Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

whale."shish."shown."promise."always."Lesson Helps for the Week of October 23, 1955C.Y.P.U. TOPICfor October 23, 1955JONAH, RELUCTANT MISSIONARYComments by Rev. Theodore F. HarshName: JonahPersonnel File CardFather's Name: AmittaiAddress: Gath-hcpher,north of Nazarethabout four milesOccupation: Popular prophet of IsraelOther Activity: Traveling evangelistRemarks: "The truth which we find inthe book of Jonah is as full a revelationof God's will as prophecy anywhereachieves. That God has granted to theGentiles also repentance unto life is nowhere else in the Old Testament sovividly illustrated."G. A. SmithI. Disobedience: Running Away fromGod Jonah 1:1-17There has been a great deal of laughter about how "Jonah swallowed theThis is a tragedy because suchinterpretation hides the rich treasuresof God's truth that are to be found inthe account of this prophet's unusualexperiences.Jonah was not a funny little man,afraid of his own shadow and runningbecause he was scared. He was not acoward, but a willful, strong, impulsiveprophet who felt he could not afford tolet God make a mistake.Jonah enjoyed predicting great thingsfor Israel under Jereboam II (2 Kings14:25). But when God said, "Go, preachto Nineveh, because their wickedness isgoing to bring about their downfall unwarned,"less they are Jonah said, "Sothey will be destroyed? They are ourancient enemies. They deserve all theywill get. Who needs to warn them?"God certainly must be making a mistake, he reasoned, to think of sendinga warning to such a people. And ratherthan stay at home and disobey God,Jonah sought to go beyond the range ofGod's voice. Is there any place that isout of earshot of God? Here is a goodplace to sing from the 39th Psalm, page341.II. Praying: Running to GodJonah 2:1-10Jonah's discovery that God is everywhere as expressed in the above Psalmseemed to be a dark cloud, but it wasmostly silver lining, for Jonah realizedOctober 5, 1955that God is never out of earshot to us.Jonah prayed to God and was heard.Is Jonah's prayer from the depth similarto your prayers in emergencies? In whatways? How does God's answer to Jonah's prayer compare to His answer toyours? How about singing from Psalm130, page 326?III. Obedience: RunningJonah 3:1-10with God-"So Jonah arose, and went . . . according to the word of the Lord." Jonah had had the vivid object lesson ofhis own redemption from the depths,and in chapter 3, he is pictured as operating in the true tradition of theprophet of the living God. He must havespoken to the people of Nineveh withgreat conviction because, in the powerof the Holy Spirit, Nineveh, from kingto commoner, repented and turned toGod. The impending judgment was removed. Jonah's campaign had been unusually successful. Now let us sing fromPsalm 40, page 103.TV. Complaints: Running Ahead ofGod Jonah 4:1-11To Jonah's way of thinking, the campaign was too successful. The resultsdidn't surprise him. He said, "See, Lord,that's what I mean. Warning those people gave them a chance to save theirworthless skins. I knew this would happen. That's way I tried to go to TarGod had yet another object lesson forJonah, who needed to learn that God'slove and concern for His children knowno boundary lines.Compare Jonah's experience with thegourd vine here and Peter's experienceas recorded in Acts 10:9-16. Could Acts11:18b be applied as the lesson of bothaccounts? In Psalm 67, page 160 or 161we sing the words that describe the aimof world missions, ".. . and unto everypeople Thy saving grace beParallel Readings: I. Running Awayfrom God. Peter's difficulty with thewill of God. Matthew 16:21-23; John 13:4-10. II. Running to God EffectivePrayerJames 5:16b. Peter's prayer inan emergency Matthew 14:25-31. Thebasic prayer Matthew 26:37-42. III.Running with God Obedience is not ashard as disobedience. Matthew 11 :28-30;Proverbs 13:15. Bought with a price ICor. 6:20. IV. Running Ahead of GodOther sheep John 10:16; Romans 10:12; Gal. 3:26-29; Col. 3:11.JUNIOR TOPICOctober 23, 1955Mrs. J. E. McElroyMorning Sun, Iowa.FINAL MESSAGE AND DEATH OFJOSHUAScripture : Joshua 23, 24Memory Verse: "Choose you this daywhom ye will serve;and my house,Joshua 24:15 (a and c)PsalmsPsalm 16:1-5, page 27. ..but as for mewe will serve theLord."Psalm 127:1-4, page 322Psalm 44:1-4, page 112Psalm 119:1-3, page 287Scripture References: Deuteronomy 31:28; Numbers 33:53; Deuteronomy 5:32;10; 20; Hebrews 10:38; Genesis 17:1Although Joshua and the children ofIsrael had not yet conquered all theland of Canaan, Joshua began to dividethe land. He gave to each tribe a piece,according to the size of the tribe. Atthat time the Israelites had everythingthat the heart could wish; they hadhouses to live in; rich vineyards; oliveorchards, many flocks and herds, goldand silver, brass and iron.There was one thing which Joshua didnot forget to do; that was, to place thetabernacle in Canaan. He set it up in themiddle of Canaan, at a place calledShiloh.Joshua was at this time a very oldman; he was about one hundred tenyears old. He knew that he must soondie and he wished to give to the peoplehis last words. So he called the eldersand rulers and judges of the tribes tomeet him at Shechem, which was in themiddle of the land and near his ownhome. He stood near a great oak treewhile he spoke. He said to the Israelites,"I am soon going to die. Whom will youworship after I am dead? Will you worship idols, or will you worship God whoyou?"has been so kind to The Israelites all said, "We will worship God."Then Joshua said,"If you choose toworship God, you must not worship idolstoo."serve God."Then they answered,"We will"Now,"said Joshua, "you have promised to serve God only. You must keepyourThen Joshua took a book and wrotedown what the people had said. Afterward he took a great stone, and put itunder the oak, and said, "See thisstone; I have put it here to help youremember your promiseHe then sent the people away to their217