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Title: Captivating Bible Stories - For Young People Written in Simple Language
Author: Yonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
Language: English
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[Illustration: From Eden to Calvary]
CAPTIVATING
BIBLE STORIES
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
WRITTEN IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE
BEGINNING AT THE CREATION OF THE WORLD IT TAKES THE
READER THROUGH THE BIBLE IN FIFTY-TWO LESSONS,
EACH LESSON COMPRISING THREE READINGS FOR
EACH SABBATH OF THE YEAR, WHILE A SERIES
OF QUESTIONS WITH EACH READING HELP
TO IMPRESS UPON THE YOUNG MIND
THE TRUTHS OF THE HOLY BIBLE.
DESIGNED TO
PROMOTE GREATER INTEREST in the SACRED SCRIPTURES
AND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR TEACHINGS
INCLUDING
ALL THE IMPORTANT HISTORICAL EVENTS DESCRIBED
IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS
By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE
The Noted Author and Missionaries' Friend
EMBELLISHED WITH MORE THAN =200= SUPERB ENGRAVINGS
BY JULIUS SCHNORR VON KAROLSFELD OF SCENES
DESCRIBED IN THE BIBLE
ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS IN THE YEAR 1913, BY
GEO. W. BERTRON
THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS, AT WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A.
The Illustrations in this work being from original drawings and
protected by copyright, their reproduction in any form is unlawful, and
notice is hereby given that persons guilty of infringing the copyright
thereof will be prosecuted.
PREFACE.
THE great number of Bible story books that have been published show how
many attempts have been made to supply the want which has long been
felt of a work containing a carefully written story of the Scripture
narrative for young people.
In this great work which is written in simple language, the captivating
story of the Bible is told in a style that will cause it to be read
over and over again, and the thrilling truths and beautiful lessons it
contains will never be forgotten.
It takes the reader through the Bible in fifty-two lessons, each lesson
comprising three readings for each Sabbath of the year, while a series
of questions following each reading, help to impress upon the young
mind the truths of the Holy Scripture.
The work begins with the marvellous Story of the Creation, describing
the beauties of the Garden of Eden, and the awful disaster of the
flood; it relates the thrilling scenes in the life of Abraham and the
other Patriarchs, and furnishes a great panorama of the wonderful
events in the dawn of history.
This is followed by the delightful story of Joseph, who was sold by
his envious brethren and hurried away to Egypt, where he was adopted
into the king's family, and finally made ruler over that country. The
lessons of his life should be read by every boy and girl in the land.
He was one of the noblest characters spoken of in the Bible.
Next, we have a glimpse of Moses in his little life-boat, found and
cared for by a Royal Princess. We see him growing to the fullness of
manhood, becoming leader of his people, and finally breaking their
chains and bringing them out of captivity. He stands at the burning
bush; he opens a fountain in a rock; he goes up among the clouds of
Sinai and receives the tables of the law. This part of the Bible story
is full of instruction.
[Illustration: As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness]
Then grand old Joshua comes forth upon the scene, and the reader
follows him through his stormy conflicts and brilliant triumphs. Here,
too, is a graphic description of the magnificent achievements of
Gideon, telling what wonders he wrought and what valor he displayed.
Who has not been fascinated by the delightful story of Ruth? This
humble but charming woman was an ancestor of our Lord Jesus and all are
interested in the story of her life.
Every young person follows eagerly the thrilling account of King Saul
and King David. We see the strong, misguided yet mighty Saul, and also
the ruddy shepherd boy whose swift sling slew a giant. Then comes
Solomon in all his glory, and along in this part of the Old Testament
Story we see that grand man of the desert, Elijah, and follow him
through his startling experiences until, in a chariot of fire, he is
borne away through the clouds to heaven. We also read of that young
patriot Nehemiah, who left the splendors of a palace to rebuild the
shattered walls of Jerusalem. He accomplished wonders, teaching the
great lessons of devotion and energy.
[Illustration: Even so must the son of man be lifted up]
The Bible is a rich store-house of instruction and entertainment. How
captivating is the story of Queen Esther. She presents a striking
example of those great crises in which the scale has been turned by
the power and influence of woman. Other narratives come in thick
succession. The young are always interested in the story of Daniel. Why
should they not be? His strong and beautiful character has a peculiar
charm, and there are few names in history that shine so resplendently.
Let his brilliant record be studied by all, whether old or young.
How eagerly young people read the charming story of Bethlehem--the
story of the angelic choir; of the wondering shepherds who heard the
heavenly anthem of Peace and Good-Will; of the Holy Child laid in
the humble manger; of the burning star that lighted the wise men of
the East to the feet of the infant Prophet, Priest and King; and the
thrilling incidents connected with His life. It would not be possible
for human pen to depict more vividly those majestic events, at once
awful and fascinating, which form the closing chapter of our Lord's
life upon earth.
We venture, in conclusion, to hope this volume will be the means, with
God's blessing, of endearing to many young hearts "the sweet story of
old," making them to love from childhood that book which in after years
will truly be a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their path.
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
ADAM AND EVE DRIVEN OUT OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN 23
AFTER THE BANISHMENT FROM EDEN 24
SACRIFICE OF CAIN AND ABEL 25
RETURN OF THE DOVE WITH THE OLIVE BRANCH 27
NOAH AND HIS FAMILY LEAVING THE ARK 30
NOAH'S SACRIFICE AFTER THE FLOOD 30
ABRAM SEES THE PROMISED LAND 32
MELCHIZEDEK BLESSING ABRAM 33
ABRAHAM ENTERTAINS THREE ANGELS 35
LOT AND HIS FAMILY FLEEING FROM SODOM 37
ABRAHAM OFFERING ISAAC AS A SACRIFICE 39
ABRAHAM'S SERVANT MEETING REBEKAH AT THE WELL 40
REBEKAH SEES ISAAC COMING TO MEET HER 40
ISAAC BLESSING JACOB 44
JACOB'S VISION OF ANGELS 46
JACOB MEETING RACHEL 48
LABAN HIRING JACOB 48
JACOB'S DEPARTURE FOR CANAAN 49
JACOB AND THE ANGEL 50
THE MEETING OF JACOB AND ESAU 50
JOSEPH SOLD BY HIS BRETHREN 52
POURING OUT A DRINK OFFERING 56
JOSEPH INTERPRETING PHARAOH'S DREAM 58
JOSEPH PROCLAIMED RULER OVER EGYPT 60
JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BRETHREN 61
JOSEPH MEETING HIS FATHER 62
LEATHER BOTTLES 63
PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER FINDING MOSES 65
THE ISRAELITES MADE TO WORK HARD IN EGYPT 67
AARON'S ROD CHANGED TO A SERPENT 68
THE PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS 71
THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER 74
DEATH OF THE FIRST-BORN OF EGYPT 76
EGYPTIAN JUDGMENT SCENE 77
PHARAOH'S HOST DESTROYED IN THE RED SEA 79
AARON AND HUR HOLDING UP THE HANDS OF MOSES 82
KORAH AND HIS ASSOCIATES SWALLOWED UP 83
AARON'S ROD THAT BUDDED 85
THE HOLY PLACE 86
MOSES BRINGING WATER FROM THE ROCK 88
THE BRAZEN SERPENT 89
PRIEST--HIGH-PRIEST--LEVITE 91
BALAAM MET BY THE ANGEL OF THE LORD 94
HIGH-PRIEST WITH SIN OFFERING 98
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 100
MOSES RECEIVING THE TABLES OF THE LAW 101
MOSES DESTROYS THE TABLES OF THE LAW 103
ANCIENT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 105
MOSES BRINGING THE NEW TABLES OF THE LAW 107
THE SPIES RETURNING FROM CANAAN 109
TABLE OF SHEW BREAD--ARK--GOLDEN CANDLESTICK 110
MOSES GIVING HIS CHARGE TO JOSHUA 112
MOSES VIEWING THE PROMISED LAND 113
THE DEATH OF MOSES 113
CARRYING THE ARK OVER JORDAN 117
THE WALLS OF JERICHO 118
THE ANGEL APPEARING TO JOSHUA 119
FALLING OF THE WALLS OF JERICHO 120
JOSHUA CAPTURING THE CITY OF AI 121
JOSHUA COMMANDING THE SUN TO STAND STILL 121
DIVIDING THE LAND AMONG THE TRIBES 122
SOUTH-EAST VIEW OF THE TABERNACLE 123
SISERA SLAIN BY JAEL 125
GIDEON'S OFFERING BURNT BY FIRE FROM THE ROCK 127
GIDEON'S VICTORY OVER THE MIDIANITES 128
JEPHTHAH MEETING HIS DAUGHTER 129
SAMSON SLAYING A LION 129
YOUNG SAMUEL BROUGHT TO ELI 130
HANNAH'S PRAYER 131
GOD TELLS SAMUEL OF DESTRUCTION OF ELI'S HOUSE 134
THE DEATH OF ELI 136
SAMUEL ANOINTING SAUL 138
ANCIENT SHOES 140
RUTH AND NAOMI 141
RUTH GLEANING IN THE FIELD OF BOAZ 142
SAUL TEARING THE ROBE OF SAMUEL 144
DAVID ANOINTED BY SAMUEL 145
DAVID SLAYING GOLIATH 148
SAUL CASTING HIS JAVELIN AT DAVID 149
THE PARTING OF DAVID AND JONATHAN 150
DAVID AND ABIGAIL 150
THE DEATH OF SAUL 153
DAVID ANOINTED KING OVER ISRAEL 153
DAVID MOURNS THE DEATH OF HIS CHILD 155
SHIMEI CASTING STONES AT DAVID 156
THE DEATH OF ABSALOM 158
DAVID'S THREE MIGHTY MEN 160
SOLOMON ANOINTED KING 163
SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY 164
THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON 166
THE BUILDING OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE 167
THE QUEEN OF SHEBA VISITING SOLOMON 170
IDOLATRY OF SOLOMON 171
REVOLT OF THE TRIBES 172
ELIJAH FED BY THE RAVENS 177
THE WIDOW'S SON RESTORED TO LIFE 178
ELIJAH SLAYING THE PROPHETS OF BAAL 181
THE DEATH OF KING AHAB 186
ELIJAH TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN 187
THE SHUNAMITE'S SON RESTORED 189
JEZEBEL EATEN BY DOGS 197
A CITY CAPTURED AND THE INHABITANTS LED AWAY CAPTIVE 200
RABSHAKEH BEFORE SENNACHERIB 202
THE ANGEL SLAYING THE ASSYRIANS 204
THE BOOK OF THE LAW FOUND 206
AN ASSYRIAN KING 207
JERUSALEM BESIEGED AND PEOPLE TAKEN CAPTIVE 209
ASHTORETH 210
THE LORD COMMANDS JEREMIAH 212
TWO PAGES OF AN ANCIENT SCROLL OF SCRIPTURES 214
JEREMIAH MOURNING OVER JERUSALEM 224
THE BREASTPLATE 227
EZEKIEL'S VISION 229
DANIEL INTERPRETING THE WRITING ON THE WALL 238
RETURN OF THE JEWS FROM CAPTIVITY 241
BUILDING OF THE NEW TEMPLE 243
THE JEWISH CAPTIVES CONDUCTED BEFORE DARIUS 245
DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN 246
BABYLONIAN BRICK 247
QUEEN ESTHER CROWNED 250
TRIUMPH OF MORDECAI 251
NEHEMIAH ARMETH THE LABORERS 252
A SOLEMN FAST AND REPENTANCE OF THE PEOPLE 254
THE ANGEL APPEARS UNTO ZACHARIAS 256
THE ANGEL APPEARS UNTO MARY 256
THE PROPHECY OF ELIZABETH AND OF MARY 257
THE BIRTH OF JOHN 258
THE ANGEL ANNOUNCING THE BIRTH OF JESUS 259
THE BIRTH OF JESUS 260
THE BIRTH OF JESUS PROCLAIMED BY THE SHEPHERDS 261
THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN 264
JOSEPH COMMANDED TO FLEE INTO EGYPT 265
THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT 266
KILLING THE MALE CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OLD 267
JESUS TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE 268
JOHN THE BAPTIST PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS 271
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS 272
THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS 273
BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD 276
JESUS CALLING HIS DISCIPLES 277
THE MIRACLE IN CANA 278
JESUS TEACHES NICODEMUS 279
JESUS AND THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA 280
JESUS HEALS THE SICK OF THE PALSY 280
JESUS RAISES THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS 283
JESUS GIVES SIGHT TO THE TWO BLIND MEN 283
SERMON ON THE MOUNT 284
JESUS RAISES THE WIDOW'S SON 285
JESUS SLEEPS DURING THE STORM 285
SENDING FORTH THE TWELVE APOSTLES 286
DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST 287
JESUS FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND 288
JESUS SUPPORTS THE SINKING PETER 289
THE WELL OR FOUNTAIN AT NAZARETH 290
THE TRANSFIGURATION 292
THE GOOD SAMARITAN 293
JESUS AND THE SISTERS OF BETHANY 293
THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON 294
THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS THE BEGGAR 295
THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN 297
THE RAISING OF LAZARUS 297
MARY ANOINTS THE HEAD OF JESUS 299
CHRIST ENTERING JERUSALEM 300
JESUS DRIVES OUT THE MONEY-CHANGERS 302
JESUS WASHING HIS DISCIPLES' FEET 304
THE LAST SUPPER 305
JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE 306
JUDAS BETRAYS JESUS 309
CHRIST BEFORE CAIAPHAS 310
PETER DENYING JESUS 311
JESUS CROWNED WITH THORNS 313
CHRIST BEFORE PILATE 314
THE END OF JUDAS ISCARIOT 315
JESUS FALLS UNDER THE CROSS 317
THE CRUCIFIXION 318
THE BURIAL OF JESUS 320
AS IT BEGAN TO DAWN 321
THE RESURRECTION 322
THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB OF JESUS 322
MARY MAGDALENE AT THE SEPULCHRE 323
JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE 324
JESUS APPEARS TO TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES 326
THEN SAID JESUS UNTO THEM, BE NOT AFRAID 327
JESUS APPEARS TO HIS DISCIPLES AT THE SEA OF TIBERIAS 329
THE ASCENSION 331
TONGUES OF FIRE RESTING ON THE DISCIPLES 334
THE CHILD CHRIST, MARY HIS MOTHER AND JOSEPH 345
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT 361
FINDING THE LOST SHEEP 376
RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON 378
CHRIST BLESSING LITTLE CHILDREN 381
THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS 388
THE CRUCIFIXION 396
THE MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FISHES 399
CONTENTS.
FIRST SUNDAY.
CREATION OF THE WORLD 17
SECOND SUNDAY.
HOW SIN BEGAN AND THE FLOOD CAME 22
THIRD SUNDAY.
THE RAINBOW 29
FOURTH SUNDAY.
ABRAHAM AND LOT 36
FIFTH SUNDAY.
JACOB'S JOURNEY AND DREAM 43
SIXTH SUNDAY.
JOSEPH IN EGYPT 51
SEVENTH SUNDAY.
JOSEPH'S BROTHERS 57
EIGHTH SUNDAY.
THE CALL OF MOSES 64
NINTH SUNDAY.
THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT 70
TENTH SUNDAY.
THE PASSOVER 75
ELEVENTH SUNDAY.
THE GAINSAYING OF KORAH 81
TWELFTH SUNDAY.
ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS 87
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY.
BALAAM AND BALAK 93
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY.
THE GIVING OF THE LAW 99
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY.
THE GIVING OF THE LAW 106
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY.
THE DEATH OF MOSES 111
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY.
ISRAEL IN BATTLE 116
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY.
THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL 124
NINETEENTH SUNDAY.
SAMUEL 130
TWENTIETH SUNDAY.
KING SAUL 137
TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY.
THE REIGN OF SAUL 143
TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY.
KING DAVID REIGNING 152
TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY.
PREPARING FOR THE TEMPLE 159
TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY.
SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY 164
TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY.
SOLOMON'S FALL 169
TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY.
THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL 174
TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY.
ELIJAH AND AHAB 180
TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY.
ELIJAH AND ELISHA 185
TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY.
ELISHA'S MIRACLES 191
THIRTIETH SUNDAY.
THE RUIN OF AHAB'S HOUSE 196
THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY.
HEZEKIAH AND JOSIAH 201
THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY.
JEHOIAKIM'S CRUELTY 208
THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY.
JEREMIAH'S PROPHECIES 211
THIRTY-FOURTH SUNDAY.
THE TAKING OF JERUSALEM 217
THIRTY-FIFTH SUNDAY.
THE FALL OF JERUSALEM 222
THIRTY-SIXTH SUNDAY.
THE JEWS AT BABYLON 228
THIRTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY.
DANIEL AT BABYLON 233
THIRTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY.
THE RETURN FROM BABYLON 240
THIRTY-NINTH SUNDAY.
TROUBLES OF THE JEWS 248
FORTIETH SUNDAY.
THE COMING OF THE LORD 255
FORTY-FIRST SUNDAY.
THE CHILDHOOD OF OUR LORD 263
FORTY-SECOND SUNDAY.
THE PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY 270
FORTY-THIRD SUNDAY.
THE CALLING OF THE DISCIPLES 275
FORTY-FOURTH SUNDAY.
THE MINISTRY 282
FORTY-FIFTH SUNDAY.
WONDERS OF OUR LORD'S WORKING 291
FORTY-SIXTH SUNDAY.
GOING UP TO JERUSALEM 298
FORTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY.
THE EVENING OF THE BETRAYAL 303
FORTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY.
THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION 308
FORTY-NINTH SUNDAY.
THE CRUCIFIXION 316
FIFTIETH SUNDAY.
THE RESURRECTION 321
FIFTY-FIRST SUNDAY.
THE ASCENSION 327
FIFTY-SECOND SUNDAY.
THE WAITING TIME 333
THE NEW TESTAMENT STORY IN VERSE 337
[Illustration]
First Sunday.
_CREATION OF THE WORLD._
FIRST READING.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."--_Gen. 1:1._
IN the Bible we are told God made the earth we live on. Sunday is the
earth's birthday, for on the first day of the week the Creation began.
The world was one mass--dark, empty, and shapeless--till God made the
light by His Word, and saw the light was good. Without light we could
not live: even the very trees and flowers would die. When we have been
in the dark how glad we are to see light come back, even if it be only
one grey line beginning in the sky! This shows how blessed is this
gift. It was good, too, that we should have quiet dark night for rest
and stillness.
The second great change enclosed the earth in an outer ball of air,
which we call the sky or firmament. That is the deep blue into which
we look up and up. The mist and fog rise up from the earth and make
the clouds that take strange shapes, sometimes dark and full of rain
to water the earth, sometimes shining white, or pink and golden with
morning or evening light.
The third great change was, that water filled the deep hollows of the
earth, while the hills rose up dry above them, with rivers and streams
running down their slopes into the deep seas below. God did not leave
the land bare and stony: He clothed it with green fresh plants and
herbs, with leaves and flowers, and trees to give us their fruit and
wood, and filled even the sea with plants that can live under water.
THE EARTH GLADDENED BY THE SUN.
Next, God caused the rays of the sun to gladden the earth, and let it
see the moon lighted up by the sun, as well as the stars far beyond
our firmament. We count the months by the changes in the moon; and
our earth's journey around the sun marks our years and seasons. We
all rejoice in a bright sunny day, though the sun is too bright and
glorious for us to bear to gaze at him; and how lovely the moon looks,
either as a young crescent, or a beautiful full moon!
The waters began to be full of live things, that swam, or crept, or
flew: fishes, and birds, and insects. By that time this world was
nearly as we see it, and a beautiful home for us to live in. Then
God made the four-footed beasts--sheep and cows, horses, dogs, cats,
elephants, lions--all that we use or admire; and, last of all, when
He had made this earth a happy, healthy place, He planted the Garden
of Eden, and put in it the first man and woman, the best of all that
He had made; for though their bodies were of dust, like those of the
beasts, yet their souls came from the Breath of God. They could think,
speak, pray, and heed what is unseen as well as what is seen.
There are many many lessons to be learnt from this wonderful story. Let
us try to take home one of them. Let us ask our Father that the ground
below, the light above, the sky and sea, the sun and moon, the trees
and flowers, the birds and beasts, and His holy day of rest, may remind
us that they came from Him, and that we may be very thankful to Him for
having given us such good things.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who made the world? 2. Which Commandment tells you about God's
making the world? 3. What is there in the sky that God made? 4. What
is there on the earth? 5. What do you see around you that He made? 6.
Can we make birds, or beasts, or flowers? 7. Or could we make them
live? 8. Who makes them and us live? 9. Where does all our food come
from? 10. Who gave us corn? 11. What must we ask God to do for us? 12.
What must we thank Him for? 13. Do not you think it would be pleasant
to whisper to yourself, when you see a pretty flower, or a beautiful
sky, or when the sun shines bright and warm, "Thank God for being so
good to me"?
SECOND READING.
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living
soul."--_Genesis 2:7._
IN the Bible God tells us that He made the world, and everything in
it: land and water, and grass, flowers and trees, insects, birds and
beasts, and last of all He made the first man and woman. The man was
made by God out of the dust of the ground, and then God breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life, and gave him a living soul. And the
woman was made by God out of the man's side. They were called Adam and
Eve, and they were to be the first father and mother of everyone who
was to be born into the world.
The good God gave them a beautiful home. It was a garden, with a
clear river of water flowing through it, and all kinds of delicious
fruit-trees and beautiful flowers growing in it. Nothing could hurt
or vex them there. They did not know what pain was, they were never
tired, and all they had to do was to dress the garden and to keep it.
They had no faults, and never did wrong; and God Himself came near to
talk with them.
That was the way they lived, always good and always happy, whilst they
obeyed what God had told them. In the midst of the garden grew two
trees: one was the Tree of Life, and the other was the Tree of the
Knowledge of good and evil. God told them that if they ate the fruit
of this Tree of Knowledge they would die. We do not know what those
trees were like, but sometime or other I hope we shall see the Tree of
Life, for it is growing in heaven, close by the river that flows by the
Throne of God; and when we see it, and taste of its fruit, we shall
live for ever, and be happier than Adam and Eve were. We shall never be
as happy as they were while we are living in this world; but if we will
try to obey God, and live holy lives, He will take us to heaven, and
that will be still better than the Garden of Eden.
QUESTIONS.
1. What did God make? 2. Whom did he make? 3. What was the man made
of? 4. What was the woman made of? 5. What did God breathe into them?
6. What did He give them? 7. Why were they better than the beasts? 8.
What was the man's name? 9. What was the woman's name? 10. Of whom
were they the father and mother? 11. Where did they live? 12. What had
they to do there? 13. What grew there? 14. What were the two chief
trees that grew there? 15. Which were they not to touch? 16. Where is
the Tree of Life now? 17. When do we hope to see it? 18. What is a
still happier place than the Garden of Eden?
[Illustration]
THIRD READING.
"Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; and here shall thy proud
waves be stayed."--_Job 38:11._
WHAT glorious and wonderful things God has made! Did you ever see the
sea? There it is--a great vast space, all water, looking green near us,
but blue further off--always heaving up and down. The waves rise, and
then ripple along, and burst with a white edge of bubbles of foam.
A great space that had been left dry gets covered up with water again,
and where you were walking just now is quite deep water. What is this
called? The tide. Well, what will the tide do in proper time? Will it
come rolling in over the beach, and cover up the land? No; presently
each will turn. Each wave will be a little less high than the last,
till it will have gone back again and left the beach uncovered as
before. Why does the tide do this? It is because God so wonderfully
contrived this earth and sea, that the waters should rise and go back.
He made the sand the bound of the sea, and said, "Hitherto shalt thou
come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed." So,
you know, we sing in the Psalm every Sunday--
"The sea is His, and He made it:
His hands prepared the dry land."
QUESTIONS.
1. What curious thing does the sea do every day? 2. What do you call
the coming in and going back of the sea? 3. Why does the tide always
stop in its proper place? 4. What did God make the bound of the sea?
5. What did he say to it? 6. What verse praises God for making the sea?
Second Sunday.
_HOW SIN BEGAN AND THE FLOOD CAME._
FIRST READING.
"The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat."--_Gen. 3:13._
LAST Sunday you heard how God made the world, and put a man and woman
to live in it. The man was named Adam; the woman was named Eve. God
gave them a beautiful garden to live in, full of trees and flowers; and
they had no pain, no trouble, nothing to vex them. Only one thing God
told them: there was one tree whose fruit they must not eat. They might
eat the fruit of all the other trees, but not of that one. As long as
they obeyed, all was well and happy with them; but if they ate it they
would die. But a bad spirit came and took the shape of the serpent,
and talked to Eve. He told her a wicked lie--he told her that to eat
the fruit would make her wise, and would not make her die. And Eve
listened, and did eat. And she gave Adam, and he also ate; and so they
took the bad spirit for their master instead of the good God. Then God
was angry with them, and put them out of the garden, and let them be
weak and sickly, and die at last.
It was a sad thing for us. For if they had been good and obeyed God,
and not the bad spirit, it would have been easy for us to be good, and
we would not have the devil tempting us to do wrong: we would never
have known pain or sorrow. But God pitied Adam and Eve; and he promised
them that the Seed--that is, the Son--of the woman should bruise the
serpent's head, and set them and their children free.
[Illustration: ADAM AND EVE DRIVEN OUT OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN.--Gen.
3:23, 24.]
Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, set us free when He
died on the cross and rose again; and now we belong to Him, and not to
the bad spirit. Only we must try and ask Him to help us not to do what
is wrong, as Eve did, or we shall not keep free from the power of the
enemy.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was the first man? 2. Who was the first woman? 3. Where did God
put them? 4. What was the one thing they might not do? 5. What was to
happen if they ate of that fruit? 6. Who came and spoke to Eve? 7.
What shape did the bad spirit take? 8. What did he tell Eve? 9. What
did she do? 10. Whom did she make her master? 11. What was done to
punish her? 12. What sad things did the bad spirit bring on her? 13.
Who came to set us free from the bad spirit?
SECOND READING.
"And behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the
earth."--_Gen. 6:17._
THE Lesson this morning told the sad history of how Adam and Eve did
the very thing that God forbade; so that He drove them out of the
Garden of Eden, and sin and death came into the world.
[Illustration: AFTER THE BANISHMENT FROM EDEN.--Gen. 3:19.]
After that they had children. Some were good, but not so good as Adam
and Eve had been at first; and some were bad. And as time went on the
bad ones grew worse, and the good ones were tempted, and many of them
grew wicked too. And so all the world was getting wicked, and God saw
nothing but evil when He looked down on it. And He said that He would
destroy these wicked people, and wash away the evil from the earth by a
great flood. But there was one good man, whose name was Noah; and God
said He would save him.
He bade Noah build an Ark. It was to be a great ship, all made of wood,
and it took a great many years to build; and all that time people
laughed at Noah, for they would not believe that anything was going to
happen. Noah made the Ark, and stored it with food. And God sent him a
pair of all sorts of animals that were in the world, and he put them
into pens in the Ark. Then Noah and his wife, and his three sons, Shem,
Ham, and Japhet, and their wives, went into the Ark, and God shut them
in.
[Illustration: SACRIFICE OF CAIN AND ABEL.--Gen. 4;4, 5.]
Then it began to rain. It rained for forty days and forty nights
without stopping, and the rivers came out of their banks, and the sea
came upon the land, and the ground was covered up. Even the tops of
the highest hills were hidden, and everybody and every creature was
drowned--all but Noah and those that were with him. There was the Ark
all the time floating quite safe on the water. The storm could not
upset it nor the sea get into it, for God took care of it and all that
was in it.
The reason Noah was saved was because, first, he tried to be good, and
not do like the bad people round him; and next, because he believed
what God said to him, and went on making the Ark, even when he saw no
danger. If we wish God to save us, then we must take care that we do
just what we are told--not what seems pleasant now, but what is really
right.
QUESTIONS.
1. Do you know why Adam and Eve were driven out of the happy garden?
2. How did people go on after that? 3. How had sin come into the
world? 4. What did God say He must do to the world? 5. Why? 6. Who
was to be saved? 7. What was Noah to make? 8. What was the Ark like?
9. What were put in it? 10. Why were two of all creatures put into
the Ark? 11. What men and women were in it? 12. What were the names
of Noah's sons? 13. What happened when Noah was in the Ark? 14. How
long did it rain? 15. What was covered up? 16. What became of all the
people? 17. Who were safe? 18. Where was the Ark? 19. Who took care of
the Ark? 20. Why was Noah saved?
THIRD READING.
"So Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the
earth."--_Genesis 7:2._
IT must have been a sad sight for Noah and his wife and their sons,
as the rain went on and on, and the water grew deeper and deeper, and
everybody and everything was drowned. Then came a time when nothing was
to be seen but water. Wherever they looked all was sky and water; but
it had done raining, the sky was blue again, the sun shone by day, the
stars by night, and they must have been very glad.
And still the water got lower, till the Ark did not float about, but
stopped, resting on a peak of a mountain, a very high mountain, and a
few bare tops of other hills began to peep out. By-and-by, Noah opened
the window of the Ark and let out a raven. He never saw the raven
again, for a raven eats dead things, and there were so many dead
bodies floating about that it got plenty of food, and never came back
to the Ark that had saved it.
[Illustration: RETURN OF THE DOVE WITH THE OLIVE BRANCH.--Gen. 8:11.]
He waited a week, and then he let out a dove. Now doves like trees to
sit and nestle in, and they eat grains and seeds; so the poor dove
found no place to rest in, and flew back to the Ark; and Noah took her
back, and kept her a week, then let her fly again. She flew away but
still she came back to the Ark, and this time she brought in her beak a
sprig of olive branch.
It was the first green thing that Noah had seen for a year! Noah's
children have loved the olive leaf everywhere, and called it the sign
of peace and good news ever since.
For now Noah knew that the waters had gone down, and that trees must
be able to put forth leaves again. Once more, after another week, he
let out the dove, and she did not come back, for she had found a tree
where she could make her home, and seeds to eat; and then Noah knew the
sad time of the flood--a whole year--was over, and the earth had been
washed from all her stains.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was the Flood? 2. What was the Ark? 3. Who was in it? 4. What
had Noah with him in the Ark? 5. What became of everyone else? 6. Why?
7. Why was Noah saved? 8. How long did the Flood last? 9. What birds
did Noah send out of the Ark? 10. Which came back? 11. Why did not the
raven come back? 12. What did the dove bring? 13. What was Noah sure
of then? 14. What had the earth been washed from?
[Illustration]
Third Sunday.
_THE RAINBOW._
FIRST READING.
"I do set my Bow in the Cloud."--_Genesis 9:13._
THE sin that came into the world when Eve listened to the tempter had
grown as men multiplied and made each other worse. The wicked people
had been drowned in the Flood, and Noah, his sons and their wives, had
alone been saved in the Ark. After a whole year of being shut up there,
watching the earth, first drowned and then coming out of the water,
they had just come out on the fresh green earth, with all the animals
saved with them, when God spoke to them.
Then God made a promise to Noah. It was that no flood of water shall
ever drown all the world again, but spring, summer, autumn, and winter,
day and night, will go on to the end of the world, when it shall be
burnt up by fire, not drowned by water.
That Noah, and all of his after him, might feel sure that God in
His mercy will go on preserving us, and giving us days and nights,
seed-time and harvest, He gave us something to look at as a sign of His
promise. He so ordered the rays of light, that when they shine upon
drops of water in the air they cause beautiful colors, making part of
a circle, so as to form a bow. So when the sun shines on a cloud, as
it rains, the fair bright rainbow is seen, as a pledge to us of God's
merciful care and love to us.
[Illustration: NOAH AND HIS FAMILY LEAVING THE ARK.--Gen. 8:18, 19.]
[Illustration: NOAH'S SACRIFICE AFTER THE FLOOD.--Gen. 8:20.]
There is a rainbow round about the Throne of God in Heaven; and the
lovely rainbows that we see when the sun shines out, and the showers
drift away, are to put us in mind that we are safe under His care, in
right of His promise to Noah and his three sons, of whom the whole
earth was peopled. We are the children of his son Japhet, and all that
was then said to him belongs to us also. We should recollect it, and
put our trust in Him, and be thankful when we see the beautiful soft
arch that the Hands of the Almighty have bended, looking out of the
midst of the dark watery clouds.
QUESTIONS.
1. What beautiful sight do we sometimes see after a shower? 2. What is
a rainbow like? 3. Who put the rainbow in the cloud? 4. Who was the
man to whom God showed the rainbow? 5. What promise did God make Noah?
6. What had God just done to the wicked people? 7. Whom had he saved?
8. What did he say should always go on? 9. What did God put in the sky
to show that he will not send another Flood? 10. What are we to think
of when we see a rainbow? 11. Who takes care of us? 12. Where is there
a rainbow in Heaven above?
SECOND READING.
"In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."--_Genesis 12:3._
WHEN Noah's grandchildren and great-grandchildren came to be more and
more, and the world was being filled with people again, they still were
not all good, and the longer time went on the worse they grew.
At last God called to a very good man, whose name was Abram, and told
him that if he would come away from his home to a land God would show
him, then God would bless him and lead him, and by-and-by give the land
to his children, and that their children after them should be more in
number than the grains of sand on the sea-shore, or than the stars
in the sky: and that in his seed--that was, in a Son of his--all the
nations of the earth should be blessed.
It was strange to hear all this about Abram's children, for he was
growing old, and he and his wife Sarai had no children at all. But he
believed in God. He knew that God is Almighty, and can do whatever
He will; so he only did just as God told him, and went away from his
home, where God told him. He was obliged to take all his cattle with
him--quantities of cows, and goats, and sheep, and camels; and he had
many servants to drive them.
[Illustration: ABRAM SEES THE PROMISED LAND.--Gen. 12:3-7.]
When they came to a piece of grass and a fresh spring of water, there
they would stop. They had no houses--only tents, which were great
curtains woven of goat's hair and fastened up with poles, so that they
could be set up or taken down, and carried about. All his life Abram
lived in a tent, instead of staying at home in a city, and being at his
ease.
By-and-by he came to a beautiful country. There were high hills rising
up, and green valleys between, full of grass for the sheep and cattle;
and the wide sea spread out far away towards the sunset, all blue and
glorious. God told him to look at the land, for that was the place
which his children should have for their own; but in the meantime Abram
had not one bit of it, and was a stranger there; and he had no child
either.
[Illustration: MELCHIZEDEK BLESSING ABRAM.--Gen. 14:18, 19, 20.]
But still he was quite sure that God spoke truth; and that somehow,
though he did not know how, it would come about that his children
should have the land, and that in One all the nations of the earth
should be blessed. That was faith.
QUESTIONS.
1. What good man do you hear of to-day? 2. What did God tell Abram
to do? 3. What did God promise? 4. Who were to have the land? 5. Why
was it strange to hear of his children? 6. But did he believe it
would come true? 7. Why did he believe it? 8. How did he show that he
believed? 9. Where did he go? 10. What had he with him? 11. What did
he live in? 12. What is a tent like? 13. What sort of place did he
come to?
THIRD READING.
"Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between thee and me."--_Gen.
13:8._
TWO men were travelling together. They were an uncle and nephew. The
uncle's name was Abram, the nephew's was Lot. They had come from home,
because God had told Abram to come away from his own home to the land
that God would give his children. Abram believed, and did as God bade
him; and Lot, the son of his dead brother, went with him. They did not
go alone. Each of them had great flocks of cows, and sheep, and camels,
and goats, and numbers of servants to take care of them. They would fix
their tents, made of camels' hair, in any place where they saw a spring
of water and good green grass for their cattle; and there they would
stay till all the grass was eaten up, and then take up their tents and
move to another place.
PARTING OF ABRAM AND LOT.
Just now they had got to a bare stony place, where the sun shone hotly,
and there was not much green; but Abram had built up an altar with the
great stones, and prayed there. Abram and Lot loved one another, and
were at peace; but when their servants drove out their flocks to get
food and water there were apt to be quarrels. If Abram's men found a
green grassy valley, they would not let Lot's cattle into it; and if
Lot's came to a well, they would not let Abram's flocks drink; and so
on. They were always quarrelling and making complaints to their masters.
