The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-02-13
THE N D SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR FEBRUARY s, BY
THE REV. +. w. HENDERSON.

Subject: Noah Saved in the Ark,
Gen. s:1-16-Golden Text: PSI
37:39-Memory Verses: 1.8-
Helpful Notes.
The lesson for this Sabbath Is un-|
Ineligible unless we read Genesis 81
and 7. Especially, by way of resume
Of the two chapters, would 1t be wiser
to read Gen. 6:1, O., 6, 6,S,p14, 18. 22:i
IA, II, "a. With these verses wa
secure, in ONE measure, a synopsfa|
Of the events that preceded that
which is related in our Scripture for
the day.
The story Of Noah, as we have IT.
here, crowds the mind with moralss
Noah is the second parent Of the race
as Adam was the first. Adam Is the
father Of humanity, in the natural
sense. In the same sense Noah 8 the
savior. They are, so to speak, tho
Washington and Lincoln OF human.
ity's earliest days.
The lesson Of Noah's life, so far.
Is the lesson of obedience and its res
wards. Adams career is the exems
pliication of refractoriness and IT'D
consequences. Noah Is q distinct adj
vance upon Adam. Adams character
is primarily one of innocence. TIA
untried at first and weak when tested
Noah's meritorious qualities are the
result Of a willing obedience to God,Ss
commands. Born, after Adam, With
the seeds Of evil innate through
heredity, Noah, in the midst Of an
evil world, a Just and upright mani
finds favor in the eyes Of God. Noah
is the sample of character made well
pleasing unto God, through His
grace, by volition. Noah's will Isl
strong. Possessing, as did Adam, the
power Of free choice; and, unlike
Adam, being surrounded with evil
companions and weakened by amin,
herited predisposition for: wayward-s
ness, Noah, yet, deliberately walked
with God."z Adam; we remember,
ran away from God. SGo
Gods covenant with Noahsand Fis
condemnation of the sin of men throw
lights or the character OF God. IJe.
hovah Is a God of love, Of patience, OF
discrimination His discriminatiTe
characteristics are shown by the fact
that while He hates evil He has yet
commentator for and Joy In men
who are good. Loving all humanity
the Father is, however, guilty OF no,
sickly sentimentalism, He is long
suffering, ~forbearing toward humans
ity; but humanity must, except 1t obey
Him, take the consequences of volun-
tary sin. But while He condemns the
evil, God never forgets the root Of
Righteousness apparent among His
people. And SO God acts here. He
1iscriminates between righteous Noah;
and his evil neighbors. He has pa
thence with them all until theybecomes
utterly stepped in iniquity.a His heart
is grieved at the wickedness Of men,
for He loves them as the children OF
His own creation. But He does not
allow His love to become so degen-,
Grated that He forgetsjudgments and
justice and His own divine integrity.
The story Of Noah is the story OF
Gods determination to afford humans
ity a chance to prove itself worthy of
its lineage. When all the worst Of
the worlds inhabitants are over
whelmed with the consequences Oh
their w%illfulness, God puts the seal
of His sanction upon Noah.
The lessc7s are obvious In their
present da. application. u Obedience
brings divine approval. Disobedf-s
ence works for death. Character Is,
the resultant Of a will subordinatedi
to divine control. To find favor IN.
the eyes of God is. the business and
duty Of humanity and the especial
longing of the Christian. It is good
ness that mako Is worth while here
and for God. ! be evil is to be s ,lf-
condemned. In wickedness is so. cow
and destruction. Faithfulness to
God and faith in Him is the finality OF
happiness. For God Is as faithful
now, and to you and me, as he. was
to upright Noah.
These notes may be Of use:
VS.. /. Remembered" This does
not necessarily mean that God had
forgotten about Noah. It rather I'M
plies that God had neverctorgotten
them. Hebrew: Renewed His are
for" ark" Probably $50 by sew
enty-five by forty-flve feet.
VS.. 8. Continually" The waters
seeped away gradually. Zone hum
dred and fifty" See Gen. 7:24
VS.. 4. "Ararat." In Armenia.
Pictured as the highest mountain in
the world, as we see by VS.. s..
VS.. z. Raven" So called be-
cause of its b~lackness.
VS.. 10. "And he waited seven
days longer
VS.. II. "Olive leaf" Rev. fresh
leaf. 1t is said that olive trees put
forth new shoots under water. The
finding of the olive twig by the dove
was, obviously, an indication that the
water had gone down considerably
The olive tree is very hardy and lux
uriant under proper conditions; it is
said not to grow at great heights,
however. Knew" Evidently In the
construction of the ark while there
was provision made for light and air
there was none made for looking out.
Otherwise after the rain ceased Noah
might easily have seen the surrounds
ing conditions for himself. This
throws a light on his complete obedi-
ence to and dependence on God. They
shut themselves up in the ark and left
the outcome to the Almighty.
VS.. IS. Dried up" The waters
first drained away until there was no
covering of water over the ground.