Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1926-11-18
Lesson for November II
JOSHUA RENEWING THE COVE.
NANT

PRIMARY TOPIC - The lsraelites
Make a Promise
JUNIOR ToPIC-The Covenant at
Sheehem.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Taking a Stand for God.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC--The Value Of Covenants.
!. Joshua Rehearsing the History
Of the Nation wv. 1-13).
This was his farewell address, the
last message to the people. He began
with Abraham's breaking with his re-
ligion, homeland, relatives and friends,
at the command of God, and traced
their history in Egypt, their deliver
ance at the hands of Moses and Aaron
through the wilderness journey. and
showed Gods providential dealing in
the crossing of the Jordan at flood tide,
and their marvellous blessings now in
the land solely by the favor Of God
II. Tho People Elect the Lord as
Their God (vv. 1924.
Joshua knew that the people were
liable to lapse into idolatry, therefore
he reviewed before them the history
of Gods goodness to them, and APP
pealed to their sober choice as to
whether they were going to remain
faithful to him.
/. He appealed to them for ra-
tional consideration and judgment ~.
15).
He placed before them four candi-
dates upon which they could vote ac-
cording to their relative merits.
Q) The Lord.
(2) The gods worshiped by their
ancestors in Chaldea
90 The Egyptian gods.
~ The gods of the Amorites.
Having placed before them these
candidates, he urged them to make a
rational choice.
2. His own example in the matter
". 15).
He followed his appeal with his own
example. He told them that his mind
was already made up. He associated
his household with himself. He knew
just where they would stand. His de-
cision was not basty one. 1t had
been talked over at home. therefore
he voiced the united sentiment of his
family.
8. The response of the people wv.
1919.
Joshua's earnest appeal, accompa-
MED by his own example had its de-
sired effect. When they calmly con-
sidered the claims of the Lord as
against the other gods, they saw the
overwhelming evidence in favor of the
God Of their fathers.
They assigned the following reasons
for their choice:
a. The Lord brought us out of
Egypt ". ~.
(2) He did great signs in our sight
". 17).
(3) He preserved us In all the way
we went ". 1O.
people ". 18).
1t would have been very foolish, not
to say criminal, after they had expe-
rienced all this at His hands to have
turned Him down.
4. Joshua reminds them of who
God is ". 1917.
Wishing them to think more seri-
ously and deeply upon the matter,
Joshua drew somewhat dark picture
Of Gods attributes which were most
unattractive to them.
az He showed them that God is q
Holy God
(2) That He is a Jealous God He
could not therefore tolerate rival.
(3) That He will not forgive
He did not mean by this that He
was an unforgiving God, but that His
nature was such that unless they fol-
lowed Him fully, He would become the
means of their destruction.
5. Joshua demands sincerity on
their part wv. 20-23).
He wished to have practical proof
OF their profession He no doubt knew
full well that some had idols yet in
their possession.
6. The peoples position ". 24).
They cannot avoid their determine
ton to serve God and obey His voice.
M. Tho People Enter Into SOL
emn Covenant wv. 25-2S).
This is the clinching transaction of
the meeting at Shechem They en-
tered into a formal covenant. Joshua
wrote down their agreement in book
where it would remain a permanent
witness against them. AS further
help, he took large stone and set it
up as witness. These would serve
as barriers against their lapsing again
into idolatry.
\ new code for bringing up chill
dren says TO get them but one toy at
| time, COOL rule also for more than
one class OF adults.
great many American girls are
studying music abroad. In the mean