At last Abram saw that they would make Lot quarrel with him. So he said
it would be wiser to part; Lot should go one way and he another--any
way there should be no strife. And he even told Lot to choose which
way he would go. So Lot looked, and saw to the East a pleasant green
valley, with fields of corn and meadows, and a fine river running into
a clear lake, and five fine towns on the bank. He liked it better than
the bare stony hills where Abram was; and he never thought whether the
people were good or not, but he took the first choice, and went to live
there. So Abram gave up. He had the right to choose first, but he would
not use it. He let his nephew choose. For he hated quarrels, and knew
they were wicked; and he knew how to stop them, because he would yield
up the best. That is the way to make peace and please God.
[Illustration: ABRAHAM ENTERTAINS THREE ANGELS.--Gen. 18:10.]
QUESTIONS.
1. Who had called Abram? 2. Who went with him? 3. What was Lot to
Abram? 4. Why did he go? 5. What had God promised? 6. What had they
with them? 7. Who quarrelled? 8. About what did the servants quarrel?
9. Did Abram and Lot quarrel? 10. How did Abram prevent a quarrel?
11. Who was to choose first? 12. Who might have chosen first? 13. Why
did not Abram choose first? 14. Ought you to be in haste to take the
first choice? 15. What should you try to hinder? 16. And if you keep
yourself back, and don't say "It's mine," and "I must," shall you not
be likely to keep from quarrels?
Fourth Sunday.
_ABRAHAM AND LOT._
FIRST READING.
"Escape for thy life; look not behind thee."--_Genesis 19:17._
THERE was a beautiful valley, with steep hills shutting it in on all
sides, and a clear swift river running through the midst and spreading
into a lake. There were fine fields and rich grass, where sheep, cows,
and goats could feed, and the shepherds shelter themselves under the
palm trees; and on the bank of the river were five cities, with strong
walls round them, and full of rich people, who bought and sold and made
merry with the good things they possessed. There was one man living
among them who was good, and was grieved by the wicked ways of the men
round him, who only laughed at him if he tried to tell them of better
things. One evening two strangers came into the city where he lived,
and he was the only person who would take them in, and shelter them
from the wicked people in the street.
Those strangers told him the place was to be destroyed, with all that
were in it, because it was so wicked! Though the fields looked so
quiet, the walls so strong, and the sun had gone down as usual, all
would be ruined in a few hours' time! Then the strangers took hold of
him, and his wife and daughters, and led them almost by force away from
their home in the dawn of morning, bidding them escape for their lives
to the mountain, and not look back. They were frightened, and begged
not to have to go so far as the wild mountain. Might they not go to the
little city near at hand? And their wish was granted.
[Illustration: LOT AND HIS FAMILY FLEEING FROM SODOM--Gen. 19:24-26.]
Just as the sun had risen they entered the little city for which they
had begged; and as soon as they were safe the four towns, that had
seemed so strong and firm, were all burning with fire and brimstone;
and all the sinners who had mocked at warning were soon lying dead
under God's awful anger! Four alone had been led out of the city by
the strangers, but even of these only three came into the city of
refuge. The wife did not heed the warning not to linger nor look back,
the deadly storm overtook her, and she remained rooted to the spot--a
pillar of salt!
The names of those cities were Sodom and Gomorrah, and the one good
man who was saved by the mercy of God was named Lot. And now a strange
gloomy lake called the Dead Sea covers that valley with its heavy
waters, and the bare rocky hills, crusted with salt, show that the
curse of God is on the place.
Let us try to carry home one thought from this terrible history. This
world will one day be burnt up like those cities, and its looking safe
and prosperous now does not make it safe. But God sends messengers to
lead us out of it. If we attend to them, and follow their advice, we
shall through all our lives be getting out of danger, and going on to
a safe home in heaven; but if we care only for pleasant things here,
it is like looking back, and our souls will perish with what they
love. That is why our Saviour bade us "Remember Lot's wife." We should
remember her when we are tempted to think it hard to give up anything
pleasant, because we are told that it is wrong, and may put us in
danger of God's anger.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was the name of the place I told you of to-day? 2. What was
the name of the man? 3. What kind of place was Sodom? 4. Who was the
only good man there? 5. Who came to Lot? 6. What did he do for the
strangers? 7. What did the strangers tell Lot? 8. Why was Lot to come
out of Sodom? 9. Why was Sodom to be destroyed? 10. Where did Lot go?
11. Who looked back? 12. What became of her? 13. What did God do to
Sodom? 14. What sort of a place is it now? 15. What will be burnt up
some day? 16. If we are not good, what will become of us? 17. But what
have we to teach us to be good? 18. And how must we try to come out,
like Lot?
SECOND READING.
"Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing that thou hast not withheld
thy son, thine only son from Me."--_Genesis 22:12._
BY-AND-BY Abraham had a son--one only son, whose name was Isaac. All
the promises God had made were to be for Isaac's children after him:
and Abraham loved God, and hoped all the more.
But then God called Abraham to do a strange and terrible thing. He was
to go and take his dear son Isaac to the top of a hill, and there to
offer him up to God as if he had been a calf or a lamb. Of course, in
general, to do such a thing would be shockingly wicked; but Abraham
knew that when God commanded a thing, it must be right to do as he was
bidden, however dreadful it was to him.
So they set out together. Abraham took the knife, and a vessel with
fire in it and Isaac carried the wood with which the sacrifice was
to be burnt. On the way Isaac said, "My father, behold the fire and
the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" And Abraham
answered, "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt
offering."
[Illustration: ABRAHAM OFFERING ISAAC AS A SACRIFICE.--Gen. 22:11, 12.]
Isaac soon knew he was to be the lamb, for his father put the wood
in order, and bound his limbs, and took the knife. And Isaac did not
complain or struggle. He was ready, like his father, to do the will of
God. But just as Abraham had the knife ready to slay his son, an angel
called to him out of Heaven: "Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither
do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God,
seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me."
[Illustration: ABRAHAM'S SERVANT MEETING REBEKAH AT THE WELL.--Gen.
24:17.]
[Illustration: REBEKAH SEES ISAAC COMING TO MEET HER.--Gen. 24:64, 65.]
Then Abraham unbound his son, and was glad as if Isaac had really risen
from the dead. And he saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns;
so he took that, and offered it up instead of Isaac. Thus God really
provided a lamb for a burnt offering.
And He blessed Abraham more and more, and promised again that his
children should have the land, and that in his Seed should all the
nations of the earth be blessed. That Seed was our blessed LORD JESUS
CHRIST, who, you know, was really given by His Heavenly Father to die,
and then came back from the dead, that all people might be saved by Him.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was the name of Abraham's son? 2. What had God promised
Abraham? 3. What had Abraham done at God's command? 4. What was he now
to do? 5. Whom did he obey? 6. Where was he to go? 7. Who went with
him? 8. What did Isaac ask? 9. What did Abraham answer? 10. Who seemed
likely to be the Lamb? 11. What was Abraham just going to do? 12. Who
called him? 13. What did the angel tell him? 14. Why was God pleased
with him? 15. What blessing did God give him? 16. Who was to be saved?
THIRD READING.
"I am a stranger and a sojourner with you."--_Genesis 23:4._
ABRAHAM and his wife Sarah had lived together many years; but at last
Sarah died, and Abraham wanted to bury her. You know in all the country
he had not one morsel of ground of his own; he was a stranger there,
but he knew it would all belong to his children by-and-by. But he
wanted to make sure of the one bit where his wife should lie. So he
went to the prince to whom Hebron belonged, and begged to buy a field
with trees in it, and a rock where there was a deep cave that was
called Machpelah.
The prince said he would give it; but Abraham could not feel sure
that it would be always safe till he had bought it. So he weighed out
the price. It was not in little bits of money like ours, but lumps of
silver all the same weight, and each with a mark stamped on it--four
hundred of them. Then the cave was given to Abraham, and he had his
good true wife Sarah buried there, rolled in linen with spices. He was
buried there afterwards himself, and so was his son Isaac, and Isaac's
son after him, in the cave of Machpelah.
That cave has been kept sacred ever since. There is a building over it
now, and no stranger is allowed to go into it; but deep down there is
a golden grating, and far within lie these holy men and women of old.
Their bodies are waiting to rise again at the Last Day, and then I hope
we shall see them and know them.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Abraham's wife? 2. Where did Sarah die? 3. What did Abraham
want to do? 4. Had he any ground? 5. So what was he obliged to do?
6. Of whom did he buy the place? 7. What was it called? 8. What is a
cave? 9. What did he pay? 10. What was Abraham's money? 11. Who were
buried there afterwards? 12. How is the place marked now? 13. When
will Sarah's body leave the grave in the cave of Machpelah? 14. What
do you say you believe in? (In the eleventh Article of the Creed.) 15.
What is Resurrection?
[Illustration]
Fifth Sunday.
_JACOB'S JOURNEY AND DREAM._
FIRST READING.
"Bless me, even me also, O my father."--_Genesis 27:34._
GOD had called Abraham from his home, and promised to give his children
the land of Canaan, and that in his Seed all the nations of the earth
should be blessed. This was renewing to Abraham the great promise of
the Seed of the woman that had been made to Eve; and Abraham believed,
and was glad. But though his children were to have the land, none of it
was his; and he went up and down in it a stranger, living in his tent,
without house or home, only trusting in faith to God's promise to his
children. His son Isaac lived like him, with no home, but looking on in
faith to what God promised.
Isaac had two sons; and as Esau was the eldest, he had the first right
to these promises. But Esau did not care enough about them; he did not
seem to get anything by them, and he liked what he could get at once
better than what was a long way off. He had no faith.
One day he came home half dead with hunger, and saw his brother Jacob
making soup over the fire. He said he would give all these rights for
a meal of the soup; for if he died of hunger, what good would his
birth-right do him? So for a mess of pottage he sold his right to the
land of Canaan, and to be the forefather of our Saviour.
A time was to come when he would be sorry for what he had done. His
father was old and blind, and thought he was going to die; so he bade
Esau, whom he loved the best, bring home some meat and make a solemn
feast--which was the way then of giving a blessing. Esau went, and in
time brought home the meat to his father; but when he came in, Isaac
cried out, and trembled! His brother Jacob had come in his stead, and
Isaac had taken him for Esau, and given to him the blessing that gave
the right to the promised land, and to all God's promises!
[Illustration: ISAAC BLESSING JACOB.--Gen. 27:28, 29.]
Then Esau cried out with an exceeding bitter cry, and asked if his
father had but one blessing! Isaac was grieved for him, and blest him
with all his heart; but there was no changing back, no taking away what
Jacob had won and Esau had lost.
Esau did not know what he was doing when he took the pottage at once,
rather than wait patiently for the glorious inheritance that was
to come. This was the reason that he was allowed to be so cruelly
disappointed. This is a warning to us. We have the inheritance of the
kingdom of heaven promised to us; but we are tempted not to care about
it when we want something here in this world, whether play, or dress,
or anything that seems a great deal to us now.
But if we trifle away our right to these great promises that God made
us at our baptism, there will come a time of bitter grief, when it
is too late. And when we are dead, it will be too late to change!
Therefore, now while we are alive, we must have faith, and show it by
taking care that the things we like here on earth do not make us lose
the better things in heaven.
QUESTIONS.
1. What were the names of Isaac's two sons? 2. What had God promised
Isaac? 3. Which son had the first right to the promise? 4. But which
cared about it most? 5. What did Esau want? 6. So what did he give up
for the sake of the soup? 7. Could he get it back again? 8. What are
you an heir of? 9. How could we lose the inheritance of the kingdom
of heaven? 10. Shall we be able to change after we are dead? 11. Then
what must we care about most? 12. Why could not Esau get his father's
blessing? 13. What did he like better than waiting for what he could
not see? 14. Can we see heaven? 15. But when we get there, will it not
be better than anything we can see here?
SECOND READING.
"This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of
heaven."--_Genesis 28:17._
YOU know that Isaac, Abraham's son, had two sons, whose names were Esau
and Jacob. Now Jacob had grieved Esau by gaining God's great promise,
for which Esau was so angry with him, that he had to go out away from
his father's home, all alone. But Jacob knew he was not alone, for God
was with him. He went on till night came. Then he was in a dismal stony
place, with no house or shelter near--only big stones, and here and
there a thistle.
He said his prayers, and then he lay down, with a stone for his pillow
and the sky over him. But in the night he saw a wonder. There was a
ladder reaching from earth to heaven, and God's angels were going up
and down, and the Lord Himself stood at the top of the ladder. And
He told Jacob that He was going to give his children all the land he
saw--North, South, East, and West; and that He would take care of him,
and be with him wherever he went, and in time bring him safe home.
[Illustration: JACOB'S VISION OF ANGELS.--Gen. 28:12, 13.]
Jacob woke, and found it was a dream, but he knew it was true, and that
God had really spoken to him; and though he was glad he was afraid, and
he said, "How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house
of God, and this is the gate of heaven." And that he might always know
the place, he put one of the great stones upright, and he took some of
the sweet olive oil he had brought to eat on his journey, and poured it
on the stone, as the only thing he could do to show honor to God.
Then he made a solemn holy vow, that if God would take care of him on
his way, and give him food to eat and clothes to wear, he would make a
gift to God all his life of the tenth part of all he had. Good people
like to do like Jacob, and give God their tenth. And if we only had our
eyes opened to see, like his, we should see God's angels coming up and
down with blessings for us, for we go to the house of God and gate of
heaven whenever we go to church. Let us recollect how awful Jacob felt
it to be so near to God.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Jacob? 2. Who was Isaac? 3. Who was Esau? 4. Why was Jacob
obliged to go away? 5. What was the promise? 6. What kind of place had
he to sleep in? 7. What was his pillow? 8. But what did he see? 9. Who
went up and down? 10. Who stood at the top? 11. What did God promise
him? 12. What did Jacob say of the place? 13. How did he mark it? 14.
What did he pour on the stone? 15. What vow did he make? 16. What are
the houses of God? 17. Who comes up and down to us? 18. What do the
angels bring us? 19. How much did Jacob promise to give God? 20. What
does God do for us?
THIRD READING.
"As a prince hast thou prevailed."--_Genesis 32:28._
IT was a long journey that Jacob had had to take, but God took care of
him, and brought him safe to the home where his mother had come from.
He lived there, and took care of his uncle's sheep and cattle, till he
had earned a great many for his own; and he had married there, and had
a great many sons. But after a time God commanded him to go home to
the land of Canaan. He was afraid, because he thought his brother Esau
might still be angry with him; but, in spite of his fear, he did as God
bade him.
[Illustration: JACOB MEETING RACHEL.--Gen. 29:10-12.]
[Illustration: LABAN HIRING JACOB.--Gen. 29:18, 19.]
When he came near the river Jordan, which flows on the East side of the
land of Canaan, he prayed to God to guard him, and once more God let
him see the angels who were going with him to protect him. He was glad,
but he was still very careful. He chose out a present of cows, and
goats, and camels, and sheep, for Esau, and sent it on to meet him; and
then he sent on the other cattle he wanted to keep for himself; then
his children; and last of all, in the safest place, his dear young son
Joseph.
[Illustration: JACOB'S DEPARTURE FOR CANAAN.--Gen. 31:17, 18.]
Esau came to meet him, but not in anger. The two brothers met, and fell
on one another's neck and kissed one another, and were friends. So God
had kept His promise to take care of Jacob; and Jacob kept his promise,
for he set up an altar at Bethel, where he had seen the angels before,
and praised and blessed God.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Jacob? 2. Why had he left home? 3. With whom did he go to
live? 4. What did he earn there? 5. Why did he go back? 6. Why was he
afraid? 7. What comforted him? 8. Of whom do God's angels take care?
9. What did he give Esau? 10. How did he put his family in order? 11.
Who went last? 12. How did Esau meet him? 13. What was the quarrel
between them? 14. But was Esau angry? 15. How did Jacob show he was
thankful?
[Illustration: JACOB AND THE ANGEL.--Genesis 32:24.]
[Illustration: THE MEETING OF JACOB AND ESAU.--Gen. 33:3, 4.]
Sixth Sunday.
_JOSEPH IN EGYPT._
FIRST READING.
"His brethren envied him."--_Genesis 37:11._
I TOLD you how Jacob went away from home, and how God promised to take
care of him. He did take care of him: He led him to his uncle, and with
him Jacob lived many years, and then came back with flocks of sheep and
goats, camels and cows. And he had twelve sons. The best one of them
was named Joseph. Jacob loved him very much, and gave him a striped
dress of many colors, such as the son who is to be the heir wears in
those countries. But his brothers hated and envied him, and were all
the time finding fault with him.
One day, when Joseph was seventeen years old, ten of the brothers were
out with their sheep, and Jacob desired Joseph to go and see what they
were about. He would not tell his father how unkind they were to him,
but he went; and as they saw him coming some of them were so wicked as
to say that they would kill him, and never let him go home. Reuben, who
was the eldest brother, tried to hinder them; but when he saw he could
not stop them, he said the best way would be, not to kill him, but to
let him down into a dry well just by.
There they meant to let him starve to death; and they let him down
without any pity for him. Reuben meant to come by-and-by and take
Joseph out of the pit and save him; but there was another brother,
named Judah, who did not want to have him killed, and who saw a great
party of men, with camels and asses laden with goods, going on a
journey. He knew they were merchants, going to sell and buy in Egypt,
and he advised the other brothers to persuade them to buy Joseph; for
in those days men and women used to be bought and sold, and were called
slaves.
[Illustration: JOSEPH SOLD BY HIS BRETHREN.--Gen. 37:28.]
So Joseph was drawn up out of the pit; and when the merchants saw
what a fine young man he was, they paid the price for him and carried
him off, away from his father and all he had ever known or cared for
before. The cruel brothers kept his colored dress; and they killed a
kid and stained it in the blood, and then carried it to their father,
telling him they had found it. Jacob thought some wild beast had met
Joseph and killed and eaten him, and he mourned and wept. His sons
pretended to comfort him; but not one of them would tell him that
Joseph was not dead.
QUESTIONS.
1. Whose son was Jacob? 2. How many sons had Jacob? 3. What did he set
them to do? 4. Which did he love best? 5. What did he give Joseph?
6. Where did he send Joseph? 7. What did the brothers want to do? 8.
Who wished to save him? 9. So what did Reuben persuade them to do?
10. What did Reuben mean to do? 11. But who came by? 12. What did the
brothers do with Joseph? 13. Who persuaded them to sell him? 14. What
are people called who are bought and sold? 15. What was done with his
coat? 16. What did Jacob think?
SECOND READING.
"The Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand."--_Genesis 39:3._
SO we see Joseph a slave. A slave is a servant who belongs to his
master, as his cows and horses do; he gets no wages, and cannot go
away, but is bought and sold like cattle.
Think of poor Joseph. He was used to live as the son of a great rich
prince, wearing a dress of many bright colors, with many servants, and
no one to obey but his kind fond father; and living in a beautiful
land, all hill and valley, where he used to feed his father's flocks.
But now he was a slave in a strange land, with people speaking a
language he did not know, and no one to care for him or say a good word
to him, shut up in a house in a town, far away from his dear hills.
Still he had one comfort, and the best of all--God was with him. He
could still pray to God, and do his duty. And he did his work well,
for God helped him, and everything he did was made to prosper in his
hand. Then he was trusted. His master knew that he always took care of
everything, as if it was his own, and left all to him, quite sure that
it would be safe.
But his wicked mistress made up a story that he had behaved ill, and he
was put in prison for what he had not done. This sounds hard, but it
was God's own way of bringing good to pass, and making Joseph come at
last to honor. Very soon he was loved and trusted in his prison; and
all he did the Lord made it to prosper.
Think about this. Try when you have anything to do--a lesson or a bit
of work--to ask God to make it prosper. Then if you try your best He
will help, and it will be sure to turn out well.
Then try to deserve to be trusted. That is a great thing. If you always
recollect that God sees you, you will do the same when no one is with
you as if all the world were watching; and that is the way to be true
and just in all your dealings. If you are only good when you are looked
at, you are not like Joseph, but are only doing service outwardly. You
must try to live that your parents may
"Out of sight
Know all is right,
One law for darkness and for light."
QUESTIONS.
1. Whose son was Joseph? 2. How many sons had Joseph? 3. What had
they done to him? 4. Why had Joseph's brothers sold him? 5. What is a
slave? 6. How did Joseph behave as a slave? 7. Who comforted him? 8.
How did he take care of his master's things? 9. Who made up a story
against him? 10. What was done to him? 11. But who was with him still?
12. Did he always stay in prison? 13. And what did people think of
him, wherever he was? 14. What is the way to be like Joseph? 15. If
you are trusted to carry a message, how should you do it? 16. Who
always sees you? 17. Then, even if no one is by, how should you behave?
[Illustration]
THIRD READING.
"Do not interpretations belong to God?"--_Gen. 40:8._
THE young son of Jacob, Joseph, had, you know, been sold by his cruel
brothers, and made a slave of; and then a wicked falsehood was told
about him, and he was put into prison. But wherever Joseph was he tried
to do his duty, and so God blessed him; and the keeper of the prison
soon found out how different he was from the others, and let him help.
I suppose he helped to carry them their food and wait upon them; and he
often could say a few kind good words to them.
One day two grand people came in as prisoners. One was the chief of
all the bakers, who made bread for king Pharaoh; and the other was
the chief of all his cup-bearers, who carried him his wine. Some
wrong thing had happened, and they were both suspected of having had
something to do with it, so they had been sent to prison.
WANTED TO KNOW THE DREAMS' MEANING.
One morning Joseph saw them both looking more sad than usual; and when
he asked what was the matter, they said each had a dream, and they
wanted to know what it meant; for the Egyptians used to think a great
deal of dreams, and there were men among them who pretended to explain
them. Most dreams have no meaning, but these had, and God put it into
Joseph's heart to understand them.
The cup-bearer had dreamt that he saw a vine, and that it had three
bunches of grapes, and that he was squeezing the juice into the king's
cup as he used to do. Joseph said this meant that in three days the
cup-bearer should really hand Pharaoh the cup again; and Joseph begged
that when he was free, he would tell the king about himself, and get
him set free.
Then the baker told his dream--that he had three baskets full of pastry
and bread ready for Pharaoh, but that the birds came down and ate them
up. Joseph was obliged to tell him that this meant that he would be
hanged, and that the vulture and ravens would eat his flesh. So it
happened. Pharaoh looked into the matter in three days' time; he caused
the baker to be hung, and the cup-bearer to come back to his old place.
But the cup-bearer was ungrateful, and forgot all about Joseph in his
prison, trusting to him.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Joseph? 2. Where was he? 3. How came he to be in Egypt? 4.
Where had he been put? 5. Had he done anything wrong? 6. Who trusted
him? 7. What had he to do? 8. Who came into the prison? 9. What was
the cup-bearer's dream? 10. What was the baker's dream? 11. What did
Joseph say the cup-bearer's dream meant? 12. What did the baker's
dream mean? 13. What happened? 14. What had Joseph asked of the
cup-bearer? 15. Did he remember?
[Illustration: POURING OUT A DRINK OFFERING.]
Seventh Sunday.
_JOSEPH'S BROTHERS._
FIRST READING.
"We are verily guilty concerning our brother."--_Genesis 42:21._
JOSEPH did not always stay in prison, for God gave him wisdom to tell
the king of Egypt that his dreams had meant that there were going to
be first seven years of very fine harvests, and then seven years would
come of no harvests at all. So the king took him out of prison, and
made him a great lord; and he set to work to buy the corn that was over
and above what people wanted to eat in the years of plenty, that he
might store it up against the years when the corn would not grow.
So when the bad harvest began, Joseph had plenty of corn, and he sold
it for the king to all who wanted it. The famine was not only in Egypt,
but in all the countries round; and by-and-by Joseph saw, among the
people that came to buy, ten of his own brothers--the same who had sold
him for a slave.
He knew them, for they still looked like shepherds; but they did not
know him, for he had grown from a youth to a man, and was dressed like
an Egyptian lord; and he would not seem to know them, though he wanted
much to know what had become of his old father and his little brother
Benjamin. He made as if he thought they were enemies, come to see if
Egypt could be conquered when it was so bare of food.
Then they told him who they were; that they were all one man's sons,
and that one brother they had lost; the other was left with his
father, who could not bear to part with him. Joseph would not seem to
believe this, and said he must keep one of them in prison, while he
sent the rest back to fetch their youngest brother, or else he could
not believe them.
Then, when fear and trouble came on them, they began to think how ill
they had used their lost brother Joseph; and they said to each other,
"We are verily guilty concerning our brother." Joseph heard them, and
could hardly bear it; but still he kept to his plan. He kept Simeon a
prisoner, that he might be sure of the others coming back, and sent
them home to fetch Benjamin. But he would not have any of the money
they had brought for the corn, and made his steward put it all back
into the mouth of their sacks.
[Illustration: JOSEPH INTERPRETING PHARAOH'S DREAM.--Gen. 41:29, 30.]
When they found this out as they went home, they were much afraid; and
when they came home, their father was more afraid still. After the way
they had used Joseph, he thought they had killed Simeon, and wanted to
kill Benjamin. They spoke truth now, but he could not believe them; and
he said he could not send Benjamin, for if mischief should befall the
lad, "then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave."
QUESTIONS.
1. Where was Joseph? 2. Why was he in prison? 3. What did God make him
able to tell the king? 4. How many years was there to be much corn?
5. What was to be done with the corn? 6. Who managed the buying it?
7. When was the corn wanted? 8. Who came to buy corn? 9. Who did not
come? 10. Why did not Joseph's brothers know him? 11. What did he make
believe to think? 12. Whom did he tell them to fetch? 13. What did
he give back to them? 14. What did their father say about Benjamin's
going? 15. Why was he afraid to trust them with Benjamin? 16. What is
the way to be believed?
SECOND READING.
"God Almighty give you mercy before the man."--_Genesis 43:14._
JOSEPH'S brothers were soon obliged to go again and buy more corn in
Egypt. Joseph had said they must bring the young brother they had
told him of, or he should not believe their story; and when they said
Benjamin must go, their father Jacob was greatly grieved, and showed
how little he could trust them now, after the way they had behaved
to Joseph. He would not have let Benjamin go at all if Judah had not
promised to take the greatest care of him; and Judah could be trusted.
The story is so beautiful, and so easy to understand in the Bible, that
I hardly like to tell it in my own words. Only think of Joseph's heart
being so full when he saw his own dear youngest brother, that he could
not stay with him for his tears, and went away to weep in his chamber!
And yet he still tried the brothers. He wanted to see if they still
were envious of the one their father loved best; so he made his steward
hide his cup in Benjamin's sack of corn, and then go after them, and
pretend to think they had stolen it.
The sons of Jacob were no thieves, and they said the steward might
search their sacks. They took them down and looked, and there was the
cup in Benjamin's sack!
They were all shocked; and the steward said that Benjamin must go back
and be punished.
How pleased they would have been long ago if such a misfortune had
happened to Joseph! But now their hearts were changed, and they were
shocked and grieved.
[Illustration: JOSEPH PROCLAIMED RULER OVER EGYPT.--Gen. 41:41, 43.]
QUESTIONS.
1. What had Joseph's brothers done to him? 2. What trouble did you
hear last Sunday he was in? 3. But how did he behave? 4. And what had
he come to be? 5. What had he stored up? 6. Who came to buy corn? 7.
How many brothers came? 8. Which did not come? 9. Why did not Benjamin
come? 10. Did the brothers know Joseph? 11. What did he tell them to
do? 12. When he saw Benjamin, where did he go? 13. What did Joseph
tell his steward to do? 14. What did Joseph want to see? 15. How did
the brothers behave this time?
THIRD READING.
"God did send me before you to preserve life."--_Genesis 45:5._
ALL the eleven sons of Jacob turned back in grief, and fear, and
dismay, when Benjamin, the youngest brother, whom Judah had promised
to bring safely back to their father, was found to have the silver cup
of the lord of the land in his sack. How it came there they could not
guess, but they knew that their father's heart would break if they came
home and left Benjamin to be a slave.
[Illustration: JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BRETHREN.--Gen. 45:2.]
So they all came to the lord of the land; and Judah stood up before the
strange, stern, princely man, and told him how much their old father
loved this youngest son, and he would be sure to die if the lad did not
come home safe. And then Judah begged to stay and be a slave in Egypt,
instead of his brother Benjamin, for he said if mischief befell the lad
his father would die, and that he could not bear to see.
But when Judah so spake, the lord of the land sent all the lookers-on
away, and wept aloud, and said that he was their own brother Joseph,
whom they had sold so long ago. He would not let them be afraid; he
embraced them all and wept for joy, and asked for his father. Then he
told them not to grieve for what had gone before; for God had turned it
all to good, and made him be the means of saving all their lives, by
storing up the corn in Egypt.
[Illustration: JOSEPH MEETING HIS FATHER.--Gen. 46:29, 30.]
And now they were to go home, and tell Jacob, their father, that Joseph
was still alive, and was a great and powerful man; and they were to
fetch old Jacob, their father, and their wives and their children, and
all they had, and come to live with Joseph in Egypt, where he would
take care of them.
That was the way Joseph forgot all the ill his brothers had done to
him, and forgave them, and loved them with all his heart. When the
brothers came home, their father Jacob could scarcely believe such good
news; but at last he said, "Joseph my son is yet alive, I will go to
see him before I die."
And he came down to Egypt, and Joseph met him and fell on his neck and
kissed him; and then there was joy indeed, joy as if Joseph had come
back from the dead.
So Jacob lived all the rest of his life in Egypt, and was happy with
his son Joseph. God had given him another name, Israel, and his sons,
and their sons after them, were always called the children of Israel.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Benjamin? 2. What was found in Benjamin's sack? 3. Who put
it there? 4. What was going to be done to Benjamin? 5. Who spoke for
him? 6. What did Judah ask? 7. Who did the lord of the land turn out
to be? 8. How came Joseph to be in Egypt? 9. Why had his brothers not
known him sooner? 10. How did he treat them? 11. Whom did he send for?
12. What did Jacob say? 13. Where did Jacob go to live? 14. Why was it
very kind in Joseph to help his brothers? 15. Did he give back to them
the harm they had done to him? 16. How could we do like Joseph?
[Illustration: LEATHER BOTTLES.]
Eighth Sunday.
_THE CALL OF MOSES._
FIRST READING.
"I have surely seen the affliction of My people."--_Exodus 3:7._
YOU heard how Joseph brought his father and brothers and their children
to live in Egypt. Their children's children went on living there for
many years, till they had come to be a great people, and were called
the children of Israel; but then the King of Egypt grew cruel to them.
He made them work very hard to make bricks and build towns for him; and
what was still worse, he ordered that whenever a little boy was born to
the children of Israel, he should be thrown into the river and drowned.
One mother hid her little baby for three months, and when she could
not hide him any longer, she put him into a little cradle of bulrushes
covered over with pitch, to keep the water out, and let the cradle
float on the river, leaving the little boy's sister to watch him.
Presently a lady, no other than the daughter of the cruel king, came
down to bathe in the river. She saw the little cradle, and had it
brought to her. The little baby was crying, and the lady pitied him and
took him home, to bring up for her own child. She wanted a nurse for
him, and his sister fetched his own mother, and she became his nurse.
His name was Moses, and we hear about him in the Lesson to-day. He was
not living with the king's daughter now. The king had grown angry with
him because he cared for his own people, and he had had to flee away
and keep sheep in the wilderness.
[Illustration: MOSES AND THE TABLES OF THE LAW.]
And there he saw a great wonder. He saw a flame of fire in a bush,
and yet the bush was not burnt. And God's voice spoke to him out of
the fire that did not burn, and told him that the troubles of His
people, the children of Israel, were to come to an end. God would save
them from the cruel Egyptians; and Moses himself was to go and lead
them out, and bring them to the good land that God had promised that
Abraham's children should have for their own. Moses was to go and tell
the King of Egypt that it was God's will that they should go. Moses was
afraid at first, but God promised to help him.
[Illustration: PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER FINDING MOSES.--Ex. 2:5, 6.]
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Moses? 2. Where was he put when he was a baby? 3. Why
was he put on the river? 4. Who had said the little boys were to be
drowned? 5. Whose babies were they that were to be drowned? 6. What
other cruel things did the King of Egypt do to the children of Israel?
7. Who were called the children of Israel? 8. What became of Moses
in his bulrush cradle? 9. Who brought him up? 10. Did he stay with
the king's daughter? 11. Whom did he care for? 12. What wonder did
Moses see? 13. Who spoke to him? 14. What was God going to do for His
people? 15. What land would he give them?
SECOND READING.
"And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord?"--_Exodus 5:2._
MOSES and his brother Aaron went and told Pharaoh God's message, that
the people of Israel were to go away and worship Him. But Pharaoh said,
"Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know
not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go." And he was more cruel to
the children of Israel; he made them work harder and harder, and had
them beaten if they did not do all the work that was set them.
They had to make bricks of clay mixed with straw; and, to punish them,
Pharaoh said that they should have no straw given to them for their
work, but that they must find it for themselves; and yet he required
of them just as many bricks as they had had to make before. Then they
cried out and were angry, and fancied Moses had brought all this
trouble on them, by asking for them to go. They were very miserable,
and said they wished they had never listened to Moses, for he had only
made them worse off instead of better.
Aaron was a better speaker than Moses, and God had said he should help
him, and that, when God told Moses anything, Aaron should speak it to
the people. So the two brothers stood telling the Israelites to bear it
a little longer, and then it would be all well and over, and they would
get away from making the bricks in Egypt to the beautiful country.
They could not remember it themselves, but some of their fathers'
grandfathers had been little boys when they came, and could tell them
that it was a country not all flat, with only one river in it, like
Egypt, but full of steep hills and green valleys, with bright streams
running along in them, and thick woods on some of the slopes, and
others laid out in gardens and vineyards. There were so many cows in
the pastures, and in the wild rocks and hollow trees so many bees'
nests, that it was called a land flowing with milk and honey.
[Illustration: THE ISRAELITES MADE TO WORK HARD IN EGYPT.--Ex. 1:13,
14.]
Should not the Israelites have liked to hear of such a place as this?
But no, they were too dull to care. They thought more of whether
they should get a leek or a melon to eat at supper, than of all the
lovely land far away. Do you know, people are very like that when they
care for _now_ more than _by-and-by_. If we want just what pleases
us to-day, instead of caring for what will be good for us as we grow
older, we are just like the Israelites, who would not attend to Moses
or to God.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Pharaoh? 2. Who were the children of Israel? 3. Who had
been sent to call them? 4. What did Pharaoh say to Moses? 5. How did
he use the Israelites? 6. What would he not give them? 7. Who was
Moses' brother? 8. What was Aaron to do for Moses? 9. Who spoke to
Moses? 10. Who told the people what God said to Moses? 11. What kind
of place did God promise? 12. What did Moses say it flowed with? 13.
Why? 14. Did the Israelites care? 15. Why not? 16. When are we like
them? 17. Which should we care for most, _now_ or _by-and-by_?
THIRD READING.
"I will redeem you with a stretched out arm."--_Exodus 6:6._
THE Israelites were very unhappy, for Pharaoh was very cruel to them,
and they thought it all Moses' fault. But Moses told them that they
would be saved, and that God was going to show them His power, so
that they might always remember what He had done for them, and how He
punished Pharaoh, who would not obey Him.
[Illustration: AARON'S ROD CHANGED TO A SERPENT.--Ex. 7:10.]
Then God made His power to be known; so that Pharaoh and the children
of Israel might both learn who is the great Lord of heaven and earth,
who must be obeyed. First, Moses stretched out his rod, and all the
water in the river turned into blood. For seven days it was all one
red dreadful stream of blood; and when Moses held out his rod again it
turned back into pure water. But Pharaoh hardened his heart again, and
would not let the people go.
Then God sent a multitude of frogs, that came into all the houses and
bed-rooms, and on the tables and everywhere. Pharaoh could not bear
to have these creatures everywhere, and said if the frogs would but
go away he would let the children of Israel go. Moses prayed to God,
and all the frogs died; but Pharaoh only hardened his heart again, and
would not let the people go.
