The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1907-02-01
NOAH SAVED
IN THE ARK
Sunday School Lesson for Feb. 3, 1907
Specially Prepared for This Paper.
LESSON TEXT.-Gen. s:1-ls: Memory

$3.50.
TIME.-Acording to Ussher's chronol-
ogy, b. c. 234S, but this calculation is re-
garded as uncertain by many of the
most conservative scholars. Very proba-
bly, II was earlier.
PLACE.-The ark rested on some
height i'm the mountainous region of
Ararat, south OF Armenia, in the region
of the upper Euphrates. The ark start
PLACE IN THE HISTORIAN least
1856 years after Adam. considerable
population i'm the world, quite well ad-
vanced in the arts of civilization. The
world grown wicked; but a line of good
men running through IL.
SCRIPTURE PREFERENCES. = Psa.
1910 r. "; lisa. 54:9; Eek. 1874; Matt.
24:37; Luke 1926 q; Heb. HI; / Pet.
1920; Pet 2:5.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Crisis of the Race.-We are told
In chapter the depth of moral cor
ruptfon into which the majority of the
race had fallen. The earth was filled
with violence. And GOD saw
that the wickedness of man was great
in the earth, and that every magma
ton of the thoughts of his heart was
only evil continually"
The Problem Of the Ages,-What to
Do with Wicked Men.-This has been
the problem of every human govern
ment, from the heads of a family to
emperors and autocrats. 1t forms the
most difficult problem to-day.
The Ark and the Deluge.-Noah was
the great grandson of Enoch, and like
him walked with God. He was holy,
virtuous, pious man, in world ruin
ing itself with wickedness. His was
not merely passive goodness. He
was a preacher of righteousness u
Pet. $50. He was a prophet and re-
former. 1t is not probable that he was
popular with men,
The Beginning Of the New Era
VS.. lie. v 1. God remembered
Noah" He never forgets his people.
w. Fountains . of the deep
rain from heaven" The two
sources of the deluge.
V. a. ARK rested in the seventh
month" There were two starting
points of the year,-the Sacred in
April, the Civil in September. The
seventh month was either May OF
October.
V. 5. Tenth month" July or Jan
uary.
V. 7. Sent forth a raven" which
would feed on floating dead bodies,
and return to the ark, back and forth.
Hence, IT'S return would be no test OF
the state of the land.
V. s. Sent forth dove" to get in
formation. The dove returned with
none.
V. II. 'In her mouth was an olive
leaf" One that had just put forth
fresh leaves. THAT the olive tree is
found in Armenia is proved from
Strabo. "-Dillmann.
V. Is. On the six hundredth and
first year" Twelve lunar months
after Noah entered the ark.
V. a. I'm the second month" etc.
Making in all 365 days.
V. 16. Go forth" The work was
complete The old was ended and the
new race begun. The world entered
upon a new era.
Worship (Gen. S:20-22).-The first
act of Noah was an act of worship
and religion. He expressed his graft
tude, his faith, his consciousness OF
sin, and the infinite love of God which
had saved him.
Divine Promise in the Heavens
(Gen. 9:S-1O.-God averted another
fear that the deluge might be repeat.
ed; a fear which would haunt the
early race at every coming of the
fruit-giving rain, fear that would in
terfere not only with comfort, but with
progress.
The Rainbow Token.-"That gra.
cious thing made up of tears and
light."-Coleridge The rainbow as
sign of Gods promise is peculiarly ap.
propriate and beautiful. Cd 1t is
formed on the rain itself, the rain
which produced the flood. (2) After
the appearance of an entire rainbow,
as a rule, no rain of long duration fol
lows" Indeed, the rainbow is proof
that the storm is partial, not covering
the whole sky. The sun of Gods
mercy is shining on the rain. CD The
darker the storm, the brighter the
rainbow. ca LAS it lights up the dark
ground that just before was discharg-
ing itself in flashes of lightning, it
gives us an idea of the victory of
Gods love over the black and fiery
wrath. "-Delitzsch CD 1T is just in
its conformity TO natural law that the
rainbow is a pledge that the order of
nature shall continue. Co 1t
can be seen everywhere in all parts of
the earth; 1t is all embracing 1t
shines on the evil and on the good,
with it's rays of warning and Of hope.
CD II is very beautiful and attractive.
God gives a winning beauty to his an
gels, to his messengers of mercy, and
to his promises, in order to attract
men and show his love- 60 1t forms
an arch, wide as the storm and bind
ing earth and heaven, God and man,
together in peace. There can be no
rainbow without the sun.
Practical Points.
God Furnishes men not because he
hates them, but because he loves
them. Sin Is far greater evil than
punishment. The flood that destroyed
most of the people was the real saliva
fion of thp human raca