Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

Lesson Helps for the Week of September 4, 1955O. Y. P. U. TOPICFor September 4, 1955"Lessons from the campfires"Scripture: Phil. 4:4-8As the topic suggests, this is a meeting which will need to be informal. Refer to the C.Y.P.U. Yearbook, whichsuggests making a "campfire" with theuse of a few sticks and a lighted redbulb, or a light bulb with red cellophaneover it. This will help to produce theatmosphere.Use the psalms that were used incamp, let each repeat memory versesthat come to mind from the experiences of camp.Let each share with the others someof the real experiences of camp. Someone may wish to tell of the most impressive campfire of the week, and why.The Scripture suggests blessing thatmayhave been received in those experiences. V. 4was there cause for rejoicing in The Lord? V.5 Is it easierto show moderation (forbearance, gentleness) to all, than it was in the past?V.6 Has your faith in God through theresults of answered prayer, been increased? V.7Do you realize the peaceof God who is able to guard your heartsand thoughts? Does V.8seem to bemore important to me now than beforeCamp?Pray for each other, for the newfriends of camp, that these experiencesin Christ may live on in the lives of allconcerned, to the honor of Christ andHis Crown and Covenant.JUNIOR TOPICSeptember 4, 1955THE SCARLET THREAD IN THEHOUSE ON THE WALLElizabeth Henderson, Newburgh, N. IT.Psalms:Scripture Text: Joshua 2Memory Psalm for September: Psalm147:1-3, page 354Psalm 18:24, 27, page 33Psalm 34:6-9, page 82Psalm 34:1-5, page 81Memory verse: Hebrews 2:4; "God alsobare witness with them, both by signsand wonders and by manifold powersand by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will."In the Bible we find that a number oftimes God has given signs to assure thepeople of His presence and protection.These signs were always accompaniedby a promise and the people had a partAugust 17, 1955in the promise too. They must keeptheir part or they could not expect Godto keep His.After the flood God gave Noah thesign of the rainbow in the sky and madea covenant with him that He would never again destroy the earth by flood.When the children of Israel wereslaves in Egypt many plagues or trialscame to the Egyptians because theywere mistreating the children of Israel.One of these plagues was that the oldestchild in each Egyptian home should die.In order that the children of the Israelite homes would not die, blood was tobe placed on the doorposts. This wasthe sign that the angel of death was topass over that house.In this week's lesson we have the signof the scarlet (red) cord in Rahab'swindow.On their journey to the land of Canaan the children of Israel had had toconquer manyenemies and overthrowmany cities with God's help. As long asthey obeyed God's directions everythingwas all right. Now they were coming tothe cityof Jericho and God had toldJoshua their leader just how they musttake the city and that theystroy everything in the city.must deJoshua sent two men ahead to Jerichoas spies to view the cityand find outthe best way of attacking it. These menwent to the home of Rahab who wascalled a harlot. This means a womanwho had not lived a very good life upto this time. The Bible does not approve her life before this but gives hercredit for later improving her life.Rahab had heard much about thechildren of Israel and how God had beenwith them and led them and protectedthem. She told the spies that the people of Jericho knew about them andwere afraid because of all the citiesthey had destroyed.Men of Jericho had seen the spiesgoinginto Rahab's home and went toget them but Rahab had hidden themunder a heap of flax on the roof. Shetold the men that spies had been therebut they had left and she did not knowwhere they had gone.After the men of Jericho had left,Rahab went up to the spies on the roofand told them what had happened. Shesaid she knew God had given the children of Israel the city and begged themto deal kindly with her and her familywhen they came to take the city, because she had been kind to them.Then she let them down over the sidethemof the wall by a scarlet thread and toldto flee to the mountains and hidefor three days before going back to theirleader. They did this but first theymade Rahab promise that she wouldgather all of her family into her homeand that theywould stay right thereuntil after the city was taken. If anyone left the house the spies would notbe responsible for that person. Rahabwas to place the scarlet thread in herwindow as a sign that that house andthe people in it were not to be destroyed. Rahab was not to tell any oneabout the plan for if she did the agreement would be void and the men ofIsrael would not keep their promise.The men of Israel went back toJoshua and told him all that had happened and that they believed that Godhad truly delivered the city and itspeople into their hand.When the city was taken both Rahaband the spies kept their promise andRahab was later married to an Israelite.She became an ancestor of Jesus and ismentioned as a heroine of faith in Hebrews Chapter 11.SABBATH SCHOOL LESSONSeptember 4, 1955(Lessons baaed on international Sunday SchoolLessons; the International Bible Lessons forChristian Teaching, copyrighted by the Inter.national Council of Religions Education.)Rev. W. J. McBurney.WORSHIP REVTVED IN JERUSALEMEzra 3-6; Haggai; Zech. 1:1-6; 4:10PRINTED TEXT: Ezra 3:1, 3, 6b, 7, 10,11; Haggai 1:7-9, 14; Zech. 4:6-8MEMORY VERSE :"Not by might, norby power, but by my Spirit,Lord of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6saith theDuring their stay in Babylon, theJews had been completely cured of theirprevailing sin of idolatry. To this day,they have not worshiped images. Theremust have been many of them, who likeDaniel, worshiped the Lord during theirstay in Babylon. Under the decree ofCyrus, they were allowed to choosewhether they would return to Jerusalem, or stay in Babylon. They hadbeen permitted to build homes and gainpossessions in Babylon; some at least,were in comfortable circumstances financially, as is evident from the goodsand chattels they carried back to Jerusalem. It was so different from the waythey went out from Egypt. A few ofthem remembered the land from whichthey had come, and the younger generations had been taught to love the Landof Promise. Theycame back with a107