The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-21
UNIFORM SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
March %
March %
REV. JOSEPH L. WATTS. %. D..
supday school Secretary Baptist Mission Board)

'apttSt state Mission BO&rd)
and the elders that outlived Joshua,
but their children fell into the snare
which had been foretold If they should
disobey Jehovah. AS we have seen In
connection with previous lessons, the
sins which men commit bear fruit in
their descendants. even when the
evils of their way do not Immediately
show themselves. Thus the Israclites
made unholy compromises and alli-
ances with the heather which re-
manned among them. to the future
disadvantage of the nation.
There is a good deal In the doctrine
OF heredity, although heredity does
not fix any mans destiny. This is
seen in the fact that the 1sraelites had
been surrounded by idolatry in Egypt,
from which II took them a long time
to recover. As a matter of fact they
did not overcome the tendency to
idolatry until after their captivity in
Babylon, since which time they have
maintained the truth that there is bu.
one God. If we have come by certain
evil tendencies honestly as we fire.
duently hear IL said, then We need
much grace to overcome them, and
grace we may have. II will not do
to carry the doctrine of heredity too
far, for Gods grace is sufficient 10
overcome it.
A study of the failures OF Israel tc
overcome. drive out, and exterminate
| the Canaanitish tribes, will reveal the
| fact that they lacked the great essen
| tial to spiritual success, l. e. faith in
Jehovah. Even during the days OF
| Joshua, the people became fearful
| when they saw the chariots of the
| enemy, and their leader had to seek
for assurances on their account.
After the death OF Joshua the faith
! OF the rising generation was not as
| strong as that OF their fathers, and
that lack of faith led them to COM
promise the task which Jehovah had
| set for them. Had they trusted in
| Jehovah, his mighty arm would have
been made bare to give them the fun
| inheritance promised to their fathers.
Faith Ia the victory that overcomes
the world
| Let us imagine a Hebrew family,
| settled among heather neighbors, ana
busily engaged in simple Agricultural
pursuits Suppose now that this He
brew family should have two success
sive seasons of a poor crop OF grapes
! while not far away heather famiiy
should have at the same time good
crops. 1t would be perfectly natural
for the neighbor to say: All, your
crops have failed because you ofer "a
no sacrifices to the Baal of this land
Ofer sacrifices next year and he VIII
give yaon your desire Your God. Je-
hovah, who is your Baal cannot give
! you good crops, because he Is not the
Raal OF this land That would put
the Hebrews loyalty to Jehovah to a
sore test He would need faith ana
devotion to stand. Many did thus
stand the test, but Some went down
| under II into idolatry."
/ Jehovah never intended that his
chosen people should undertake 20
live side by side with the heather.
| That they did so, was to their own un-
doing. Evil companionships corrupt
good morals"
Tho apostles were thrown into
prison for preaching the Gospel o.
Christ but the angel OF the Lord
! opened the prison doors and brought
them forth, and commanded them to
go stand In the temple and speak to
the people the words OF life. When
they were brought before the council
again the high priest asked them
Did we not straitly command you
that We should not teach in this
name" Peters answer. I'VE ought
TO obey God rather than men,, has
! come down to us as a pattern Of how
we should act when II Is question Q.
disobcying God or compromising with
evil doors. Peter was prepared &c
suffer, but rot to dishonor Jesus
Christ.
Christians are In the world, bu:
they are not to be OF the world-gov-
erned by its maxims and habits. The
-. 49, ~
world and the church Ia not as clearly
drawn as 1t should be. The apostle
! spoke for our times as well az fol-
olden times. when he wrote: BE ye
not conformed to this world. but be
We transformed by the renewing 81
your mind. that We may prove what Is
the good, and acceptable and perfect
will Of Cod
As the children OF Israel were tc
exterminate the heather tribes OF the
land OF Canaan. so Christians are ad-
monished to mortify their members
which are upon the carth--such as
covetouspess. passion, uncleanncss
Failing TO do this, not burning the
bridges behind, opens the way for
being overcome by sudden temptation
and thus bringing dishonor upon the
name Of our Lord.
Questions for Discussion.
/. Why Jehovah Commanded the
Destruction OF the Canaanites.
2. What OF the natural tendencies
OF Israel toward idolatry7
3. Why the Israelities did not over
come the CanAanites?
4. Gods demand for Fidelity.
3. The Danger Of Evil Companions
s. Suffering versus Compromise.
Practical bearing OF todAy'u les.
>. son on woridifness Of Christians
Railroads Mack - Owners.
| Washington. March ls.--Return oil
J the railroads to their private owners
about July I. 1920. will be proposed In