Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-07-03
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson Third Quarter, For
July 7, 1907.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the lesson, Elk. xvi, lis.
Memory Verse, 4--oelden Text John
VII s1-cemmentary Prepared BY
Rev. D. M. Stearns.

w V-SVfuuoUe~tt TIvFNIvS ~
Rev. D. M. Stearns.
3Copyright. 1907, by American Press Association.
The history of Israel in the wilder
ness on their way to the promised land
while literally true, is also typical o.
the life of the believer from the day o.
his redemption till he enters into thu
rest and joy and fullness which are hi
In Christ Jesus. This all believer:
might do very quickly. but as a rule
many are slow to enter In, and some
never do. Read / Cor Z, 6, IL, and
context and Heb. lii, II, to ", II, ant
give heed to the Spirits testimony
concerning Israels misconduct and t.
His warnings to US not to fall into the
same sins, In poetry Canaan is often
taken to represent heaven and Jordan
death, but this is not the teaching OF
Scripture, as there are no foes to over
come nor fighting to be done in heav'
en-. The Passover plainly teaches re-
demption by the blood Of the Lamb
the overthrow of Pharaoh's hosts In
the Red sea suggests our complete sep
.aration from the world, the world cru
cited to us and we to it gal. vi, 14),
while Jordan, with it's memorial heap
In the bed of the river and another on
the Canaan side, speaks of death to
self, crucifed, buried and risen with
Christ (Gal. ii, 20; Rom. vi, ell; Col.
Iii, Ia.
Last weeks lesson was all victory
and praise, but the first unpleasant
thing, the waters of Marah, set them
all murmuring. How like them we
are. See how by a tree the waters
are made sweet, and consider how the
lost ak was recovered by piece Of a
tree also Oh Kings vi, g. The lost re-
stored and the bitter made pleasant by
q tree-what can it mean but Himself,
the tree of life of Eden and Revela-
ton, the green tree Of Luke xiii, 81?
Obedience to Him brings health to
body and soul and gives us Elm in
stead of Marah (Ex. XIV. 1920.
How short lived was their peace!
Just a few days farther on their jour-
ney and again they murmur because
there Is nothing to eat XVI, q. Did
our Lord have this In mind when He
said: Take no anxious thought for
your life. what ye shall eat or what We
shall drink Matt. vi, 25). Seek not
We what ye shall eat or what ye shall
drink Live not In careful suspense.
Your Father knOweth that We
have need Of these things" duke XII,
30, 80, margin. No doubt, for it was
He who said to Moses, II will rain
bread from heaven for you" Verse d,
who afterward said of Himself, 81 am
the Living Bread which came down
from heaven" John vi. 81.
He gave them flesh also, for in the
evening the Quails came up and COW
cred the camp, and in the morning
when the dew was gone the ground
was covered with mama. which they
gathered, some more, some less, every
man according to his eating (verses
1918 This bread from heaven with
" ich He fed them. so suggestive OF
Himself. the True Bread. had to be
gathered every day, the portion of a
day In His day Verse 4, margln). In
with this last phrase see
II Kings XIV. 30; Jer Ill. "a, margin,
and be sure that the same Lord Is ap"
pointing your portion Of all things
needful every day, and lie would have
you without fail gather your portion
from His Word every day, for "man
doth not live by bread alone. but by
every word that proceedeth out Of the
mouth of the Lord doth man live"
(Deut. viii. 8; Matt. ", A. He would
have US eat His Word with rejoicing
and esteem 1t more than our daily
food DER. Nv. 16: Job XIII, 12).
We must also accept all the events
of life as His best portion for us and
never murmur, for all our murmurings
are not against people or circum-
stances, but against God Himself, and
He hears every murmur (verses S-12).
Having food and raiment. let us be
Herewith content. Be content with
such things as We have, for He hath
said, ~ will never leave thee nor for.
sake thee" q Tim. vi, 8; Heb. Kill D..
The mama was to be gathered fresh
every day and not kept over. yet here
In some disobeyed (verse 20. They
were to keep holy the Sabbath day
and on the sixth day gather enough
for two days. being assured that that
would keep. yet herein some trans
crossed also and went out to gather 1t
on the seventh day, but found none
oversees 27-30. A golden pot was to be
Hlled and kept for future generations
to see how God provided for their ia
theirs. This pot Of mama, with Aaron's
rod that budded, was at one time kept
In the ark (Which Moses afterward
made). with the tables containing the
Ten Commandments (Heb. TX. ~. 1t Is
not for US to question the commands
Of God, but meekly receive His Word,
hold 1t fast and cheerfully obey 1t. BE
who redeemed us will certainly care
for us Rom. viii, 32), and 1t Is our part
joyfully to trust Him. Hidden mamma
Is one Of the things promised to the
overcomer Rev. II, 10. May we some
day know the full significance Of It'll
We may II we will. The mama tasted
like honey verse 81. David may
have had this in mind when he wrote
that the Word of God was sweeter than
honey or the honeycomb Cps xix, 10Y.
All the dealings of God with Israel
were intended to make them know