Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-12-30
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR JAN. 8
SECURED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE
BANNER FOR ITS MANY
READERS
ACCORDING TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Commentary Prepared IN An Inter-
esting Way by Rev. ID. NJ.
SteaIns


five studies In the book of Judges.
showing the failure of Israel. Gods in
tervention and mans faithlessness. Ev-
cry deiiverer whom God raised up was
in some sense suggestive of the great
Deliyerer. the Lord Jesus Christ. and
each one wrought in the power Of the
Holy Spirit Joshua tells of the en-
trance Of Israel into the promised land
and its subjugation and division among
the tribes, ending with Joshua's fare
well appeal To Israel TO fear the Lord
and serve Him in sincerity and in truth
and the determination Of the people so
grandeSt farewell words was when be
reminded the people that not one thing
had failed of all the good things which
the Lord had spoken (Josh. xiii. IA
See the same blessed testimony in
Kings, viii. 56, and let each one lay il
to heart for bis own special comfort.
The section assigned us for this days
lesson Is Il concise epitome OF the book
Of Judges, telling of Israers persistent
turning away from God and OF His
great patience with them David sum-
married. the record in these words
Many times did He deliver them. but
they provoked Him with their counsel
and were brought low for their lniqui
~. Nevertheless lie regarded their af-
tliction when He heard their cry" ops
evil As. "A: xviii. 3Sl. Paul summa.
rized Joshua and Judges I'm these words:
when He had destroyed seven nations
In the land of Canaan He divided their
land e. them by lot. And after that He
gave unto them judges about the space
of $50 years until Samuel the prophet"
(Acts xiii. 10. 20D
The first chapter Of Judges tells how
tribe after tribe had failed TO drive ont
the people of the land as they had been
commanded. and our lesson chapter
opens with the Lords reproof for this
sin, saying: "Ye have not obeyed my
voice. Why have We done thisf"
Verse -
Our lesson begins by telling us that
while Joshua lived and also during the
lifetime OF the elders that outlived
Joshua the people served the Lord
The Lord and even one man can lead
n host of people in the right direction.
Think of the worldwide testimony TO
the God of Daniel by the faithfuIness
of himself and his three friends. See
III Chron. xvi. .. and desire above all
things Il whole heart for Him.
The next lesson verses tell OF the
death and burial of Joshua. and these
three verses (1-9l are Identical with
Josh xiv. 1881. When the Spirit re-
peats words He thus asks special at
tention To them The words thai spe-
cially hold me are Joshua the servant
of the Lord" and The people served
the Lord" and make me wish 10 appro-
pirate more fully the beautiful heart
words Whose am and whom serve"
(Acts xvii, 23l. Joshua ends with the
burial Of two other bodies, those OF
Joseph after SO long Il time and Flea
gar, the son OF Aaron
Bodies are buried. but people 20 on
living better without them Gf redeem
ed until the time Of the resurrection
bodies. How pitiful to read OF "A gen
Grafton which knew not the Lord"
Verse 10), and they the descendants OF
people for whom the Lord wrought
"a He had never wrought for any other
nation! They forsook the Lord God
of their fathers, did evil in His sight
and worshiped the idols OF the nations
which should have been destroyed by
them, for the Lord had said, Thou
shalt make no covenant with them nor
shew mercy unto them. for thou
art an holy people unto the Lord thy
God, special people unto Him
self above all people that are upon the
face OF the earth" (Deut. vii, 2-6>
Such sowing brings sad reaping ac-
cording to lesson verses IL 10: chapter
iii, 5-S. -. IS, and records in chapters
following of similar turnings away
from God.
A very odd thumbs and toes story of
sowing and reaping is found In chapter
/, 6, T. The principle always stands,
Whatsoever a man soweth that shall
he also reap" Gal. vi, o. Nevertheless
the Lord raised up judges, who deliv-
cred them, for the Lord was with the
judge verses l6 Is; chapter ILL., 8. 15l.
We should think that the Lord would
grow weary of forgiving and delivering
people whom He knew would after
time commit the same sins again. but
He is the same Lord who told Peter
to forgive until seventy times seven.
or until the end OF Daniels seventy
sevens, which means the coming OF the
kingdom.
They would not hearken unto their
judges; they turned quickly out OF the
way; they ceased not from their own
doings nor from their stubborn way
verses II, 19). Long afterward it was
written of them. Their dolngs Will not
suffer them TO turn unto their God"
Q1os. V, 4, margim.
In the days Of their kings they mock
ed the messengers of God and despised
HE u,nr,Io apJ tYnfguga1 IIt. xronbots,