have fellowship with those
who deny that Jesus Christ is God, or
with those who deny that the blood
of Christ alone without any works
of ours. can take away sin?
The manner of Jehoshaphat's life
was, as a rule, right in the sight of the
Lord, although there were two very
dark clouds in his clear day, the one
we have mentioned. and later his alli
ance with Ahaziah Xxx, 30-3O. But ii
is refreshing to see him in the re-
mainder of our lesson chapter after
the Lord reproved him, going out
through all the people to bring them
again to the Lord, setting judges in
the land and admonishing them in
such words as Take heed what We do,
for we Judge not for man, but for the
Lord who is with you" verses 80,
saying also to the priests and Levites:
THUS shall We do in the fear OF the
Lord, faithfully, and with perfect
heart. Take courage and do, and the
Lord shall be with the good" verses
| 8, IL, and margin). These are words
for us to lay to heart. for only such
| living and acting will stand in that
day. None other can have His approval
| Oh Tim. ii, 49,. On the words Take
heed" see Luke viii, 10; Mark Nv, "a,
take heed how We hear and what We
hear" Also Matt. xiv, A, Take heed
that no man deceive you" lisa. vii, 4.
Take heed and be quiet. Fear not!'
AS to the Lords hatred of iniquity, re-
spect of persons and taking of gifts.
see Elk. xiii. s; Deut. K, II; Job xxxiv,
10; Rom. ii, IL; Eph vi, o.
As we have but one lesson on the life
of this great king we must not omit a
glance at chapter 20, and the victory
which the Lord wrought for His peo-
pie. Realizing their helplessness, they
cast themselves wholly upon Him, and
the Lord fought against their enemies
and made them to rejoice over their
enemies, and gave them rest round
| about lyarcas 2 O7-2m Nofe tho