Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-01-30
THE I, SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON v, FIRST QUARTER, INTERNA-
TioNAL SERIES, FEB. 8.

Text of the Lesson, Gen. viii, lie.
Memory Verses, 1-3--Golden Text,
Pa. xxxvfi, 30 - Commentary Pre-
pared by Rev. ID. NJ. stearns.
ICopyright, 1907, by American Press Association
The story Of Noah and the condition
of affairs on earth in his day Is also
spoken Of by our Lord, and in connec-
tion with the startling statement that
the age In which we are now living
shall witnes at its close the same I'M
goodness that was manifest In the
time of Noah Matt. xiv, 1879; Luke
xvii. 26, 90. He who declares the END
from the beginning and who Is Him
self the beginning and the end, the
first and the last, whose counsel STANDS
and who does all His pleasure, who
brings to pass what He speaks ana
does all that He purposes Qsa. XVI,
oil: Rev. Xxx, 49,, has told us this, ana
It surely becomes us to give good need
to all that He has said.
In the end of Gen. Nv we have the
uneodly line of Cain traced for several
generations down to Lamech, another
murderer and blasphemer and rebel
against Gods plan of one woman Tor
one man. In this ungodly line we nave
the first musicians and also the first
artificers in brass and iron. There
need be nothing sinful about elmer OF
these. but 1t Is sad fact that In our
own time the highest talent on these
and other lines Is, as rule, rather on
the side of unbelief than Of faith.
In chapter we have the first ten
generations of the godly line OF seth,
whom God gave to Eve, instead OF
Abel, beginning with the words, This
ia the book Of the generations OF
Adam" and in verse 3 1t Is said con-
corning Seth that Adam begat son IN
his own likeness after his image. Since
Gin came all have been born In the Ike
ness of sinful man, not in the likeness
Of God.
Contrast Matt. 1, 1, "The book OF the
generation of Jesus Christ" 1t Is only
when we receive Him that we are
born of God and His image begins TO
be formed In us.
Chapters vi to TX, in which we have
but one lesson, tell Of the consumma'
ton of iniquity in that age and It's
overthrow, Noah and his family being
the only people saved. BY the union
of the sons of God and the daughters
of men, the godly and the ungodly, pos
s,bly fallen angels and human beings,
every Imagination Of the thoughts OF
mems hearts became evil continually
wi, lip, and men said unto God, DE
part from us and what can the AL
mighty DOR Job xii, ~ Then God
gave Noah instructions to build an ark
for the saving of his house, and he be
lieved God and obeyed, thus obtaining
righteousness and condemning the
world (Heb. xi, y.
A study of the three arks OF Scrip
ture and the object for which each
was made is most instructive. Noah
and Moses received most minute In
structiOns how to build theirs, and we
NAV safely conclude that Jochebed
was instructed also. In the tabernacle
and temple God was the sole architect
and In all the plan Of redemption mar
has no voice whatever. The ark being
finished. the Lord called NoGh and his
house to come In. Consider the comes
Of lisa. |, IS; ", 1; Matt. Il, rs; Rev
xii, II. etc. Then there went In unto
Noah into the ark male and female OF
all creatures and of the clean creatures
by sevens, as the Lord commanded. Tit
Lord shut him In, the food came as the
Lord had said, and for one whole year
and seventeen days they continued II
the ark. Compare chapter vii. 10, IL
with chapter viii, 1914. What a time
of faith and patience 1t must have
been. but God was thinking of His
, servant will, y. When days and weeks
and months go by without any specia
evidence that God Is caring for us ant
He seems to have forgotten us, that II
the time for unwavering faith, remem
bering His words to John the Baptist
BLESSED Is he that shall not be offend
ed in me-" 1t is profitable to note tina
the word "pitch" in chapter vi, IA, II
the very word generally translated
"atonement" and reminds US that tn
great atonement is that alone which
can keep from perishing, but that b!
It all who are in it are as safe as Coz
can make them. Shut in with Him
no power can harm us.
The raven that did not return to tn
ark because, being an unclean bird
any dead carcass floating on the waite
would afford q resting place, and tn
dove that returned because it found a.
rest are suggestive Of the unclean
though they may belong to the pro
Tossing church, who can find enjoy
ment In any kind Of company, and To
true believers, who find rest only Il
Christ.
Noah entered the ark at the Lord
invitation and did not leave 1t unit
God said Go forth" will, 49,. We mus
implicitly obey God and have unwaver
ing trust in Him; then all will be well.
Note the altar unto the Lord and tn
sacrifice will, 2W. This man Is OF tn
line of Abel.
Note the blessing and the comman
to be fruitful will, IT; TX, /, ., and n
member John XIV, 8, 16.
See the unconditional covenant q
chapter * concerning the earth Gals
Will, 22), and the bow in the cloud a
the token, which is found elsewher
only In Eek. l. Rev. " and x, and a
ways in reference to the earth. Tb
other two unconditional covenant
were with Abraham, concerning I'll
} land of promise, and with David, col
corning his throne. Note the assocl'
ton of Noah with Daniel and Job
Ezek. xiv, 1920. and compare God
J dealings with each.
In view of the judgments that al
coming when the Lord shall arise
shake terribly the earth, In the day