Arkansas State press., 1946-02-15
TRUE TO A GREAT HERITAGE

n
Council OF Religious Education, used by
permission.
TRUE TO A GREAT HERITAGE
LESSON TEXT: Deuteronomy Al. 81
40
MEMORY SELECTION: He hath
made his wonderful works TO be remem-
bered.-Psalm 1l1;4.
A goodly heritage is the gift OF
God to his people. BY faith they
must enter into 1t and possess It.
Thus they honor him who has prom
ised, and they witness to all the
earth that he is a great God and
loving heavenly Father. 1t magnifies
his name to believe on his word and
to act on his promises.
Israel. having failed God and
plunged themselves into years Of
wandering by their unbelief when
they Just came up to the Promised
Land. were now ready to go over
uOl udI dil0 tdhC
A new generation had grown up,
and for their instruction Moses re-
hearsed the history Of the peo-
Pile, repeated the promises Of God.
and renewed their remembrance OF
his law. The book Of Deuteronomy
gives that second law actually
review of what had been given
before.
As they entered upon Gods rich
heritage for them they were admon-
ished to
/. Hearken to Gods Law ". u.
To hearken means more than to
hear and forget. It carries with It
the giving Of attention to what is
heard with the purpose of doing
something about it.
Gods law. his statutes and judg-
ments are for the good of his peo-
Pile. They are not designed to limit
their freedom. but to provide the
channels through which they shall
be most free to live and to accom-
plish that which Is good and noble
and useful.
Two things were assured to Israel
If they hearkened to the law Of God.
They would first of all live" This
does not mean only that they should
escape death, but that they might
enter into the fullness of life.
1.-THE Bible teaches that we are
free to choose between a high
grade of life or low grade, be-
tween life which involves fellow
ship with God or daily existence
which means nothing more than the
enjoyment Of animal comforts and
following our own willful ways"
Carl L. Douglass).
The second result Of obeying
Gods law would be their going into
and possessing the land which God
gave them. There is victory and
attainment. as well as blessed fell
lowship for the one who obeys God.
That is true today as it was in the
time Of Moses.
II. Remember Gods Love wv.
32-36).
The loving mercies Of God toward
his people had revealed his infinite
greatness and glory.
He revealed himself in the fire
and they might well have been con-
sumed by it-yet he graciously
spoke to them instead of destroy
ing them. They were to recall, too,
that he had done a mighty and won
derful thing in taking them out Of
the powerful hand Of Egypt and
them into people for his
name.
Sad Is the state Of the soul OF
the man who has lost his sense Of
the miraculous. To live in the midst
OF the constant demonstration Of
Gods power and his mercy. and TO
see and feel nothing but the COM
touch of humdrum daily
life, is to be blind and deaf-yes.
TO be dead spiritually.
Is he any less powerful today?
Certainly not! He is still the God
Of the miraculous and nowhere Is
that divine energy more evident
than in the spiritual life OF man.
The wonders Of God in creation
were rehearsed for Israel. They
learned of his care for his people.
But far more wonderful are the
works of God in the new creation
and his infinite care for his peo-
pie redeemed from a ruined race,
and r,ade inheritors Of eternal resi-
dence in the heavenly Canaan"
(Hight c. MOORE.
Ill. Depend on Gods Promise
wv. 37-40).
The Promised Land was before
them. but II was for them to 60 in
and possess 1t. There were warfare
and struggle ahead. mighty warlike
peoples TO overcome We're they
able for it? No, not in their own
strength
How were they to accomplish this
formidable task2 BY counting on
God, He had promised to drive out
the nations now holding the land.
He is a God not only in heaven,
but also on earth ". 800. The peo-
pie. who believe him may go for.
ward expecting miracles to hap
pen.
Obedience to Gods law brings