The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-02-06

covenant between me and the earth."-
Gen s.iS
I I. Verses ali. At the conclusion 81
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.i5, l6l to go FORTH" but he
did not 40 empty handed. Noah had
taken his all In the ark and u proved
TO be- a most profitable investment
Though shut up $50 days (7:2D. 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 recollection OF Gods
awful wrath What a trembling least
there be n repetition OF this disaster.
And what an amazement in oontem.
plating the mighty work OF founding
new race.
Noah's Offering.
The first act on Noah's part upon
leaving the ark was 10 build an altar
unto God and to offer u burnt Offering
$500. Thus we see that Gods GOV.
enant with Noah was based upon the
ground OF shed blood (Ileb e:l522l.
and as such II was an acceptable Of.
fering. "a sweet smelling sacrifice"
/ (s:2D, because II was an expression
OF entire conservation TO God. Phil.
ais This offering is OF course. q
type OF Christ who In the Lamb slain
from the foundation OF the world" As
Noahs Offering. see sal. averted
rlghtful penalty. even so the Offering
OF Christ redeems us from the curse
OF sin which Is our just due. Gal 3:i3.
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 | Peter 3:20. 81.
A study OF covenants and OF coven.
ant making ceremonies IL always In
tensely interesting In the Biblical
meaning covenant Ia a compact or
agreement between two parties. IN
between God and man. (2l 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
III
OF eight great covenants. n the one
made in Eden. Gen las: (2D the
Adamic. Gen. 3l5: (3) this with
Noah. Gen. sal. %: 90 one with
Abraham, Gen IS: rs; 90 that with
Moses, Eek 1925. t6) one with the
Israelites. Deut. 1913: ca that with
David. 2 Sam. 7:l6 49, the new Gov
enant. Heb. SIS The main elements
OF this covenant are. ta the removal
OF the curse. s:2l: (b) the assurance
OF returning harvests and regular sea
son, s:22: (c) the promise Of an
abundant progeny. oil: (d) the domi-
nation OF animal life. 90; (e) provi.
sion for food. both flesh and herd. .:
3: ~ provision for sacrifice and wor.
ship. go. tg) the safety OF human
life. 9:5; (h) the administration OF
Justice. sc
Gods Promise.
Noah's life OF obedience before he
entered the ark had elected Gods
promise that he would establish .
covenant with him. see Eph SIS;
and 30 God today holds before all
men the promise Of q new and better
covenant into which they also may
enter II they will. Heb. SIS. God has
frequently used this covenant a. 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. l6. is. see also Ps 36:6. 6.
Jonah +:ll This Is a good thought
to emphasize with the younger pupils.
II Verses t2-t7. As though Je-
hovah would make assurance doubly
secure. he not only made a covenant
but appointed a token. a sign. OF that
covenant. whereby the covenant 10 to
be remembered. read Gen. l7:ll: Ex.
1919. ana: Matt. &c: 1928: !. Cor.
IL; 1926. We must beware OF read
ing into this passage any suggestion
that this Is the first appearance OF a
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 II a
token OF the covenant he had made
with Noah Whenever we behold
rainbow we ought to remember that
his covenant was not alone to Noah.
bu TO us. his seed
The rainbow was formed OF that
same rain which had produced the
food After the appearance OF an
entire rainbow. as a rule. no rain of
long duration follows" The rainbow
is proof that the rain Is partial and
that the sun OF Gods mercy 10 shin
ing, II lights up what had Just been
dark and fateful. Rainbows can be
seen In all parts OF the earth. so 10
his mercy all embracing A rainbow
10 beautiful and attractive. and 90 Ii
Jesus the chief among ten thousand
and the one altogether lovely. An
arch Is the strongest form Of ma
sonry construction