Next, God sent lice, disgusting unclean creatures, most horrible to
the Egyptians, who could not bear anything dirty; but Pharaoh did not
care. Then came swarms of flies, buzzing, stinging, and tormenting; and
Pharaoh said he would allow the Israelites to go, so the flies were
taken away; but no sooner were they gone than he went back again to his
obstinacy, and would not let the people go.
He was trying to fight against God, and so came these terrible miseries
on him. If people will not do better after being punished, worse and
worse is sure to come on them.
QUESTIONS.
1. How did God punish Pharaoh? 2. What four plagues have I told you of
to-day? 3. Why did these dreadful things happen? 4. Did Pharaoh care
for them? 5. Why did he not mind them? 6. What happens to those who do
not mind being punished?
[Illustration]
Ninth Sunday.
_THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT._
FIRST READING.
"There is none like Me in all the earth."--_Exodus 9:14._
[Illustration]
YOU remember that when God spoke to Moses out of the burning bush, it
was to tell him that he should lead the children of Israel away from
the people in Egypt, who were so unkind to them.
But Pharaoh, the King of Egypt, said that they should not go; he could
not spare them, and he did not care for God's message to him. Then God
punished Pharaoh that he might let them go. Ten times God punished him,
and you hear about three of the punishments to-day.
First, how the sheep and cows, that the Egyptians worshipped like gods,
fell sick and died, but still Pharaoh did not care; then how the people
all had sores and boils that made them very ill, but still Pharaoh
did not care; and then how there was a terrible storm, thunder and
lightning, and rain and hail--such big hailstones as killed the men and
cattle that were out in the fields, and lightning that struck them, and
wind that broke every tree in the field.
No wonder that Pharaoh was frightened, and begged that the storm might
cease, and said that then he would let the Israelites go. So Moses
prayed to God, and the thunder left off, there was no more hail, and
it was all still again. But when the thunder was over Pharaoh grew
wicked again, and left off caring, and said the Israelites should not
go. And thus God went on being angry with him, till at last he came to
a terrible end.
[Illustration: THE PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS.--Ex. 10:12.]
I am afraid some children are a little like Pharaoh when they get
sulky, and say "I won't," and if they are punished, still they
won't--they think nobody shall force them, and they make themselves
hard that they may not do what they are told. It is very sad, for this
hardness is very wrong, and you see how angry God was with this king
for being obstinate. Pray to God to help you not to harden your heart,
but to teach you to obey. And do not forget and do the same thing
again when the punishment is over, or it will have done you no good,
and you will have to be punished worse next time.
QUESTIONS.
1. What did God desire Pharaoh to do? 2. Who spoke God's words to
Pharaoh? 3. But what did Pharaoh say? 4. Who was Pharaoh? 5. Who was
Moses? 6. What was done to Pharaoh? 7. Did he mind? 8. Tell me the
three plagues we hear of to-day. 9. How many plagues were there in
all? 10. What happened in the thunder-storm? 11. What did Pharaoh say
when he was frightened? 12. So what left off? 13. But did he let the
people go? 14. What fault in some children is the same as Pharaoh's?
15. What ought they do? 16. Who can help them to fight their obstinate
temper? 17. But how must they get God's help?
SECOND READING.
"The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the
children of Israel go."--_Exodus 10:20._
WORSE troubles are sure to come when people have not taken warning
by what was sent them before. Pharaoh had not minded seven dreadful
plagues, so now God sent another. He sent locusts. These were creatures
like great grasshoppers. They came in swarms and clouds, and ate up
every green leaf and blade of grass, and made all the earth brown and
the trees dry sticks, so that there was nothing left for man or beast
to eat. Then Pharaoh gave way a little, and said he would let the men
go, but that their wives and children must stay; and he would not hear
a word more, but had Moses and Aaron driven out from before him.
Then God bade Moses to hold up his hand to Heaven. And darkness came
on. It was dark all day--and with "darkness that might be felt;" not
like night, but such black darkness that no fire or candle could give
light, and no one dared to move about; but the Egyptians lay still in
their places, full of horror and terror, for three whole days. But all
the time it was light among the Israelites--the sun rose and set as
usual; and thus God showed that they were His people.
Then Pharaoh said that he would let them go--men, women and children,
only he must keep all their cattle; and when Moses, speaking God's
words, said that the cattle must go too, and not a hoof be left behind,
Pharaoh made his heart hard again, and drove out Moses, saying the
people should not go, and that Moses should never see his face again.
And Moses said, "Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no
more."
So ended the last hope for Pharaoh. He was never to have another chance
of bending his will and doing as God told him. Oh, let us take care not
to be like him!
QUESTIONS.
1. How many plagues of Egypt were there? 2. Tell me which had
happened? 3. What are the two plagues of this lesson? 4. What are
locusts? 5. What harm do locusts do? 6. Who did Pharaoh say might go?
7. Whom would he not let go? 8. What plague came then? 9. What made
the darkness so horrible? 10. How long did it last? 11. Who were not
in the dark? 12. What did Pharaoh say then? 13. What did he want to
keep back? 14. And how did he then change? 15. What did he say to
Moses? 16. How did Moses answer?
THIRD READING.
"He smote all the first-born in Egypt."--_Psalm 78:51._
AFTER the nine sad plagues that had come upon the Egyptians--the blood
for water, the frogs, the lice, the flies, the cattle plague, the
boils, the hail, the locusts, the darkness--there was to be still one
plague more, the last and worst. That would make the Egyptians let the
people of Israel go, so they must be ready.
There should be a terrible night. God's holy angel would pass over the
whole land of Egypt that night, and in each house of the Egyptians
he would slay the eldest son of the family. No one would be spared:
Pharaoh's eldest son, the young prince, and the very poorest person's
son. They had killed the little Israelite babies, so God would punish
them by killing their children. None of the Israelites should lose
their children; only there was one thing for them to do.
[Illustration: THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER.--Ex. 12:11-14.]
They were that night to sup on a lamb, and, with some of the blood of
the lamb, they were to make a mark on the door-post. Where that mark
was the angel would pass over and do no one any hurt; but the people
would be blest and set free, because they believed God, and did as He
bade them.
QUESTIONS.
1. How many plagues of Egypt were there? 2. Say them over. 3. What
were they all for? 4. Who would not let them go? 5. What was the last
plague? 6. Who were to die? 7. Why did the Egyptians deserve to lose
their children? 8. Who would slay them? 9. Whom would the angel spare?
10. How were the Israelites to mark their houses? 11. With what blood?
12. What were they to do with the lamb?
Tenth Sunday.
_THE PASSOVER._
FIRST READING.
"There was not a house in which there was not one dead."--_Exodus
12:30._
THIS is our own gladdest Sunday in all the year, and we read of the
Israelites being glad too--glad upon the very Sunday that answered to
this, thousands of years ago. On this Sunday, of all those thousands of
years, there has been joy and gladness and thanking God. And why? It
was because all the troubles in Egypt were over, and God brought the
Israelites out safe.
There was one thing they had to do first, though; Moses bade them do
it, as God commanded him. Every family was to take a lamb, and it was
to be killed and roasted whole in the evening, and some of its blood
was to be marked upon the door-post of the house, and then all the
family were to stand round the table, all ready dressed for a journey,
and eat it as fast as they could, late at night.
And while all the families, fathers and mothers and children, stood up
eating the lamb in this strange way, there came a great shout and cry.
God had sent His angel to punish the cruel Egyptians; and every house
where there was no mark of blood on the door-post had some one dead in
it, and that dead person was the eldest or first-born son.
[Illustration: DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN OF EGYPT.--Ex. 12:29.]
There was a great cry, for there was death everywhere, from the son of
Pharaoh who sat on his throne down to the child of the poorest slave;
and even the first-born cattle died too, because the Egyptians used to
worship them; but wherever there was the blood on the door-post the
angel passed over, and the eldest son was safe. Then cruel King Pharaoh
was sorry and afraid at last, and said that the people who brought such
trouble on him should go where they liked.
QUESTIONS.
1. Why are we glad to-day? 2. Why were the Israelites glad to-day?
3. Where were the Israelites living? 4. What hard work had they to
do? 5. Who said they should come out? 6. Who would not let them go?
7. What did God tell the Israelites to eat? 8. How were they to be
dressed while they ate it? 9. What were they to do with the blood?
10. Who was going to pass over the land that night? 11. What did the
angel do where he did not see any blood on the door-post? 12. Who were
frightened then? 13. What did the Egyptians wish then?
SECOND READING.
"It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover."--_Exodus 12:27._
WHEN the King of Egypt said the Israelites might go they were all up
and dressed, quite ready and only waiting, and off they set. No more
making of bricks, no more slaving for the Egyptians, no more drowning
of babies! They were free! and God was going to lead them to the
beautiful country that long ago He had said He would give them.
[Illustration: EGYPTIAN JUDGMENT SCENE.]
And so, to put them in mind how they were saved from the Egyptians, God
bade them on the same day in each year to kill a lamb and roast it, and
put the blood on the door-post, and eat the lamb all standing round the
table, dressed as if they were going for a journey, that they might
never forget how God had made them free. This was called the Passover,
because the angel passed over the houses where the blood was marked
over the door. And God came in a pillar of cloud to show them the way
they should go.
Our blessed Lord was crucified when He had come to the Feast of the
Passover many years after. You know He was like a lamb, He was so
pure and gentle; and His Blood saves us, as that lamb's blood did the
Israelites, and sets us free from the power of the devil. So we still
keep the feast of being set free, on this happy Easter Sunday, when we
recollect that Christ was slain for our sins, but that He rose again
from the dead, and liveth for evermore.
QUESTIONS.
1. What did Pharaoh say that the Israelites might do? 2. What made him
let them go at last? 3. Who were set free? 4. What were the Israelites
to do every year? 5. What was this eating the lamb called? 6. Why was
it called the Passover? 7. Why were the Israelites glad? 8. Who set us
free? 9. What did our Lord do as on this day? 10. In what is He like a
lamb? 11. So what did we say in the Easter Anthem to-day? 12. How did
God lead them?
THIRD READING.
"The children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of
the sea."--_Exodus 14:16._
ALL the Egyptians were weeping over their dead first-born sons, and the
Israelites were set free, and going gladly out and away from their hard
masters.
But Pharaoh's hard heart turned again, and he got all his chariots and
horsemen together, and went after the children of Israel to drive them
back to Egypt. And when he came in sight of them, there they were all
upon the shore of the sea called the Red Sea. They could not go on,
for the sea was straight before them; they could not go back, for the
Egyptians were behind. They were sore afraid. But God spoke to Moses
and told him not to fear. They had only to stand still and see how God
would save them.
And God Himself showed that He was with them, for the pillar of cloud
went behind them, instead of before, and made it dark to the Egyptians,
but gave light by night to the Israelites: so the Egyptians could not
get near them all night.
[Illustration: PHARAOH'S HOST DESTROYED IN THE RED SEA.--Ex. 14:30, 31.]
Then God bade Moses stretch out his rod over the sea. And then there
was a great wonder. The waves of the sea parted, and stood up on each
side in a heap, and in between there was a wide open space, where the
children of Israel might walk safely dry-shod, through the very midst
of the sea. Through it they went, men, women, and children, through the
depths of the sea, with the waves standing still on each side of them.
Pharaoh saw that they were all gone over. He chose to follow after
them. But when his host was in the midst, the sea returned in its
strength again and came down on the Egyptians, and every one of them
was drowned--"they sank like lead in the mighty waters"--and the
Israelites were freed from their enemies, quite away from all their
trouble and all their slavery; and they sang hymns of joy to God, who
had been so good to them and now had set them free.
And we read about them being set free because this is the great Easter
Day when we give thanks to our Blessed Lord for having set us free.
QUESTIONS.
1. What last plague had come on Egypt? 2. Who had set off to leave
Egypt? 3. But what did Pharaoh do? 4. What was before the Israelites?
5. What was behind? 6. Where did the pillar of cloud go? 7. How were
the Egyptians cut off from them? 8. What wonder did God work? 9. Where
did the Israelites go over? 10. Who came after them? 11. What became
of the Egyptians? 12. Who were free? 13. Who had made them free?
[Illustration]
Eleventh Sunday.
_THE GAINSAYING OF KORAH._
FIRST READING.
"The Lord will show who are His and who is holy."--_Numbers 16:5._
WHEN the Israelites came out of Egypt they had a long journey to go,
through a dreary, lonely wilderness. Moses and his brother Aaron led
them; and God took care of them, and fed them, and kept them safe.
But there were some wicked men, named Dathan and Abiram, who were tired
of the wilderness, and were angry at having Moses for their leader and
master, though God had made him lead them, and had done so much for
them. They said they were as good as Moses, and that he should not be
their prince. They did not care for God having spoken by him.
Their end was so very dreadful that I can hardly tell it to you. God
would not let them rise up against His servant Moses; and when they
would not listen nor repent He made the earth open under their feet,
and they went down alive, and were swallowed up in the pit before the
eyes of all the other Israelites; and so they died the most terrible
death anyone ever died. It was because they set themselves up against
Moses, whom God had placed over them, that He was so angry with them.
Remember God has set people over us: there are our fathers and mothers,
and our clergymen and teachers; and it is our duty to obey them, as He
tells us in the Fifth Commandment. If we are proud and saucy it is very
wrong of us. It is not likely that we should be so dreadfully punished
in this life as Dathan and Abiram were; but their horrible death should
make us remember that God is very angry with those that will not try to
obey those that have the rule over them, and set themselves up to be
bold and proud, and to say they do not care.
[Illustration: AARON AND HUR HOLDING UP THE HANDS OF MOSES.--Ex. 17:11.]
QUESTIONS.
1. What is the Fifth Commandment? 2. What is the explanation of it in
the Duty to our Neighbor? 3. Who was set over the Israelites by God?
4. Where had he brought them from? 5. Where was he leading them to? 6.
How should they have behaved to him? 7. What bad men were there among
them? 8. Whom did they not care for? 9. What did they say? 10. Why
was it very wicked of Dathan and Abiram not to obey Moses? 11. What
terrible end did they come to? 12. Why was God angry with Dathan and
Abiram? 13. What makes Him angry? 14. Whom did you say He had set over
you? 15. Then how must you behave to your parents and clergymen and
teachers?
SECOND READING.
"And seek ye the priesthood also?"--_Numbers 16:10._
WHEN God gave the Commandments upon Mount Sinai, He chose that Aaron,
Moses' brother, and his sons should be His priests. A priest had to
offer up the sacrifices to God, and to burn incense to Him. Incense is
made of dried plants and gums that have a sweet smell when they are
burnt.
The priests had brazen urns with holes at the top, and chains to hold
them by, and when the smoke of the incense went up it was just as
our prayers rise up to God in heaven. There were other people called
Levites, who had to take care of the holy things that were used in
God's service, but only the priests might offer sacrifices or incense.
[Illustration: KORAH AND HIS ASSOCIATES SWALLOWED UP.--Num. 16:31-33.]
Now one of these Levites, named Korah, wanted to do more. He was angry,
and said everybody was holy, and that Aaron took too much on himself.
Now it was not Aaron who made himself priest, but God had made him so.
Therefore it was wrong in Korah; but there were two hundred and fifty
men whom he persuaded to come and get censers, and offer incense to the
Lord as if they had been priests. But because they did it in pride and
self-will God was angry with them, and His fire burst out and scorched
them all to death! It was only the men themselves that died, not their
wives or children; and Korah's family after him were better than he
was, and used to sing God's praises in the Psalms.
But they always recollected that no one who was not a priest might
offer sacrifice or burn incense before God.
QUESTIONS.
1. What had a priest to do? 2. What was a sacrifice? 3. What was
incense? 4. What was it burnt in? 5. Who only might offer sacrifice
and incense? 6. Who was the right priest? 7. How came Aaron to be
priest? 8. Who wanted to offer incense? 9. What did Korah say? 10. How
many came with him? 11. What did they try to do? 12. What happened to
the two hundred and fifty? 13. Why were they punished? 14. What became
of Korah's children? 15. Who are our priests? 16. How were they made
priests? 17. What may they alone do?
THIRD READING.
"The rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth
buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds."--_Numbers 17:8._
THE high-priest, whom God chose, had to offer sacrifices to Him. That
was, the priest slew a lamb, or a goat, or a bullock, by the altar, and
gave it to God. It was to show that the Son of God would come and die
to take away sin. Now He has come and died, we have left off killing
creatures in sacrifice, and only make remembrance over again of His
sacrifice in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
The high-priest used to wear a beautiful dress. He had a mitre on
his head, with a gold plate on it, and the words, "Holiness unto the
Lord;" and he had a blue, red, and white robe, embroidered with gold,
and round the hem little gold bells and pomegranates. He had a curious
scarf called an ephod, and a beautiful breast-plate made of twelve
precious stones, each with the name of one of the twelve tribes of
Israel engraven on it.
[Illustration: AARON'S ROD THAT BUDDED.--Num. 17:8, 9.]
God said He would show who should be His priest. So He bade Moses
desire the chief man in each tribe to bring a dry rod or staff, and lay
them up all night in the Holy Place. The one whose rod began to grow as
if it was still on the tree should be the high-priest. When the twelve
men went to look in the morning, eleven rods were dry sticks still, but
one had put out green leaves and pink buds, and white blushing flowers,
like almond blossoms. It was Aaron's rod; and this was the way God let
the children of Israel know that Aaron and his sons, and grandsons
after him, were always to be priests.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was a priest? 2. What had he to do? 3. What was a sacrifice?
4. How was it offered? 5. What creatures were killed? 6. Where were
they put? 7. What was this to make the children of Israel think of? 8.
Why don't we kill sacrifices now? 9. Who has been sacrificed? 10. What
did the high-priest wear on his head? 11. What color was his dress?
12. How was it edged? 13. What was on his breast? 14. What did God say
He would show? 15. What were twelve men to bring? 16. Where were the
rods put? 17. What was to show who should be priest? 18. What were the
eleven rods like in the morning? 19. But how did one look? 20. Whose
was it? 21. What, then, was Aaron to be?
[Illustration: THE HOLY PLACE.]
Twelfth Sunday.
_ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS._
FIRST READING.
"Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God."--_Deut. 6:16._
I TOLD you what sort of place a desert is, and how full it is of
stones, and rocks, and sand, and with no water in it. Do you remember
how thirsty Ishmael was in the desert, and how God heard the voice of
the lad, and sent an angel to lead his mother to a well of water?
When the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, they were in a
terrible wilderness. Mount Sinai stood up in the midst, and all round
were great rocks of red and black marble, all dry and parched with the
hot sun shining on them.
The Israelites grew very hot and sadly thirsty, but they did not pray
as Ishmael had done. They grew angry, and said, "Is the Lord among us
or no?" Do you not think they deserved that God should show whether He
was among them by punishing them for grumbling? That was the way they
tempted God. But He was so good and merciful that He pitied them; and
He bade Moses to take his rod, and go to the bare, dry rock, and strike
it. And when Moses struck the rock, God made a beautiful, fresh, clear
spring of water come pouring out of it, so that all the people, and
all their cows, and sheep, and goats, and camels, could drink and be
refreshed.
Was not that a great wonder? and was not God very kind to them, though
they were not good? But you see God was near to help them all the
time, and it was very sad that they grumbled instead of praying. Do
not be like them. If a thing is hard to bear, don't murmur and grumble
about it, but pray, and then you will get help. Either the vexing thing
will go away, or you will leave off minding it.
[Illustration: MOSES BRINGING WATER FROM THE ROCK.--Ex. 17:6.]
QUESTIONS.
1. Where had the Israelites come from? 2. Who was leading them? 3.
What kind of place did they get into? 4. What is a desert like? 5.
What was the mountain in the midst of the desert? 6. What cannot
be found in the desert? 7. Who was the lad that was thirsty there
before? 8. What did Ishmael do when he was thirsty? 9. But what did
the Israelites do? 10. What did they say? 11. What would have served
them right? 12. But did God punish them? 13. What did he tell Moses to
take? 14. What did Moses strike? 15. What came out of the rock? 16.
What made the water come out of the rock? 17. Was it not very good of
God to give them water? 18. What ought they to have done? 19. What
should you do when a thing is hard? 20. Is it not very naughty to
grumble?
SECOND READING.
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the
Son of man be lifted up."--_John 3:14._
ONE great fault of the Israelites was that they had no patience. The
moment they saw anything troublesome or difficult, they began to cry
out, and say they could not get on, and it was very hard on them. Now
it is very wrong ever to say God is very hard upon us, for we may be
sure He is doing what is best for us. There was one stony, hot, steep
part of the journey still to come, and when the Israelites saw it they
forgot how often God had helped them, and cried out, and lamented, and
complained of Him and of Moses.
[Illustration: THE BRAZEN SERPENT.--Num. 21:31.]
So again they were punished, for the little shining snakes that live
there came in numbers, darting at them and biting them, so that the
bite burnt like fire, and they died. Then they cried out to God and
were sorry, and He told Moses of a wonderful way to cure them. Moses
was to melt up some brass and make a great serpent, like the little
ones that bit them, and set it up on a pole. Then if anyone who was
bitten would come at once and look up at the brazen serpent, his bite
would get well, and he would not die of it.
This was a miracle--a wonder. And it was to teach the Israelites
something, and us too. For you know our Blessed Lord hung on the cross,
as the serpent hung on the pole; and when our souls are in danger of
dying of sin, we must think of Him, and look to Him in faith, and He
will save us from being punished for our sin, and keep our souls from
dying.
QUESTIONS.
1. What sort of place had the Israelites to go over? 2. How did they
like it? 3. What did they do? 4. Why ought they not to have cried out?
5. Who had been taking care of them? 6. So how did God punish them? 7.
What happened when the serpents bit them? 8. What were they sorry for?
9. So what was Moses to make? 10. Where did he put the brazen serpent?
11. What were they to do if they were bit? 12. What cured them? 13.
Who hung upon the cross? 14. What does He cure our souls of?
THIRD READING.
"He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with
manna, which thou knewest not."--_Deut. 8:3._
THIS morning you heard how God gave the children of Israel water to
drink in the wilderness. Now you shall hear what He gave them to eat.
The ground was all hard stones. There was grass which the cows and
sheep could eat, and there were a few trees with long sharp thorns, but
no fruit on them, and no corn to make bread; and soon the people were
very hungry, and began to cry out that they did not know what would
become of them.
But God was not going to forget them. When they rose up in the morning,
the fresh dew lay on the grass, and all about in the dew were little
white things that tasted like wafers made with honey. This was called
manna, and God had sent it from heaven for them to eat.
Every morning on week days there it was, and they had all to come out
and pick it up. But they must get up early to gather it, for when the
sun was hot it would melt away. And they could not keep it--it grew
bad and was not fit to use the next day; but there was always just
enough for everybody to have all they wanted. There was only one day
in each week that more came down, and that was the day before the
Sabbath-day, which they had instead of Sunday. Then each one could get
twice as much as could be eaten in one day, and it did not spoil so
fast. For on the Sabbath-day God would have them rest, and so no manna
was to be found anywhere, so that they might learn to keep the Fourth
Commandment--Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy.
[Illustration: PRIEST]
[Illustration: HIGH-PRIEST]
[Illustration: LEVITE]
All the time they stayed in the wilderness, the sweet white manna lay
on the grass in the morning for them to pick it up--twice as much on
the sixth day of the week, and on the Sabbath-day none at all. Was not
that very good of God?
QUESTIONS.
1. Where were the Israelites? 2. What had they to drink in the
wilderness? 3. What else did they want? 4. Why could they not get
bread? 5. What did God give them instead? 6. What was the manna like?
7. Where did it lie? 8. When was the manna on the grass? 9. Who were
to eat it? 10. Who sent it? 11. What became of it in hot sunshine?
12. Would it keep? 13. What was the day when it could be kept? 14.
How much came down the day before the Sabbath? 15. What might not be
done on the Sabbath? 16. What is the Fourth Commandment? 17. So why
did they get twice as much manna the day before? 18. When did no manna
come? 19. What day have we instead of the Sabbath?
[Illustration]
Thirteenth Sunday.
_BALAAM AND BALAK._
FIRST READING.
"Thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed."--_Numbers
22:12._
[Illustration]
THERE was a prophet called Balaam. A prophet means a man to whom God
made His will known, and who was thus much wiser than other men. This
prophet one day saw some rich great men come to his house. They brought
him a message, that a king named Balak wanted him to come with them,
and would give him great rewards for coming. Balaam said he must wait
for one night, and God would make known to him what he was to do.
And at night God told him he was not to go; for what Balak wanted of
him was to curse the children of Israel, and God would not have them
cursed. So Balaam said he must not go, and the messengers went away.
But Balak sent more princes, still grander men, with larger presents,
to fetch Balaam. He answered, "If Balak would give me his house full
of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God,
to do less or more." But he had not left off wishing. He begged the
messengers to stay, and see if God would give him leave to go. And this
time God did say he might go, but that he should not say anything about
the Israelites but what God put in his mouth. Balaam knew that God was
not pleased with him; but he wanted Balak's rewards, and he set off in
the morning, riding on his ass.
Presently the ass was frightened, and turned out of the road into
the field. Balaam was angry at this, and beat the ass. But again the
ass turned aside in a narrow walled path, and squeezed Balaam's foot
against the wall. He beat her again. Presently, in a very narrow road,
the poor ass fell quite down for fear; and Balaam was very angry, and
beat her harder.
[Illustration: BALAAM MET BY THE ANGEL OF THE LORD.--Num. 22:31.]
Then God worked a wonder. He made the dumb ass to speak, and ask why
he was so cruel to her. He answered that he only wished for a sword to
kill her. The ass asked if she had ever been like this before. He said,
No. And then, full before him, he saw God's holy angel with a sword in
his hand. And he fell down on his face.
The poor ass had seen the angel all the time; but Balaam could not see
him till God made him able. And now he was afraid, and would have gone
back; but the angel said he must go on now, though he would only be
able to speak the words which God put in his mouth.
Think if, sometimes when you have been told you must not do something,
you fret and teaze to do it--is not that like Balaam? And perhaps you
teaze till some one gives you leave to do as you wish. Then you get
quite cross with eagerness, and are unkind to all that hinders you;
and, after all, you do not find that any good comes of getting your own
way.
QUESTIONS.
1. What is a prophet? 2. Who sent for Balaam? 3. What did God tell
Balaam? 4. But what did Balaam wish? 5. How did he get leave to go at
last? 6. But who stood in his way? 7. Who saw the angel first? 8. What
did Balaam do to the ass? 9. What wonder did God work? 10. What did
the ass say? 11. Whom did Balaam see? 12. What did the angel tell him?
13. What had he been allowed to have? 14. Does good come of having our
own way?
SECOND READING.
"There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of
Israel."--_Numbers 24:17._
THERE was a king named Balak, whose land the Israelites were to pass
through. They promised not to do any harm to him or his people, if
they might go quietly through; but he was afraid and angry, and wanted
to have them cursed, hoping to bring God's anger on them. That was a
very wicked and foolish notion of King Balak's; and God would not let
it bring harm upon His people. They had not deserved to have His anger
called down on them, and so He would not be angry with them.
And when Balak's friend Balaam tried to speak curses, God turned them
all to blessings; and, instead of saying they should come to a terrible
end, he could only say how happy and well off they should be, with
God to take care of them, and be their King. He even went on to say
that a Star should come out of Jacob, and a Sceptre should rise out of
Israel--and that meant that our Saviour should be born among them. He
is called a Star, because He came to give us light; and you know a star
showed the way to the place where He was born. And a sceptre is the rod
a king carries in his hand. So when He was called the Sceptre, it meant
that He should be a King.
Only think how angry Balak was, when Balaam could not curse, but only
blessed. I wish he had been afraid, and seen it was not God's will that
he should hurt the Israelites; but instead of that, he went on in his
wickedness, and was miserably killed at last; for God took care of His
people, and would let no one do them any harm.
Now, recollect, bad words and bad wishes do harm to the person that
speaks them, not to those they are meant for. If a bad boy came and
abused a steady one for going to church, or saying his prayers, it
would be very bad for himself; but if the good boy kept on quietly,
nothing that the other could say would hurt him one bit. God would take
care of him as surely as He took care of the Israelites.
QUESTIONS.
1. What did Balak want? 2. Why did he want the Israelites to be
cursed? 3. Whom did he set to curse the Israelites? 4. But what did
Balaam do instead? 5. Why could he not curse them? 6. Who would not
let him curse them? 7. Who was to be born among them? 8. What did
Balaam call our Saviour? 9. Why was He like a star? 10. Why was He
like a sceptre? 11. Could Balak hurt the Israelites? 12. Why not?
13. Whom do bad words hurt? 14. Ought we to mind them? 15. If anyone
teazes you when you try to be good, must you leave off?
[Illustration]
THIRD READING.
"The people did eat, and bowed down to their gods."--_Numbers 25:2._
YOU heard how Balaam went to Balak; and how God made him bless the
children of Israel when he wanted to curse them. But even this did not
make Balaam good. He wanted Balak to give him a reward; and so he told
him that though no harm could happen to the people of Israel while
they were good and worshipped their God, yet if he could make them do
something wicked, and turn away from their God, then God would be sure
to punish them.
THE ISRAELITES INVITED TO A GREAT FEAST.
So these two wicked men sent a number of women to invite the Israelites
to hold a great feast with them, in honor of their idol Baal Peor. Many
were so foolish and wicked as to be led away; and they had a great
feasting and revelling, and all kinds of bad pleasures that these
heathen women said were to do praise to this horrible false god. Then,
though Balak might have cursed for ever without hurting them, they had
done themselves the harm. God sent a deadly sickness, and in one day
twenty-four thousand people died.
But Phinehas, Aaron's grandson, did as Moses commanded him. He first
put to death the wickedest of the people who had joined themselves to
Baal Peor; and then he prayed--and all the people prayed and wept too.
So God forgave them, and the plague ceased.
Afterwards Phinehas led the Israelite fighting men to punish the wicked
Balak and his people; and Balaam was killed in fighting with them. All
the wicked women who had tempted the Israelites away from God were put
to death too. So Balaam's evil counsel ended in all sorts of misery.
It is very sad to think of him, for he knew so well what was good,
and yet did what was so very bad. But remember this, nobody could hurt
God's people till they did wrong, and then they hurt themselves, and
God punished them.
QUESTIONS.
1. What did Balak want to do? 2. How had Balak tried to hurt the
children of Israel? 3. Why could not Balaam curse them? 4. What did
Balaam think would be the way to hurt them? 5. Whom did he send to
them? 6. Whom did the women persuade them to worship? 7. What did God
send to punish them? 8. How was the plague stopped? 9. How was Balaam
punished? 10. Why was Balaam greatly to be blamed? 11. When could not
Balaam hurt them? 12. When could he hurt them? 13. For who took care
of them when they were good?
[Illustration: HIGH PRIEST WITH SIN OFFERING.]
Fourteenth Sunday.
_THE GIVING OF THE LAW._
FIRST READING.
"Thou heardest His words out of the midst of the fire."--_Deut. 4:36._
WHEN the children of Israel had come out of Egypt, God had told Moses
to lead them to the foot of Mount Sinai. This was a high steep rocky
mountain in the wilderness. And God told Moses to set bounds round the
mountain, so that nobody should come and touch it; and the people were
to pray, and wait round it for the holy and awful thing that was to
happen.
Then there came on the hill-top a deep dark cloud, and the mountain
was altogether on a smoke, and it shook and quaked, and there were
lightnings and thunders and voices, and the sound of a trumpet loud
and louder, so that all the people trembled. Then out of that cloud
there came a voice speaking to them--a voice that they all could hear,
and that made them afraid. For it was the voice of God. And God spoke
out of the cloud, and gave the Ten Commandments. They were the very
same Ten Commandments you say in the Catechism, and see written up in
church.
[Illustration: The Ten Commandments.]
Thou shalt have no more Gods but me.
Before no idol bend the knee.
Take not the name of God in vain,
Nor dare the sabbath day profane.
Give both thy parents honor due,
Take heed that thou no murder do.
Abstain from words and deeds unclean,
Nor steal, though thou art poor and mean.
Nor make a wilful lie, nor love it.
What is thy neighbor's dare not covet.
God had come in this terrible and awful manner to speak to them, that
all Israel might hear and fear, and take care not to break them.
Afterwards God gave these Ten Commandments to Moses, written upon two
tables--or pieces of stone--written by God Himself. That was the way
the Ten Commandments were given--by God's own voice speaking to men,
out of the cloud, amid thunders and lightnings, and the sound of the
trumpet, dreadful to hear.
[Illustration: MOSES RECEIVING THE TABLES OF THE LAW.--Ex. 31:18.]
And God means us all to obey the Commandments, just as much as He meant
the Israelites to obey them. They are His words, and must be kept; and
if we ask Him in our prayers He will give us help and strength to obey
them, so that we may fulfil the promise that was made at our baptism,
that we should keep God's Holy Will and Commandments, and walk in the
same unto our lives' end.
QUESTIONS.
1. Where had the children of Israel come from? 2. Who was leading
them? 3. Where did God tell Moses to take them? 4. What wonderful
sight did they see on Mount Sinai? 5. What did they hear? 6. Who spoke
out of the cloud? 7. What did God speak? 8. How many Commandments? 9.
Tell me the first of them. 10. On what did God write them? 11. To whom
did He give them? 12. When do you say them? 13. When did you promise
to keep them? 14. What is keeping the Commandments? 15. How can you be
helped to do as they tell you? 16. How must you ask for God's help?
SECOND READING.
"The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst
of fire."--_Deuteronomy 5:4._
WHEN the lightning and thunder and the loud voice of the trumpet
came forth from the cloud on Mount Sinai, and God had spoken the Ten
Commandments, He called to Moses to come up and speak with Him in the
cloud. How wonderful it must have been! Moses was the only man that
ever spoke so near to God.
God gave him two blocks of stone written with the Ten Commandments,
written with God's own Finger. Then God told him to make a chest to
keep them in. It was to be made of wood, with gold all over it; and two
figures of cherubims were to be one on each side. This chest was to
be called the Ark of the Covenant. And it was to be put into a square
room, inside a tent, that was to be made with curtains, and carried
about with the Israelites. It was to be called the Tabernacle. And this
was to be a very holy place.
The children of Israel would say their prayers in front of the
Tabernacle; but they were not to go into the place where the Ark was,
because they were sinful, and God is holy. That place was to be called
the Holy of Holies, and no one might go near it but the Priests whom
God chose, and set apart to lead His worship.
The first High Priest was to be Moses' brother Aaron; and he was to
wear a beautiful dress when he ministered before God--a high cap with
"Holiness to the Lord" on it, a long embroidered robe, edged with gold
bells and pomegranates, and a blue scarf crossed over her breast; and
in the middle a breast-plate, made of twelve precious stones, each
carved with the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, so that he
might have them on his heart as he prayed to God. All this and much
more God told Moses while he was on the mount.
[Illustration: MOSES DESTROYS THE TABLES OF THE LAW.--Ex. 32:19.]
QUESTIONS.
1. What was given on Mount Sinai? 2. Who spoke the Commandments? 3.
To whom did God give them? 4. What were they written on? 5. Who wrote
them? 6. Where were they to be kept? 7. What was the chest like? 8.
What was the chest called? 9. Where was Moses to put the chest? 10.
What was the room called? 11. Who might go near the Holy of Holies?
12. Who was the first High Priest? 13. Who was Aaron? 14. What was
Aaron to wear? 15. Why might not the people come near?
THIRD READING.
"Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God."--_Deut. 7:9._
WHEN Moses went up into the awful cloud upon Mount Sinai, he stayed
there forty days.
But all the Israelites below were impatient. They could not think what
had become of Moses; and though they had so lately heard God's own
Voice speaking to them, they would not wait as they had been told to
do. They cried out that they wanted something instead of Moses, whom
they had lost.
So they took all their gold ear-rings and melted them, and made an
image of a golden calf. And then these foolish wicked people began to
feast and dance, and worship this golden idol.
