Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-02-08

GOLDEN TEXT do set my bow In
the cloud and it shall be for a token of a
covenant between and the earth
Gen. BIB
l. Verses S-11..At the conclusion of
the lesson of last week Noah was en-
barked in the ark and the flood was
over the earth. Between that time
and the time of this lesson Noah
made three attempt to ascertain if the
time had arrived for him to leave the
Ark. At last God gave him COM
mand (8:15, 16) to Ego FORTH" but he
did not go empty handed. Noah had
taken his all in the ark and it proved
to be a most profitable investment.
Though shut up $50 days GEO, 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
a 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 burnt offering
$500. Thus we see that Gods COW
enant with Noah was based upon the
ground of shed blood (Heb. 9:15-22),
and as such it was an acceptable Of
fering, "a sweet smelling sacrifice"
(8:2D, because it was an expression
of entire conservation to God, Phil.
Alb. This Offering is, of course,
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: ID.
AS they look about upon the
cleansed earth, for there is no sin
present except that of their own
hearts, they are to us a type of that
new life into which we enter through
Jesus Christ. see 1. Peter 1920. 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, ID
between God and man, CD between
man and man. In this covenant God
bestowed the benefit of an assurance,
though Noah had had certain condi-
lions 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. 1:2S; (2) the
Adamic. Gen. 3:15; CD this with
Noah. Gen. 1921, %; (4) one with
Abraham, Gen. 1918; go that with
Moses, Elk. 1925; CO. one with the
g. .. fho% !,
David, 2 Sam. 7:16; (S) the new COW
enant, Heb 8:s. The main elements
of this covenant are, (a) the removal
of the curse. S:21; OBJ the assurance
of returning harvests and regular sea
son, S:22; (c) the promise of an
abundant progeny, 81; I'D the domi-
nation of animal life. 9:2; (e) provi-
sion for food. both flesh and herd, 8:
8; (f) provision for sacrifice and wor-
ship, ga; (g) the safety of human
life, 9:5; CHI the administration of
justice, 90.
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. CHS;
and SO God today holds before all
men the promise of a new and better
covenant into which they also may
enter if they will, Heb. SIS. God has
frequently used this covenant as an
illustration of his love and his faith
fulness towards his people, lisa. 5:
9, 10, and this covenant included Gods
care for the beasts as well as man
verses 10. Is, 16, see also Ps. 36:5, 6;
Jonah AL This Is a good thought
to emphasize with the younger pupils
H. Verses 1917. AS though Je
hovah would make assurance doubly
secure. he not only made a covenant
but appointed a token, a sign, of thai
covenant, whereby the covenant is te
be remembered, read Gen. 17:11; Elk
1913, 2:12; Matt, %: 1928; 1. Cor
II: 1926. We must beware of read
ing into this passage any suggestion
that this is the first appearance of {
rainbow upon the earth: there Is nj
such suggestion in the text, but rath
er God took the rainbow which wal
set in the cloud and made of it ;
token of the covenant he had mad
with Noah. Whenever we behold
rainbow we ought to remember tina
his covenant was not alone to Noah
blu to us. his seed
The rainbow was formed of tina
same rain which had produced tn
flood after the appearance of al
entire rainbow, as a rule, no rain o
long duration follows" The rainboy
is proof that the rain is partial an
that the sun of Gods mercy is shir
;np If lights up what had lust bee