Middletown transcript., 1915-03-27

| GOLDEN TEXT-RighteOusness eIalC-
eth nation: but sin Is a reproach to any
| people-Prov H:34.
According to Professor Beecher the
extent Of the period we have been
studying during the last quarter Is
332 years, from the death of Joshua
B. c. 14S4 to the reign Of Saul, which
began B. C. 1902. Though other
chronologlsts may differ slightly, this
is approximately correct.
We may roughly divide this period
into the republic Of God and the king
dom of man. In the first section we
studied the period Of the Judges.
Barak, Gideon, Samson and Samuel;
one prophecies, Deborah; also the
priest Eli and his sons; Samuel and
Ahiah; and Ruth, who was an ances-
tress of our great high priest In
the second section we considered Saul
the king, and a prince, Jonathan,
Saul's SON. While the lessons may
thus be roughly divided, yet we feel
that a general review of the charac-
ters and the principal lesson to be
learned from each will perhaps be the
most profitable form Of review.
There are four things to be said
about each character and his relation
to the events occurring in Israel: ~
The people had departed from God;
there was disobedlence and a reli-
gious decline. (2) God permitted ON
the part of Israel's enemies oppression
that finally became unbearable. (3)
There was repentance on the part OF
the people and an appeal to God for
help. a. God raised up a Judge who
saved" the people and through this
Judge wonderful acts were performed
showing his power and the favor
which rested upon Israel The adult
classes can profitably discuss such
questions as, Why did the people so
easily forsake God?" why and how
did their repentance so quickly lead
to their deliverance?" How did God
help the people to return unto him?"
What were the methods and the priD-
ciples used in Gods punishment Of the
peoples sins?" WAS this form OF
government In vogue a failure!"
Coming to the second section, many
questions suggest themselves: What
advantages and opportunities did Saul.
the first king, have?" How did his
failure begln?" What was the es-
sential difference between the king
dom of Saul and the Republic Of God
under the Judges?" What are the
outstanding characteristics of Jona-
than's life and character7" What
great message for today do these
characters and these two forms OF
government have?" Doctor TOrrey
suggests profitable form of review,
viz, doctrinal review: IA The
teachings of the lessons Of the past
quarter about Jehovah and the Holy
Spirit; (2) The preview, types and
manifestations of the Lord Jesus;
(3) The teaching about sin and the
particular sins mentioned; and "a
The teachings about the word Of God
OF course to do all this, or to follow
any part Of these suggestions will. de-
mand that much work shall be as
signed in advance and that great care
shall be exercised to make any one
OF these lines connected and inter
esting whole. Above all, beware OF
attempting too mach lest the schol-
ars become confused. Better far to
emphasize one line and let 1t sink
deep than to spread over SO much ma
ter!al that no one single impression
will be lasting one.
If someone can be secured who is
moderately successful in using the
blackboard an interesting review can
be presented to younger scholars by
making a drawing presenting a hall
OF fame" with panels for Deborah,
Gideon, Ruth, Samuel and Jonathan.
Another drawing may, by comparison,
be termed the "rogues' gallery" and
may have in 1t panels for Samson, Eli.
ELS sons, and Saul. Then tell, as
simply as possible, the salient points
In the history Of each and show how
God approved or disapproved of their
lives; which were used, and which
set aside. Any school can have be-
fore it on a chart or a blackboard the
following:
The lessons. chief persons, chief
ldCIS are given IN orQer.
l. Joshua, Iraelites, judges; a great
patience. 2. Deborah, Barak. Sisera;
a great deliverance. 3. Gideon, Angel
OF Jehovah; a great call. 4. Gideon.
The Three Hundred; a great test.
B. Manoah, Samson; a great failure.
8. Naomi, Ruth, Orpha; a great re-
solve. T. Ell, Samuel, Jehovah; a
great vision. 8. Philistines, Israelites,
Ell; a great capture. 8. Samuel; a
great victory. 10. Samuel, Saul; a
great honor IL. Nahash, Saul; a
great rescue. IL. Jonathan, Armor-
bearer; a great hero.
With the aid of this chart II will
be easy to draw a word picture Of
the lessons of this quarter or to con-
duct an oral review 1t might be wise
to have read short account of, "The
girl who married an immigrant"
(Ruth); "A battle with lights and
pitchers" (Gideon); What a boy
heard at night" (SamueD; How a
youth helped" (Jonathan's armor-bear
err; Physically strong, morally
weak" (Samson); "A woman who
saved her people" (Deborah); How
the ark was lost" The story and
meaning of Ebenezer." It would
also be fruitful expenditure of time
to question the school upon the struc-
ture OF the Old Testament, its four d.
| visions, and the books of each division.