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12 THE CHRISTIAN NATION. Vol, 69.
an invasion of tbe prerogatives ot
Christ. Her views of tbe application
Of this principle lead ber to 'confine
ber praise service to singing, with the
utmost simplicity, the inspired
psalter; and her form of government
to such officers and courts as are
plainly designated in the Holy Scriptures.
4. Believing tbat Jesus Christ is
tbe only Mediator between God and
man, and tbat "no man cometh to tbe
Father but through Him," the members
of this Church refuse membership
in any society or brotherhood
wbicb maintains a system of worsbip,
but refuses to allow its prayers
to be offered in the name of
Christ.
5. Naturally, tbe Covenanters are
firm believers in tbe supernatural inspiration
of the Bible, and in ibe
Deity and divine mission of Jesus, tbe
Saviour of men. Such beliefs and
such practices as characterize this
people could never bave sprung from
a merely naturalistic religion. They
have always insisted upon a highly
educated ministry, but not one ot
their ministers is infected with tbe
New Theology . or with destructive
methods of sacred criticism. No one
professing these subversive views
could be received into or retained in
their ministry.
6. The Covenanters are specially
devoted to the cause ot Foreign Missions.
Though comparatively few in
number, they sustain effective missions
in Syria and Asia Minor, on tbe
island of Cyprus and in China. Their
contributions for Foreign Missions
average more than three dollars
for each communicant, an average
higher, it is believed, tban is
found in any other American Churcb.
In this country tbey sustain Missions
among tbe Freedmen and tbe
Indians, and a Mission to the Jews.
They are in earnest sym'pathy witb
all true evangelistic work, and a
Board to stimulate and guide such
work bas just been created by their
Synod.
7. The Covenanters, by tbeir
Covenant, which was entered into in
In the Sabbath School
1871, engaged themselves to maintain
Lesson Christian XIL fellowship December witb all 21, evangelical
BY Churches; THE REV. to W. cultivate A. AIKIN. a holy selves. They played their part well.
1913. lations between Israel and them­
friendship with pious men of every In the banding together of the six
[As our last Synod determined not to
name, and to labor constantly to gather
into one, on the basis of truth and see the forces ot evil, although natur­
tribes to flght against Israel we can
use tbe "Cbristmas Lesson," the Committee
scriptural on order, Sabbath the Schools scattered directed and di­allvided following friends lesson ot truth to and be used righteous­
as a ing together to check tbe inv sion
at variance one to tbe otber, join­
the
substitute.]
ness.
wbich the church is making upon
tbem, and in the conduct of tbe Gibeonites,
we can see the subtle in­
ISRAEL'S LEAGUE WITH THE
'gIBEOXITES.—JOSHUA 9:3-21.
trigues ot tbe evil organization which
Golden Text.—Thou shalt not forswear
thyself, but shalt perform unto maintains its existence by forming an
seeks to preserve its own lite and
the Lord thine oaths.—ilatt. 5:33. alliance. How like the Gibeonites
Psalms.—15:1-5 C. M.; 25:7-12 S. clad in tbeir old garments seeking'
an alliance with Israel, are those secret
organizations that clothe them­
M.; liG:9-12. C. M. D.
Time.—Shortly atter the fall of selves in tbe claims of antiquity and
Jericho and tbe destruction ot Ai. B,
C. 1451.
Place.—Tbe camp at Gilgal and tbe
cities of Gibeonites not far from
Jerusalem.
ANALYSIS AND COMMENT.
The forming of a covenant bas been
properly called a "solemn engagement."
It is almost impossible to
fully realize or comprehend all that is
involved in a covenant at the time
when it is taken. A life time or a
thousand generations may be required
to unfold all of the blessings or
woes that are wrapped up in it. So
tbe experience of Israel in our lesson
is to be taken as a warning against
entering rashly into any covenant engagement.
I The Gibeonites' Deception, (v.
3-13)—"and when the inhabitants ol
Gibeon beard what Joshua had done
unto Jericho and to Ai, they did work
wiiily, and went and made as if they
had been ambassadors, and took old
sacks upon tbeir asses, and wine
bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
and old shoes and clouted upon tbeir
feet, and old garments upon tbem;
and all tbe bread of their provision
was dry and mouldy, and they went
to Joshua unto tbe camp at Gilgal,
and said unto him, and to tbe men ot
Israel, we be come from a far country;
now, therefore, make ye a
league with us," etc.
When the accursed thing was re­
with tbem, and made a league with
tbem, to let them live; and the
moved from Israel by the burning of princes ot the congregation sware
Achan and bis family who had confiscated
unto them." A firm alliance was thus
some of tbe booty of Jericho, formed. Every step was taken tbat
tbe forces of Israel were again able was necessary to make tbis league
to overcome their foes. The city of valid and binding. Israel gave her
Ai was taken and the king hanged to assent to it, swearing through ber
a tree. When it became evident that civil officers in the name ot the Lord
complete extermination was intended
tor the inhabitants of Canaan, all of
God. Any oath, such as the oath ot
our president, when Inducted into office,
the tribes on tbe west side ot
which does not call God to wit­
Jord'an, save tbe Gibeonites, banded ness and ask for bis sustaining grace,
themselves together for self preser­
is emasculated of its intrinsic lite
vation, to flght with Israel. Gibeon
resorted to strategy. Tbey prepared
ambassadors who feigned to be
from a far country. Everything
about their personal appearance and
tbe story which they told, represented
them as coming from a far country,
and all that they asked was a compact
ot "peace to establish friendly re­
and aslied not counsel at the mouth which they ought to destroy is to
of the Lord." Israel was presumptuous.