Moses was coming down Mount Sinai with the two Tables of the
Commandments in his hands. And first he heard a shouting and singing;
then he saw the people leaping and dancing, and the great golden idol
standing in the midst. Then he was sure it was of no use to bring them
the Commandments if they minded them no better. So he took the two
tables of stone, and threw them out of his hand, and broke them to
pieces.
Then he went down, and severely punished the worst of the Israelites
for having disobeyed the commandment. And he broke the golden calf to
pieces, and ground it to powder.
Then he went and prayed to God to forgive the people. God did forgive
them, and let Moses bring two fresh tables of stone to be written with
the Ten Commandments. But the first that they had lost were the tables
God had given, and they could never have them back again!
QUESTIONS.
1. Where was Moses gone? 2. What was God going to give him? 3. Who
were left below? 4. What did the Israelites want? 5. What did they
take off? 6. What did they make of their ear-rings? 7. What is the
Second Commandment? 8. How did they break the Second Commandment? 9.
What did Moses do to the Tables of the Law? 10. Why did he throw them
down? 11. What did he do with the golden calf? 12. Where did he go
then? 13. What did he do for the Israelites?
[Illustration: ANCIENT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.]
Fifteenth Sunday.
_THE GIVING OF THE LAW._
FIRST READING.
"I prayed therefore unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, destroy not
Thy people and Thine inheritance."--_Deut. 9:26._
LAST Sunday you heard how sadly the people of Israel sinned by making
the golden calf, while Moses was up in the mountain, and how he
punished them.
Then he said he would go and pray to God to forgive them, and try them
again. So up he went over the rough rocks of Mount Sinai, and into the
cloud again, where he had spoken with God before. And he prayed with
all his might that God would not cast off His people, though they had
been so wicked, but would give them again the Commandments on their
tables of stone. And God listened to Moses, and promised to give them
the Commandments again.
Then Moses made a great request: he said to God, "I pray Thee, show me
Thy glory." But God said, "Thou canst not see My Face, for there shall
no man see Me and live." But Moses was to come up the mountain the next
day, and bring with him two blocks of stone, and then God would let him
see as much of His glory as he could bear.
On the next day Moses went up the mountain again, and took with him the
two tables of stone. And the Lord came down in the cloud; and Moses was
in the cleft of the rock, where he could see a small part of the glory,
and hear the Lord's Voice proclaim before him, "The Lord, The Lord
God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness
and truth." Then indeed Moses bowed his head and worshipped. No man
ever came so close to God as Moses, with whom God spoke face to face,
as a man speaketh to his friend.
[Illustration: MOSES BRINGING THE NEW TABLES OF THE LAW.--Ex. 34:29-32.]
Moses stayed forty days and forty nights up in the mountain. And God
again wrote the Commandments upon the two tables of stone, and granted
the Israelites to try again to keep them. When Moses came down from
being in converse with God, the glory was still about his face. It was
all shining like the sun, and was so bright that the Israelites could
not fix their eyes on it; and he was obliged to put a veil over his
face, because they could not bear to look at it. Was ever living man so
favored, and brought into such glory?
QUESTIONS.
1. What wicked thing had the Israelites done? 2. Who prayed for their
forgiveness? 3. Where did Moses go to pray for their forgiveness? 4.
Who forgave them? 5. What did Moses venture to ask God to show him?
6. But what can no one do? 7. Where was Moses placed? 8. What passed
by? 9. What voice did he hear? 10. How was Moses more honored than any
man? 11. How long did he stay in the mountain? 12. What did God give
him again? 13. How did his face look when he came down? 14. What did
he do to hide his face? 15. How came his face to be so glorious?
SECOND READING.
"Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him."--_Deut. 13:4._
WHEN the Israelites came into the good land where they were going,
they were to be very careful not to learn to worship idols. For idols
were no gods at all--only wood and stone--and could not hear them
pray, nor give them what they wanted. Besides, the people round them
had very frightful ways of trying to please their false gods. They
had one called Moloch, made of brass, and they used to offer poor
little children up in sacrifice to him, and make a noise with drums
and trumpets, that no one might hear their cries. There was another
god called Baal, to whom they set up great images, and feasted in
his honor; and a goddess, whom they called the queen of heaven, of
Ashtoreth. Women used to offer cakes to her, and dance in honor of her,
for they thought she sent the moon to shine on them.
Now, the Israelites were not to worship any of these false gods. They
were to remember how they heard the Only True God speaking to them out
of the cloud upon the mountain, and telling them, "I am the Lord thy
God: thou shalt have no other gods but Me." And God told them that if
they would worship Him and serve Him, all should go well with them, and
they should be happy and blessed. But if they went after these false
idols, all would go ill with them, and there would be only sorrow and
misery.
QUESTIONS.
1. Say the First Commandment. 2. Say the Second. 3. What three idols
did the people of the country worship? 4. What did they do in honor of
Moloch? 5. What did they do in honor of Baal? 6. What did they call
Ashtoreth? 7. What did they think she sent them? 8. Who made the
moon? 9. What would happen if the children of Israel worshipped God?
10. What would happen if they worshipped idols?
THIRD READING.
"It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known My
ways."--_Psalm 95:10._
AFTER the Commandments were given the Israelites went on their journey.
The Ark, or chest, where the Commandments on their two tables of stone
were kept, was carried before them; and God still showed that He was
with them, for He made a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night go
along with them, and rest on it.
[Illustration: THE SPIES RETURNING FROM CANAAN.--Num. 13:24-26.]
When they came near the land of Canaan, twelve men were sent on to see
it. They came back, bringing such a great bunch of grapes that two
had to carry it between them on a pole! But they said that the land
was full of strong cities, and very strong men, and they should never
be able to win it, but would all be killed. Only two men, Joshua and
Caleb, recollected that there could be no fear, for God had promised to
save them and bring them in. The others all cried, and said they would
go back to Egypt, and threw stones at Moses and Aaron when they wanted
to quiet them.
Then God showed His glory, and would have cut them all off in a moment
if Moses had not prayed for them. But He said none of those who had
said they would not go into the good land should go. They were to stay
forty years longer in the dismal wilderness, till all the grown-up men,
except Joshua and Caleb, should be dead, and their children be grown
up in their stead. Then their children, who had learned to trust God
and do as He bade, should be the ones to go in and live in the promised
land.
QUESTIONS.
1. How did the Israelites know which way to go in the wilderness? 2.
What was the ark? 3. What was in it? 4. How did God show them His
Presence? 5. Whom did Moses send to look at the land? 6. What did
these men bring back? 7. But what did they say of the country? 8.
Who were afraid? 9. Why was it wrong to be afraid? 10. Who only were
afraid? 11. What were the people ready to do? 12. How were they to be
punished? 13. How long were they to stay in the wilderness? 14. Who
would die? 15. Who would grow up to go in? 16. Who were the two good
brave men? 17. What was promised to Joshua and Caleb?
[Illustration: TABLE OF SHEW-BREAD]
[Illustration: ARK]
[Illustration: GOLDEN CANDLESTICK]
Sixteenth Sunday.
_THE DEATH OF MOSES._
FIRST READING.
"They angered Him also at the waters of strife."--_Psalm 106:32._
AFTER all the forty years in the wilderness, the children of Israel
were quite close to their home in the promised land. There was only the
river Jordan between them and the hills and valleys there. But Moses
was not to go with them. Once when the people were crying out for more
water, and God told him to command the stream to come out of the rock,
Moses was so hot with anger that he did not attend. He said, "Hear now,
ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" And he struck the
rock with his rod, instead of speaking to it.
The water came out as it had done before; but Moses had been so hasty
that he had not thought how to obey God exactly, and so he was not to
be allowed to lead the people in as a great warrior, lest he should
fail again. God was not angry with him, but had forgiven him; only he
had his punishment because he had done wrong.
Joshua was to lead the people, instead of Moses. So before Moses was
taken away, he called Joshua and all the chief men of each tribe, and
put them in mind of all that God had done for them, and warned them
very solemnly, that if they broke their promise and did not keep the
Commandments, God would punish them--first a little, and then more and
more, and would even cast them out of the good land at last. For, mind,
God always keeps His promises; and as surely as He gives the good all
that is best for them, so surely He will punish those who turn from Him.
[Illustration: MOSES GIVING HIS CHARGE TO JOSHUA.--Num. 27:22, 23.]
QUESTIONS.
1. Where were the Israelites? 2. How long had their journey lasted?
3. Where were they going? 4. What lay between them and the land of
Canaan? 5. Who had led them? 6. But what one thing had Moses done? 7.
What was he not to do? 8. Who was to lead them in? 9. What did Moses
tell the Israelites they must be careful to do? 10. What had they
promised to keep? 11. What would happen if they broke the promise? 12.
What would happen if they kept the promise? 13. What promises have we
made?
[Illustration: MOSES VIEWING THE PROMISED LAND.--Deut. 34:4.]
[Illustration: THE DEATH OF MOSES.--Deut. 34:5, 6.]
SECOND READING
"So Moses the servant of the Lord died."--_Deuteronomy 34:5._
IT was not God's will that Moses should lead the Israelites into the
promised land, but he was to die on the east side of the river Jordan;
and so he would have his rest above instead of in the land of promise.
But first God told him he might see the land. So he went up into a
very high hill: and there God made him able to see all the home of his
people--the snowy hill of Hermon, and Mount Lebanon where the cedar
trees grow, and the hills and valleys where Abraham had wandered and
Isaac and Jacob had lived, and which he had hoped for all his life; and
green fields, and corn-fields, and vineyards, on to the great blue sea
stretching out to the westward.
That was where his people were to live; but there was a better home
for Moses. Nobody saw him any more after he went up into the mountain.
There he died, and the Lord buried him, and no one knows of his
grave--only the children of Israel wept and mourned for him.
QUESTIONS.
1. Where had the Israelites come? 2. Who had led them? 3. But where
was Moses not to go? 4. But what did God allow him to see? 5. Where
was he to go? 6. What did God show him there? 7. What kind of place
was it? 8. Where had he brought the people from? 9. Who was to lead
them in? 10. What was to happen to Moses? 11. Did any one ever see
him again? 12. What does no one know? 13. Why do we think so much of
Moses? 14. Where did he speak with God? 15. Was he not the greatest
man of all in the Old Testament?
[Illustration]
THIRD READING.
"Be strong and of good courage."--_Joshua 1:6_
AFTER Moses had gone out of sight on the mountain, God Himself told
Joshua that Moses was dead, and that he must lead the children of
Israel into the good land God had promised them. Moses had laid his
hands on Joshua's head, and God's Holy Spirit had come to help him
to see what was right, and to lead the people. He must be strong and
brave, and do all that God commanded, and then he would be quite sure
to be able to drive away all the strange people out of the land, and to
make a home for the people in the land that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
had loved so well.
All the people promised they would do as Joshua bade them. So he was
their captain instead of Moses.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was the old leader of the children of Israel? 2. Where had
Moses led them from? 3. Where were they going? 4. Where did Moses
go? 5. What became of Moses on the mountain? 6. Whom did God make
captain instead of Moses? 7. What did God tell Joshua? 8. What did God
promise him? 9. What is the way to be helped by God? 10. What were the
Israelites to be helped to do? 11. Who were to be driven away? 12.
Why did the children of Israel wish to live in the land of Canaan?
13. What had God promised Abraham? 14. And does God always keep his
promises?
[Illustration]
Seventeenth Sunday.
_ISRAEL IN BATTLE._
FIRST READING.
"Ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the Lord your God
giveth you."--_Deut. 12:10._
AFTER the children of Israel had been forty years living in the
wilderness, God led them into the beautiful land He had promised them.
But before they could come in they had to get across a river--a deep
river, with rocks on each side, and a stony bottom to it, and the water
running very fast indeed. The name of the river was Jordan. There was
no bridges to go over, and no boat to row them across; and not only all
the strong men, but all the women and little children, had to get over
it!
But nobody need be afraid when God is helping him. God told them what
to do. The priests, who were like clergymen to them, were to take the
ark--that is, the chest where the two tables of the Ten Commandments
were kept--and were to walk down into the river, without being afraid.
And they were brave men; they believed what God told them, and went
down into the swift stream in no fear of being drowned. And behold,
as soon as their feet touched the water it stopped flowing, and stood
still. No more water came down, and all the hosts of the children of
Israel went straight over the bottom of the river with dry feet.
The priests stood up in the middle all the time the others were going
over, and when everyone was safe on the other side they came after
them; and by-and-by the river came rushing down again in its own place,
for it was God who had commanded it to stop short, and make a dry place
for His people to pass over. And so they came into the land of Canaan
that He had promised them so long.
[Illustration: CARRYING THE ARK OVER JORDAN.--Josh. 3:17.]
QUESTIONS.
1. How long did the children of Israel stay in the wilderness? 2.
Where were they going? 3. What had they to eat? 4. What had they to
drink? 5. What had God given them on Mount Sinai? 6. What were the
Ten Commandments written on? 7. Where were the two stones put? 8. Who
carried this ark? 9. What had the Israelites to go over? 10. What was
the name of the river? 11. How do we cross rivers? 12. But had they a
bridge or a boat? 13. Who was taking care of them? 14. What did God
tell the priests to do? 15. Were the priests afraid to go into the
river? 16. Why not? 17. What happened when the priest's feet touched
the water?
[Illustration: Jericho]
SECOND READING.
"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down."--_Hebrews 11:30._
AFTER the Israelites had come into the land of Canaan, there was a
strong walled city before them, and its name was Jericho. They could
not go any further till they had taken the city. But God was going to
show that He fought for them. So He told them not to fight, but that
every day, for a whole week, the priests should take the Ark of the
Covenant on their shoulders and walk around the outside of the walls of
the town.
[Illustration]
Seven priests were to go in front, blowing on trumpets made of rams'
horns; but nobody else was to make any noise. So they did one day, and
nothing happened. Joshua bade them do it the next day. Perhaps some of
the Israelites wondered and were impatient, but they had to go on the
next day still; and after that the Ark was carried round once every day
for a whole week.
[Illustration: THE ANGEL APPEARING TO JOSHUA.--Josh. 5:13, 14.]
On the seventh day, Joshua told the priests that God would have them go
round not once but seven times. And so they did; and then, at last, on
the seventh day, Joshua said, "Shout." The whole of the people shouted,
and the priests blew their trumpets, and then--oh, great wonders!--the
walls of Jericho fell down flat, and the people went in and took the
city. So the Lord fought for Israel.
QUESTIONS.
1. Where were the Israelites now? 2. Who was their leader? 3. What
city were they come to? 4. What did they want to do? 5. Were they to
fight? 6. But what was to be carried round? 7. What was the Ark? 8.
What was in it? 9. Who carried the Ark? 10. Who went in front of them?
11. How many days did they go on? 12. How many times did they carry
the Ark round first? 13. How often on the seventh day? 14. What were
the priests to do? 15. What were the people to do? 16. What happened
then? 17. Who had conquered Jericho? 18. What was God giving the
Israelites?
THIRD READING.
"As for me and my house, we will serve the lord."--_Joshua 24:15._
THIS morning you heard how God gave the children of Israel victory over
Jericho. After that He gave them more victories. None of the heathen
people could stand before them. They took their towns, and drove the
heathen out, and had the fields and gardens and houses for their own.
Then Joshua was to divide the land among them, and fix what cities each
tribe should have for its own.
[Illustration: FALLING OF THE WALLS OF JERICHO.--Josh. 6:20.]
All the chief men of each tribe came to him, and the Lord taught him
how to fix the places for them to dwell in. The children of the good
Joseph had the very best lot of all, as his father Jacob had wished.
It was just in the middle of the country, and was full of beautiful
corn land. Two tribes and a-half lived on the other side of the river
Jordan, on the edge of the desert, but where there was fine grass for
their cattle. The tribe of Judah had a very hilly, rocky part of the
country; but they loved it, because it was where Abraham had lived and
now lay buried.
[Illustration: DIVIDING THE LAND AMONG THE TRIBES.--Josh. 13:6, 7.]
[Illustration: JOSHUA CAPTURING THE CITY OF AI.--Josh. 8:18, 19.]
[Illustration: JOSHUA COMMANDING THE SUN TO STAND STILL.--Josh. 10:12,
13.]
And up all the hills they planted vines, where fine large grapes grew;
and in the valleys were plenty of corn-fields. All over the country,
people had each man his own house, with his vine and his fig-tree to
shelter it, and olive-trees in his garden, and a field to grow corn
in, and hill-sides near, where he might keep his cows, goats, and
sheep. The rocks and the hollow trees were full of wild bees' nests; so
that indeed they found it, as Moses had told them, a land of corn and
wine--a land that flowed with milk and honey; and they were very glad
to be there, and to rest after their long wandering in the wilderness.
After they had had a quiet rest, their first sorrow came. It was that
their brave leader Joshua had grown old, and felt himself near his
death. So he called all the chief men together, and told them over
again how much God had done for them; and that if they would serve Him
and keep His Commandments, all would go well with them. "As for me
and my house," he said, "we will serve the Lord." And all the people
promised too. They said they would serve the Lord, and would not go
after other gods, but would keep His Commandments.
QUESTIONS.
1. Where were the children of Israel now? 2. Who had promised the land
to them? 3. Who was leading them? 4. Whom did they drive out? 5. Who
had the country then? 6. How was it settled where they were to live?
7. Who had the best part? 8. What had Joseph done that was good? 9.
Who went beyond the Jordan? 10. What part did Judah have? 11. What
grows there? 12. What choice plants grew in the land? 13. What sort of
place had they been told it would be? 14. Who was grown old? 15. What
did Joshua tell the Israelites? 16. What was the way for them to be
happy?
[Illustration: SOUTH-EAST VIEW OF THE TABERNACLE.]
Eighteenth Sunday.
_THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL._
FIRST READING.
"The journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honor."--_Judges
4:9._
WHEN the Israelites had come to live in the beautiful land that God had
promised them, they ought to have loved and served Him, and thanked Him
for all His goodness. But no! They liked worshipping false gods; and
they made idols to pray to, cut out of wood and stone; and they learnt
wicked ways.
Then God was angry with them; and He punished them by sending cruel
nations to conquer them, to burn their houses, to steal their children,
and drive away their cattle. Then they would be sorry, and pray to God
again; and He had pity, and sent some brave man to defend them.
To-day we hear how sadly they were used by a fierce man named Sisera,
who had nine hundred war chariots of iron to go into battle with. His
people used to shoot at the Israelites at the wells when they came
to draw water; and nobody dared to go along the high-roads, but only
through the paths, for fear of being killed.
QUESTIONS.
1. How ought the Israelites to have behaved? 2. What had God given
them? 3. Whom should they have worshipped? 4. But what did they
worship? 5. How did God punish them? 6. What was the name of the cruel
man who ill-used them? 7. How many chariots had Sisera?
SECOND READING.
"The Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman."--_Judges 4:9._
AT last God spake to a good brave woman named Deborah, and told her to
send for a man named Barak, who should lead the Israelites to fight
with Sisera. She sent for Barak, and told him what God had said. But
Barak was afraid to go alone. He said he must have Deborah with him. He
ought to have known that, if God sent him, he was sure to be safe and
to succeed.
[Illustration: SISERA SLAIN BY JAEL.--Judges 4:22.]
Deborah told him that since he wished it she would go with him, but
that the journey should not be to his honor, for the Lord would sell
Sisera into the hand of a woman. And it turned out as Deborah said.
Barak won a great battle, and drove the enemies away, so that they did
not hurt the children of Israel again for forty years. But he did not
meet with Sisera in the battle, nor get the honor of killing him.
Sisera fled out of the battle, and was killed after all by a woman,
whose name was Jael. Barak lost all the honor, because he would not do
just as he was told, but was afraid without Deborah, just as if God
could not help him better than Deborah could.
This morning's lesson told how Deborah and Barak conquered the cruel
Sisera. This evening's lesson is the song that Deborah made to thank
God for having given her the victory, and saved His people.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was the holy woman that God raised up? 2. For whom did Deborah
call? 3. What was Barak to do? 4. Who did Barak say must come with
him? 5. Why was this wrong of Barak? 6. What happened in the fight? 7.
Did Barak kill Sisera? 8. Who did kill Sisera? 9. Why was not Barak
allowed to kill Sisera? 10. Whom ought he to have trusted to? 11. Who
will always help us if we are not afraid to do as we are told?
THIRD READING.
"They chose new gods; then was war in the gates."--_Judges 5:8._
THE Israelites never kept long from sinning and setting up idols; and,
by-and-by, God let a set of robbers, called Midianites, come in and
burn their crops and houses, drive away their cattle, and steal their
children for slaves.
Then the Israelites were sorry, and prayed to God to save them. And God
had pity on them, and sent His angel to a man named Gideon, to tell him
that he was to fight for the Israelites.
A great many men came to Gideon; but the Israelites were to be shown
that it was as easy for God to save them with few men as with many.
So He bade Gideon send home all but three hundred men. And Gideon
believed, and sent them home, and kept only the three hundred.
Then at night he took these men, and gave them each a trumpet, and
an earthen pitcher, with a lamp inside the pitcher, so that the light
could not be seen. He took a hundred with him, and sent the other two
hundreds another way, creeping quietly along till they came to the
place where the Midianites had set up their tents, and were all lying
asleep among the cattle they had stolen.
[Illustration: GIDEON'S OFFERING BURNT BY FIRE FROM THE ROCK.--Judges
6:21.]
There they lay, and never heard Gideon and his men coming till they
were close to the camp, the three parties on three sides. Then, all of
a sudden, everyone of the Israelites broke his pitcher and let his lamp
shine, and blew his trumpet, and shouted, "The sword of the Lord and of
Gideon!"
The Midianites were awakened out of their sleep to see the lamps on
three sides of them in the dark, and hear the trumpets and the cries.
They were very much frightened, and quite wild with fear. They all
began to beat down one another, for they did not know friends from
enemies. A great many were killed, and the rest fled away, leaving all
that they had stolen behind them. And so God delivered the Israelites
from the Midianites by the hand of Gideon, and gave them peace again as
long as they would serve the Lord.
[Illustration: GIDEON'S VICTORY OVER THE MIDIANITES.--Judges 7:19-21.]
QUESTIONS.
1. What made the Israelites meet with troubles? 2. Whom ought they to
have worshipped? 3. But whom did they worship? 4. What happened then?
5. Who were the next people that ill-used them? 6. What did they do
when they were punished? 7. Whom did God send to save them? 8. How
many men was Gideon to have with him? 9. What did all the men carry?
10. Where did they go? 11. Into how many parties were they divided?
12. What did the Midianites hear? 13. What did they see? 14. What did
they begin to do? 15. What became of those that were not killed? 16.
Who had made Gideon able to beat them with so few men?
[Illustration]
[Illustration: JEPHTHAH MEETING HIS DAUGHTER.--Judges 11:35.]
[Illustration: SAMSON SLAYING A LION.--Judges 14:6.]
Nineteenth Sunday.
_SAMUEL._
FIRST READING.
"Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child."--_1 Sam. 2:18._
[Illustration: YOUNG SAMUEL BROUGHT TO ELI.]
THERE was a very good woman named Hannah, and she grieved because she
had no children. Whenever she came with her husband to God's holy
place, she used to kneel, and pray with all her heart to God that He
would let her have a son; and she promised that if she had one, she
would lend him to the Lord all the days of his life.
At last God granted her prayer, and gave her a little son, and she
named him Samuel. She was very glad when he was born, and she thanked
God, and sang a hymn of praise for her dear little child. But she had
promised to lend him to the Lord all his life; and she kept her promise.
As soon as little Samuel was old enough to be without her, she took him
to the holy place, that was instead of a church, and gave him to wait
upon the Lord. He lived with the High Priest, whose name was Eli, and
was taught by him.
Eli was a very old man, and his sons used to behave very badly; but
Samuel was always good and obedient to him, and used to wait upon him,
and help him when he served God in the holy place. Samuel wore a little
white linen dress like the priests; and when his mother came to see
him, she used to bring him a little coat. She had five more children
afterwards, three sons and two daughters.
[Illustration: HANNAH'S PRAYER.--1 Sam. 1:11.]
If you listen in the afternoon, you will hear how God spoke to Samuel
whilst he was still a little boy; and I am sure you like to think of
the little child in his white dress, ministering before God in His
beautiful holy place. But only think. You can be like Samuel. Your
father and mother lent you to God for all your life, when they took you
to the font, and made you God's child; and though you live at home,
you go to church, and can serve God there, if you kneel and stand and
sit quietly at the proper times, mind the prayers, and repeat the
Amens, and the verses you know, in their right places. And if you are
obedient, and try to be good, God will love you as He loved Samuel.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was the name of the woman we hear of to-day? 2. What did she
wish for? 3. What did she do to obtain her wish? 4. What did God give
her? 5. What was her son's name? 6. What did she promise? 7. Where did
Hannah bring her little son? 8. Who took care of Samuel? 9. Who was
Eli? 10. How did Samuel behave? 11. What did Samuel wear? 12. What had
Samuel to do? 13. When were you lent to God? 14. Whose child are you?
15. How can you be like Samuel when you go to church? 16. How can you
be like him at home? 17. Who will bless you if you try to be good? 18.
What kind of children does God love?
SECOND READING.
"Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth."--_1 Sam. 3:9._
HANNAH brought her little son Samuel, to be brought up in the holy
place by the High Priest Eli.
Samuel was very good and holy, and God blessed him and loved him. One
night, when everyone was gone to bed, but the lamp in the holy place
was not yet gone out, Samuel heard a voice calling to him, "Samuel!" He
sprang up at once, for he thought that Eli had called him, and he ran
to Eli and said, "Here I am, for thou didst call me." But Eli answered,
"I called not, my son; lie down again;" and Samuel went back to his bed.
Then again came the voice calling to him, "Samuel!" and again he
thought it was Eli's call. He was not lazy, or fretful at being roused
out of his sleep, but he ran at once to Eli, and again said, "Here I
am, for thou didst call me." But Eli sent him back to his bed again;
and there again he heard the call, "Samuel!"
Patiently he once more rose and came to the old man, but this time Eli
knew that it must have been no other than God's own voice speaking to
the child. So he bade Samuel go back, and next time he heard the voice,
to say, "Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth."
And so Samuel did. Again his name was called, and he made answer,
"Speak; for Thy servant heareth."
And God spoke to him in the still night, and told him to give Eli
a fresh warning of the sad things that were coming on him and on
his sons. Samuel was forced to tell Eli all in the morning, sad and
mournful as it was. He was afraid and grieved to have such things to
say, but he told the truth, and Eli was too good a man to be angry with
him, and only said, "It is the Lord: let Him do what seemeth Him good."
[Illustration]
[Illustration: GOD TELLS SAMUEL OF DESTRUCTION OF ELI'S HOUSE.--1 Sam.
3:11.]
And, after that, God often made His will known to Samuel, and blessed
him, and all Israel knew that Samuel was God's own prophet. Think of
the great honor and blessing of having God so often speaking to him!
But we have that blessing too. God is nearer to a little Christian
child than He was to Samuel; for the Holy Spirit speaks in a Christian
child's heart, and tells him to be good and dutiful, and to think of
God, and say his prayers with all his heart. And that is better than
even being a prophet like Samuel. Only we must take great care to
attend to that voice; or it will leave off, and then we shall get worse
and worse, like those bad sons of poor old Eli.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Samuel? 2. Where was he brought up? 3. What did his mother
bring him every year? 4. Who was the High Priest? 5. What did Samuel
hear? 6. Who did he think was calling? 7. What did he do? 8. What did
Eli say? 9. How often did this happen? 10. Was Samuel cross at being
called so often? 11. Who was honoring him? 12. What did Eli perceive
at last? 13. What did he tell Samuel to answer? 14. What did he hear
again? 15. How did he answer? 16. What did the voice tell him? 17.
Whose voice speaks to us? 18. How does the Holy Spirit speak to us?
19. What must we take care to do?
THIRD READING.
"The Ark of God is taken.--_Samuel 4:17._
GOD helped the Israelites again and again, but they would not leave off
their wickedness, and at last He punished them still more. There came
up a nation to make war upon them, fiercer than any before, called the
Philistines. Then the Israelites fancied that if they took the Ark of
the Covenant out into the battle with them they would get the victory,
as they had done when Joshua conquered the land.
But God had never bidden them take the Ark. He had commanded that it
should stay in its place at Shiloh. They did not heed this, but took
it out into the camp, and all the people shouted for joy when it was
brought, with the two priests, Hophni and Phinehas, Eli's sons, to
take care of it. When the Philistines heard the shout, they said that
the gods of Israel were come, and that they must fight all the more
bravely. And they did.
God would not help His people because of their self-will, so He let
them be beaten by the Philistines, and Hophni and Phinehas were killed,
and the holy Ark of God was taken by these heathens. And when poor old
Eli, the High Priest, heard the sad news, he was so much shocked, that
he fell down backwards and broke his neck and died.
God still shewed His power, for when the Philistines put the Ark into
the temple of one of their false gods the idol fell down and was
broken; and wherever it was taken the people fell sick, till at last
they sent it back to the Israelites: but it never came back to Shiloh.
It was hidden in a lonely house in the woods; and the Philistines were
strong and the Israelites were very weak and miserable, because they
had been so very disobedient.
[Illustration: THE DEATH OF ELI.--1 Sam. 4:17, 18.]
QUESTIONS.
1. What people came to fight with the Israelites? 2. Why did God let
any one hurt the Israelites? 3. What did the Israelites think would
help them to fight? 4. What was in the Ark of the Covenant? 5. Where
was it kept? 6. Ought they to have taken it? 7. Why not? 8. Why did
they take it? 9. Did it give them the victory? 10. Why not? 11. Who
were killed? 12. Who was the father of Hophni and Phinehas? 13. What
happened to Eli when he heard the Ark was taken? 14. Why did God
allow it to be taken? 15. Did it come back again? 16. Why did not
the Philistines keep it? 17. What happened to their idol? 18. What
happened to themselves? 19. Where had it been before? 20. Did it ever
come back to Shiloh? 21. Where was it kept?
Twentieth Sunday.
_KING SAUL._
FIRST READING.
"Behold, the Lord hath set a king over you."--_1 Samuel 12:13._
THERE was a young man named Saul, who was very tall and strong. His
father kept a number of asses; for, in the land of Israel, people rode
on asses instead of horses. One day all the asses were lost, and Saul
and one of the servants went out to look for them. They went a long,
long way, and never found the asses; and at night they came to a city,
and there they found Samuel.
Samuel was an old man now, and grey-headed; and he ruled over Israel,
and everyone honored and loved him, because he was so good and just.
Saul was very much surprised when the great and good Samuel met him,
and led him into the house, and put him in the chief place, and gave
him a choice of meat that had been set apart for him. Saul could
not think how Samuel knew anything about him. And he was still more
surprised the next morning, for then Samuel came out of the city with
him, and sent the servant on before. Then Samuel took some oil, and
poured it on Saul's head, which was what was called anointing, and told
him that God had chosen him to be king over all the people of Israel.
Was not this wonderful news for him? And you see, God had led him to
Samuel to be made king, though he so little guessed what was going
to happen when he set out to look for the asses. And God still makes
everything happen, even the least thing; it is all for our good, even
though we do not quite see why.
[Illustration: SAMUEL ANOINTING SAUL.--1 Sam. 10:1.]
So Saul was the first King of Israel; but he was only to be prosperous
as long as he would take care to obey God.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was the first King of Israel? 2. Did Saul expect to be a king?
3. What did he set out from home to do? 4. Where did he come? 5. Who
was in the city? 6. What did you hear about Samuel last Sunday? 7.
What age was Samuel now? 8. What did he give Saul? 9. What surprised
Saul? 10. What did Samuel do to him the next day? 11. What is
anointing? 12. What was he to be? 13. But what must he do if he would
get on well?
SECOND READING.
"There is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few."--_1
Sam. 14:6._
SAUL was the first king of Israel. But just at first, when he was
appointed king, the people were in great distress; for their enemies
the Philistines had overrun the whole land, and held all the strong
places, and were very hard to the Israelites. They would not even let
a smith live among the Israelites, that they might not be able to have
swords or spears made to use in fighting, and the Israelites had to go
into the Philistines' country to get their axes and ploughshares made,
and to sharpen the goads, or long sticks tipped with iron that they
drove the oxen with.
THE PEOPLE MUCH FRIGHTENED.
Nobody had a sword or spear but Saul and his good son Jonathan; all
the rest of the people had nothing better to fight with than axes
and mattocks and goads, and they were very much frightened, and came
trembling after their new king.
But Jonathan trusted in God, and he and one young man set out creeping
along a rugged steep path to see what the enemy were about, and
by-and-by they came below the high rocky hill where the Philistines
were encamped.
One of the Philistines looked out and said, "Behold, the Hebrews come
forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves;" and he called
out to Jonathan, "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing."
Now, Jonathan knew, as he said to his friend, that the Lord can save
as easily by few men as by many, so he was not afraid; and he and the
other young man climbed up on their hands and knees till they came out
among all the Philistine soldiers. Then they began to fight at once,
and the Philistines were so surprised at these two men beginning to
fight with them, that they most likely thought all the others were
behind, and they began to run away.
The people in Saul's camp heard all the noise, and went out to look,
and saw the Philistines running away, so they went after them, and
killed many, and drove them out of the land, and got free of them once
more.
So God blessed and helped the good Jonathan, because he trusted in Him;
and Saul became a great king.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was the first king of Israel? 2. Who made Saul king? 3. Who was
Saul's son? 4. Who were the enemies of the Israelites? 5. Why would
not the Philistines let the Israelites have any smiths? 6. What is
a smith? 7. What tools does a smith make? 8. How did the Israelites
get their iron tools? 9. Who were the only ones that had swords and
spears? 10. Why were the people afraid? 11. Who crept out to see
the Philistines? 12. What did Jonathan know that God could do? 13.
Where did he climb up? 14. What happened? 15. What became of the
Philistines? 16. Who became king?
[Illustration: ANCIENT SHOES.]
THIRD READING.
"Intreat me not to leave thee."--_Ruth 1:16._
ONE fine summer day, a good man named Boaz went out into his
corn-fields where his reapers were cutting down the wheat. "The Lord be
with you," he said. "The Lord bless thee," they answered. Then he saw a
young woman gleaning, whom he had never seen before.
[Illustration: RUTH AND NAOMI.--Ruth 1:16.]
He asked who she was. He heard that her name was Ruth, and she was a
stranger and a widow. Then why had she come there? Because she could
not bear to leave her husband's mother, Naomi, alone in her old age.
She knew that if she kept with Naomi she must be poor and forlorn,
and away from all her friends; but she loved her mother-in-law so
much, that she said, "Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from
following after thee: * * * where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy
people shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest, will
I die, and there will I be buried."
When Boaz knew that Ruth was poor and a stranger, he told his reapers
to drop some handfuls of corn in her way; and he told Ruth to keep
among his young maidens, so that nobody might be rude to her, and that
she might rest and eat among them when they rested in the heat of the
day.
[Illustration: RUTH GLEANING IN THE FIELD OF BOAZ.--Ruth 2:5.]
Ruth carried home plenty of corn to her mother-in-law. And soon it was
found out that Boaz was their nearest friend; and he married Ruth, and
Naomi lived with them; and Ruth was no longer poor and a stranger, but
was happy as a wife and mother in her beautiful home.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was the name of the mother of whom we hear to-day? 2. Whose
mother was she? 3. But who was good to her? 4. What did Ruth do for
Naomi? 5. Where did she go to glean? 6. Who saw her? 7. What did Boaz
bid his men do? 8. How did Boaz speak to his men? 9. How did they
answer? 10. How was he kind to Ruth? 11. What did she find out? 12.
Whom did Ruth marry? 13. What became of Naomi? 14. Why was Ruth so
happy?
Twenty-first Sunday.
_THE REIGN OF SAUL._
FIRST READING.
"Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also
rejected thee from being king.--_1 Samuel 15:23._
[Illustration]
LAST Sunday you heard how God chose Saul to be king of Israel, and
promised to help him if he would obey in all that God commanded him.
Now, there were some cruel robbers that lived in the mountains, and
used to fall upon peaceful people and kill them; and take their cows
and sheep and camels and asses, and gold and silver, and all they had.
