The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-03-07
nfPRovED UNRo2M INTERNATIONAL
SUNDNSQ1C0L
LESSON
By Rev. P. B. FITZWATER, d. d.
Teacher Of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute Of Chicago.)
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Unfon.)
LESSON FOR MARCH 8
JOSHUA, PATRIOT AND LEADER.

LESSON TEXT-Joshua 1:1-s.
GOLDEN TEXT-Be strong and Of Q
good courage.-Joshua 1:9.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL - Joshua
1:10-3:17; 6:13-15.
PRIMARY TOPIC-A story Of a brave
leader. Memory Verse-Joshua 1:6.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Follow the right lead
or. Memory Verse-Deut IT, g.
INTERMEDIARY TOPIC-When to bs
brave.
The book of Joshua is history Of
the conquest of the promised land and
its apportionment among the tribes
OF Israel. It takes its name from Its
principal haracter-JoShua. During
the wilderness journey he was Moses
minister, and captain Of his army.
When Moses was denied the privilege
of going over the Jordan, Joshua was
appointed to the leadership Of Israel.
Being so long faithful as servant.
he is now qualified to rule. Only
those who have themselves learned to
obey are fit to rule. Moses, the repre-
sentative Of the law, brought Israel to
the borders of Canaan. Joshua was
the man chosen to lead the people into
the place Of rest. The name Joshua"
has the same derivation as the nams
Jesus" The law (Moses) was our
schoolmaster to bring us to Christi
but Christ (our Joshua) has given us
victory and rest.
|. Joshua's Call (1:1,2).
Moses, Gods servant, is dead, but
Gods work must 60 on. He continues
his work by calling others to take 1t
up, though he buries his workers.
Joshua, no doubt, was sorrowful over
the loss of his master, but there Is no
time for mourning. The best way to
cure our griefs and sorrows is to take
up courageously the burdens and re.
sponsibilities which our leaders have
laid down.
II. God Renews His Promise of the
Land to Israel (1:3, ~.
The promise had been made to
Abraham, and renewed to Isaac,
Jacob and Moses. It is now renewed
to Israel when they are about to en-
ter upon its possession. The borders
Of the land were. quite large ". A.
from the wilderness and this Leb-
anon, even unto the great river, the
river Euphrates, all the land Of the
Hittites, and unto the great sea to-
ward the going down Of the sua, shall
be your coast" The nearest 1t was
ever possessed was during the reigns
of David and Solomon, though not then
fully realized. This country still be-
longs to the Jews, and in Gods own
time they shall possess 1t. Their get
ting possession Of this land was due
entirely to themselves. God promised
them, that wherever their feet set
upon the land it was theirs. II they
failed to secure possession 1t was be-
cause they failed to claim it. We
would all enjoy larger blessings If
we would claim them.
III. Gods Presence Promised to
Joshua Q:5).
Joshua was entering upon q peril
GUS and difficult enterprise, but the
Lord said as he was with Moses so
would he be with him. The difficult.
ties before him were:
1. The Jordan river ". p. 1t was
now at its food (3:15), making 1t i'm
possible for armies to cross.
2. In the land the people were liv.
ing in walled cities. Notwithstanding
this, Gods help insured success. O
II will not fail thee nor forsake thee"
(2) There shall not any man be able
to stand before thee" (3) "As I
was with Moses, 80 I will be with
thee"
w. Conditions of Blessings In tho
Land Il :6-9).
1. "Be strong and Of good courage"
". g.. His mission was to 60 in and
divide the land among the tribes for
an Inheritance. God could not bless
him if he should play the coward.
2. Unwavering obedience to the
word of God ". y. In a land Of
idolatry it requires much courage to
obey the true God. The prosperity
and good success was conditioned
upon answering obedience to Gods
commands. In all his work he must
conform his life to the law of God.
To pass from the path outlined there
in would bring disaster and ruin. In
order to accomplish this the law Of
the Lord must constantly be in his
mouth. He was to mediate therein
day and night. If we are to prosper
In our Christian experience there
must be that regular and reverent
study of Gods Word. Joshua rem
ders prompt obedience. He did not
stop to cavil, but at once gave orders
for the march, God made the plan
and gave the directions. His respOn.
sibility was to 60 forward without
doubling, taking possession Of the in