The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-02-08


the cloud and it shall be for token of
covenant between me and the earth
Gen. 9:l3.
I. Verses Sill. AT the conclusion OF
the lesson of last week Noah was en-
barked in the ark and the food was
over the earth. Between that time
and the time of this lesson Noah
made three attempt to ascertain II the
time had arrived for him to leave the
Ark. At last God gave him com
mand (S:15, 16) to go FORTH" but he
did not 60 empty handed. Noah had
taken his all in the ark and 1t proved
to be a most profitable investment.
Though shut up $50 days T:2G, God
must have been in the hearts Of that
little company as they stepped forth
upon the dry land. What an over
towering sense Of Gods gracious
mercy. What a recollection Of Gods
awful wrath. What a trembling least
there be a repetition of this disaster.
And what an amazement In contem-
plating the mighty work Of founding
4 new race.
Noah's Offering.
The first act on Noah's part upon
leaving the ark was to build an altar
unto God and to offer q burnt offering
$500. Thus we see that Gods COW
enant with Noah was based upon the
ground Of shed blood (Heb. 9:1522).
and as such 1t was an acceptable Of
fering, "a sweet smelling sacrifice"
(S:21), because 1t was an expression
Of entire conservation to God, Phil.
l:1S. This offering is, Of course. a
type Of Christ who is the Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world" As
Noah's offering, see 1921, averted a
rightful penalty, even SO the offering
Of Christ redeems us from the curse
Of sin which Is our Just due. Gal. 3:13.
As they look about upon the
cleansed earth, for there is no sin
present except that Of their own
hearts, they are to US type Of that
new life into which we enter through
Jesus Christ, see l. Peter $500. Fl.
A study Of covenants and of coven-
ant making ceremonies is always in
tensely interesting. In the Biblical
meaning a covenant is a compact or
agreement between two parties, O
between God and man. (2 between
man and man. In this covenant God
bestowed the benefit of an assurance.
though Noah had had certain condi-
tons imposed upon him, the fulfilling
of which brought him to this place
where he might receive this assur-
ance.
Gods covenant with Noah was one
Of eight great covenants, % the one
made In Eden, Gen. 1928; (2) the
Adamic, Gen. 3:15: (3) this with
Noah. Gen. 1921, %; "a one with
Abraham, Gen. 1913; 90 that with
Moses, Elk. 1925; (6) one with the
Israelites, Deut. 1858; CD that with
David, 2 Sam. 7:16; 90 the new COW
enant, Heb. S:S. The main elements
of this covenant are. (a) the removal
Of the curse, S:21; (b) the assurance
Of returning harvests and regular sea-
son, s:22; (c) the promise of an
abundant progeny. 81; (d) the domi-
nation Of animal life, go; (e) provi-
sion for food, both flesh and herd, 9:
3; 90 provision for sacrifice and wor-
ship, ga; Cd the safety Of human
life, 9:5; (h) the administration Of
Justice, 9:6. We thus seen in this
Gods pledge Of the continuance Of
this present earth until the end of the
ages. Rev. 21:1. Cleansed this earth
has been by water. cleansed 1t shall
be once for all by fire. Peter 81.
Gods Promise.
Noah's life of obedience before he
entered the ark had ELECTED Gods
promise that he would establish a
covenant with him, see Eph 6:1S;
and 80 God today holds before all
men the promise of q new and better
covenant into which they also may
enter IL they will, Heb. S:S. God has
frequently used this covenant as an
Illustration of his love and his faith
fulness towards his people, lisa. 8:
., 10, and this covenant included Gods
care for the beasts as well as man,
verses 10, IL, Is, see also Ps. 1876, 6;
Jonah All. This is a good thought
to emphasize with the younger pupils.
II. Verses 12-17. As though Je-
hovah would make assurance doubly
secure, he not only made q covenant
but appointed token, a sign, of that
covenant, whereby the covenant Is to
be remembered, read Gen. 17:11; Elk.
1918. 2:12; Matt, 2s:23-2S; l. Cor.
IL: 1925. We must beware of read.
Ing into this passage any suggestion
that this Is the first appearance of q
rainbow upon the earth; there is no
such suggestion in the text, but rath-
er God took the rainbow which was
set In the cloud and made of 1t a
token of the covenant he had made
with Noah. Whenever we behold a
rainbow we ought to remember that
his covenant was not alone to Noah
but to US, his seed. We ought to re
member that he is a covenant keeping
God. He says to US as he said to
Noah, II will remember my covenant
But to us who live In the gospel age
be has made a more wonderful and q
more glorious covenant than that
which he made with Noah (see John
1928, 29), and let us remember that
his covenants are everlasting, v. 1e
(see also Sam. 1886; lisa. $3.50; Jer