The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1907-02-22
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GODS COVENANT
WITH ABRAHAM
Sunday School Lesson for Feb. "a, 1907

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Memory verses. and d
GOLDEN TENT-"He believed 'h '''
and DE counted 10 Co him Tor righteous
ness Gen 1916
TIME Three 90 six years aiier our
last lesson. ,,., Oh.
oaks OF Mamrc. .......,.- r,.b.
sCRipTURAL REFERENCEs.-i.iin
ON the covenants. Gal 's-f
PCS. q. Pisa 1917 Us. lisa ".-i' i-"'
E e,-gf The eight promises given u
D'~,ser,. first promise. Gen. lZ.l-s.
second promise l-.l. third promise i.
t-. fourth promise 1911, ). q. u. "'t'
prsnise. 1880. l9. sixth promise l'i'.
be-. seventh promise, 2lls. eighth li''''
Use. 216-iN
Connect and Suggestive Thought.
The Covenant promise.-N. b. Inc
Promise in Detail Cd He shon'u
be the father Of a great nation ~
God would make him a blessing 10
an the world go The land oil
Canaan should be his land and tha'
of his seed forever. (4) His descenu.
ants should De in number as the SAND
of the seashore and as the stars oil
heaven. 60 God be his shield ana re-
ward. (6) lie should have a son VINO
would inherit the promises.
The condition was faith that lea 10
prompt and entire obedience hu'
this was a very difficult achievement
Years went by and no son was gwen
him. He was almost alone in heath
en- land full Of all iniQnity Inc
land promised him was occupied by
strong and warllke tribes.
In such circumstances, in all cir
cumstances Of difficulty, in all right
oous living in a wicked world. men
need aids to faith. need sustaining
grace shown in visible ways. and 6od
cave these to Abraham and he gives
them 70 us.
First-The symbol Of the Stars. b
And he brought him forth abroad.
out of his tent, so that he could see
the stars. showing that this vision
was no dream. but a real message
from God. Look now toward heaven.
and tell the stars. II thou be able TO
number them" In the promise 20
Noah the rainbow was made sign,
appearing occasionally, but at the
very time when fears for the fulfill
ment Of the promise would naturally
arise To Abraham God gives
brighter sign. so that wherever he
went the night would speak with
thousands Of harmonious voices, tesi-
flying to the faithfulness Of God.
Gods promise was written on the
sky. as every Christian should see
written on the mighty heavens:
They that be wise shall shine as
the brightness Of the armament; and
they that turn many to righteousness
as the stars forever and ever
1. These bright worlds were ere
ated and are held in their places by
divine power So great is the God
who would defend Abraham. so able
and willing to keep his promises.
g. The stars never failed. Each
night they appeared in their places.
and moved unvaryingly in their
courses. Gods faithfulness in nature
was the assurance Of his faithfulness
10 his word given to Abraham.
3. The stars in that climate are
brighter than ours. Prof Hall says
that he has known Venus to shine so
bright as to cast a shadow. Bright
or than the stars. steadier than their
flames. shall be the fulhllment of
Gods promises.
4 There are infinitely more stars
in heaven than Abraham could see
Gods promises are ever better in their
fulfllment than it is possible for us
TO conceive.
Second.-The Symbol Of the Dust
and Sand In Gen. 1916 God says that
Abraham's seed should be as the
dust Of the earth" for number: and in
Gen. 22:17, "as the sand which is
upon the seashOre." So wherever
Abraham looked. at earth or at sky.
by day or by night, he would see sym
bols Of Gods promise on every side
Third.-The Symbol Of Circum-
cision. In Gen. 17:1O14 We find an.
other sign of the covenant, the rite
of circumcision, which has ever been
the rite Of the Jews. as baptism since
then has been the sign Of the Chris
tian's covenant with God.
Fourth.-The Symbol Of the Chang
ed Name. In Gen. 17:5 we have
the symbol Of a change OF his name
from Abram (exalted father TO Abra-
ham father Of a multitude).
Fifth.-The Symbol of the Blood |
Covenant In the latter part of the |
lesson for to-day.
God Himself is the Best Reward |
Tie best reward does not consist in |
Gods gifts. but In himself The child |
who has his father has infinitely /
more than any gift his father can give /
him. He who has God has all things.
The love Of God is the best reward of
love. The favor Of God is better than
the favor OF all other things in the
universe. Communion with God is
the best communion Of the Spirit.
Instead Of the child he wanted. God
was his friend, and would bring to
pass what was needed in his own good
time.
Practical Points.
God comes 10 us in our dark times
The times Of trial and sickness and
loss and danger. These with God in