The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1907-10-04

1nH.H1sznznruEHEE1lIlI1 sursuIrrIr
LESSON TEXT Joshua 2. 5-i7. Mem
Org verse, n.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"And ne led them
forth by the right way that they might
go TO a city Of habitation."-Psaim lW. T.
TIME.-On the tenth day u the first
MONTH carly In April was the crossing
/ Of the Jordan. 1T was the anniversary
OF the day on which. % years before, the
/ Israeltes had been directed 20 take up
the lambs for the first Passover ln
| Egypt."-Deano. This lesson closely fol-
lows the last
PLAcE.-At Abel shittlm. 1.-THE Mea-
| dow OF the Acaeias." near tho fords ~
the Jordan on the east bank. opposite
Jericho. AT tho foot Of the Moaoite
mountains.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Two Accountable history OF
the conquest Of Palestine in Joshua
and the account IN the first chapter Of
Judges are assumed by certain schol-
ars 10 be parallel accounts covering
the same ground. BY assuming % that
Joshua was written at late date and
therefore unhistorical. CD that the
first statement in Judges 10 the ef
feet that the events described IN that
chapter took place after the death
Of Joshua is untrue and a late add
ton; and CD that the conquest de.
scrlbed in Joshua was 50 complete
that there need be no further conflict
1t is taken for granted that the two
accounts describe the same period.
and are. therefore. contradictory and
unhistorical.
Preparation Of the People for Cross
ing the Jordan.-Josh. l.lO-3:5.
/. The announcement that the time
to cross was at hand 10 a people who
saw an impossible food In front OF
them.
2. Preparation OF yictuals; not
merely the mama. but the fruits OF
the fertile country in which they were
encamped.
3. Spies who could swim the deep
and swift river were sent across o.
investigate the condition OF things on
the other side and TO report.
l. The camp was moved 70 the
lower level nearer the river
g. Officers were sent throughout the
camp TO Instruct the people what
10 do.
8. The people were commanded 20
". 81 sanctify themselves, make spe
cial spiritual preparation. by wash
ing their persons and their garments,
and abstaining from everything that
might indispose their minds 10 a Sc
rious and devout attention TO the mir
acle about 10 be wrought In their be-
half. The object wss TO turn their
hearts to God in faith. and prepare
them to obey willingly. and 20 under
stand the full meaning and power Of
Whist God was doing for them.
Compare the "sanctifylng' before
they received the law AT Sinai. See
also Lev 2O:7. s. ! Sam. 1865. Joel
2:I8
The Training of the People In cour
age and Saith.-Vs. 6-1l. Before the
actual entrance upon the conquest.
which meant life or death. and from
which there was no possible return
over the swollen river-for the cross
ing was ike Cortez' burning Of his
ships-it was needfu once more g.
test the people and prove 10 them
that God could and would make them
successful.
Cd 6 They took mp the ark Of the
covenant" The symbol OF Gods pres
ence and Of his covenant promise aud
their covenant OF obedience. Went
before the people" There was 20 be
a space Of 1000 cubits. or nearly three
quarters OF mile. between the ark
and the people. so that all could see
the sacred symbol of the divine pres
ence Josh. sd. which could not BE-
done n the ark was closely surround
ed by a crowd
~ 7. And the Lord said unto
Joshua, This day will ! begin 10 mag
ninfy thee" Make thee great. pui
honor upon thee. as the leader anC |
commander of the people. Hence
forth he would be accepted az the |
rue successor Of Moses. Hencofortl |
no douhting. no questioning who |
should be the leader nor whether |
their leader was worthy of trust
go The assurance Of faith
The Providentlal Mlracle.-V l6
The waters rose up upon an |
heap very far from the city Adam
The reyisions give the correct trans
lation in one heap. a great way OFF
NJ Adam " Adam was probably az
the Damien ford just above the mouth
Of the Jabbok. n miles above the j.
aelites' encampment Here are the
remains Of an ancient bridge Here is
a sudden break IN the geological form
alton. and the river flows between
two ridges of mountains on either
side. or. as Prof G. + Wright sug
gests. the elevation OF the bed Of the
river in this volcanic region. where "a
landslide or the fall Of cliff could
easily block up the waters, in which
case the waters would accumulate
above the dam. and form a great lake
far up the river, while the
waters below would all flow away into
the Dead sea. leaving the bed OF the
river comparatively dry
THE wonderful story Of Gods
chosen people is Itself a greater mir.
acle than any exhibition Of divine
power II records. "-Foakes-J Jackson
The church sees before her her
promised land. the whole earth re-
deemed 70 Christ Those parts OF our
country which are more settled. Ike
the two and onehalf tribes. are %
send their warriors TO help the others
10 subdue the newer portions 90
Christ
The whole world has received ifs