So God sent a message by Samuel to Saul and his brave men, to destroy
these cruel people; but God said that none of all their prey and
riches, that had been gained by such wicked ways, was to be kept by His
people; it was all to be made away with; they were to have none of it
for themselves.
They won the battle, and killed the robbers, as they were sure to do
when God helped them; but then when they saw such fine cattle and
choice things, they would not obey God, but went and took it all for
themselves. They left only the poor and mean that they did not care
for, and helped themselves to all they liked.
And then, when Samuel came to meet them, Saul made as if he had done
just what he was told, and said, "I have obeyed the voice of the Lord."
But Samuel said, "What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine
ears, and the lowing of oxen which I hear?"
Saul wanted to make excuses; but it was not the first time he had been
disobedient; and he was only frightened, he was not really sorry; so
Samuel was obliged to tell him, "Because thou hast rejected the word of
the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king."
[Illustration: SAUL TEARING THE ROBE OF SAMUEL.--1 Sam. 15:27, 28.]
Saul would not do as he was told, and so God punished him. Remember
that. Your parents and teachers, or nurses, give you orders; and you
have to mind them exactly--not only to do what you like, and miss out
the rest. Saul did what he liked when he fought the robbers, but he
would not obey when he took the spoil. Then God was angry with him. Do
not you be like him; but obey when you do not like, as well as when you
do like.
QUESTIONS.
1. What is the Fifth Commandment? 2. What must we always do? 3. Who
did we hear of to-day who did not do as he was told? 4. What was Saul
told to do? 5. Who told him? 6. Who was Samuel? 7. Who was Saul? 8.
What was Saul told not to do? 9. How far did he obey? 10. In what did
he disobey? 11. Why was it wrong of Saul to keep the robbers' cattle
and sheep? 12. What did he say when Samuel came? 13. Was this true?
14. What did Samuel hear that showed that this was false? 15. Whom had
Saul disobeyed? 16. How was Saul to be punished? 17. Why was Saul not
to keep the kingdom?
[Illustration: DAVID ANOINTED BY SAMUEL.--1 Sam. 16:11, 12.]
SECOND READING.
"I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed
him."--_Psalm 89:20._
THE hills that lie above Bethlehem have green slopes where the sheep
feed. There, one day, a flock was feeding, and a boy with blue eyes and
shining hair watched them, and perhaps sung as he watched. He was the
youngest of eight brothers, and all the rest had gone down to a great
feast; for Samuel, the great Prophet, was come to visit their father.
[Illustration: Samuel goeth to BETHLEHEM]
[Illustration: The Elders Alarmed]
[Illustration: Are here all thy children?]
[Illustration: HE KEEPETH THE SHEEP]
But the youngest must stay out with the sheep. No one would want him.
But see a messenger is coming up the hill. He calls--David is wanted.
The Prophet has called for him. So the boy is obedient, and rises up,
to run down the hill at his father's call. Perhaps he stopped to wash
his face in the clear well of Bethlehem before he went up to the place
of the feast, the same place where Boaz had brought his bride Ruth, for
Jesse, David's father was Ruth's grandson.
There stood the Prophet, with his long white hair flowing down; and
as soon as young David came in, he stepped forward with a horn in his
hand, and sweet-smelling oil of olives mixed with incense was flowing
upon David's golden hair. He was the Anointed of the Lord. In time to
come he would be king, but he must wait long and patiently first.
Yes. Each of his seven brothers had passed before Samuel--tall goodly
men--but God had spoken to Samuel, and forbidden him to choose them;
for Samuel could only see their fine handsome faces and figures, but
God looked at their hearts, and knew they were proud men, who would
soon have been as fierce and headstrong as Saul himself. So he had sent
Samuel to choose the youngest and least thought-of of all Jesse's sons,
and anoint him to be king of Israel. Yes; and above all, to be the
forefather of our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was sent to Bethlehem? 2. Who used to live at Bethlehem? 3.
What was Samuel to do? 4. Whose son was he to anoint? 5. What does
anointing mean? 6. What was anointing to mark him for? 7. How many
sons had Jesse? 8. How many came to the feast? 9. Which did not come?
10. Where was David? 11. Were his brothers anointed? 12. Why not? 13.
Who saw their hearts? 14. Who was sent for? 15. What did Samuel do?
16. Why was Saul to be punished? 17. Why was David chosen? 18. Was he
to begin to reign at once? 19. How was he to wait?
THIRD READING.
"I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the
armies of Israel."--_1 Samuel 17:45._
THOUGH King Saul had beaten the Philistines, still they used to come
back again and try to conquer the Israelites.
Once they came with an army, and Saul had an army too. The Israelites
were on one hill and the Philistines on another hill, and there was a
valley between. Then out in front of the Philistines' camp came a giant
named Goliath; for there really were giants then, and Goliath had three
brothers as tall as himself.
Goliath was nearly twice as tall as any man we ever saw, and he had a
helmet on his head, and armour on his breast, and an enormous spear,
and a shield, and a man carried a shield before him. He stood out, and
called to know if any Israelite would fight with him. Then if Goliath
conquered the Israelite, the Philistines should be the lords over the
Israelites; but if an Israelite conquered Goliath, then the Israelites
should be lords over the Philistines.
But nobody felt bold or strong enough to go out to fight with this
great man; and day after day he came and walked up and down, and
laughed the Israelites to scorn for not daring to come out, they who
called themselves the servants of God.
[Illustration: DAVID SLAYING GOLIATH.--1 Sam. 17:50, 51.]
At last a young shepherd boy came to the camp. He had three brothers
among Saul's soldiers, and his father had sent him to take them some
loaves of bread, and see how they were. The shepherd boy's name was
David. When he came he saw the proud Goliath walking up and down
boasting against the Israelites; he asked the soldiers about him, and
was so eager that at last they brought him to the king; and Saul asked
him how it was that he, who was only a youth, could dare to think of
fighting with a man of war like Goliath.
David answered that when he was keeping his flocks a lion and a bear
had come and tried to take away a lamb. And God had made him strong to
kill both the lion and the bear, and saved him from danger; and he
trusted that in like manner God would help him if he fought with the
giant.
So Saul wanted to dress David in his own armour, but it was too large
for him, and he would not use it. All he did was to choose five smooth
stones out of the brook, and put them into his shepherd's bag. And he
took his sling, a long strip of leather, the ends of which he used to
hold in his hand to throw stones farther with, when he wanted to drive
beasts away from his flock. And with only his sling and his stone he
went out to meet the giant.
[Illustration: SAUL CASTING HIS JAVELIN AT DAVID.--1 Sam. 19:9, 10.]
Goliath was fierce and angry when he saw such a boy, and he thought it
was only laughing at him to send no better warrior to fight with him.
But David said, "Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and
with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts,
* * * whom thou hast defied."
[Illustration: THE PARTING OF DAVID AND JONATHAN.--1 Sam. 20:42.]
[Illustration: DAVID AND ABIGAIL.--1 Sam. 25:32, 33.]
Then David took one of his stones and slung it out of his sling. It
struck the very middle of the giant's forehead, and went deep in, and
down fell Goliath. All his great strength was of no use to him, and
David ran and stood upon him, and drew out his great sword from his
side, and cut off his head.
All the other Philistines fled away, and David gave thanks to God for
his great victory.
By-and-by David came to be king instead of Saul; and he loved God, and
trusted in Him so faithfully that God Himself called him a man after
His own heart.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who were the enemies of the Israelites? 2. Who was the giant? 3.
What is a giant? 4. What did Goliath wear? 5. What did he call the
Israelites to do? 6. Who was the only one that would come out to
fight? 7. What was David? 8. Why was not David afraid? 9. What had
David killed before? 10. What did David take with him? 11. What was a
sling? 12. What did David say? 13. Who helped David? 14. How did David
attack Goliath? 15. What happened to Goliath? 16. What did David do to
him then? 17. What became of the other Philistines? 18. What did David
come to be? 19. What did God call David? 20. Why did God love David?
[Illustration]
Twenty-second Sunday.
_KING DAVID REIGNING._
FIRST READING.
"How are the mighty fallen!"--_2 Samuel 1:19._
[Illustration]
THE last thing that has to be told about Saul is very sad. You know he
would not do as God bade him, but chose to go his own way. Then God
forsook him, and left him to grow worse and worse. Then his enemies,
the Philistines, came up against him, and his army came together on the
hills to meet them.
But God was not with Saul, so his men could not fight, and he was
beaten back step by step up into his own hills, close to his home; and
there, when he found he could go no further, and that the Philistines
would soon be upon him, he did the saddest thing of all--he threw
himself on his own sword, that they might not take him alive.
He did not quite kill himself; and when a young robber came by, trying
to get garments and weapons from the dead bodies, the unhappy king
begged for a death-blow as he lay. The robber gave him the last stroke,
and then took the crown from his helmet, and his bracelets, and brought
them to David, to show that he was dead.
The robber thought he should have a reward, but David put him to death
for having dared to strike the king: and David grieved and mourned for
Saul, who had been a great and noble king once. But he had come to this
miserable end because he would have his own way and will.
[Illustration: THE DEATH OF SAUL.--1 Sam. 31:4.]
[Illustration: DAVID ANOINTED KING OVER ISRAEL.--2 Sam. 2:4.]
Then, when Saul was killed, David was anointed to be king; and he was a
very good man, and served God with all his heart. So God blessed him,
and made him great and powerful.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Saul? 2. What was Saul's fault? 3. Who came out to fight
against Saul? 4. Where was he driven? 5. Who came after him? 6. What
dreadful thing did he do? 7. Who killed him entirely? 8. What did the
robber take? 9. To whom did he carry Saul's crown? 10. What did David
do to him? 11. Why? 12. Who was to be king now? 13. Why did Saul come
to such an end? 14. Whose way should he have followed? 15. Can anyone
go on well who is self-willed? 16. Who was king after Saul?
SECOND READING.
"I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."--_2 Samuel 12:23._
KING David had a little son, a baby, whom he loved very much; and this
child fell sick. While it was sick King David grieved for it, and
prayed that it might be made well. But it was not God's will to make
the little boy well, and he died. And then David was patient, and knew
it was God's will; and he said, "I shall go to him, but he shall not
return to me."
For David meant that one day he should die, and then his soul would
go to be with his little son's soul in the happy place of rest; and
by-and-by their bodies will rise again out of their graves, and be
joined to their souls again, and live for ever and ever.
King David used to sing the Psalms to praise God; indeed, he first made
most of them; and in one he says, "My flesh also shall rest in hope."
That was, the hope that he should rise again from the dead, and always
live in God's holy home in heaven. Heaven is the happy place where we
all hope to meet and live by-and-by, and that is the comfort that good
Christians have when death takes away friends whom they love.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was David's sorrow? 2. What did he do when his little boy was
ill? 3. Did the little boy get better? 4. What became of him? 5. How
did David bear his death? 6. What did he say? 7. Where did he hope to
go to his little son? 8. When would his soul go to his child's soul?
9. When will their bodies rise? 10. What does David say of his flesh?
11. What is his flesh? 12. What hope does he rest in? 13. When will
our flesh rest? 14. What do we hope to do? 15. Where in the Belief do
you say we hope to rise from the dead? 16. What people will be happy
then? 17. What are David's songs called?
[Illustration: DAVID MOURNS THE DEATH OF HIS CHILD.--2 Sam. 12:18.]
THIRD READING.
"O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!"--_2 Samuel 19:4._
GOOD King David had more sons besides the little one who died. One was
named Absalom. He was a very fine, handsome young man, and had most
beautiful hair; but he was fierce and proud, and wanted to be king.
And when David was old, this wicked Absalom gathered men together,
and drove his father away, that he might be king instead. Good King
David had to go away, weeping and barefoot, down the steep rocky pass,
for fear of his wicked son; and cruel men called him names, and threw
stones at him as he went, while Absalom was made to reign in his
father's palace, and did all he pleased there. But God will not let
wicked men prosper; and all David's faithful old soldiers came together
to help him. They had a great battle with Absalom and his men; and
Absalom was beaten, and fled away on a mule.
[Illustration: SHIMEI CASTING STONES AT DAVID.--2 Sam. 16:5, 6.]
But when he came into a wood, his thick hair was caught in an oak tree,
and he could not get it loose; and his mule went away, and left him
still with his hair caught in the tree.
Now, though Absalom had been so wicked, his father loved him still, and
had begged all his men to take care not to hurt the young man Absalom.
So when one of the men saw Absalom caught by the hair in a tree he
would not hurt him, and only went and told Absalom's cousin, Joab, who
was the captain of David's army.
[Illustration: ABSALOM]
Joab had no pity; he thought Absalom richly deserved to die, and he was
afraid the king would pardon him; so he went at once, with three darts
in his hand, and killed Absalom as he hung in the tree.
King David was grieved to the heart. No words can say how sad he was to
think that his son had died in his sin, and never asked his pardon. He
wept, and cried aloud, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would
God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!" It was not like
his grief for the innocent little baby he had lost before; for Absalom
had been a bad man, and for that there is no comfort.
And when all the people came joyfully to bring King David home to his
palace, to be king again, still his heart mourned for his son Absalom.
[Illustration: THE DEATH OF ABSALOM.--2 Sam. 18:9.]
QUESTIONS.
1. What is the Fifth Commandment? 2. Do you hear of any one to-day who
broke the Fifth Commandment? 3. How did Absalom break it? 4. Who was
Absalom's father? 5. How had David to go away? 6. What did cruel men
do? 7. Who came to help David? 8. What did he charge them? 9. Who won
the battle? 10. What happened to Absalom? 11. Who saw him there? 12.
Whom did the man tell? 13. Why did Joab kill Absalom? 14. Did Absalom
deserve it? 15. How did his father behave? 16. What did he cry out?
17. Why was he more sorry than for his baby son? 18. What is sadder
than even dying? 19. How should you behave to your parents?
Twenty-third Sunday.
_PREPARING FOR THE TEMPLE._
FIRST READING.
"Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price."--_2 Samuel 24:24._
WHEN David was king his people did wrong again; and there came a plague
upon them, so that a great number of them died all through the land of
Israel.
David and his priests, and all the good men, fasted and prayed, and
entreated that God would turn His anger away. And while they were
praying, David saw the Destroying Angel standing with his drawn sword
over Jerusalem; but the plague had not begun there. Then David prayed
the more; and God made known to him that he must offer up a sacrifice
on the threshing-floor of Ornan, just by Jerusalem, and then the plague
should be stopped.
A threshing-floor was a flat rocky place on the top of a hill, where
the sheaves of corn were laid out, and oxen drew boards, with the under
side covered with spikes, to knock the grain out of the ears. Oman's
threshing-floor was upon Mount Moriah, where Isaac had been so nearly
sacrificed. He was threshing wheat on it when David came and desired to
buy it for the sacrifice.
Ornan was a good man, and said he would give the whole place to the
king. But David said, "I will not offer unto my God of that which doth
cost me nothing." So he bought the place of Ornan, the oxen, and the
threshing tools; and the sacrifice was made to show that death must
be for sin. Then God pardoned Israel, and the plague was stopped. We
should remember that our offerings to God are only worthy if they cost
us something. He does not want the things themselves, but He does value
the love that gives them.
QUESTIONS.
1. What is a threshing-floor? 2. Whose threshing-floor have we heard
of? 3. Where was it? 4. What had happened on Mount Moriah? 5. Whose
son was Isaac? 6. Was he sacrificed? 7. Why not? 8. What town was
near? 9. Who bought the threshing-floor? 10. Why? 11. What is a
plague? 12. Why was the plague sent? 13. What did David see? 14. What
was he bidden to do? 15. What did Ornan want to do? 16. What did David
say? 17. So what ought we to give to God?
[Illustration: THE KING SAID I DWELL IN A HOUSE OF CEDAR _BUT THE ARK
OF GOD DWELLETH WITHIN CURTAINS_.]
[Illustration: THE BRINGING UP OF THE ARK]
SECOND READING.
"His seed also will I make to endure for ever."--_Psalm 89:29_
YOU know the two Tables of the Commandments were kept in the Ark of the
Covenant; and when the Israelites were going about in the wilderness,
they had a beautiful tent to keep it in. But now they had come into
the Land of Promise, and had no more journeys to make, David wished to
build a house, or temple, where the Ark might be kept, and to make it
beautiful for the glory of God.
But the Lord had sent a prophet to tell David that he must not himself
build a house for God, because he had been a man of war, and had
fought, and shed much blood; but that his son Solomon should be a man
of rest, and should build the Temple for the Lord.
David did not repine. He thanked God for giving him the hope that his
son should do this great work; and all the rest of his life he was
busy getting together gold and silver, brass and iron, and beautiful
cedar wood, all for the Temple of his God. It was to be built on Mount
Moriah, on the threshing-floor he had bought of Ornan, just by the city
of Jerusalem, which David had conquered from the Jebusites, and made
the capital of his kingdom.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was kept in the Ark of the Covenant? 2. Where was the Ark
kept at first? 3. What did David want to build? 4. Why was David
not allowed to build a temple? 5. Did he fret and grieve at being
forbidden? 6. Who was to build the Temple? 7. What did David get
ready? 8. Where was the Temple to be? 9. When had he bought it of
Ornan?
THIRD READING.
"All things come to Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee."--_1
Chronicles 29:14._
DAVID had grown to be a very old man, near to his death; but, before he
died, he called all the princes of his people together at Jerusalem,
and asked them all to bring offerings to help to build a beautiful
house, to be a Temple to the Lord their God. So all the people brought
what precious things they could, to add to what the king had prepared;
and a great quantity was ready--all willingly offered.
[Illustration: DAVID'S THREE MIGHTY MEN.--2 Sam. 23:16, 17.]
Then good King David stood up and made his offering. "All things come
of Thee," he said, "and of Thine own have we given Thee." And he
thanked and blessed the Lord God, who had been with him all his life;
and he blessed his people Israel, and showed them his son Solomon, who
was to reign after him; and he gave Solomon a charge to build the
Temple of the Lord, and bade them all serve the Lord with all their
might. And the crown was set on Solomon's head, and he was king; and
David died at a good old age. He was the shepherd boy who came to be a
king, and who first sung so many of the beautiful Psalms that are still
our best words for praising God.
[Illustration: SOLOMON ANOINTED KING.--1 Kings 1:39.]
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was David? 2. Who was his son? 3. What was Solomon to do? 4.
What had David got ready for Solomon? 5. What did he ask his princes
to bring? 7. What for? 8. When did David meet all his people? 9. Who
was to be king? 10. Why was David glad? 11. What did he say to God?
12. Whose are all things? 13. What charge did David give? 14. What had
David been before he was king? 15. What did David write? 16. What are
the Psalms?
Twenty-fourth Sunday.
_SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY._
FIRST READING.
"Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and
the victory, and the majesty."--_1 Chron. 29:11._
[Illustration: Solomon.]
THE last thing King David did was to have his son, young Solomon,
anointed to reign, and then to show him to the people, and charge them
to help him build the Temple for the Lord God. For he said Solomon was
still very young, and the work was very great; so he begged the people
of the tribes to bring their offerings; and so they did.
They brought gold, silver, brass, iron, and beautiful stones, or the
wood of oaks and cedars, according to what they had or could give; and
when David saw it he was very happy and glad, and offered it up to God,
and prayed that God would give unto his son Solomon a perfect heart,
that he might serve God and keep His laws.
Then there was a great feast all round Mount Sion, all the people
eating, and drinking, and rejoicing, and praising God, who had
delivered them from all their enemies.
QUESTIONS.
1. What did David ask of his people? 2. What did they bring him? 3.
What were all these things for? 4. Who was to build the Temple? 5.
Why was not David himself allowed to build it? 6. Yet what did he get
together for it? 7. Why was he happy? 8. What did he ask God? 9. What
great rejoicing was there? 10. Why was everything happy now with the
nation?
SECOND READING.
"Give me now wisdom and knowledge."--_2 Chron. 1:10._
WHEN King David died, Solomon was still almost a boy. But God spake to
him in a dream by night, and said, "Ask what I shall give thee." Then
Solomon said he was but young, and knew not how to rule over this great
people that God had given him; and therefore he prayed, above all, that
God would give him a wise and understanding heart.
And God was pleased with Solomon's choice, and said that because he had
cared for wisdom most, and had not asked for riches, or long life, or
to put down his enemies, that therefore, besides wisdom, God would give
him all the rest--riches, and honor, and length of life--and he should
be wiser, and greater, and richer, than any king ever was before him,
or should be after him.
All this was because he had cared so much to have a wise and
understanding heart to know good and evil. That was first with him, and
so God gave him all the rest. So it will be with all those who seek
first of all to be good. God does not make us wise all at once like
Solomon, but if we care about it, He will help us to get wise by little
and little if we really try, and then He will bless all we do.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Solomon? 2. Whose son was he? 3. What was he king of? 4.
How old was he when he began to be king? 5. What did God say to him
at night? 6. What did Solomon wish for most? 7. What did God give him
besides? 8. Why did God give him all these things when he did not
ask for them? 9. What should we care about most? 10. What will God do
for us if we care most about goodness? 11. How will He help us to get
wise? 12. But what must we do ourselves?
[Illustration: THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON.--1 Kings 3:26, 27.]
THIRD READING.
"The wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.--_1 Kings 3:28._
HERE is a story to show how wise and clever King Solomon was. One day
when he was sitting on his throne two women came to him: one with a
live baby, the other with a dead one, both boys, and just of the same
age. They said they had been living alone together in the same house,
each with her little baby, till one night one of the women rolled over
her child in her sleep and smothered it, so that she found it was dead.
But each woman said it was not her baby but the other's that was dead,
and that the mother of the dead one had put the little corpse down by
the other sleeping woman, and taken her living child out of her bosom
to herself. How was it to be known which was right?--for nobody out
of the house knew the two little ones apart, and each of the women
declared that she was the mother of the live child, not of the dead. So
they came to the king to judge between them.
[Illustration: THE BUILDING OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE.--1 Kings 6:11-14.]
And what plan could Solomon take to find out the truth? He sent for the
executioner, with a sword, and said that as the women could not agree,
both the children should be cut in two, and each woman should have the
two halves. One woman was content to have it so, but the other only
cried out in grief and dread, "O my lord, give her the living child,
and in no wise slay it."
Then Solomon saw in a moment which was full of mother's love, and which
was full of hatred and jealousy; so he said, "Give _her_ the living
child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof." And so
the true loving mother had her child safe and well, and the other was
disappointed in her spite.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Solomon? 2. Who came before him? 8. What had happened to
one baby? 4. What did both the women say? 5. What had Solomon to
decide? 6. What did he command? 7. Did he really mean to kill the
child? 8. But what did he want to find out? 9. What did one woman say?
10. What did the other woman say? 11. Which was the real mother? 12.
What did Solomon command? 13. Would not the loving mother rather give
the child away than have it killed?
[Illustration]
Twenty-fifth Sunday.
_SOLOMON'S FALL._
FIRST READING.
"All the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had
put in his heart."--_1 Kings 10:24._
KING Solomon was the greatest king in wisdom and riches who ever lived.
He had an ivory throne with golden lions standing on the steps, and
a beautiful house lined with sweet cedar-wood. He sent ships which
brought home gold and silver, and apes and peacocks; and it was said
that gold was as common as silver generally is, and silver as common as
stones!
All people honored him, and the Queen of Sheba came from her far-off
country to see him, because of the fame of his greatness. And when she
saw him she was quite overcome, and said that all she heard was not
half so grand and glorious as what she saw. Very happy, she said, were
the people who stood round him and heard the words of his wisdom.
We have the words of his wisdom in the Book of Proverbs in the Bible,
for his wisdom came from God. And though we shall never see his purple
robes or his gold and silver, do you know what our blessed Saviour
said?--"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil
not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in
all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
[Illustration: THE QUEEN OF SHEBA VISITING SOLOMON.--1 Kings 10:6-10.]
The least little flower, if you look well into it, is more beautiful
than anything King Solomon ever wore, for God made it; and he could
only put things together that were made already.
QUESTIONS.
1. Why was Solomon so rich? 2. Whose son was he? 3. What had he built?
4. When he had built the House of God what did he build? 5. What sort
of throne had he? 6. What were the steps? 7. Who came to see him? 8.
What did she say of him? 9. Where have we got his wisdom? 10. What do
we call it? 11. What did our blessed Saviour say about him? 12. What
have we got which are more beautiful than Solomon's robes? 13. Why are
flowers more beautiful than Solomon's robes?
SECOND READING.
"Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their
iniquity with stripes."--_Psalm 89:32._
IT is very sad to say that as Solomon grew old he left off being good.
He married a great many wives, and brought them from the heathen
nations round; and he did not teach them to worship the true God, but
let them worship each in her own way.
[Illustration: IDOLATRY OF SOLOMON.--1 Kings 11:4.]
So, out in his gardens, one lady had her idol to the moon, and another
had hers to the dreadful idol Milcom, and so on; and though Solomon
knew so much better, even he was persuaded to come and pay honor to
these idols, just to please these women--he, the son of David, whom God
had blessed so much.
And what the king did the people were sure to do. So God spake to
Solomon, and told him that since he had fallen away from the right
way, he must be punished, and that ten out of the twelve tribes would
be taken away and not belong to his kingdom.
[Illustration: REVOLT OF THE TRIBES.--1 Kings 12:16, 17.]
It was not to happen in his own time, but in his son's time, but it
must have been very sad to him to know that his beautiful kingdom and
great power were to be so lessened, and that his son Rehoboam was a
very foolish young man, who would spoil everything. But he was not to
lose all, only part, for the sake of the holy King David, to whom God
had promised that his throne should last for ever.
QUESTIONS.
1. What wrong did Solomon do? 2. Where did his wives come from? 3.
What did they want to worship? 4. Did Solomon let them? 5. What did he
do himself? 6. Why was this wrong? 7. What is the First Commandment?
8. What did God tell Solomon? 9. How was he to be punished? 10. How
many tribes were to be lost? 11. How many were to be kept? 12. Why
were any to be left? 13. What had God promised David? 14. In whose
time was the trouble to come? 15. What was the name of Solomon's son?
THIRD READING.
"I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand."--_1 Kings 11:35._
THERE was a strong brave man of the tribe of Ephraim, named Jeroboam,
and God sent his prophet to speak to him. Jeroboam had a new mantle
on, and the prophet took it and tore it into twelve pieces, and gave
Jeroboam ten of them.
Then the prophet said this was to show how God was going to tear away
ten tribes from Rehoboam, the grandson of David, and give them to
Jeroboam, because Solomon was bringing idols in to be worshipped. And
he told Jeroboam that all should go well with him, and he would be a
great king, and his sons after him, if he would go on serving the Lord,
and the Lord only, and would keep from idols.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was to be taken from Solomon's son? 2. What was the name of
Solomon's son? 3. Who was to have the tribes? 4. Who told Jeroboam so?
5. What sign did the prophet give? 6. What was torn? 7. Of how many
tribes would Rehoboam be king? 8. Of how many would Jeroboam be king?
9. Why were any taken from Rehoboam? 10. Why were any left? 11. What
does the Second Commandment say? 12. How long would Jeroboam go on
well?
[Illustration]
Twenty-sixth Sunday.
_THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL._
FIRST READING.
"This thing became a sin."--_1 Kings 12:30._
SOLOMON'S son was named Rehoboam. He was foolish and hasty; and when
his father's wise old men gave him good advice he would not listen to
them, but only cared for his young friends, who were as foolish as
himself. So when the Israelites came to him to ask him not to be hard
upon them, and make them bring him so much corn and so many sheep, the
old men told him to answer them kindly and gently, but the young men
said he had better be fierce and sharp. So he followed the young men's
advice, and made a very unkind answer.
This made them all so angry that they said they would not have him for
their king any longer; but they took Jeroboam, a brave strong man of
the tribe of Ephraim, and made him their king. Only two tribes still
held steady to Rehoboam. These were the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
God left him these, because of the promise that King David's sons
should go on sitting on his throne. But ten of the tribes had made
Jeroboam their king; so that now there were two kingdoms--a large one
called Israel, and a small one called Judah.
This was because Solomon had let his heart turn away from God, and had
not taken pains to keep his people holy, but had cared more for riches,
and power, and glory. But Jeroboam did not take pains to serve God. He
set up two calves, made of gold, for the Israelites to worship, instead
of going to the Temple.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Solomon? 2. Who was his son? 3. Whom did Rehoboam like
best? 4. What did his people ask? 5. What did the old men advise? 6.
What did the young men advise? 7. Whose advice did he take? 8. What
answer did he give? 9. What did the Israelites do? 10. Whom did they
make their king? 11. How many kingdoms were there? 13. How many tribes
made up Israel? 14. Who was king of Judah? 15. Who was king of Israel?
16. Why did not Rehoboam lose all? 17. What had God promised David?
18. Why did Rehoboam lose any? 19. What foolish answer did he make?
20. What idols did he set up?
SECOND READING.
"I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee."--_1 Kings 13:16._
IT is a sad story that you hear to-day. There was a man who was called
a prophet, because God spoke to him, and used to send him to declare
His will to the people.
Once God called this prophet, and told him to go to a place called
Bethel, where the wicked king of Israel, Jeroboam, had set up a golden
idol in the shape of a calf, and was teaching the people to pray to
it, instead of going to the Temple at Jerusalem to worship. He was to
tell the king of his sin, and how his idol should be overthrown and
destroyed; and when he had done this, he was to come home at once, by a
different way, and neither eat bread nor drink water, but come quickly
back.
The prophet went to Bethel, and he spoke God's words to the king
boldly; and when the king put out his hand to strike him God struck the
hand, so that Jeroboam could not draw it back till the prophet prayed
for him. Then Jeroboam felt God's power, and wanted the prophet to come
to his palace with him. But the prophet said no; for God had commanded
him to go home at once, without eating or drinking in that wicked
place. So he set off.
He had so far done well; but before he had gone all the way he grew
tired, and he sat down under an oak. It was a great pity that he
delayed, for there was a bad man coming after him with a lie upon his
lips. This man told the prophet that God had said he was to come back
and eat and drink; and I am grieved to say the prophet listened, and
turned back.
He ought to have known that God would have told him Himself if he was
to go back; but he did not think--he did what pleased himself, not what
pleased God; and he went back to feast with this stranger. But God's
anger came upon him. When he went back in the evening, a lion came out
of the wood and killed him.
The lion did not kill the ass he rode upon, nor tear the body, and the
ass did not run away from the lion; but the lion and ass both stood by
the dead prophet till--who do you think found him? The very man who had
tempted him to do wrong! Must not that have been a terrible sight?
QUESTIONS.
1. What had God told the prophet to do? 2. What had He told him not to
do? 3. What was the first wrong thing the prophet did? 4. What harm
came of his lingering? 5. How did he disobey? 6. What was his sad end?
7. Who found him lying dead? 8. What were standing by him? 9. Why
did he come to this sad death? 10. How did he fall in the way of the
wicked man? 11. What is the way to fall in with bad people? 12. Then
how should you always go on messages, or to school? 13. Is it enough
to mind only half what you are told?
[Illustration: THE QUEEN OF SHEBA VISITING SOLOMON.]
THIRD READING.
"The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil
fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth."--_1
Kings 17:14._
IT is very sad to say, but the Israelites went on getting more fond of
idols, and would not worship God. They grew so wicked that at last He
punished them, to teach them who sent the rain and did them good.
He would not let it rain for three whole years. No rain by day, no dew
by night! The corn would not grow, the grass dried up, and all the
streams were nothing but stones; so that there was nothing to eat or to
drink, and everyone was in sad distress.
[Illustration: ELIJAH FED BY THE RAVENS.--1 Kings 17:5, 6.]
There was one good man, a prophet, called Elijah, and God took care of
him. He sent him to a lonely place, by the side of a little mountain
stream, where there still was water to drink; and every morning and
evening there came two ravens, who were sent by God, to bring him
bread and flesh. That was a great miracle, or wonder, which God worked
to feed His prophet.
In time the brook dried up, and then God sent Elijah to a town called
Zarephath. There Elijah saw a poor woman gathering sticks, and he asked
her to give him a bit of something to eat. But the poor widow woman
said she had nothing for herself and her son but a handful of meal and
a little oil, and she was going to make a cake of it, and bake it with
a fire of her sticks; and that was the last she could get, so they must
die of hunger after they had finished.
[Illustration: THE WIDOW'S SON RESTORED TO LIFE.--1 Kings 17:21, 22.]
But Elijah still told her to make him a little cake first, for he
said, "Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not
waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord
sendeth rain upon the earth."
And the woman believed him, and gave him a bit of her last cake. And it
was as he said. There was always meal and oil enough to feed them day
by day: the widow, and her son, and the prophet, went on living on the
meal every day, for God fed them.
At last the child fell sick and died; and his mother grieved for him.
But Elijah laid the child on his bed, and prayed to God to have mercy
on the widow: and God had mercy. The little child's soul came back, and
he was alive again; and Elijah gave him to his mother.
Are not these three great wonders of God's goodness? God does not let
us see miracles now, as He did in those times, because we are taught to
believe in Him without them. But He still takes care of us. He takes
care that if we trust to Him, and pray to Him, we shall have our food
every day. And if we are ready to give what we want ourselves away to
one who needs it, He will make it up to us, and take care of us all
the more. And though no one is brought to life now who has died, yet
God often gives us back our friends when they have been very ill; and
we know that we shall all rise up from the dead and live with God for
ever, at a greater call than Elijah's.
QUESTIONS.
1. What is a miracle? 2. How many miracles have you been hearing of?
3. For whom were they worked? 4. Who worked them? 5. What were the
three miracles? 6. Why was it a miracle that the ravens fed Elijah?
7. Why did the ravens bring Elijah the food instead of eating it
themselves? 8. What was the next miracle? 9. How came the widow always
to have enough? 10. How did she show that she was worthy to have a
wonder worked for her? 11. Why was God pleased with her? 12. What more
did God do for her son? 13. Who prayed for him? 14. How could you try
to be like the good widow? 15. What is the way to be helped? 16. What
do you ask God to give you every day?
[Illustration]
Twenty-seventh Sunday.
_ELIJAH AND AHAB._
FIRST READING.
"The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God."--_1 Kings 18:39._
YOU heard last Sunday how sadly the Israelites were behaving when they
prayed to a golden calf. They had a still worse idol afterwards. His
name was Baal; and they wanted to worship him instead of the true God.
To-day there is a beautiful chapter that I hardly like to put into my
own poor words. Listen to it well in church, and you will hear how
wonderful it is.
There were four hundred prophets, as they called themselves, who
worshipped Baal, and only one real prophet who worshipped the Lord
God. This prophet was named Elijah. He called all the people to a high
mountain, and said they should see who was the true God. He said he
would build one altar, and that the four hundred prophets should build
another; they should each offer a sacrifice, and each should pray to
his god, and the God that sent fire to burn the sacrifice would be the
true God.
The prophets of Baal tried first. They built their altar and put wood
on it, and killed a bullock and cut it up, and they prayed to their god
Baal to send fire down. But he was no god--he was nothing at all; and
though they cried and shouted, and leaped about, and even cut their own
flesh in their rage, not a spark of fire came.
Then Elijah made his sacrifice. And he did a strange thing; for he had
water poured all over it, till all the wood was streaming wet--and you
know water always put out fire--so how was it ever to be burnt? He even
made a trench round, and filled that with water too. Then he knelt
down, and prayed that the Lord God in heaven would show His power, and
make the people know that no one else was God.
[Illustration: ELIJAH SLAYING THE PROPHETS OF BAAL.--1 Kings 18:39, 40.]
And down from heaven came the fire! It was not stopped by the water!
No, it dried that up in a moment, and burnt the wood, and consumed the
sacrifice! And all the Israelites fell on their faces, and cried out,
"The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God!" For only the Lord
God is Almighty, and can do wonders.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who is the prophet we read of to-day? 2. What wicked thing were the
Israelites doing? 3. What is the First Commandment? 4. What was the
name of the false god? 5. How many prophets were there for Baal? 6.
