The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-03-12
SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES
Side Lights On Next Sundays
losson fer Teachers and Pupils
Edited by Charles X. Meyers.

XudA vi "" AC S1llCS VI lSCluSC
Joshua 20.
There may be a thought in the
minds of some that there is not mucl
in the Old Testament which is of vita
value toward christian living at thi:
day. while there are a host of chap
tiers which are of not so much value
Z as the precious ones of the New Tesla
ment, yet one can not afford to get il
an attitude of Indifference to the ole
bible and pin their reading to the
norton written after the birth Of
Jesus. We have fine illustration OF
this in the verses of the lesson for to
day.
It is clear that God in His dealings
with men took into account their in
bred ideas, customs and surroundings
There is evidence that new thoughts,
new laws. were set forth in such a
way as to gradually lead to the bet.
terment of society. This appears in
the laws given to Moses for the di-
rection OF the Children of Israel. Two
great illustrations will here be noted.
In the early days of the history OF
these people, as we'll as SINCE, there
were those who were able to advance
financially over others. 1t was the
custom that the debtor and his fam.
lily could be sold into slavery for debt,
also his property taken away. God
therefore set forth a way to soften the
consequences of debt and the privileg.
es OF the creditor. There was provis.
ion made for certain years of jubilee"
at which times all debtors were to be
forgiven their debts and receive back
their liberty and their property.
Today we have strong evidence
Of an attempt by God to temper with
mercy the conduct of men when deal
ing with persons who had killed 9th
ers. With unenlightened people it is
the custom even to this day to avenge
death by the killing of the one who
did the deed, and this without consid-
GRAFTON of the circumstances of the
case and whether the killing was de-
aiberate or accidental. The next OF
kim was charged with the duty of
being the avenger of the death and
was expected to pursue his victim to
the death. To call halt on killing
the slayer without trial it will be
found that the law Of God as commun-
1cated to Moses and Joshua set forth
that certain cities Of refuge were to
he, chosen at convenient places in the
land and to these, might fly the per-
son who had by accident and not de.
sign killed a fellow.
Arrived at a city of refuge the one
asking protection must state his case
to the chief men. Later the facts
must be set forth before the "congre-
cation for Judgment" If it was found
that q premeditated murder had been
there is no record that the
city would continue to shield the muir
derer. II he was to stay he must keep
within the city until the death of the
high priest and then he might return
to his native city It will be seen
that the right of trial by impartial
persons was here set forth. One of
the great safeguards of the life and
liberties of the Anglo-Saxon races, the
trial by jury, was set forth in the reg
lflations connected with the cities of
refuge.
The discussions as to this lesson
will readily bring to mind the SUBJ
ject of treatment of crime and prison
reforms generally. This is a most
fruitful subject to consider. There
has been great progress salong this
line. Even in England it is not so
many years ago that there were fully
Two hundred crimes for which the con-
victed one could be deprived of life.
Some of these were but trivial offens-
IS and to reform this state of things,
here were uprisings of the people and
strong work by men of better vision
han their fellows. In this country |
here are some states in which the
leath penalty can not be given. One
il the great problems Of the day is |
he manner of treating prisoners in |
he jails and penitentiaries. In some, |
humane rules prevail, and good sys-
ems Of putting on their feet again |
,pys who are discharged. 1t is only |
N lands where the bible is respected |
nat prison reforms are made. The |
of the cities of refuge
mt shows the mercies of God and His
willingness to provide pardon and
efuge for unfortunate ones. Thanks
De5 to Him that we live in land where
he bible is the inspiration for the
avs OF the country, and influences
,ublic opinion.
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