"pierce themselves through with
She leaned upon her own un­
many sorrows."
derstanding. She trusted simply in V. Israel's Regard for Her Oath.
her carnal wisdom. Her princes looked
(v. 17-21.).—"And all the congrega­
at the bread and clothes and shoes tion murmured against the princes.
of the Gibeonites and concluded that But all the princes said unto ail the
these men told a true story. Israel's congregation, We have sworn unto
example here has been often patterned
them by the Lord God ot Israel; now,
atter in the history of the therefore we may not touch them.
churcb. Tbe decision to enter into Let them live, but let them be hewers
of wood and drawers of water unto
all tbe congregation." Israel's conduct
bere is most commendable. She
bad sworn to her own burt, but sbe
covenant relationship witb secular institutions
has been based upon those
things wbicb appeal only to the natural
understanding. The matter is leit
to human expediency rather than divine
counsel. Tbe natural advantages
are considered, but tbe counsel ot tbe
Lord is not sought. Too often, it
prayor or inquiry into the Word is
made, it is only after decision is
really reached in the natural understanding
and action is already decided
on. So the seeking counsel of the
Lord is only a form and not a reality.
Believers may have direction from
God in all of tbe great issues of lite
if tbey will only sincerely inquire of
him. "In all thy ways acknowledge
bim and he shall direct thy paths."
III. The Formation ot a League,
(v. 15).—"And Joshua made peace
a.nd power. And any oath tbat is imposed
by any other than tbe civil or
ecclesiastical authorities is null and
void. Hence it is presumption for
ally organization, such as a secret society
which is not invested with
eitber civil or ec;lesiastical authority
to impose an oath, and it is not perjury
for any one who would come out
of tbe lodge to ignore the oath which
he should never bave taken.
IV. The Sorrowful Discovery, (v.
IG.).—"And it came to pass at the end
ot three days atter they had made a
league with tbem, tbat they heard
tbat tbey were neighbors, and
tbat tbey dwelt among tbem." Sad
awakenings usually follow illicit lelationsbips.
It a Nazerite marries a
Philistine he will soon awake to find
himself shorn ot his locks. The follower
ot Christ who joins himself to
an altar of Baal will sooner or later
discover that he has been treaclierously
deceived and has sworn to his
own hurt. God had said to Israel, "If
ye will not drive out the inhabitants
feign to be the friends ot the church. of tbe land from before you; then
Well may the churcb and every individual
member, when tbeir friend­
wbich remain ot tbem shall be
it shall come to pass, that those
ship is solicited by any carnal society
or institution, remember to "be your sides, and shall vex you in tbe
piicks in your eyes, and thorns in
wise as serpents."
land wherein ye dwell." Por the
II. Israel's Investigation (v.l4).— church or the individual believer to
'And the men took of their victuals. compromise with any form ot evil
did not change. Israel might have
said that since the Gibeonites bad
misrepresented their case to them,
tberefore they were not under obligation
to keep their promise. But they
did not. No doubt they now realized
tbat they might have sought counsel
and learned this of tbe Lord if
they had only asked counsel from
Him. So now their covenant engagement
could not be renounced at
their will.
It may be noted that the sparing of
the Gibeonites was not so much a
moral wrong as it was an inconvenience
and annoyance to Israel. If a
m.an flnds tbat he has sworn to something
tbat will cause him financial
loss, he must not go back on his
oath. But it be unwittingly bas
bound himself to commit an immoral
deed he is under obligation to renounce
bis oath and seek forgiveness
for having entered into any such
an engagement. Herod should not
have taken the head ot John the
Baptist, but sbould have confessed
his sin and sought forgiveness for
having given his oath to the daughter
of Herodias.
Lesson XIII. December 28, 1913
BY THE REV. W. A. AIKIN.
REVIEW.
Golden Text:—For God so loved the
world, that he gave bis only begotten
Son, tbat whosoever believeth in
him sbould not perish, but have everlasting
life.—John 3:16.
Psalms.—46:1-6. C. M.; 130:1-5. C.
M.; 121.
Time.—B. C. 1490-1451.
Places.—The Wilderness, Palestine,
the Jordan, Jericho, Ai and Gilgal.
REVIEW BY QUESTIONS.
Lesson I.—Moses' cry for help.—Num.
11:10-18, 24, 25.
What were the causes of Moses'
despondency?
How was Moses' burden lightened?
Wbat kind of a disposition did
Moses show in approving ot the
prophesying of Elad and Medad?
Lesson II.—Jealousy and envy punished.
Num. 12.
Wby did Miriam and Aaron envy
Mo.'jes?
How was Moses vindicated?
Wbat punishment befell Miriam for
ber envy?
Lesson III,—Tbe report ot tbe spies.
—Num. 13:1-3, 25-33.
Wbat led the cbildren ot Israel to
send out the spies?
Show tbe thoroughness of their in-