Who only spoke up for the true God? 7. What did Elijah say they would
try? 8. How would they know which was the real God? 9. What happened
when Baal's people prayed to him? 10. Why did not Baal send them any
fire? 11. What did Elijah do to his sacrifice? 12. Whom did he pray
to? 13. What came down from heaven? 14. What became of all the water
that Elijah had poured out? 15. Why did not the water stop the fire?
16. What did all the people cry out? 17. What word in the Belief means
that God can do everything?
SECOND READING.
"A still small voice."--_1 Kings 19:12._
AFTER the Israelites had called out, "The Lord, He is the God!" and
owned that Baal was nothing but an idol, God had mercy on them, and
sent them rain again; and their famine was over.
But King Ahab's wife, whose name was Jezebel, was a heathen woman, and
she would worship Baal, and did not choose to believe in the true God.
And she was very angry with Elijah, and sent men out everywhere to put
him to death. Elijah was obliged to flee far away for fear of her; and
he went out into the wilderness, and sat down under a juniper tree; and
there he was so sad, to think that all he had done was of no use, that
he requested for himself that he might die, for he could do no more
good with these wicked people.
Then he went to sleep; and when he woke an angel was by him, with a
cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water; and the angel bade him
rise and eat, for the journey was too great for him.
It was a great journey, for he was to go all the way to the Mount of
God, where God had spoken to Moses. And there he stood in a cave; and
a voice came and asked, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" Then he told
how the Israelites had forsaken their God, and killed the prophets, and
"I, even I only, am left," he said; "and they seek my life to take it
away." Then God showed him His wonders.
First a great strong wind came rushing by--but the Lord was not in the
wind. Then there was an earthquake, that broke the rocks in pieces--but
the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a
fire--but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, a still
small Voice.
Then Elijah wrapped his face in his mantle, and stood in the entrance
of the cave, to hear what God would say to him. And God told him he was
not all alone, as he thought; for there were many good men still left
who had never bowed the knee to Baal, nor deserted the God of their
fathers. And God sent him back to return to his work among the people
of Israel, and not to think that there was no hope because he could not
see it; nor to think he was left alone because he had no friends near
him that he could see.
QUESTIONS.
1. How long was there no rain in the land of Israel? 2. Why was there
no rain? 3. Who told the Israelites of their wickedness? 4. What
wonder showed who was the real God? 5. What did the Israelites cry
out? 6. Who was the Israelite king? 7. Who was Ahab's wicked wife? 8.
What did she want to do to Elijah? 9. Where did Elijah flee to? 10.
Who came to feed him? 11. Where did he go? 12. What had been given on
the Mount of God? 13. What was said to Elijah? 14. Why was Elijah so
sad?
THIRD READING.
"He laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would
eat no bread."--_1 Kings 21:4._
YOU learn in the Catechism to say, "Thou shalt not covet." Coveting
means wishing very much for what we ought not to have; and God tells
us not to covet, because all faults begin in bad wishes. Now you shall
hear what shocking sin one wish led to.
King Ahab had a grand garden, and he wanted to make it bigger; but the
next piece of ground belonged to a poor man named Naboth. Ahab asked
Naboth to sell him his ground; but Naboth said it had come to him from
his father, and must go to his son, and he could not sell it. Then Ahab
coveted, and lay on his bed and would not eat--caring for nothing but
the bit of ground he could not get.
Now Ahab had a cruel, wicked wife; and when she saw her husband
grieving about Naboth's ground she was determined to get it for him.
So she had two very bad men set on to say that poor Naboth had been
wicked, and must be put to death.
They bore false witness against him, and broke the Ninth Commandment
when they did so; and then, worst of all, this poor innocent man was
really put to death for the crime he had never done--and that was
murder, which breaks the Sixth Commandment. Then Jezebel called Ahab,
and told him he might go and take possession of the ground that he
wanted: there was nobody to hinder him. But he never had any pleasure
in it.
When he went to it, there stood God's great Prophet Elijah, ready to
meet him. And Elijah told him how very angry God was with him and
with Jezebel, and that they should be terribly punished for their
cruel behavior to this innocent man. Then Ahab was sorry, and wept and
grieved for the cruel thing that had been done; but all his sorrow
could not bring Naboth back to life again. And oh! how grieved he must
have been that he had not kept his wishes in order!--for almost all our
faults begin in a wish.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who is the king we hear of to-day? 2. Who is the bad queen? 3. Who
is the poor man? 4. What did Ahab want? 5. Why should not Naboth let
Ahab have the ground? 6. How did Ahab behave when he could not get
the ground? 7. Who said he should have it? 8. How did Jezebel get
Naboth put to death? 9. Who met Ahab? 10. What did Elijah tell him?
11. What had Ahab done wrong? 12. What Commandment tells you not to
covet? 13. What is coveting? 14. What Commandment tells us not to tell
untrue things of other people? 15. Say the Ninth Commandment. 16.
What Commandment was broken by putting Naboth to death? 17. How many
Commandments were broken?
Twenty-eighth Sunday.
_ELIJAH AND ELISHA._
FIRST READING.
"A certain man drew a bow at a venture."--_1 Kings 22:34._
[Illustration]
WHEN Ahab had let Naboth be stoned that he might get his vineyard, the
Prophet Elijah said that Ahab would be greatly punished, and that where
the dogs licked up Naboth's blood there they would lick up Ahab's; and
that cruel Jezebel should be eaten up by dogs, so that no one could
say, This is Jezebel.
Some time after, Ahab went out to fight a battle. He was afraid,
because his conscience troubled him, and he thought he should be safer
if he did not go out to fight dressed like a king, for he knew the
enemies would all come and try to kill him if they saw him in his
robes. But he dressed only like a common captain, and thought they
would take no notice, and he would be safe. He forgot that if the enemy
did not know him God knew him, and that God could see it was Ahab just
as well in his common dress as in his robes and crown.
So a man drew his bow, not shooting at anybody in particular; but God's
will guided the arrow, and it wounded Ahab so badly that he desired
to be taken out of the battle, and he died before he could be carried
home. His chariot was full of his blood, and his servants washed it in
the place where Naboth had been stoned to death; and the wild hungry
dogs came and licked up the blood, just as they had licked up Naboth's
blood. So you see no hiding could get away from God.
[Illustration: THE DEATH OF KING AHAB.--1 Kings 22:34.]
QUESTIONS.
1. What did God say was to happen to Ahab? 2. What was to happen to
Jezebel? 3. What did Ahab go out to do? 4. How did he dress himself?
5. Why did not Ahab dress like a king? 6. From whom did he want to
hide? 7. But who knew him all the time? 8. How was he wounded? 9. Did
the man mean to hit Ahab? 10. How came Ahab to be hit? 11. What was
done with him? 12. Where was his chariot washed? 13. What licked up
his blood? 14. Who had said the dogs should lick his blood? 15. Why?
16. Why did Ahab let Naboth be killed? 17. Who was angry with Ahab?
18. Can we hide from God's anger?
SECOND READING.
"My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen
thereof."--_2 Kings 2:12._
THE time had come when God was about to call away His great Prophet
Elijah. And it was not as other men are taken from this earth, by dying
and being buried, while their souls go away to the God who gave them.
No; Elijah went out and visited all the schools, where young men and
boys were being trained to sing God's praise; and Elisha, who was his
scholar and his friend, went with him.
[Illustration: ELIJAH TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN.--2 Kings 2:11.]
When they came to the bank of the river Jordan, Elijah took his mantle
and rolled it up, and struck the waters of the stream with it, and they
parted, and left a way for Elijah and Elisha to go over dry-footed.
Then Elijah said, "Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away
from thee." And Elisha said, "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy
Spirit be upon me."
And while they were talking together, there came a great wonder from
heaven: a chariot and horses, all bright and glowing like fire; and
Elijah was parted from his friend, and went up into heaven upon a
whirlwind. Elisha stood watching, crying out, "My father, my father,
the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof;" as if he knew not
what he said. And Elijah, as he went up, threw down his mantle; and
Elisha took it up and went his way, much wondering, and full of awe.
And when he came to the river Jordan, he took the mantle, rolled up,
and smote the waters, and they parted again, so that he went through
with dry feet. And when the young men in the school of the prophets met
him, they saw in his face and manner that the same Spirit which had
been on Elijah was on him, and they bowed themselves before him.
Only one other man was ever taken up to heaven without dying, and he
was Enoch, who lived before the Flood. Our blessed Lord ascended into
Heaven; but He went up, He was not taken, and it was after He had died
and risen again.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Elijah? 2. Who was his friend? 3. Where did they go
together? 4. How did they get across the river? 5. What did Elisha
ask? 6. What appeared to them? 7. What happened to Elijah? 8. What
did he let fall? 9. Who was to be prophet in his stead? 10. What did
Elisha cry out? 11. What did he do with Elijah's mantle? 12. What
other man was taken up like this? 13. When did Enoch live? 14. Who
only ascended into heaven?
THIRD READING.
"It is well."--_2 Kings 4:26._
ELISHA was the prophet for Israel instead of Elijah. Now there was a
good woman who saw him go by, and she said she would make a little room
for him by the wall of her house, and put in a bed, and a table, and
a stool, and a lamp, so that he could go and rest there whenever he
pleased. When Elisha saw it he was pleased, and told her that if she
wished for anything very much he would pray God to give it to her. She
answered that she dwelt among her own people, and wanted for nothing.
But she had no child; and Elisha prayed for her, and God blessed her
for her kindness to His servant, and by-and-by she had a son.
[Illustration: THE SHUNAMITE'S SON RESTORED.--2 Kings 4:36, 37.]
But when he had grown into a boy, he went into the fields with his
father to see the harvest, and the heat of the sun struck on his head
so that he cried out, "My head, my head!" And his father said, "Carry
him to his mother." But she could do him no good; he sat on her knees
till noon, and then died.
She did not stop to weep; she had her ass saddled, and rode away to
seek for the man of God. And by-and-by she met him on the way, and she
knelt down before him and held him by his feet. Then he knew how it
was, and he bade his servant Gehazi take his staff, and hasten on, and
never rest till he had laid it on the child's face. Gehazi did so, but
there was no voice nor any answer. So he went back and met his master,
and said, "The child is not awaked."
Then Elisha came in, and found the child lying dead on his own bed.
Then he stretched himself on the boy, and prayed to God that the soul
might come back to the little one. And at last God granted the prayer,
and the child's flesh grew warm; and Elisha prayed again, and the child
sneezed seven times as his breath came back, and he opened his eyes!
Then the mother was called, and the child was given back to her; and
she bowed herself to the ground, and gave thanks to God and His prophet.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was prophet instead of Elijah? 2. What had become of Elijah? 3.
Who made a room for Elisha? 4. What did she put in it? 5. What joy did
God give to her? 6. What great grief? 7. What caused the boy's death?
8. What did his mother do? 9. What order did Elisha give? 10. Could
Gehazi do anything? 11. What did Elisha do? 12. How did God show His
mercy? 13. How did the mother thank God?
[Illustration]
Twenty-ninth Sunday.
_ELISHA'S MIRACLES._
FIRST READING.
"Wash and be clean."--_2 Kings 5:13._
THERE was a poor little girl who was stolen away from her own home in
Israel by Syrian soldiers, and carried far from her mother and friends,
to be a slave. It must have been very sad and lonely; but God lets
nothing happen but for good, and so this poor little captive maid did
great good. Her master was named Naaman. He was the captain of the
army--brave and strong; but he fell ill of a disease that no doctor
could cure, and which would go on getting worse till he would die of it.
The little maid was sorry for him; and though she was all alone in a
heathen land, she had not forgotten about God and His prophets, and
she told her mistress that at home, in Israel, there was a prophet who
could cure her master by God's power.
So Naaman set out in his chariot, and came to the prophet's door. He
thought the prophet would come out, and strike his hand over the place,
and cure him directly--all the more because he was such a great man.
But, instead of that, the prophet sent out word to him that he was to
wash seven times in the River Jordan, and he would be well.
This made Naaman very angry. He thought the bathing in Jordan would do
no good, and that the prophet made light of him; and he turned and went
away in a rage. Then his servants persuaded him. They said, "My father,
if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have
done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be
clean?"
Naaman was wise enough to listen to them. He did go and wash in the
River Jordan, as the prophet bade him; and God gave the water the
power to make him quite well again. Then he came back and thanked the
prophet, and said he would never pray to any god again but to the One
true God, who had healed him.
So you see the little maid did great good to her master, both to his
body and his soul, because she was good, and remembered her God, even
when she was far away from home.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who is the great captain we hear of to-day? 2. What was the matter
with him? 3. Whom did Naaman go to to cure him? 4. From whom did he
hear about the prophet? 5. How came the little maid into Naaman's
house? 6. Who made the prophet able to cure people? 7. Had Naaman been
brought up to worship God? 8. What did he expect the prophet to do to
him? 9. What did the prophet tell him to do? 10. Why did he not like
this? 11. Who persuaded him to try? 12. What did they say he would
have been ready to do? 13. Don't we sometimes wish to do something
grand, rather than just what we are told? 14. But what have we got
to do? 15. What came of Naaman doing as he was told? 16. To whom did
Naaman say he should always pray?
[Illustration]
SECOND READING.
"They that be with us are more than they that be with them."--_2 Kings
6:16._
THE great enemies of the kings of Israel were the Syrians, who lived at
Damascus; but whenever the Syrians made a plan to come and fight with
the Israelites, God made it known to the Prophet Elisha; and he told
King Joram, so that the Israelite soldiers were always ready before
hand to fight with the Syrians. The king of Syria began to think one of
his own men must tell Joram; but they said it was the Prophet Elisha
who told the king of Israel what was said in the most secret chamber of
the king of Syria. Then the Syrians sent an army of men to take Elisha
at Dothan, and kill him.
They came by night, and when Elisha's servant looked out in the
morning, he saw horses and chariots all round the place. He was afraid,
and cried out "Alas, my master! how shall we do?" But Elisha said to
him, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be
with them." And he prayed that the young man's eyes might be opened
that he might see: and so they were--to see the whole mountain round
about full of chariots of fire and horses of fire; many, many more than
the Syrians had, and all come to take care of Elisha.
And God made the Syrians unable to see that Elisha was before them, and
he led them all the way to Samaria, and put them before King Joram as
his prisoners. Joram wanted to put them to death, but Elisha would not
let him, and they were all sent safe home, and did not come back as
enemies for a long time. And we know that, though we cannot see them,
God's angels are still in great armies encamped all round about those
who fear Him, to deliver them.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who were the enemies of the kings of Israel? 2. Who always told the
plans of the Syrians? 3. How did Elisha know? 4. What did the king of
Syria want to do? 5. When did his army come? 6. Who was frightened? 7.
What did Elisha say? 8. Who were those who were with them? 9. Who are
always round about those who fear God? 10. Why, then, need we never be
afraid? 11. What happened to these Syrians? 12. But were they killed?
13. Why not?
THIRD READING.
"This day is a day of good tidings.--_2 Kings 7:9._
IF King Joram had been good he would have had no troubles; but he would
let his mother Jezebel worship her false gods, so God sent the Syrians
against him again. And they came all round Samaria, and shut it in so
close that nobody could get out; and all the food was eaten up, so that
even such food as a donkey's head was so dear that hardly anybody could
buy it, and everyone was getting starved. Joram was so angry, that he
said at last, in his wickedness, he would cut off Elisha's head the
next day.
But Elisha said quietly that to-morrow there would be quantities of
food in the city, so that it would cost almost nothing. One of the
king's lords laughed, and said, "If the Lord should make windows in
heaven, might such a thing be?" "Thou shalt see it with thine eyes,"
said Elisha, "but shalt not eat thereof."
Now, that night the Lord made the Syrians hear a great noise, as if an
army was coming up to help the Israelites. And they were so frightened,
that they all fled away in the night, and left all their tents
standing, and their armor in them, and their stores of food.
In the early morning, three poor leprous men, who could not get any
food in Samaria, crept down to see if the Syrians would give them
anything, or they thought if the Syrians should kill them, that would
be better than being starved. But when they came to the camp there was
nobody there--no soldiers, no horses, only tents full of rich dresses,
and fine armour, and, best of all, plenty of food. The hungry lepers
went and ate, and then they thought they ought to go and tell the
people in the town that all the Syrians were gone.
So the king sent out to see, two men upon lean, starved horses. They
found it was all true, and everybody went rushing out to get food. The
king sent the lord who had laughed at Elisha, to stand in the gate to
keep order; but the people were so very hungry that they did not mind
him, and he was knocked down and trodden upon, and trampled to death:
and so it came to pass that he saw the plenty, but did not eat of it,
because he had mocked at the word of the Lord.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was king of Israel? 2. Who was prophet? 3. What was the chief
town in Israel? 4. Who tried to take it? 5. What was the sad distress
in Samaria? 6. What had they to eat? 7. Whose fault was it? 8. But
whom did Joram want to punish? 9. What did Elisha promise? 10. Who
laughed at him? 11. What did Elisha say? 12. What happened in the
night? 13. What became of the Syrians? 14. Who found it out? 15. What
did the lepers see? 16. Whom did they tell? 17. What did all the
people do? 18. What became of the man who laughed at Elisha? 19. What
is it that makes God angry?
[Illustration]
Thirtieth Sunday.
_THE RUIN OF AHAB'S HOUSE._
FIRST READING.
"What hast thou to do with peace."--_2 Kings 9:18._
[Illustration]
THE Sunday before last you heard how King Ahab was killed in battle,
though he had fancied that he could hide from God. His wife, Queen
Jezebel, was left; and she had always been worse than he was, and she
had brought up her son Joram to be very wicked too. When Joram had
reigned as king for twelve years, God told His Prophet Elijah to send a
young man to anoint a captain called Jehu to be king instead of Joram.
So the young man took some oil, and went to the town where Jehu was,
and said, "I have an errand to thee, O captain." Then he poured the oil
on Jehu's head, and told him that God made him king of Israel.
The other captains were glad to make Jehu king, and they made him sit
on the top of a flight of steps, and blew with their trumpets, and
shouted, "Jehu is king." Then they all set out to conquer King Joram.
Joram had his chariot made ready, and went out in it to meet Jehu; but,
as soon as they came in sight of one another Jehu shot an arrow, and
it struck Joram, so that he sank down in his chariot and died.
Then Jehu went on into the town; and Jezebel thought she would still
try to make friends with the people; so, instead of mourning for her
son, she painted her face, and put on a headdress, and looked out at a
window. Jehu said, "Who is on my side? who?" And some of the servants
looked out. He said, "Throw her down." So the servants threw Jezebel
out of the window, and her blood sprinkled on Jehu's horses. But he
went on, and went into the palace, and was made king, and had a feast.
[Illustration: JEZEBEL EATEN BY DOGS.--2 Kings 9:32, 33.]
Then he sent out, and said that he would have Jezebel buried, for she
was a king's daughter. However, when his men went out to look for her,
they found that the wild dogs that ran about the streets had eaten up
every bit of her, so that there was nothing left of her but her skull
and her feet, and the palms of her hands.
You remember that God's prophet Elijah, had told Ahab that the dogs
should eat Jezebel, because she was so cruel. She worshipped idols,
and killed God's prophets, and had poor Naboth put to death that Ahab
might have his vineyard. So God punished her. People need not hope that
God will not punish what they have done wrong, for He will be quite
sure to punish unless they are very sorry, and pray to Him, to pardon
them for Jesus Christ's sake.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Ahab? 2. Who was Jezebel? 3. What wicked things had they
done? 4. What had the prophet told them? 5. What had become of Ahab?
6. Who was king after Ahab? 7. How long was Joram king? 8. Whom did
God choose to punish Jezebel and Joram? 9. Who was sent to tell
Jehu? 10. What is anointing? 11. Who did you hear of before who was
anointed? 12. What did the other captains do to Jehu? 13. Who came out
to meet him? 14. What did Jehu do to Joram? 15. What did Jezebel do?
16. What became of Jezebel? 17. What was left of Jezebel? 18. Why did
she come to such a shocking end? 19. What does God do to sinners? 20.
Does He always punish them at once? 21. Does he forget? 22. What must
be done if we would not be punished?
SECOND READING.
"Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel."--_2 Kings 10:28._
WHEN that fierce soldier, Jehu, was made king, the men of Israel cut
off the heads of all Ahab's sons and grandsons, and made them up into
two heaps at the city gates; and all the people who worshipped Baal
were shut up in his temple, and every one of them killed. It is very
sad and terrible; but God had commanded that people who prayed to
idols should not live, because they taught the rest of the Israelites
to be wicked too. When we hear about it, we must recollect that it is
a fearful thing to turn away from serving God, and that He is sure to
punish those who will not worship Him.
You are not likely to pray to an idol; but I hope you do say your
prayers night and morning, and mind them as you say them. Not saying
our prayers, and not going to church, is turning away from God; and it
would be very sad and ungrateful to do that, for God has done much more
for us than He did for the Israelites, and we know more about Him than
they did.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who came to punish them? 2. What was done with the heads of the
princes? 3. What was done to the worshippers of Baal? 4. Why were they
put to death? 5. What Commandment did these worshippers of Baal break?
6. What is the First Commandment? 7. Whom must we worship? 8. When do
we worship Him? 9. Must we go without saying our prayers?
THIRD READING.
"The arrow of the Lord's deliverance."--_2 Kings 13:17._
ELISHA grew to be a very old man, and when at last he fell sick and was
near his death, the king of Israel, whose name was Joash, came and kept
by his bed-side.
Elisha said, "Open the window eastward;" and he opened it. Then Elisha
said, "Shoot;" and Joash took his bow and shot an arrow. And Elisha
said, "The arrow of the Lord's deliverance." Then he said, "Take the
arrows; smite upon the ground."
Joash struck three times on the ground, but he did not go on striking,
for he did not think enough of God and His prophet to understand that
if he obeyed Elisha God would bless him. So Elisha told him if he had
struck many times, he would have had a great many victories over the
Syrians, but as he had only struck three times, he would only have
three victories. For it is when people begin by obeying in little
things that God gives them a great deal.
Then the great Prophet Elisha died, and was buried; and Joash beat
the Syrians three times, but no more, because he had not believed and
obeyed.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was dying? 2. Who came to see Elisha? 3. What did Elisha tell
Joash to do? 4. What did he call the arrow? 5. What did he bid Joash
do then? 6. How many times did Joash strike the ground? 7. What ought
he to have done? 8. Why did he not? 9. What did Elisha promise him?
10. Why did not he have more victories? 11. If we want to do great
things, how must we do little things?
[Illustration: A CITY CAPTURED AND THE INHABITANTS LED AWAY CAPTIVE.]
Thirty-first Sunday.
_HEZEKIAH AND JOSIAH._
FIRST READING.
"He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord."--_2 Kings
18:3._
YOU have heard of many bad kings. There is a good king to tell you
of at last--good King Hezekiah. He cared for nothing so much as to
please God. He would not have any idols, but he cleared them all away,
and had the holy Temple all set to rights, and made beautiful as God
had commanded; and he had all the services at the Temple at the right
times, and used to go and pray there himself constantly. And he did all
he could to make his people good too.
But there came a great danger. There was a king of Assyria named
Sennacherib, who had quantities of soldiers and horses and chariots,
and he used to conquer towns, and carry all the people in them away to
live far from home. He thought he would seize Hezekiah and his people
in this way, and he did come and do much harm all over the country.
He did not come at once to Jerusalem; but he sent three boasting men,
with an army, to stand outside the walls, and call out to the people
inside, that Sennacherib was coming to conquer them and carry them
away, and that they need not believe their king Hezekiah when he said
that God would help them, for no god had ever yet saved a country from
Sennacherib.
Hezekiah's people were terribly afraid. Some wanted him to get help
from the king of Egypt; but Hezekiah knew that God had forbidden him
to have anything to do with the Egyptians. He knew that God could help
him, and that the way to be helped was to do just what God told him.
So, though Sennacherib had so many men, and he had so few, and the
Egyptians had plenty of soldiers and horses, he made sure that God
could save him much better than any Egyptian of them all.
Next Sunday morning you will hear what happened.
[Illustration: RABSACES BEFORE SENNACHERIB.]
QUESTIONS.
1. Who is the good king we hear of to-day? 2. What did he clear away?
3. What Commandment did he keep? 4. Where did he go and pray? 5. Who
was his enemy? 6. What message did Sennacherib send to the people of
Jerusalem? 7. Where did the people want Hezekiah to send for help? 8.
Why would not Hezekiah send for help from Egypt? 9. To whom did he
trust?
SECOND READING.
"Thou art the God, even Thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth:
Thou hast made heaven and earth."--_Isaiah 37:16._
HEZEKIAH was king of Jerusalem. He was very good, and always served God
and prayed to Him. But a great fierce king named Sennacherib brought
an army into his land, and ruined all his towns and villages except
Jerusalem, and shut up Hezekiah in his town, so that his people could
not dare to come out.
And Sennacherib wrote a letter to tell Hezekiah that it was no use to
hope to escape, he was coming to take away the Jews and ruin Jerusalem;
and this wicked man even said that Hezekiah need not think that his God
would save him, for no nation had ever yet been saved by its gods, so
the God of Hezekiah could not help him.
HEZEKIAH'S PRAYER.
In his great distress Hezekiah went up to the Temple, and told God all
his trouble. And he said, "Thou art the God, even Thou alone, of all
the kingdoms of the earth: Thou hast made heaven and earth." He said he
knew the gods of those nations could not save them, for they were no
gods, only wood and stone; but he trusted that God would save him and
his people, though they were far too weak to defend themselves against
this terrible king and his people.
God heard the good king's prayer, and sent him a promise that his enemy
should not even come before Jerusalem, nor shoot one arrow at it. And
God kept His word. The fierce soldiers of Sennacherib all lay down to
sleep one night, but they never woke up again. God sent His angel, with
a deadly blast, and all the army that wanted to destroy His people died
in one single night.
It was because they and their king had fancied God could not save His
people, that they died. And it was because Hezekiah prayed to the Lord
and tried to be good and holy, that no one could hurt him. Now try to
do like Hezekiah. If you are vexed, or if you are afraid, tell God all
about it, and ask Him to help you. And He will be quite sure to hear
and help you, if you will only speak to Him and tell Him what is in
your heart.
[Illustration: THE ANGEL SLAYING THE ASSYRIANS.--2 Kings 19:35.]
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Hezekiah? 2. What kind of king was he? 3. Who wanted to
hurt him? 4. What did Sennacherib mean to do? 5. What had he done to
other cities? 6. What very wicked thing did Sennacherib say? 7. Where
did Hezekiah go in his distress? 8. To whom did he pray? 9. Why did
he say the other cities had not been saved by their gods? 10. What
commandment tells us not to have gods of wood and stone? 11. What
did Hezekiah ask God to do? 12. What did God promise? 13. And what
happened to the soldiers of Sennacherib? 14. Who slew them? 15. Why
were these people slain? 16. Why was Hezekiah safe? 17. What did he do
that he might be saved? 18. How can you do like Hezekiah? 19. What may
you tell God about? 20. What will He be sure to hear? 21. And if you
pray to Him, what will He do for you?
THIRD READING.
"Like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the
Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his
might."--_2 Kings 23:25._
THERE is one more good king to tell you about, whose name was Josiah.
He was great-grandson to good King Hezekiah. The two kings who had come
between Josiah's grandfather and father, had both been very bad men.
His grandfather repented when he fell into trouble, and God forgave
him; but his father never repented, and died in his wickedness when
Josiah was only eight years old. But Josiah was very different. He made
his people break down their idols, and clear out the Temple of the
unholy things they had brought in, and worship God rightly once more.
THE BOOK OF THE LAW OF MOSES.
While they were cleaning out the Temple, they found a book that nobody
knew--the Book of the Law of Moses--that is, the first five books in
the Bible. All the time of these two bad kings nobody had minded it, or
read it; it had been lost, and everyone had forgotten all about it.
When Josiah knew what it was, and that it was the Law that God had
spoken to Moses, he made the priests read it to him and all his people.
They were very much frightened when they heard it; for they found they
were doing all the very things that God had said He would punish them
for, and turn them out of their good land.
So Josiah sent to a holy prophetess to ask her whether, if they
left off their sins, and were very sorry, and prayed with all their
might, God would still forgive them. But God told her to answer that
the people had done so wrong, and grown so wicked, that now their
punishment must come; but that, as Josiah's heart was tender, and he
loved God, it should not happen in his time, and that he should be
quietly buried with his fathers. And, after years of goodness, Josiah
was killed in a battle, and all his people mourned over him.
But they had not been really good, they only pretended, just to please
him, and went back to their wicked ways, in spite of all the pains he
had taken with them; and his own sons were as bad as the rest. So the
punishment was obliged to come.
[Illustration: THE BOOK OF THE LAW FOUND.--2 Kings 22:10, 11.]
What I wish you to mind to-day is how these people lost their Book of
the Law for want of attending to it. If you have not got a Bible of
your own, I dare say you soon will have one. And then, pray, do not do
like these people of Israel. Do not let it lie by till you forget to
look at it, and forget what is in it, and then forget even where it is.
If you do, you will grow as bad as these people were, and God will be
forced to punish you as He was forced to punish them.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Josiah? 2. How many kings were there between him and
Hezekiah? 3. What sort of kings were they? 4. What kind of person was
Josiah? 5. How old was he when he began to reign? 6. What did he have
cleaned out? 7. What did they find there? 8. Who gave the Law? 9. What
was to happen if it was not kept? 10. How had it been lost? 11. What
did Josiah cause the priests to do? 12. Why was he frightened? 13.
What did he ask? 15. But why did the people deserve to be punished?
16. What did they do as soon as Josiah was dead? 17. What came of
forgetting their Bibles? 18. Ought we to forget our Bibles? 19. If we
never read them, can we be good? 20. And if we are not good, what must
be done to us?
[Illustration: AN ASSYRIAN KING.]
Thirty-second Sunday.
_JEHOIAKIM'S CRUELTY._
FIRST READING.
"I speak unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not
hear."--_Jer. 22:21._
JOSIAH was the last good king. In his time God called Jeremiah, when he
was only a young boy about twelve years old, to be His prophet; and all
the time Josiah reigned Jeremiah was teaching the people God's will,
while Josiah was doing all he could to help them to do right and serve
the Lord.
But the Jews did not heed either the king or the prophet--they only
longed after their idols. Even Josiah's own sons would not be good,
after they had been brought up by such a holy father; but no sooner was
he killed in battle, than they went back to all the bad ways that he
had put an end to.
The eldest son, Jehoahaz, only reigned three months. Then God let the
king of Egypt take him away; and the Prophet Jeremiah says that it was
far sadder for him to go away a captive, and never see his home again,
than for good Josiah to be in his grave, loved and wept for by all. For
though God had let Josiah die so early, it was in mercy. The people had
grown so wicked that they must be punished, and so he was taken away
from the evil to come. His next son was king after his brother Jehoahaz.
The next brother was king instead. His name was Jehoiakim. One would
have hoped he would have taken warning by his brother's troubles, and
served God better. But no! He did not care to attend to poor people. He
thought he should be safe in a fine house. He sent for large stones,
and had great beams of cedar tree for the roofs, and painted the walls
of his great rooms with scarlet. But he paid no wages to his workmen,
and was cruel to everybody, and had innocent people killed if they made
him angry with them.
[Illustration: JERUSALEM BESIEGED AND PEOPLE TAKEN CAPTIVE.--2 Kings
25:11.]
Only there was one man who was not afraid of this King Jehoiakim. It
was God's prophet Jeremiah. He told the king how little good his fine
house would do; and what was more, he said that when he died nobody
would be sorry for him. They had wept for his father with a great
weeping and many tears; but when the cruel Jehoiakim died nobody would
lament. Nobody would say, "Ah, lord!" or, "Ah, his glory!" but they
would care for him no more than if he was an ass who was being buried.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was the good king you heard of last Sunday evening? 2. What
kind of sons had he? 3. What became of the first? 4. What was he never
to do? 5. What was the name of the second? 6. What did Jehoiakim want
to build? 7. What were the walls of? 8. How was it roofed? 9. How was
it painted? 10. But what did he not pay? 11. How did he treat the
people? 12. Who could have made him quite safe? 13. But how must he
have lived if he wanted God to take care of him? 14. If God did not
take care of him, would his fine house do him any good? 15. Who told
him it would do him no good? 16. What had everyone done when Josiah
died? 17. Why did they weep for Josiah? 18. But would they care when
Jehoiakim died? 19. Why would nobody care for Jehoiakim?
NOTE--The two other Lectionary Lessons for this day are from Nehemiah.
If it be desired to read the "story" on them, it is to be found on
the 39th Sunday, but it was omitted here to prevent chronological
confusion.
[Illustration: ASHTORETH.]
Thirty-third Sunday.
_JEREMIAH'S PROPHECIES._
FIRST READING.
"He reserveth to us the appointed weeks of the harvest."--_Jer. 5:24._
THE chapter to-day is one where God is putting us in mind, by His
Prophet Jeremiah, whom he sent to speak to the wicked kings, that we
ought to remember Him and be thankful to Him. Two of His great mercies
are spoken of here.
If you go and stand on the sea-shore, you see the great wide sea of
waters heaving and moving all over. Then a long wave comes rising up;
it runs on and on, and rises high, falls over in white foam, and breaks
on the sand with a rush. Then another rolling wave comes after it, and
another, and another, each a little higher than the last. They hide the
ground; and if you stood still at the edge of the first, they would
soon carry you off. Stone is hidden after stone, rock after rock, and
you would think all the land would get covered at last. No, there is no
fear of that.
In six hours' time, the waves leave off coming farther and farther;
but each leaves a little bit more ground uncovered, till they have
gone quite back to where they were before, and the beach lies fresh
and shining in the wet. People call this the tide, and know it always
does so; it comes up and goes back at its set times, because God fixed
a line for that fierce sea, and said to it, "Hitherto shalt thou go,
and no farther; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed." And if the
waves dash and roar ever so loud, still they never can get beyond the
bound God fixed for them.
There is the wonder of the sea! Now look at the wonder of the land. All
over the country, the corn stands up tall and brown; or else it has
been cut, and is piled up in shocks; or the wagons are carrying it safe
home! Perhaps you have been gleaning in the fields, and have brought
home your lap full of corn.
[Illustration: THE LORD COMMANDS JEREMIAH.--Jer. 2:16, 17.]
How did we get the corn that is to make us bread? It was because, when
the farmer sowed his grain, God sent rain to make it grow, and caused
the sun to shine, so as to draw up the stalk, and swell the grain in
the ear; and now He hath "reserved to us the appointed weeks of the
harvest." He has given us the glad harvest-time to store up our wheat,
to make bread for all the year. Let us thank Him, and never forget who
gives us bread, nor to say our prayer for daily bread.
QUESTIONS.
1. What do the waves of the sea do every day? 2. What do people call
the coming up of the sea? 3. Need we fear its coming too far? 4. Why
cannot the waves come too far? 5. What did God say to the sea? 6. Who
made the sea? 7. Can you tell me a verse you say or sing at church
about the sea being His? 8. What is it that God gives us every day to
eat? 9. What is bread made of? 10. Where does corn grow? 11. Who makes
the corn grow? 12. What does God send to make the corn grow? 13. What
do we call the gathering in of our corn? 14. Who takes care we shall
have a harvest? 15. How should we ask God for our food? 16. How should
we thank Him for our food?
SECOND READING.
"Yet they were not afraid."--_Jer. 36:24._
YOU heard what a bad, cruel king Jehoiakim was. Still there was a hope
that he and his people would take warning, when he heard that God would
punish his sin; so Jeremiah the Prophet had all his prophecies written
out on a roll of parchment, and his friend Baruch went to the Temple,
and read to the people that if they would not worship God and serve Him
faithfully, He would cause them all to be taken away prisoners to a
strange land.
Baruch stood reading the parchment; and the people listened to him, and
some of them began to grow afraid. But then came some of the king's
great people, and when they heard it they thought it would make the
king angry. They forgot that God's anger signified much more than the
king's anger. They did not want Jeremiah or Baruch to be punished, but
they were afraid to let the reading go on. So they told Baruch to go
away and hide himself and Jeremiah carefully, and then they took the
prophecies to shew them to the king.
