Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-10-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson Iv.-Fourth Quarter, For
Oct. II, 1907,
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of the Lesson, Josh. xiv, e.1b'
Memory Verses, 2, s-Golden Text,
Matt. XIV, 23-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
copyright 1907, by American Press Association
The intervening chapters between
our last lesson and this tell us how the
Lord fought for Israel until Joshua
took the whole land, according to all
that the Lord said unto Moses *, IA,
40; XII, 23). 1t had not been continuous
victory, for sin and unbelief had been
at work bringing dishonor upon God
and disgrace and defeat upon them
selves. The ,covetous disobedience OF
Achan brought judgment upon himself
and trouble upon all Israel. Joshua's
league with the lying Gibeonites with
out consulting the captain who appear
ed to him by Jericho was q sad mis-
take. but while Joshua and the people
walked with God in trustful obedience
there was always victory for Israel,
the Lord on one occasion casting down
great hailstones from heaven upon the
enemy and .mraculOusly making one
day to be nearly two in length TX, IL
IA. With all their victories there re-
NAMED very much land yet to be pos
sesse1 xiii, u, and that is true Of all
believers with reference to the precious
promises of God. That the Levites,
who were chosen from all the tribes
of Israel to be specially set apart to
God instead of the flrstborn Mum. III,
lib; viii, 14, should have no inher-
itance in the land but the Lord God
Himself xiii, IA, 33) makes us think
of and desire to say from the heart,
1.-THE Lord is my portion, saith my
SOUL therefore will | hope In Him"
clam Iii, "a. The Levites, who waited
specially upon God, were we'll cared
for. They had cities to dwell In and
suburbs for their cattle; they lived up
on the tithes of the others and gave to
the Lord a 1.-THE out of their tithes
(xiv, 8, 4; Mum. xviii, 20-26). All true
believers are holy and royal priest
hood, kings and priests Il Pet. II, 8, 8;
Rev. |, 6; V, 10), and we ought to be
quite sure that if we make His service
our delight He'll make our wants His
care Matt vi, 33; Rom. viii, 32).
Joshua seems to have continued his
headquarters at Gilgal Qx, 6; X, @, and
now his old friend Caleb comes to him
on special business. For forty five
years he had treasured in his heart a
word that the Lord had said to Moses
concerning him (Num. xiv, 30). He
had eaten it, lived on it, fully appropri-
ated it, and doubtless many a time
when others were dying all about him
and he perhaps was not feeling quite
as well as usual and the adversary
whispered. Your turn next; you Will
soon be gone like the rest" he had en-
couraged himself in the Lord and re-
minded Hin of His promise and been
strengthened. The infallible word of
the Living God is always a sure rest
ing place regardless Of all feelings or
circumstances See Paul In the storm
at sea, when all hope that they should
be saved was taken away, standing
forth and declaring with all boldness,
"There shall be no loss of any mans
life among you, but of the ship;
there shall not an hair fall from the
head of any of you" acts xvii 20
25, 80. II believe God that 1t shall be
even as it was told me-" or Mary OF
Nazareth it is written, BLESSED is she
that believed, for there shall be n per
Torrance of those things which were
told her from the Lord" duke !, 40
Our Lord said to Thomas, BLESSED are
they that have not seen and yet have
believed" John Xxx, 2D.
Note the names given to Moses In
verses C. Z, "The man of God,
the servant of the Lord" Gods man
Gods possession specially for Gods
own use; JehOvah's servant. serving
Him only, saying, like Paul, "Whost
IN am and whom serve" Every be
lever may and should be Gods posses
sion for lis service. Caleb kindly re
freshes Joshua also as he says, "Pht
thing that the Lord said concerning mi
and thee" Verse g.. Think of our Lore
saving to Simon Peter concerning thu
taxes, THAT take and give unto then
for me and thee" Matt. xvii, 20. L
seems to me that we have in our lessor
the significance of wholly following
the Lord oversees 8, 0, AZ. What is /
but having heart to believe God anC
to do just as He says regardless o
what others may say or do, a readiness
to stand with God even If you die 70
1t, for Caleb and Joshua were In dan
ger of being stoned to death for thei
steadfastness. Caleb was an illustra
ton of lisa. xl, 81, "Tliey that wal
upon the Lord shall renew thei
strength" etc Hear him say, 9TH
Lord hath kept me alive, as He said
these forty ard five years; an
as strong this day as | was in the da.
that Moses sent me" oversees 10, III
Kept waiting fOrty-fve years by tn
unbelef and rebellion of others, he ha
been sustained in body and soul by tn
word of God, for the Lord was his lif
and health and hope. Now he asks 70
the mountain where, the giants were
saying so grandly, "If 50 be the Lor
will be with me, then shall be able t
drive them out, as the Lord said
(verse ~. He recognized that tn
Lord was his strength, and that what
ever was to be done Ee must do 1t, br
he was gladly willing to be used b
, Him.