The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-11-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR NOV. 10 BY THE
REV. I. w. HENDERSON.

Subject: Joshua Renewing the Cove
nant With Israel, Joshua 24:14-
2S-Golden Text, Joshua 24-15
Memory Verses, 22-24.
This is one of the sublimest mo-
ments in the history of Israel. The
account which forms our lesson is as
fine a piece of writing of it's sort as
can be found. The situation is he
roic. The simplicity of the language
of the record simply heightens It's
majesty. In a few words, and they
well chosen, a mighty moment in the
national and religious life Of Israel Is
+ conserved to posterity.
Joshua has finished his work. The
call of eternity Is sounding in his
ears. He is about to ford another
Jordan. He feels that his labors are
not consummated until he has sealed
| Israel by her own consent anew to
God. Therefore he gathers the peo-
ple together. He relates the bless
/ ings of God to Israel. He pictures
the glories of fealty to Jehovah and
the woes of disobedience to His holy
will. He makes a masterful, a nov
ing speech. Pleading, lecturing, al
most insulting, he throws down the
challenge. Choose We this day"
Israel follows in the footsteps of
her aged and inspired leader. The
fidelity of himself and his family and
his declaration Of his s~teadfastness
in the service of Almighty God
| awake a responsive note in the soul
of the nation. 1--WE will serve the
Lord"
Choose ye this day whom ye will
serve comes as a clear call to the
world to-day. Never before has
there been such prosperity, such rea-
son for giving God glory. This is n
richest age that the world has knoWn.
In spite of it's sins, in spite of its
manifest weaknesses, in spite OF the
sufferings of multitudes in every cor
ner of the world, this is the finest
epoch in the history of humanity. No
age has possessed so much. No age
has had a greater future. No age
has had so many reason to front to-
morrow with hope unquenchable.
The achievements, the opportuni-
ties, the future of the age, however,
are the gift of God. And humanity
seems forgetful often Of the fact. We
exalt wealth, we magnify men, we
serve sin, we trust self. AS though
wealth or men or We could nave
done the FORK and accomplished the
results that are at hand without the
counsel and the cooperation Of AL
mighty God. AS though sin had done
it.. But humanity should not be al
lowed to forget its indebtedness to
God. 1t should be called into His
presence even as was Israel by
Joshua. And humanity should be
compelled individually and collective
ly to take a stand, to decide for or
against, to affirm its allegiance. For
we cannot serve two masters. We
have no business to talk about our
Indebtedness to God while we refuse
Him the service Of our souls and hug
idols to our hearts in secret.
The world to-day as Israel talks
about it's debt to the providence of
God while it secretly yields homage
to idols. And there a be no hypoc-
risy much worse than that. Israel
thanked God, but many Of her people
served the Egyptian deities and the
gods of the Amorites in secret. And
| JOSHUA huS" H. Au 81 AO btOoShS
them right up to the point where
they would have to make a declara-
ton for or against God. Any intelli-
gent man knows that the conditions
are the same to-day inside and out
side of the church. The world should
be compelled to take a stand.
What is true of the world at large
| is equally true of America specifically.
We owe more to God than perhaps
any nation on the face of the earth.
We have more reasons than most peo-
pie apparently have to glorify Him.
And we are not slow at certain sea-
sons to acknowledge our obligations.
We are forced to admit that God has
been good to this land and that we
owe Him a debt that we never, can
repay. But while we hail His grace
We hug idols to our hearts.
We must make a decision, we must
take a stand. We cannot serve Him
while we hold our idols close. Wheth-
er the idols be money, or power, or
lust, or pride, we must abandon them
for God.
And we ought. For God is worth
serving. His providence is able. His
grace is SuIlClGul lOI oil. 11l0 CO-Op-
Grafton will insure our future. Amer
lea cannot do much that shall be
memorable except He aid her.
Neither can the world. There is no
force so influential as the mind of
God. There is no service that is so
profitable as His. There is no lead
ership so grateful to those who fol-
low as is the leadership Of God. For
Jehovah is the supreme molder of the
destinies of the world. The God and
Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ is the supreme artifcer Of this
worlds Affairs. We cannot fool Him,
for His eyes penetrate. We cannot
deceive Him, He is too wise. We
cannot balk His plans. For we are
mortal. We had best serve Him.
Not because it Is policy to do SO,
though it is, but because it Is right.
Our happiness lies in d fealty to
God. Idols are a delusion.
Let US serve Him and hear Ills
voice to obey it. Let US incline our
ears toward Him. Let US not deny
Him o~verlordship in our lives. Let
us exalt Him. For if we will eXalt
Him He will magnify US. And 1t will
be well for us here and hereafter.