The king was sitting by the fire warming himself, for it was in the
winter. He listened for a little while; but when he found that the
parchment was about his sins and God's anger, he took out a knife and
cut the whole into bits, and burnt it in the fire. Was he so foolish
as to think that burning the prophecy would prevent it from coming to
pass? If so, he made a great mistake; for God desired Jeremiah to have
it all written over again, and more too; for the punishment was to be
worse now than it would have been before--much worse than if Jehoiakim
had listened, and left off his bad ways, and prayed to God.
[Illustration: TWO PAGES OF AN ANCIENT SCROLL OF SCRIPTURES.]
In a very short time the enemy all came round Jerusalem, and everyone
was shut up in the city, and could not get out, and food was very
scarce; and Jehoiakim was taken and put in chains; and thus he died,
and nobody grieved for him. His young son, Jehoiachin, was called king
for a little while, but only for a very little while; for the king of
Babylon broke into the city, and made him prisoner, and took him away
to be shut up far from home. And as to the dead body of Jehoiakim
himself, nobody had time to give him a burial; so it was thrown out at
the gates as if he had been a dead ass instead of a king of Judah.
So you see God's words through Jeremiah all came true, though Jehoiakim
would not heed them. He only made it worse by not listening.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was the king? 2. Who was the prophet? 3. What had Jeremiah said
about Jehoiakim? 4. Where did God tell him to have it written? 5. Who
was to read it? 6. To whom did Baruch read? 7. Where did the great
people take the roll of parchment? 8. What did the king do to it? 9.
Whose words did he throw away? 10. Why would not he listen? 11. Did he
hinder the harm from coming? 12. What happened to him? 13. How was he
buried? 14. How should he have tried to prevent the harm from coming?
15. How should you behave if you have fault found with you?
THIRD READING.
"Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father
in all that he hath charged us."--_Jer. 35:8._
GOD is pleased with those who obey what their parents tell them. To-day
we hear about a family, whose father gave them an order that sounds
strange to us. They were never to live in stone or brick houses, but
always to have tents; they were not to have corn-fields or vineyards,
but only flocks of sheep, and herds of cows and goats; and they were
never to taste wine or strong drink, but only water and milk. It was
quite a long time after the old father, who gave these orders, had
died, that the Prophet Jeremiah was told to try whether they still
minded him. He was told to set pots of wine and cups before them, and
to ask them to drink. But they all answered steadily, that their father
had bidden them never to touch wine, nor have fields, nor build houses;
and they were resolved that they would obey him. Then God was pleased
with them, and gave a blessing to them by the mouth of His prophet.
He said that there should never be an end to their tribe, because they
were so obedient. And so it has been.
These Rechabites, as they are called, lived two thousand four hundred
years ago; and their children and descendants have gone on like them
ever since--living in tents, keeping sheep, and drinking no wine, and
obeying the voice of their father, who lived so long ago. They have
lasted so long, because God blessed their obedience.
Now, sometimes a little child goes out alone, and some friend offers
it something nice that it knows its mother would not like it to have.
Or some person asks a little boy to come into a beer-shop, and drink
a drop, when perhaps his father had told him not. Recollect, then,
that if you are steady in minding what you are told, as those good
Rechabites were, then God will be pleased with you, and own you for His
good child, and give you His blessing.
QUESTIONS.
1. What is the Fifth Commandment? 2. Who are the people we hear of
to-day who honored their father? 3. Who was their father? 4. What had
he told them? 5. Where were they to live? 6. What were they not to
drink? 7. Who tried if they would obey? 8. What did Jeremiah offer the
Rechabites? 9. What did they answer? 10. What blessing did God give
them? 11. How have they gone on ever since? 12. Why was God pleased
with them? 13. What can you do to please God? 14. If you are out of
sight of your father and mother, what must you still do? 15. If any
of you are asked to do what your mother would not like, how must you
behave? 16. Who is pleased if you are obedient?
[Illustration: ASSYRIAN ARMLET.]
Thirty-fourth Sunday.
_THE TAKING OF JERUSALEM._
FIRST READING.
[Illustration]
"Behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God."--_Ezekiel 13:8._
WHEN King Jehoiakim was dead, and his son Jehoiachin carried away
to Babylon, another king began to reign, named Zedekiah. He was
Jehoiachin's uncle; he was Jehoiakim's brother; and he was son to good
Josiah. The king of Babylon said that Zedekiah should reign as long as
he would be obedient to him, and pay some money every year, so as to
show that he owned the king of Babylon for his master. And God spake
through His prophet Jeremiah, and said that if Zedekiah would obey the
king of Babylon, the people should be left in peace, only they must be
patient under their punishment.
But Zedekiah was more like his bad brother than his good father. He
listened to people who pretended to be prophets, though God had never
spoken by them. They told him to set up for himself against the king of
Babylon, and that all the beautiful things that had been taken out of
the Temple should come back again.
And when Jeremiah told them that it would not be so, and that if they
rebelled against the Babylonians it would be worse for them, and the
king would be put to death, they were so wicked as to let the holy
prophet down into a pit, with mud and mire at the bottom; and there he
lay sunk in the mire, and with no food to eat, nor water to drink.
At last a black man, one of the king's slaves, came and told the king
that the prophet would soon be dead if he stayed there. Then Zedekiah
was shocked, and he told the black to get Jeremiah safe out of the pit.
So they threw him down soft rags, and told him to put them under his
arms, that the ropes might not hurt him when they drew him up.
So Jeremiah came out of the horrible pit, and had some food; and the
king sent to see him in secret. Then he told the king that it was God's
will that he should bear to be under the Babylonian power, and that he
must not make war; for that if he did, he would come to great misery,
and die blind and a prisoner.
Zedekiah was not angry, as his brother had been, but all he had to say
for himself was that he was afraid of his people. He was more afraid
of them than of God, and he would not do what he knew to be right. So
he told the black man to keep Jeremiah safe, and take care he had food
every day; but he begged Jeremiah not to say one word to these wicked
men about the conversation they had had together.
Was it not a foolish thing to be so afraid of men, when God could have
taken care of him? He would have been quite safe if he had only been
bold enough to do as God told him! Mind, that if ever idle children
should want you to be as naughty as they are, and tease you till you
feel afraid to stand out against them, the only way to be safe is to do
as God tells you. Zedekiah, who was afraid to do right, was quite as
much punished as Jehoiakim, who was bold to do wrong.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was the king after Jehoiakim? 2. What did the king of Babylon
promise? 3. What did God say? 4. By whom did God speak? 5. To whom
did Zedekiah listen instead? 6. What did he do to Jeremiah? 7. What
kind of place was the pit? 8. Who had pity on Jeremiah? 9. How was
Jeremiah taken out of the pit? 10. What did he tell the king? 11. Why
did not Zedekiah mind him? 12. Why was it very foolish of Zedekiah to
be afraid of the people?
SECOND READING.
"There was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and
woe."--_Ezekiel 2:10._
THIS is a sad text; but when people are wicked, sadness must always
follow.
You heard how kind God had been to the Israelites, and how much He had
done for them; how He gave them their beautiful land, and their city
of Jerusalem, and blessed them whenever they were good. And if they
sinned, He sent punishment, that they might learn to do better; and
when they were sorry He forgave them, and made them happy again. But
they would not keep to what He told them; they would worship idols, and
grow worse and worse, till at last God said that there could be only
"lamentation, and mourning, and woe," for the trouble they had brought
on themselves.
God sent a great army under the king of Babylon, and Jerusalem was
given up to them. The fierce soldiers came in, and burnt the houses,
and robbed the Temple; and as to the young king, Jehoiachin, they took
him and his mother, and all his chief lords and priests, and carried
them away to Babylon, where he was a long time in prison.
The chapter to-day was written by a holy prophet, whose name was
Ezekiel, and who was taken away to Babylon at the same time as the
young king. God came and spoke to Ezekiel, that he might go on warning
the people, that if they did not repent now that they were punished, He
would be obliged to go on punishing them still.
Think about that. You know if you have done wrong and been punished,
it is that you may mind another time, and not do the same over again.
If you are obstinate or careless, and go back to the old fault, then
you will have to suffer more and more; and there can be nothing but
"lamentation and mourning and woe."
QUESTIONS.
1. Who is the prophet whose chapter is read to-day? 2. Where did
Ezekiel live? 3. Who took him to Babylon? 4. Who was taken there at
the same time? 5. How old was king Jehoiachin? 6. What was his home?
7. Why were he and his people taken away from Jerusalem? 8. What had
been their sin? 9. How had God tried to make them better? 10. Had they
attended? 11. What must come of sin? 12. What is the use of being
punished? 13. What will happen if we do not leave off the fault when
we are punished?
THIRD READING.
"And ye shall be comforted."--_Ezekiel 14:22._
THE prophet Ezekiel had many sad things to tell the Jews; but he had
some comfortable ones. They had been very wicked, and God took them
away from their dear home at Jerusalem, and let it be burnt with fire;
and put them to live far away in a strange land at Babylon. But He told
them that if they would leave off their sins, and turn back to Him, and
not worship idols any more, then He would forgive them, and bring them
home again.
To-day the Lesson says that they must really be sorry in earnest, not
only pretend to be sorry. If they said they would worship God, and were
caring for their idols in their hearts all the time, then He must go
on being angry, and punishing them; but if they were really sorry, and
really prayed to Him, then when they had been punished enough, they
should be comforted.
They should not always stay in Babylon, in the dull flat land, with the
streams of water flowing lazily through it; but they should see their
own dear hills and fields again, and live in their homes once more.
That would be such gladness, that it would make up for all the sorrow.
All that was wanted was, that they should be really sorry, and leave
off all the bad things they had done, and repent from the bottom of
their hearts.
Now when we have done wrong, and are punished, it is to make us sorry,
that we may do so no more. Little children are punished by their
friends; grown-up people are punished by God sending troubles. Then we
must be sorry, not only for the punishment, but the fault, and really
try with all our hearts not to do it again. If we only _say_ we are
sorry, and then run back to our old ways, something worse will come of
it. No, we must be sorry in earnest, and then God will forgive us, for
His dear Son Jesus Christ's sake.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was happening to Jerusalem? 2. What was done to the houses?
3. What was done to the people? 4. Where had they to live? 5. Where
did they wish to be? 6. Why were they taken to Babylon? 7. What wicked
thing had they done? 8. But what hope had they? 9. What must they
do to be forgiven? 10. Where should they go back again to? 11. Why
are people punished? 12. What is the way to be forgiven? 13. How are
children punished? 14. How are grown-up people punished? 15. What
should we do if we are punished? 16. Will it do to go back to the
fault?
[Illustration]
Thirty-fifth Sunday.
_THE FALL OF JERUSALEM._
FIRST READING.
"Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions."--_Ezekiel
18:30._
VERY sad things were going on among the Jews. A great many of them were
carried away out of their beautiful hilly land of Canaan, to live among
the flat wet marshes round Babylon, and only a few were left with their
king Zedekiah at Jerusalem.
Jeremiah was speaking God's words to the people of Jerusalem; Ezekiel
was speaking God's words to the people who were captives by the river
side. They both said the same thing--that the only way to be peaceful,
and not to suffer worse and worse, would be to repent and leave off
their sins that had displeased God, and pray to Him to spare them, and
then to bear patiently the punishment that had begun. But this was just
what Zedekiah and his people would not do.
They misused Jeremiah for giving them such advice, and they would not
own the king of Babylon for their master; and instead of believing
God's true prophets, they listened to the false ones, who said, that in
a very little while the captives would come back again, and all would
be well.
Then Ezekiel took a tile, a great flat piece of pottery, and he drew on
it the walls and towers of the city of Jerusalem, and made little tents
and banks round it, and he lay down by it on his side, and watched it.
And he weighed out for himself a very little bad bread to eat.
Then, when the people came to ask him why he did this, he said that it
was to show them how it would be with their own Jerusalem far away.
The Babylonians would come round it, and set up their tents, and make
banks of earth to keep the people in, and shoot stones and arrows, and
climb the walls. Inside there would be no better food than Ezekiel was
eating--no, nor so good--and everyone would be starving, and dying of
thirst.
Then the enemy would break in, and carry all the chief of them away
to Babylon, and keep them prisoners there--till the whole people had
come to repent of their sins, and had turned to the Lord with all their
hearts.
For God has no pleasure in man's being punished. He only punishes that
we may turn away from our sin and do right, and be saved at last.
If only these Jews would have listened to Ezekiel and Jeremiah, and
repented, they would have been spared; but instead of that, they went
on growing worse and worse, till they had to have seventy long years of
punishment before they could be forgiven.
We must take care when we are punished that we are sorry, and not
obstinate and hard, or we shall have to be punished more and more.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who were the two prophets? 2. Where did Jeremiah prophesy? 3. Where
did Ezekiel prophesy? 4. What did they both tell the people? 5. Would
the people mind them? 6. What did King Jehoiakim do to Jeremiah's
prophecies? 7. What did King Zedekiah do to Jeremiah? 8. What did
Ezekiel take? 9. What did he draw on the tile? 10. What did he put
round the tile? 11. Where did he lie? 12. What did he eat? 13. What
was the tile to stand for? 14. Who were coming round Jerusalem? 15.
What would they set up?
SECOND READING.
"Woe to the bloody city."--_Ezekiel 24:6._
SO Jerusalem had been taken, and pulled down, and burnt; and King
Zedekiah was dead, and all his sons, and most of the great people had
been carried away to Babylon. Only the poorer people were left, that
they might plough and sow, and gather the corn and the grapes, and keep
the land from getting waste and full of weeds. The Prophet Jeremiah
was left among them. There is one book in the Bible called the Book of
Lamentation, for it is the sad verses that he made to mourn over the
beautiful city and the glorious Temple, all burnt with fire because the
people had been so sinful.
[Illustration: JEREMIAH MOURNING OVER JERUSALEM.--Lam. of Jer. 1:1, 2.]
Still Jeremiah told the people that were left, that if they would be
patient and obey the king of Babylon, that after the seventy years
of punishment the troubles should be over, and their friends should
come back, and the Temple be built up again. But still, after all that
had happened, these wilful Jews would have their own way. They said
they were afraid of the king of Babylon there, and must go to Egypt to
be safe; just as if they were not safer where God told them to stay,
than they could be anywhere else. So off they went, and they carried
Jeremiah by force with them, whether he would or no.
But almost as soon as Jeremiah came there, God told him to take
some great stones and put them into the clay of the brick kiln near
Pharaoh's house, and say that upon those very stones the king of
Babylon himself would set up his tent in a few years' time.
And so it was. The Babylonians raised a great army, and came marching
into Egypt, and there they burnt and destroyed, and killed and made
slaves of the people they found there. Then these foolish Jews saw that
if they had only stayed quietly at home the king of Babylon would have
done them no harm. But now they had run away just where he was coming,
and would hurt them most. That came of not trusting God's Word, but
trying to run away from Him; for truly nothing is so foolish as to try
to hide from God.
QUESTIONS.
1. What had been done to Jerusalem? 2. Where were all the chief people
gone? 3. Who was left? 4. Where did Jeremiah stay? 5. What sad book
did Jeremiah write? 6. Why was he sorry? 7. What did he tell the Jews
that were left? 8. Where did they want to go? 9. Why was it wrong to
go to Egypt? 10. Why did they choose to go to Egypt? 11. What did God
tell Jeremiah? 12. Where was the king of Babylon to set his throne?
13. Where would they have been safest? 14. Why?
THIRD READING.
"I will cause you to pass under the rod."--_Ezekiel 20:37._
GOD told His prophet Ezekiel to put the Israelites in mind of all
that He had done for them, and how ungrateful they had been--always
worshipping idols, and turning away from Him, though He had brought
them out of the land of Egypt, and led them through the wilderness, and
given them the beautiful land of Canaan. But they would not serve Him
there, so punishment had come.
SOME ISRAELITES WERE CAPTIVES.
Some of the Israelites were captives already in the land of the king of
Babylon. Ezekiel was one of them; and just four years after he spoke
this prophecy, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, came up against
Jerusalem, and took it once more, and made King Zedekiah prisoner as
he was trying to flee away. Zedekiah's sons were put to death before
his eyes; and after that his eyes were put out, and he was carried in
chains to Babylon, and there slain.
Beautiful Jerusalem was set on fire, the walls were thrown down, and
all the gold and silver in the Temple was carried off to Babylon; and
the Jews themselves were made to go there too, and live as prisoners
there.
This was the way God punished them to make them sorry for their sins;
and still He gave them hope that when seventy years were over, they
should come back, and build up their city; and after that they would
always remember their old fault, and never turn to worship false gods
again. So God was merciful even in His anger, and sent their sorrow to
make them know Him and serve Him better.
QUESTIONS.
1. Where had God led the Israelites from? 2. What beautiful place had
He given them? 3. What were they to do for Him? 4. Did they serve Him?
5. What did they worship? 6. How did He punish them? 7. What young
king had they lost already? 8. Who was the king that came up against
Jerusalem? 9. What did Nebuchadnezzar do to Jerusalem? 10. Who was the
king Nebuchadnezzar took? 11. What was done to king Zedekiah? 12. What
was done to the city? 13. What was done to the people? 14. Were they
ever to come back again? 15. How soon were they to come back? 16. What
did they learn by their troubles?
[Illustration: THE BREASTPLATE.]
Thirty-sixth Sunday.
_THE JEWS AT BABYLON._
FIRST READING.
"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we
remembered Zion."--_Psalm 137:1._
[Illustration]
WHEN the Jews came to Babylon, some were made to live in the city,
where they worked at trades, and kept shops. Others lived in the
country and worked in the fields. These were not like the fields at
home. The goodly land at home was full of hills and valleys, with
sloping pastures for the flocks, and vineyards on the sides of the
hills; but the land round Babylon was quite flat, with broad rivers
flowing slowly and lazily through the meadows, with weeping willows
upon their banks.
While Jerusalem was being besieged, Ezekiel, at Babylon, drew the
picture of the town on a tile, and shut it in with a wall, and lay
watching it, and weighing out a little bit of bad bread for himself to
eat every day, that the other Jews who were with him might know what
was going on among their brethren at Jerusalem, as God told him.
And in a vision he saw the angels come and mark in their foreheads all
that were good, that they might not be hurt in the siege; while the bad
would die by sword, and hunger, and sickness. So it is still, God saves
His own good ones. The angels know and mark them, when all the rest are
given up to God's terrible anger.
QUESTIONS.
1. What sort of place was Babylon? 2. Was it like the land of Israel?
3. Who was the prophet there? 4. What did he do while the siege of
Jerusalem was going on? 5. Where did he draw it? 6. What did he eat?
7. Who were eating bread like that? 8. Who saw him? 9. What did he see
an angel doing? 10. Who were marked? 11. What became of those who were
marked? 12. What became of those who had no mark? 13. Who will always
be safe? 14. How are you marked?
[Illustration: EZEKIEL'S VISION.--Ezekiel 1:28.]
SECOND READING.
"Son of man, can these bones live?"--_Ezekiel 37:3._
THE great prophet Ezekiel was shewn by God how the Jews should be
brought back after all their troubles. The Lord made him have a sort of
dream, when he saw a whole valley spread over with dry bones, and the
Lord said, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And Ezekiel said, "Lord,
Thou knowest."
Then the Lord bade Ezekiel sing; and as he sung there was a shaking,
and the bones came together again and joined in their right places;
and as he sung on, the flesh came back on them; and then the Lord bade
him call to the winds of heaven, and they came and filled them with
breath again, and they rose up and lived.
Just so God said the kingdom of Judah was dead and scattered, but He
would breathe on it, and wake it, and join it together again, like the
dead bones rising to life.
And just so, we know, when all our bodies are dead, and our bones lie
in the grave, the call of the Lord's voice will wake them up, and we
shall rise on our feet, and His breath will come to us, and we shall
stand before Him an exceeding great army. For that is the resurrection
of the body which we look for.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was the prophet? 2. What had happened to the kingdom of Judah?
3. Who had conquered it? 4. Why had Nebuchadnezzar conquered it? 5. 5.
What did God shew Ezekiel? 6. How did the bones look? 7. What did God
bid Ezekiel do? 8. What happened? 9. What came back to the bones? 10.
What was dry and dead like the bones? 11. But what did God promise to
do? 12. When did the Jewish people come to life? 13. What will become
of us by-and-by? 14. What will be done with our bodies? 15. When will
they wake? 16. What will wake them? 17. What will be joined together?
18. Will they die any more? 19. For what do we believe in?
THIRD READING.
"God gave them knowledge and skill."--_Daniel 1:17._
AMONG the Jews who were carried away to Babylon there were some little
boys, young princes of the king's family, who had been brought up in
the palace of the house of David. They could not have been more than
twelve years old when they were thus taken from their homes.
The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, thought he should like to have
them to wait on him. So he desired the steward of his place to have
them taken into his care, to be taught both to wait on the king, and to
know all the learning of Babylon.
Slaves instead of princes. That was sad enough, but what grieved these
boys most of all was that the dinners that were sent to them all came
from the king's own table, and they knew that all the meat there came
from creatures that had been offered up to idols.
Now there was one boy, whose name was Daniel, who knew that it was very
wrong for any Jew to eat meats that had been offered to idols. Some of
the boys said they did not care, and some said they were very sorry,
but they could not help it. Yes, Daniel said, they could help it if
they would leave off eating meat and drinking wine, and only have beans
and water.
LOYAL TO DANIEL.
Then three more of the boys said they would stand by Daniel, and have
only the beans and water rather than break God's holy Law. Their proper
names were Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, but the king had changed all
the boys' names, and he called them Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
So Daniel asked their master, Melzar, to give them none of the rich
wine and fine dainties, but only water and pulse--that is, beans.
But Melzar said they would grow thin and weak on such poor food, and
then the king would be angry with him.
"Only try us for just ten days," Daniel said.
And God so blessed the food, that at the end of ten days, Daniel,
Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, were fairer and fatter than all their
cousins and friends who had been eating the king's dainties.
And Melzar had found that none were so true and honest and obedient
and painstaking, so he trusted them very much; and they grew wise and
learned, and still loved and feared their God, though they were slaves
so far away from home.
Now remember how they began. It was by giving up the things they liked
when they found it was wrong to have them. When you are tempted to be
greedy, would it not be a good thing to recollect Daniel and the other
boys eating beans and drinking water?
QUESTIONS.
1. Who were the boys carried to Babylon? 2. What were their proper
names? 3. What did the king call them? 4. What was the name of the
king of Babylon? 5. How did he desire these boys to be brought up?
6. What had they been at home? 7. What were they to eat? 8. Why did
they not like to eat these meats? 9. What did Daniel beg for? 10. Who
joined with him? 11. Who was their master? 12. What did Melzar say?
13. How long was it to be tried? 14. How did Daniel and his friends
look? 15. Why was this? 16. Why did God bless them? 17. How did they
behave? 18. What was the beginning of all their holiness? 19. What
ought we to keep in order?
[Illustration]
Thirty-seventh Sunday.
_DANIEL AT BABYLON._
FIRST READING.
"Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery
furnace."--_Daniel 3:17._
YOU remember that the Jews had been so wicked, that God had let them be
conquered by their enemies, and taken quite away from home to the great
city of Babylon.
The king of Babylon worshipped idols; and he set up a great golden
idol, much higher than this room, and commanded that as soon as his
music played, everyone should fall down and worship the image; or if
anyone would not, that person should be thrown into a burning fiery
furnace.
A furnace is like a very large oven, or like a brick-kiln--a sort of
house quite full of fire--for burning and baking bricks, or melting
iron, or anything else that requires to be made very hot. Many people
were afraid of such a horrible punishment as being thrown into the
furnace; and when they heard the music, they made haste to bow down
before the great golden image.
But the Jews knew that they must not worship idols; so what could they
do? I only know what three of them did. They were three young men,
named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who were brought up before the
king, because they would not bow down before his great image. The king
asked them how it was; and told them fiercely that if they would not
worship his golden image, they must be thrown into the fire.
[Illustration: I am with Thee saith the Lord to deliver Thee. JER. 1-19
WHEN THOU WALKEST THROUGH THE FIRE, THOU SHALT NOT BE BURNED; NEITHER
SHALL THE FLAME KINDLE UPON THEE]
But they stood up boldly, and said, "Our God whom we serve is able to
deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out
of thine hand, O King! But if not, be it known unto thee, O King, that
we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou
hast set up."
The king was very angry at this brave answer. He had the furnace made
seven times hotter than usual; and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego
were thrown into it, tied hand and foot; and the flame was so hot, that
it burnt the men that threw them in.
Presently, the king gave a loud cry. For in the midst of the fire were
the men, not tied, but free, and walking in the burning heat, as if
they were in cool spring air! And there was another with them, whose
form was the Son of God. Then he called them, and the three came out.
There was no smell of fire about them, and not a hair of their heads
was singed; they had not felt the heat at all; but that Holy One had
taken care of them, and had kept them safe in the midst of the fire.
Then the king of Babylon knew how wrong he had been; and he sent forth
a command, that no one should ever speak a word against the God of
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who had saved them in the burning
fiery furnace.
QUESTIONS.
1. Where were the Jews living? 2. How came the Jews to be at Babylon?
3. What did the king of Babylon want everyone to worship? 4. Who would
not worship the golden image? 5. Why would not Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abed-nego worship the image? 6. What is the Second Commandment?
7. What was done to them for not worshipping the image? 8. What is
a furnace? 9. How hot was it made? 10. What did the king see in the
fire? 11. Who was with him? 12. Were they hurt? 13. Why did not the
fire burn Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego? 14. Who took care of them
in the fire?
SECOND READING.
"Those that walk in pride He is able to abase."--_Daniel 4:37._
GREAT Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had a strange dream. He
thought he saw a great tree with spreading branches and fine leaves,
making a sweet shelter, where all the creatures came and stood, and
the birds nestled in the boughs; but while he was admiring it there
came a holy one down from heaven, and said the tree was to be cut down,
and only the stump left in the tender grass of the field, and that it
should be bound with iron, and wet with the dew of heaven till seven
years had passed over it.
When Nebuchadnezzar woke he was troubled, and was sure the dream had a
meaning, and he sent for the prophet Daniel to tell him what it was.
Daniel was so sorry, that at first he could hardly bear to speak; but
at last he told the king that it was himself, Nebuchadnezzar, that the
tree meant.
He was great and mighty, and countries and people were shadowed over
by his power; but soon he would have a fall--he would lose his senses,
and his man's heart would be like a beast's heart, and he would be
driven out of his palace, and he would eat grass like an ox, and his
body would be wet with the dew of heaven, and his hair would be long
like eagles' feathers, and his nails like eagles' claws, till seven
years had passed by; and then he would recover his senses, and know and
understand again, and he would come back to his kingdom again. Then he
would know and own that the Lord of Heaven is the true God.
THOUGHT THAT NOTHING COULD HURT HIM.
Nebuchadnezzar was shocked at first, but soon he forgot all about the
dream, and felt himself so wise and strong and brave, that nothing
could hurt him. He was walking one day in his palace, a most beautiful
one, and looking out on the grand city with the river running through
it, with all the bridges and the hundred brazen gates; and his heart
was lifted up with pride, and he said, "Is not this great Babylon that
I have builded?" That very moment there came a voice from heaven that
said the time was come!
And a strange madness came on the king, his brave clever spirit became
as senseless as a beast's; and he only wanted to graze in the field
like the cattle. So they drove him out of the palace, and put a band
of iron round him, and let him eat grass like an ox, and his hair grew
long and shaggy, and his nails like eagles' claws, just as Daniel had
said.
So seven years passed away; and at the end of them he came to his
senses again, God gave back his man's heart and his reason, and he went
back to his palace, and sat on his throne again. And one of the first
things he did was to have a letter written to his people, telling them
all this story, and bidding them do honor to the God of Daniel, who
putteth down and setteth up.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Nebuchadnezzar? 2. Who was Daniel? 3. How came Daniel to be
at Babylon? 4. What did the king see in his dream? 5. What happened
to the tree? 6. What did the king want to know? 7. Whom did he send
for? 8. Whom did Daniel say the tree meant? 9. What was to happen to
the king? 10. How long was he to be in this state? 11. What beautiful
place had Nebuchadnezzar built? 12. What did he say about it? 13. What
happened that moment? 14. What did this poor king want to be? 15. What
did he eat? 16. What was his hair like? 17. What were his nails like?
18. How long did he go on like that? 19. What did God restore to him?
20. What was the first thing he did? 21. What did he tell the people?
22. Had not he lost all his pride? 23. What should we not boast of?
THIRD READING.
"God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it."--_Daniel 5:6._
AFTER Nebuchadnezzar, some troublesome times began at Babylon; but
at last his grandson Belshazzar was reigning. He was a foolish,
self-pleasing young man; and his enemies, the great nation of Medes
and Persians, came to make war on him, but still he did not care for
anything but his amusement.
He thought Babylon so strong that they could never break in; and he
gave a great feast to all his lords, with fine meats and wines, and
he had all the gold and silver bowls, and the golden candlestick that
had been brought out of the Temple of God at Jerusalem, on the tables,
while he and his friends were drinking and singing and shouting.
All on a sudden a stillness came over them, and their eyes opened wide
with fright. For just over the candlestick there was seen a man's hand.
There was no body, only the hand; and the finger went along writing on
the wall, tracing out letters.
There were four words, but no one could read them or tell what they
meant.
The king was terribly frightened. His knees knocked together, and
he shook all over, and he called for some one to tell him what this
writing could be. Nobody could guess; but at last the queen, his
mother, came and put him in mind how Daniel had been able to explain
his father's dreams. So Daniel was sent for, and he at once read the
writing. He told them Belshazzar was found wanting. His kingdom was
going to be taken from him, and given to the Medes and Persians.
[Illustration: DANIEL INTERPRETING THE WRITING ON THE WALL.--Dan.
5:25-28.]
And even then, all the time the Babylonians were feasting and not
watching the enemy, Cyrus, the clever king of the Persians, was making
his men dig ditches, into which he turned all the water of the great
river that ran through the city; and that very night all his army came
in, walking up the dry bed of the stream. No one saw them till they
were in the city; and that very night Belshazzar was slain.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was king of Babylon? 2. Who made war on Belshazzar? 3. What
was all he cared for? 4. What feast did he make? 5. What were brought
out? 6. What frightened him? 7. What was the hand doing? 8. What could
no one understand? 9. Who spoke up? 10. Who was sent for? 11. What
did Daniel say it meant? 12. What happened that night? 13. How did
the Persians get in? 14. Who was king of the Persians? 15. Why did
Belshazzar come to such a sad end?
[Illustration: CHART OF THE COUNTRY ROUND BABYLON, WITH LIMITS OF THE
ANCIENT CITY. (According to Oppert).]
Thirty-eighth Sunday.
_THE RETURN FROM BABYLON._
FIRST READING.
"The Lord is in His holy Temple: let all the earth keep silence before
Him."--_Hab. 2:20._
[Illustration]
THE Jews had gone back to their old city of Jerusalem, but they found
it looking very sad and ruinous. The walls were broken down, and the
pleasant houses were heaps of ruins, and grass and brambles had come up
in the courts, and there were heaps of stone blackened with the fire
and smoke that had burnt down the city.
The first thing they did was to clear the place where God's holy Temple
used to stand, and to build it up again. But they were not rich and
powerful like King Solomon, who built the first Temple; they had no
gold and silver, and the new Temple they built was very small and poor
compared with the old one.
There were old men among them who remembered the first Temple as it
used to be, and they wept aloud as they saw how different the new one
was; but there were young men who were very glad to have a Temple at
all, and they shouted for joy; so there was a mixed sound of weeping
for sorrow and of crying out with joy.
Then God sent His Prophet Haggai to tell the old men not to be afraid,
for the glory of this latter House should be greater than that of the
former. The way this should be was that our Blessed Lord Himself would
come to the new Temple, as a little Babe at first and afterwards as a
grown Man; and when He was there, the honor and glory of the Temple
would be greater than ever it was before. Now there is no one Temple:
but God's Houses are Churches, and we have them everywhere to pray to
Him in, and meet Him there though we cannot see Him. Let us take care
to worship Him there very humbly and reverently.
[Illustration: RETURN OF THE JEWS FROM CAPTIVITY.--Ezra 1:5.]
QUESTIONS.
1. Where did the Jews return to? 2. What state was their city in? 3.
What had they to do to their city? 4. What did they first build up? 5.
What sort of Temple did they build? 6. Why was the new Temple not so
fine as the old one? 7. What did the old people do? 8. What did the
young people do? 9. How did God comfort the old people? 10. Who would
come to the new Temple? 11. Is there a Temple now? 12. What have we
instead? 13. How should we behave in church?
SECOND READING.
"What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justice, and to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"--_Micah 6:8._
THE name of the leader of the Jews, when they came home from Babylon to
their own country was Zerubabel.
Zerubabel was their prince. He was of David's family, and he would
have been king if the Jews had been allowed to have kings; but he was
contented to go back without the crown and throne and sceptre that his
fathers had had before him, and to live humbly in obedience to the king
of Babylon.
ZERUBABEL'S GREAT DESIRE.
That which Zerubabel cared to have was a little spot of ground among
the mountains. It was the village of Bethlehem, the place from which
David had been called away long ago, from feeding his father's sheep,
to come and be king of Israel. Why should Zerubabel care for that
little piece of ground more than for Solomon's palace, that was so
glorious? One reason was, that the Prophet Micah had said, "But thou,
Bethlehem-Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah,
yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be Ruler in
Israel; whose goings have been from everlasting."
And faithful men understood that this meant that the Saviour of
the world should be born at Bethlehem, and that He would be among
Zerubabel's children's children. That was why Zerubabel cared so much
for the poor little ruined village, and took care to make a home of it
again, though now there were only a hundred and twenty-three people to
come back to live in it. God was pleased with Zerubabel's faith, and
blessed him because he had not despised the day of small things.
God said that to Zerubabel a mountain should become a plain--that is,
that what seemed most difficult should grow easy, and that Zerubabel
should be the man who should build up the Temple again--God's own
House, that was lying in ruins. That was the great honor this good man
had, because he believed in God's promise with all his heart, and went
so bravely and steadily to work upon a little, when he could not do a
great deal. For to him that is faithful in a little shall much be given.
[Illustration: BUILDING OF THE NEW TEMPLE.--Ezra 3:10.]
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Zerubabel? 2. Where were the Jews coming back from? 3. What
had Zerubabel's fathers been? 4. Why was not Zerubabel a king? 5.
Who was the father of the kings of the Jews? 6. What had David been
before he was a king? 7. Where did he keep his sheep? 8. What was the
place Zerubabel cared to have again? 9. Why did Zerubabel care for
Bethlehem? 10. Who was to be born there? 11. Who had said so? 12. What
did Zerubabel believe? 13. How many people went back to Bethlehem? 14.
Did Zerubabel despise it for being small? 15. What did he think of?
16. Why did God bless him? 17. What did God say he should build up?
18. What did God say difficulties should be to him? 19. Do not things
we have to do sometimes seem like great mountains to get over? 20.
But who can make them easy to us? 21. Only what must we do ourselves?
22. And what is the way to do great things well? 23. What must we
never despise?
THIRD READING.
"Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee."--_Dan.
6:16._
THERE was another king of Babylon, and his name was Darius. It was the
strange, foolish way of his people to treat him as if he was a sort of
a god, and more than man; and one day his people came to him and begged
him to make a law that for thirty whole days nobody should say their
prayers to any god, or ask anything of any man, except of Darius the
king; or if they did, they should be thrown to the lions, to be eaten
up.
Darius thought this was all to do him honor, so he made the law that
thus it should be. Now when a law had once been made by the king of
that people, it could not be changed. So nobody was to say their
prayers to anyone but the king for all that time.
But by-and-by the king's people came and told him that there was one
old man who did not attend to his law, but that they had watched him in
his own room, and there he said his prayers three times a-day, just as
if the king had made no law at all.
The king was very sorry when he heard who it was, for this man who
would not leave off saying his prayers was the man he trusted most in
all the kingdom. It was Daniel, one of the captive Jews, son or brother
to one of the last kings of Jerusalem. He had been taken to Babylon
when he was a very little boy, and now he was quite an old man, but he
had never ceased praying to the great God of Heaven, and he was not
going to leave off now. He was a prophet of the Lord, and very wise,
and he was one of the king's very best advisers, so Darius was greatly
grieved when he was accused.
