The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-02-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON v. FIRST QUARTER, lNTERNA-
TloNAL SERIES, FEB. 3.


pared by Rev. ID. N. stearns.
copyright, 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-
ton with the startling statement that
the age in which we are now living
shall witnes at its close the same un-
goodness that was manifest In the
time of Noah (Alatt. xiv. 3T-39; Luke
xvii, %, 2T. He who declares the end
from the beginning and who is Him.
self the beginning and the end, the
first aud the last. whose counsel stands
and who does all His pleasure, who
brings TO pass what He speaks and
does all that He purposes lisa. XVII.
Oil; Rev. Xxx, 49,, has told us this, and
ii surely becomes us TO give good heed
to all that He has said.
In the end Of Gen. iv We have the
ungodly line of Cain traced for several
generations down to Lamech, another
murderer and blasphemer and rebel
against Gods plan Of one woman for
one man. In this ungodly line we have
the first musicians and also the first
artificers in brass and iron. There
need be nothing sinful about either 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
Is the book Of the generations of
Adam" and in verse 8 it is said con-
corning Seth that Adam begat a son In
his own likeness after his image. Since
sin came all have been born in the like
ness of sinful man, not in the likeness
of God.
Contrast Matt. /, l, ''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 its
overthrow, Noah and his family being
the only people saved. By the union
of the sons OF God and the daughters
Of men, the cody and the ungodly, pos
sibly fallen angels and human beings,
every Imagination OF the thoughts of
mems hearts became evil continually
(yi, 1-12l. and men said unto God, "De-
part from US and what can the Al
mighty doT' dob xii. IL 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. ii, ..
4 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
may safely conclude that Jochebed
was Instructed also. In the tabernacle
and temple God was the sole architect,
and In all the plan Of redemption man
has no voice whatever. The. ark being
finished. the Lord called Noah and his
house 10 come In. Consider the ''comes"
OF lisa. |, IS: ". !: Matt. H. IS: Rev.
xii. II, etc. Then there went I'm unto
| Noah into the ark a male and female Of
all creatures aud Of the clean creatures
/ l.. 4 ueA FaInI Tho
/ Lord shut him in. the food came as the
Lord had said, and for one whole year
aud seventeen days they continued in
the ark. Compare chapter vii. 10. ii,
with chapter viii. 1914 What n time
OF faith and patience II must have
been. bot God was thinking Of His
servant (viII, u. When days and weeks
and months go by without any special
evidence that God Is caring for Us and
lie seems to have forgotten Us. that Is
the time for unwavering faith. reinem.
bering His words 20 John the Baptist.
blessed Is he that shall not he offend
cd In me" II ls profitable to~note that
the word 'pltch" In chapter vi. "a, Is
the very word generally translated
"atonement' and reminds Us that the
great at0nemeut il that alone which
can keep from pcrishlng. but that by
Il all who are In il are az safe as God
can make them. Shut In with Him.
no power can harm Us.
The raven that did not return to The
ark because. being an unclean bird,
any dead carcass floating on the water
would afford resting place. and the
dove that returned because IL found no
rest are suggestive Of the unciean
though they may belong to the pro
Tossing church. who can find enjoy
ment In any kind Of company. and the
true believers. who find rest only n
Christ.
Noah entered the ark at the Lords
invitation and did not leave II until
, God said Go forth Twill. IT,, We mus
implicitly obey God and have unwaver
ing trust In Him: then all will BE- well
Note the altar unto the Lord and thu
sacrifice will. 90. This man IL Of Thu
line Of Abel
Note the blessing and the command
} 10 be fruitful (yIii, II: TX, /. u, and re
. member John ~. $, 10.
/ See the unconditional covenant o
nb.ptar ~ nonnarnlnv fhp Garth Iaigl