But Darius could not help himself; the law that had once been made
could not be broken, and these spiteful people declared that Daniel
must be thrown to the lions. All day long the king tried to get his
wise good counsellor saved from this dreadful fate, but he could not
succeed; and at evening Daniel's enemies came to take him and throw him
to the lions in their den.
[Illustration: THE JEWISH CAPTIVES CONDUCTED BEFORE DARIUS.]
Still, though Darius was a heathen himself, he had one hope; and
when he saw his friend led away, he said, "Thy God whom thou servest
continually, He will deliver thee."
So they took Daniel, and put him into a pit among the lions, and they
fastened up the door and left him there; and the king was so sorry,
that he could not sleep all night for grieving for the good, wise,
brave man who was thrown to the lions because he would not leave off
praying to God, and feared God more than man.
And when daylight came they all went to the den. The enemies hoped to
find that Daniel was eaten up, but the king cried out in a lamentable
voice, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou
servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?"
And Daniel's own voice came cheerfully back, and told the king that his
God had sent His angel, who had shut the lions' mouths, so that they
could not hurt him, and had kept him safe all night.
[Illustration: DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN.--Daniel 6:19, 22.]
And the king was very glad, and commanded them to take Daniel out of
the pit, and to put the spiteful men in instead; and the lions were so
hungry that they brake all their bones in pieces before ever they came
to the bottom of the den.
Only think what Daniel was willing to bear rather than not say his
prayers! And it was because he prayed that God saved him. God's power
shut the lions' mouths, because Daniel had been more afraid to leave
off praying than even to be torn to pieces. How glad we should be that
we can say our prayers safe and unhurt; and how careful we should be
never to miss them out of idleness, if Daniel would not miss them out
of fear.
QUESTIONS.
1. Where were the Jews living? 2. Who was king of Babylon? 3. What
law was Darius persuaded to make? 4. Who was to be prayed to? 5. What
was to be done to anybody who said prayers to any but Darius? 6. Who
did go on saying his prayers? 7. Who was Daniel? 8. What was done to
Daniel? 9. Did the lions hurt Daniel? 10. Why was Daniel kept safe in
the den? 11. Whom did Daniel fear most, God or men? 12. When should we
say our prayers? 13. Can anyone hurt us if God takes care of us?
[Illustration: BABYLONIAN BRICK.]
Thirty-ninth Sunday.
_TROUBLES OF THE JEWS._
FIRST READING.
"Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird."--_Prov.
1:17._
[Illustration]
THERE was a gentle Jewish girl, named Esther, who had been left an
orphan very young, and was brought up by her kind relation, Mordecai,
who was one of the Jews who had not gone back to Jerusalem, but still
lived in Persia.
One day there came a messenger from the king, to carry away poor Esther
from home. The king wanted all the maidens in his land to be brought
together, that he might choose the most beautiful of them all for his
queen, and the others would be kept for slaves.
All the other maidens dressed themselves up, and painted themselves to
try to look beautiful; but Esther did not ask for any ornaments, she
only put on what she was ordered to wear. Yet she looked so much the
most lovely of all, in her modest quietness, that the king chose her
and married her, and set the crown on her head, and made her his queen.
But she had a sad life, though she was queen. She was always shut up,
and could not see her kind friend Mordecai, and she could not even go
to her husband without his leave, or she would have been put to death.
[Illustration: QUEEN ESTHER The Golden Scepter At the banquet]
Her kinsman, Mordecai, used to sit in the palace gate every day, to
hear news of her. Now, there was a very bad man named Haman, who used
to pass by every day; and Mordecai never would bow to him, because
he was one of the people whom God had forbidden the Jews to have any
concern with.
Haman grew so angry at last that he resolved not only to get Mordecai
killed, but all the Jews besides. So he went to the king, and told him
a false story about the Jews, and persuaded him to give orders that
their enemies in all the lands round Jerusalem, and everywhere else,
should fall on them on a set day, and put them to death.
And the king was so foolish and so cruel as to consent to seal the
letters, saying that all the Jews were to be killed on one day. But
Mordecai heard about this cruel plot, and he sent secret word to Esther
that she must try to save her people, by telling the king that he had
been deceived by Haman.
Poor Esther was much afraid. She knew that if she went to the king
without leave, she would be put to death; but she thought it was
better for her to run the risk, than to let all the Jews perish. So she
dressed herself beautifully, as the king liked best to see her; and she
went to his court almost fainting with fear.
But when he saw her, he touched her with his golden sceptre. Then she
knew he would not put her to death; and when he asked why she had come,
and what she wanted, she said she wished to ask him to a banquet of
wine in her chamber.
[Illustration: QUEEN ESTHER CROWNED.--Esther 2:17.]
And when he came there, she was able to tell him of the cruel plan for
killing all her people, and how falsely Haman had spoken. The king was
very angry when he understood it all; and wicked Haman was hung upon
the very gallows he had meant for Mordecai. And so the Jews were saved
by the good queen, who was not afraid to risk her life for her people.
QUESTIONS.
1. Where were some of the Jews living? 2. What was the name of the Jew
girl? 3. What was the name of her kinsman? 4. How did the king choose
his wife? 5. Who was the most beautiful woman? 6. Where did Mordecai
sit? 7. To whom would not Mordecai bow? 8. What did Haman want to do?
9. Who consented? 10. Why was it dangerous for Esther to go and speak
to the king? 11. What did the king do when he saw her? 12. What did
holding out the sceptre mean? 13. What did she ask him? 14. What did
she tell him? 15. What was done to Haman? 16. How were the Jews saved?
[Illustration: TRIUMPH OF MORDECAI.--Esther 6:11.]
SECOND READING.
"Thy servants think upon her stones, and it pitieth them to see her in
the dust."--_Ps. 102:14._
THERE was a good Jew named Nehemiah, whom the King of Persia had made
his cup-bearer. One day one of the Jews came from Jerusalem, and told
Nehemiah how sad all was at their home, the city that once had been so
beautiful. There was a little bit of the Temple built up, but all the
streets were heaps of ruins, and only a house or two here and there
built up; and the robber tribes round were always breaking in and doing
mischief.
Nehemiah wept, and prayed to God for his people; and when he went in
to wait on the king and queen, he still looked so sad, that they asked
him what was the matter. Then he told them that he had just heard that
his dear home, where his fathers' tombs were, was lying waste, and that
the cruel enemies were always doing harm; and he begged the king to let
him go home and try to help them.
[Illustration: NEHEMIAH ARMETH THE LABORERS--Neh. 4:16,17.]
So the king gave him leave, but set him a time to come back; and
Nehemiah went all the long way to Jerusalem. It was quite as bad as he
had heard. The houses were all down, only here and there one standing;
and when he went out on his ass at night to view the ruins, there was a
heap of stones where a gate should be, and a hole where a wall should
be.
So Nehemiah stirred up all the Jews, and they set to work to build the
wall to keep out the robbers. Then the enemies laughed at them, and
said a fox could break down all they built; and when they went on,
people used to come and attack them, so that they had to work with
swords ready to fight, and always on the watch to come to help if they
heard a trumpet blown. But they kept on, and the wall was built and the
gates set up; and they were safe once more from enemies coming in among
them.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was Nehemiah? 2. What made him sad? 3. Who were living at
Jerusalem? 4. What had happened to it? 5. What did Nehemiah do when he
heard this sad news? 6. How did God begin to grant his prayer? 7. What
did the king ask him? 8. What did he tell the king? 9. Where did he
go? 10. What did he find there? 11. Why did they want a wall? 12. What
did he set the Jews to do? 13. How did they build? 14. Who tormented
them? 15. But what was finished at last?
THIRD READING.
"The joy of the Lord is your strength."--_Prov. 5:17._
GOOD Nehemiah built up the wall of Jerusalem; and his friend Ezra did
all he could to teach the Jews to keep the Law of God rightly. It was
Ezra who gathered together the five books of Moses, and collected the
writings of the prophets, and wrote out the history of the kings, and
put nearly all the Old Testament in order as we have it now.
And Ezra and Nehemiah took care to teach the people to keep the Sabbath
again, as the Fourth Commandment had taught them. Nehemiah used to have
the gates of the city shut up, that no stranger might bring any burthen
in, and that no one might come in to sell or buy on God's holy day.
And then they kept the Feast of the Tabernacles. It was a most
beautiful feast. All the people went and cut down great boughs of
myrtle, olive, pine, and citron, and willow trees, and built up arbors
with them, where they lived for seven whole days, to put them in mind
of how their fathers had lived when they came out of Egypt.
And on the great day of the feast, every Jew went up to the Temple
with a green bough in his arm, and stood in the court, and all the
priests came out on the steps with palm-branches, and with silver
trumpets. Then the trumpets were sounded, and everybody waved their
branches for joy. And the priests began a beautiful rejoicing psalm,
and at its most joyful verses the people waved their palms again.
[Illustration: A SOLEMN FAST AND REPENTANCE OF THE PEOPLE.--Neh. 9:1,2.]
At night all the court of the Temple was lighted up with great lamps,
to put the people in mind that the Lord is our light. How beautiful it
must have been, and how happy all the people were to have come back
from worshipping idols, and being punished in a strange land, to praise
their own true God once more, who blessed and made them happy.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who were the two good men who governed the Jews? 2. What did Ezra
collect together? 3. Who taught good men how to write the Bible? 4.
What parts of the Bible did Ezra put together? 5. What commandment
were Ezra and Nehemiah careful about? 6. How did they keep people from
breaking the Fourth Commandment? 7. What great feast did they keep?
[Illustration]
Fortieth Sunday.
_THE COMING OF THE LORD._
FIRST READING.
"The fulness of the time was come."--_Gal. 4:14._
[Illustration: SHEPHERD]
THERE was a long time after the Jews came home during which we do not
know much about them. Only they had quite left off worshipping idols,
and stood out bravely when a bad king wanted to make them do so.
But they were not good in other ways. They quarrelled among themselves
a great deal. One set, who were called Pharisees, were very proud and
hard-hearted; and another set, who were called the Sadducees, would not
believe or obey any of the Bible that was written after the time of
Moses--none of the Prophets nor of the Psalms.
These two sets quarrelled so much that they allowed a fierce strange
nation to come in and make themselves their masters. These were the
Romans, whose city was Rome, in Italy. They were fierce soldiers, and
wanted to make the world all their own.
[Illustration: THE ANGEL APPEARS UNTO ZACHARIAS.--Luke 1:12, 13.]
[Illustration: THE ANGEL APPEARS UNTO MARY.--Luke 1:35.]
One of their generals, whose name was Pompey, was so daring that he
forced his way into the Holy of Holies, where no one was allowed to go
but the High Priest once a-year. He was disappointed to find nothing
there, only an empty chamber, without any image or likeness; and the
Jews were much grieved and distressed. It was always said that nothing
ever went well with Pompey afterwards.
[Illustration: THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM]
[Illustration: THE PROPHECY OF ELIZABETH AND OF MARY.--Luke 1:39-45.]
QUESTIONS.
1. What sin had the Jews left off? 2. But were they grown good? 2. Who
were the two parties? 4. What was amiss with the Pharisees? 5. What
would not the Sadducees believe? 6. What came of their quarrels? 7.
What sort of people were the Romans? 8. Where was their home? 9. What
did they want to conquer? 10. Where did their general make his way?
11. What was the Holy of Holies? 12 What did he find there? 13. Why
was there no image there? 14. What commandment forbids the worshipping
any image? 15. Who alone was allowed to go into the holy place? 16.
How often? 17. What was said of Pompey after he broke in?
[Illustration]
SECOND READING.
"He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest.--_Luke
1:32._
THE Romans set up a strange king over the Jews. His name was Herod,
and he was an Edomite--that is, a descendant of Jacob's brother Esau.
He believed in the true God, and began to make the Temple much more
beautiful than it had been since it had been built up after the Jews
came back from Babylon. But he was a very wicked and cruel man, who
killed his own wife, and made everybody afraid of him; and the Jews
were very unhappy under him.
[Illustration: THE BIRTH OF JOHN.--Luke 1:62-64.]
They had one hope, and that was, that it was just about the time when
God had promised to send a Holy One into the world to save them and
set them free; and they thought He would be a great, mighty king, like
David, who would conquer Herod, and drive away the Romans, and have a
crown and throne brighter than Solomon's.
And just then an angel was sent from God to the little town of
Nazareth, where there lived a young maiden, quite a poor woman, but
most good and holy, a descendant of the great King David. The angel
told her that she was highly favored, for she was to be the mother of
the Son of the Highest, for the Holy One who was to be born of her
should be the Son of God; and when He was born, she was to call His
name JESUS, which means the Lord our Saviour, because He should save
His people from their sins; and Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the
Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."
[Illustration: THE ANGEL ANNOUNCING THE BIRTH OF JESUS.--Luke 2:10, 11.]
QUESTIONS.
1. Whom did the Romans make king of the Jews? 2. What nation did Herod
belong to? 3. Who was the forefather of the Edomites? 4. Whose son
was Esau? 5. What sort of man was Herod? 6. What did he do to please
the Jews? 7. But how did he treat them? 8. Whom did he put to death?
9. What were the Jews hoping for? 10. Who had promised that Holy One?
11. What did the Jews think He would be? 12. Who came to say He was
coming at last? 13. To whom was the angel sent? 14. What was her
name? 15. Where did he live? 16. What did the angel tell her? 17. Who
would be born of her? 18. Whose Son would He be? 19. What was she to
call Him? 20. What does Jesus mean? 21. What did she answer?
[Illustration: THE BIRTH OF JESUS.--Luke 2:10, 12.]
THIRD READING.
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
men." _Luke 2:14._
THE blessed Virgin Mary lived at Nazareth; but it was God's will that
the holy Son of God should be born at Bethlehem, the little town where
David used to live and keep his sheep. The Romans sent out orders that
everyone should go to their proper home to have their names set down,
and pay a piece of money.
So the Virgin Mary had to go, with a good man named Joseph, a
carpenter, who was to be her husband. Such a number of people had come
there that there was no room for them in the inn, and they had to go
to a stable--a cavern underground--where the oxen and asses were.
And it was there that the Holy Child of Mary, the Son of God, was born,
in the stable where the cattle were. The blessed mother wrapped Him in
baby-clothes, and laid Him in the manger, among the hay and straw.
[Illustration: THE BIRTH OF JESUS PROCLAIMED BY THE SHEPHERDS.--Luke
2:17.]
None of the people in the inn knew or cared; but there were shepherds
on the hill, keeping watch over their flocks by night. The angels came
down to them, and told them that to them was born that day, in the city
of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD, and that He was a Babe
lying in a manger.
As soon as the angel had said that, many other angels, who were very
glad that poor men below should be saved, all began to sing, "Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men."
So the angels and the shepherds kept the Saviour's birthday, and we
keep it upon Christmas-day.
[Illustration: PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE.--Luke 2:27, 28.]
QUESTIONS.
1. What was David's town? 2. But where did the blessed Virgin Mary
live? 3. How came she to go to Bethlehem? 4. Where had she to rest?
5. Why could she not go to the inn? 6. Who was born in the stable? 7.
Where was He laid? 8. Who were told of it? 9. Who told the shepherds?
10. What did the angels sing? 11. Why were they glad? 12. Why are we
glad? 13. What is the birthday of our Lord?
[Illustration]
Forty-first Sunday.
_THE CHILDHOOD OF OUR LORD._
FIRST READING.
"We have seen His star in the east and are come to worship
Him."--_Matt. 2:2._
[Illustration]
THE shepherds were not the only people who came to see the blessed Lord
JESUS when He was a little Infant. Far away in the East, God showed a
bright, beautiful star to some wise men, and taught their hearts that
it was the sign that the great King was born.
They set out on their journey to Judea, to see and honor Him; and when
they came, they asked, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews, for
we have seen His star in the East, and are come to worship Him."
This made Herod afraid, for he thought this must be a king who would
take his kingdom from him. He made the learned men among the Jews look
out in the prophecies where Christ should be born.
They found it was to be at Bethlehem, and he told the wise men so, and
desired them to let him know when they found the King, that he might
come and worship Him too; but he did not really mean to worship Him,
but to kill Him.
However, God Himself showed these wise men where to find our blessed
Lord, for the same star that they had seen in the East came out again,
and went before them, and came and stood over where the young Child
was. And though they saw a little Baby, and a poor mother holding Him
in her arms, they knew He was the Lord and King; and they worshipped
Him, and offered Him the gifts they had brought.
There was gold, and there was frankincense, which means the
sweet-smelling, costly powder that was burnt in the Temple; and myrrh,
which is a precious gum which comes out of trees, and is used to
preserve and keep things good.
[Illustration: THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN.--Matt. 2:10, 11.]
QUESTIONS.
1. Who came to see our Lord? 2. Where did they come from? 3. What had
they seen? 4. What did they ask? 5. Whom did they ask? 6. What did
Herod say? 7. Did he want to worship? 8. What did he want to do? 9.
How did the wise men find the way? 10. Whom did they see? 11. What did
they offer Him? 12. What were the gifts? 13. What is frankincense? 14.
What is myrrh? 15. Why did they worship Him?
[Illustration]
SECOND READING.
"Arise, and take the young child and His mother."--_Matt. 2:13._
HEROD was afraid that the new-born King of the Jews would take away his
kingdom. So he meant to kill Him as soon as he could find out from the
wise men where He was. But the wise men never came back to tell him,
for God spoke to them in a dream, and warned them to go back to their
own country another way.
[Illustration: JOSEPH COMMANDED TO FLEE INTO EGYPT.--Matt. 2:13.]
And God also spoke to Joseph the carpenter, the blessed Virgin Mary's
husband, and told him to take the young Child and His mother, and flee
into the land of Egypt, and stay there till they should be told to come
back, for Herod was seeking the young Child to destroy Him. Joseph
obeyed, and the whole family fled into Egypt, and lived there for some
years.
When Herod found the wise men did not come, he was very angry; and to
make sure of killing Him who was to be King of the Jews, he was so
cruel and wicked as to cause all the babies in Bethlehem, of two years
old and under, to be put to death.
[Illustration: THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.--Matt. 2:14, 15.]
We call them the Holy Innocents, because they were the first who died
for Jesus Christ's sake. It seemed very sad then, but they have been
happy and glorious ever since in heaven, and always will be. But God
had taken care of Him, and He was safe in Egypt; and there they stayed
till our Lord was about three years old, and then the wicked King Herod
died.
QUESTIONS.
1. What did Herod want to do? 2. Why could he not find our blessed
Lord? 3. Who warned the wise men? 4. Whom did Herod murder? 5. What do
we call those Babes of Bethlehem? 6. But whom did he not find? 7. For
where was our Lord? 8. Who had taken Him there? 9. Who was Joseph? 10.
How did Joseph know He was to go to Egypt?
[Illustration]
THIRD READING.
"Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and
man."--_Luke 2:52._
WHEN Herod died, Joseph brought our blessed Lord and His mother back
from Egypt, and went to live at Nazareth. We do not know any more about
Him till He was twelve years old, and then He went up with Joseph
and His mother to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of the Passover. That
great feast the Jews always kept in remembrance of the night when God
delivered them out of their troubles in Egypt.
[Illustration: KILLING THE MALE CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OLD.--Matt.
2:16.]
When the time came for going home, the blessed Mary and Joseph could
not find the Child Jesus. They thought at first that He was among the
other boys of the company who had come up from Nazareth, and they
went on a day's journey; but when He did not come back to them in the
evening, they turned back to Jerusalem to seek Him. They looked for Him
during three days all round the city, and found Him at last in the
Temple, among the boys who came to be taught by the learned men there.
Everybody who listened was astonished at His understanding and His
answers; but when His mother came to call Him, He went home with her
directly; and He obeyed her and Joseph in everything, and helped and
worked for them, though He was really their God and King.
[Illustration: JESUS TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE.--Luke 2:46, 47.]
That was to teach us all how good children should behave at home to
their fathers and mothers, for Joseph was like a father to Him, though
His real Father is God. And as He grew older He lived on with them, and
worked as a carpenter with them till He was thirty years old. So, you
see, He knows just what it is to be one of us, and a poor hard-working
man. For God from heaven came to be one of us men, and just like us.
QUESTIONS.
1. When did our blessed Lord come back from Egypt? 2. Where did He
go and live? 3. How old was He when we hear about Him again? 4.
Where did He go then? 5. What feast did they go to? 6. What was the
Passover to put people in mind of? 7. What happened when it was time
to go home? 8. How long was He lost? 9. Where was He found? 10. What
was He doing there? 11. What was everyone surprised at? 12. What did
He do when He was called? 13. How can you do like Him when you are
called from what you like? 14. How did He always behave to His mother
and Joseph? 15. How can you try to be like Him?
[Illustration]
Forty-second Sunday.
_THE PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY._
FIRST READING.
"Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."--_Matt. 3:2._
[Illustration]
THE blessed Lord Jesus lived at Nazareth, and worked there as a
carpenter until He was thirty years old, so that He has felt how we
live here, and knows what our feelings and ways are by trying them.
When it was nearly time for Him to begin to set up His kingdom, a holy
man was sent to make ready for Him. This man's name was John, and he
lived out in the rocky and bushy country on the bank of the river
Jordan, dressed in a coarse garment woven of camel's hair, and living
on the locusts and wild honey he found there.
He stood there telling everyone who came that the kingdom of God was
going to begin, and that those who wished to belong to it must repent
and give up their sins. All who would feel and own their sins he took
down to the river and bathed and washed them, to show how some day they
would have their souls washed, just as their bodies were washed now.
This washing was called baptising, and he is always called John the
Baptist; but he always told the people that there was One coming who
was greater than he was, and that this Holy One would baptise them with
the Holy Ghost and with fire.
QUESTIONS.
1. How long did our blessed Lord live at Nazareth? 2. What did He do
there? 3. Who was sent to prepare His way? 4. Where did John live? 5.
What did he wear? 6. What did he eat? 7. What are locusts? 8. What did
he tell the people? 9. What were they to be sorry for? 10. What is
repenting? 11. What did he do to those who repented? 12. In what river
did he wash them? 13. What was this washing called? 14. What was he
called? 15. Who did he say was coming? 16. How would that One baptize
them?
[Illustration: JOHN THE BAPTIST PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS.--Matt.
3:2, 8.]
SECOND READING.
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."--_Matt. 3:17._
ONE day, as John was baptising, Jesus came to him, and desired to be
baptised. His mother and John's mother were cousins, and John knew He
had never done one wrong thing in all His life, and had nothing to
repent of. So he said, "I have need to be baptised of Thee, and comest
Thou to me?" Then JESUS answered, "Suffer it to be so now, for thus it
becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.
Then John baptised Him; and as they were coming up out of the water,
the heaven above was opened, and there came God the Holy Ghost, taking
a shape like a dove, and rested upon the Head of Jesus, and there was
God the Father's voice speaking out of heaven, and saying, "This is My
Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Then John the Baptist knew that Jesus was the Son of God, and the great
King whose way he had been sent to prepare.
[Illustration: THE BAPTISM OF JESUS.--Mark 1:9.]
And this was the beginning of baptism, or christening, as we call it.
We are all baptised into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost, and made to belong to Jesus Christ.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who was John the Baptist? 2. Where did he baptize? 3. Who came to
him to be baptized? 4. What relation was the blessed Virgin to his
mother? 5. What did he say? 6. Why did he say so? 7. What was the
answer? 8. What happened after the baptism? 9. Who came down from
heaven? 10. Who spoke from heaven? 11. What did God the Father's voice
say? 12. What did John know then? 13. Whose Son is Jesus? 14. How had
John been preparing His way?
[Illustration: CHRIST IN THE MANGER.]
THIRD READING.
"Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."--_Matt. 4:7._
OUR Lord Jesus had come into the world to conquer the Devil, to whom
Eve had given power over it when she ate the fruit.
So He went up into a lonely place in the wilderness, that He might meet
the Devil, and stand up against all the temptations that had led Eve
astray. He was there forty days, with nothing to eat; and the Devil
came and said, "If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be
made bread." But He would not do it at Satan's word; and so as Eve fell
by eating, He stood by resisting hunger.
[Illustration: THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS.--Matt. 4:10, 11.]
Then the Devil showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory
of them, in one moment of time, and said, "All these things will I give
Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me." But though Eve had been
tempted by seeing the beauty of the fruit, our Lord was not led astray
by all the glory and beauty of this world. So He conquered again.
Then He stood with Satan on the top of a high wall, with a precipice
below; and Satan tempted Him to cast Himself down, so that the angels
should come round and bear Him up, and all might see He was the Son of
God. It was just as Satan had told Eve, that she would be like a God if
she ate the fruit; and He said, "It is written, thou shalt not tempt
the Lord thy God."
Satan left Him then for a time, and the angels came and waited on Him.
That was the beginning of His victory over Satan and sin. And every
one of us must fight our battle too. Whenever we are inclined to be
naughty, Satan is tempting us, but we must try to be strong and drive
him away; and our Lord Jesus will help us if we only try, and will
drive him away.
QUESTIONS.
1. What had our Lord come into the world for? 2. When had Satan become
master of the world? 3. Where did our Lord go? 4. What was the first
temptation? 5. Why would not He make the stones into bread? 6. What
was the second temptation? 7. What did Satan want Him to do? 8. What
was the third temptation? 9. Who would have come round Him? 10. Would
He let them show that He was God? 11. What did He say to Satan? 12.
What did Satan do? 13. Who came to wait on our Lord? 14. Who had been
conquered?
[Illustration]
Forty-third Sunday.
_THE CALLING OF THE DISCIPLES._
FIRST READING.
"Behold the Lamb of God."--_John 1:36._
NOW that John the Baptist knew that JESUS was, indeed, the Son of God,
whom he had been sent to proclaim, he began to point Him out, saying,
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." There
were two poor fishermen, who had come out to listen to John, who heard,
and who went to JESUS and asked, "Master, where dwellest Thou?" He
said, "Come and see."
Their names were Andrew and another John. They stayed all one night
with Him, and saw and felt that He was so great and holy that no one
else could be the Christ who had been promised to come and save the
world; and John was always the nearest and best loved of all to Him.
Andrew went and told his own brother Simon, whom our Lord named Peter,
which means a rock; and they brought two more of their friends to see
Him, whose names were Philip and Nathanael. When JESUS saw Nathanael
coming, He said, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"
Nathanael asked how He could know him. Our Lord answered, "Before that
Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee."
Then Nathanael said, "Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of
Israel." For he had been alone under the fig tree, and nobody who was
not God could have seen or known he was there; and our Lord said that
because he believed, he should see greater things than these.
[Illustration: BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD.--John 1:36.]
QUESTIONS.
1. Who had been sent to proclaim our Lord? 2. What did John the
Baptist say of Him? 3. Who were the two first who listened? 4. What
was their trade? 5. Who was the best loved of all? 6. Whom did Andrew
fetch? 7. What name was given to Simon? 8. What does Peter mean? 9.
What friends did they tell of our Lord? 10. What did our Lord say of
Nathanael? 11. What does "without guile" mean? 12. What did Nathanael
ask? 13. Why was he surprised? 14. What did our Lord say? 15. What was
his answer? 16. How did he know that Jesus was God? 17. Where can God
see?
[Illustration]
SECOND READING.
"Thou hast kept the good wine until now."--_John 2:10._
PERSONS who loved to learn of a Master were called His disciples. So
John and his brother James, Andrew and Simon Peter, Philip and his
friend Nathanael, were all called our Lord's disciples.
[Illustration: JESUS CALLING HIS DISCIPLES.--John 1:51.]
They were all invited to a wedding at Cana, the village in the hills
where Nathanael lived; and the blessed Virgin Mary, our Lord's mother,
was there too. But the bride and bridegroom were poor people, and in
the midst of the feast it turned out that there was not wine enough.
The blessed Virgin said, in a low voice, to her Son, "They have no
wine."
Now, there were six great jars standing by, and JESUS told the servants
to fill them with water. So they filled them up to the brim; and then
He told the servants to draw out some of what they had poured in, and
carry it to the chief person there.
As soon as this man had tasted it, he found it was such good wine that
he said to the bridegroom that most people began their feasts with
their best wine, but that here the best had been kept for the last.
This was the first wonderful thing our Lord did on earth, and it made
His disciples know that He was God, for no one else could have done
such a wonder.
[Illustration: THE MIRACLE IN CANA.--John 2:7, 8.]
We call these wonders miracles. Our Lord worked many more while He was
on earth, and most of them were cures to the blind, or the lame, or the
sick. He made them well directly by His power and love.
QUESTIONS.
1. What are disciples? 2. Who were the first disciples? 3. What feast
did they go to? 4. Where was the feast? 5. What was wanting at the
feast? 6. What did our Lord's mother say? 7. What did He tell the
servants to do? 8. How many waterpots were there? 9. What did the
water become? 10. To whom was it carried? 11. What was said of it?
12. How came it to be wine? 13. What is such a wonder called? 14. Why
could our Lord do miracles? 15. What did they show?
THIRD READING.
"I will make you fishers of men."--_Matt. 4:19._
I TOLD you Andrew and Peter and John were fishermen. They used to go
fishing at night in boats, on the blue lake of Galilee, shut in between
the high mountains. One night, they had been out in two boats, trying
hard to catch fish, but none would come to their nets.
[Illustration: JESUS TEACHES NICODEMUS.--John 3:2, 3.]
In the morning, they saw JESUS standing on the bank, with a great crowd
of people round Him, come to see and hear His teaching. He called to
Simon Peter to come and take Him into his boat, so that He could teach
the people from thence without being crowded.
When He had done speaking, He told Andrew and Peter to go out into the
deeper water, and let down their nets. They said, "Master, we have
toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word
I will let down the net." And instantly the net was so full
of fishes, that Andrew and Peter could not draw it up without the help
of John and his brother James, who was with him in his boat; and both
boats were quite full of fish, and ready to sink with the weight.
[Illustration: JESUS AND THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA.--John 4:25, 26.]
[Illustration: JESUS HEALS THE SICK OF THE PALSY.--Mark 2:4, 5.]
[Illustration: Our Father who art in Heaven]
[Illustration: He hath fulfilled his word
ELIJAH'S SACRIFICE ON MOUNT CARMEL
HALLOWED BE THY NAME]
[Illustration: JOHN PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS
CHRIST AND NICODEMUS
ST. PAUL AND THE PHILIPPIAN JAILOR
THY KINGDOM COME]
[Illustration: CHRIST IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
JACOB WRESTLING WITH THE ANGEL
THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN]
[Illustration: CHRIST FEEDING THE MULTITUDE
I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD]
[Illustration: RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON
THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN
STEPHEN FORGIVES HIS ENEMIES
THE KING FORGIVES HIS BROTHER
O LORD HAVE MERCY
PAY ME WHAT THOU OWEST
PUNISHMENT OF THE UNFORGIVING
FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THEM THAT TRESPASS AGAINST US]
[Illustration: THE TEMPTER IN EDEN
THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST
DRIVEN FROM EDEN
PETER DENYING CHRIST
THE REMORSE OF JUDAS
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION]
[Illustration: CHRIST STILLING THE STORM AT SEA
THE ANGEL DELIVERING PETER FROM PRISON
CHRIST PROCLAIMING DELIVERANCE TO THE CAPTIVES
DELIVER US FROM EVIL]
When the boats came to land, our Lord told the four disciples that they
were to come with Him, for He would make them fishers of men, for they
were to draw disciples to Him, instead of catching fish. They believed
Him, and left all they had to follow Him, and they were always with
Him--His dear friends who followed Him everywhere, and stored up His
holy words in their hearts.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was the trade of the disciples? 2. Where did they fish? 3. How
did they fish? 4. Who came to them? 5. What did he bid them do? 6.
What had they been doing all night? 7. But what did they now let down?
8. What did they find in their nets? 9. What were filled? 10. How came
the fish there? 11. What did our Lord call them to do? 12. What were
they to be? 13. What did they leave? 14. Who were these four?
[Illustration]
Forty-fourth Sunday.
_THE MINISTRY._
FIRST READING.
"He went about doing good."--_Acts 10:38_.
SIMON PETER had a house at Capernaum, which is one of the towns that
stand upon the shore of the Lake of Galilee. There our Lord cured
the mother of Peter's wife of a bad fever by His mighty power in one
moment, and there He generally lived when He was in those parts; but He
never stayed long there, for He went about doing good.
In every town or village that he came to, He used to go and teach in
the synagogue. A synagogue was a place where the Jews who lived too far
from Jerusalem to go to the Temple every Sabbath-day used to meet, and
hear the Old Testament read and explained to them, and pray together.
Our Lord used to teach in the synagogues, and draw out all the meaning
of the Law; and when He came out, all the sick people who were near,
and all the blind and deaf and dumb people, were brought to Him, and
He cured them all by only just touching them, or even only by bidding
their disease to go away. For He was God as well as man, and could do
all things. Or He would sit on the mountain side, and all the people
would come round Him, and He would teach them.
[Illustration: JESUS RAISES THE DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS.--Mark 5:41, 42.]
[Illustration: JESUS GIVES SIGHT TO THE TWO BLIND MEN.--Matt. 9:27,
28.]
There is one beautiful discourse of His, called the Sermon on the
Mount, which I hope you will soon know well. And in it He taught his
disciples the prayer we all say, and call the Lord's Prayer, and which
we love the best of all prayers.
[Illustration: SERMON ON THE MOUNT.--Matt. 5:1-3.]
QUESTIONS.
1. In whose house did our blessed Lord Jesus live? 2. Where was
Capernaum? 3. What had He done for Simon Peter's wife's mother? 4.
Where did He teach? 5. What is a synagogue? 6. When did the Jews go
there? 7. What did they do in the synagogue? 8. What did our Lord
explain? 9. Whom did He cure? 10. Where did He sometimes teach? 11.
What is one great discourse of His called? 12. What prayer did He give
His disciples? 13. How does it begin? 14. When do we say it?
[Illustration]
[Illustration: JESUS RAISES THE WIDOW'S SON.--Luke 7:14, 15.]
[Illustration: JESUS SLEEPS DURING THE STORM.--Matt. 8:24, 25.]
SECOND READING.
"I have compassion on the multitude."--_Matt. 15:32._
OUR Lord Jesus chose out twelve of His disciples to be always with Him,
and to teach and work with Him. All the six you have heard of before
were among them, and there was another called Matthew, who had been a
rich man, but left all his riches to follow our Lord. These twelve were
called apostles.
[Illustration: SENDING FORTH THE TWELVE APOSTLES.--Matt. 10:5-7.]
I told you that the Jews were in two parties, called Pharisees and
Sadducees, and they used to quarrel and have many bad ways. When they
found that Jesus blamed them, they were very angry; and when He was
called the Holy One whom God promised, they said that the Christ would
be a great king, and that He was only pretending. But all the poor
heard Him gladly; and when He was driven out of the towns, they came
after Him into the hills and open places, and went everywhere they
could to hear Him.
One day, evening was coming on, and all these people had been with Him
all day, and had nothing to eat. He said to Philip, "Whence shall we
buy bread, that these may eat?" Philip came from a village just below,
but he did not know what to do.
[Illustration: DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.--Mark 6:27, 28.]
Andrew said there was a little boy there, who had brought five loaves
and two small fishes; but what would they be among so many? Indeed, the
loaves were not like ours--only thin barley cakes. But our Lord said,
"Make the men sit down."
So they all sat on the grass; and He gave thanks, and began to give out
to the apostles the bread and the fish, and they never came to an end,
but there was enough for all the five thousand; and when they had all
done, He told the apostles to gather up the remains, that nothing might
be lost. And there was enough to fill twelve great baskets.
[Illustration: JESUS FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND.--John 6:10, 11.]
QUESTIONS.
1. How many disciples did our Lord choose? 2. What were they to be
called? 3. What were the names of the first six? 4. Who was the rich
man? 5. Who hated our Lord? 6. Why? 7. Why did they think He could not
be Christ? 8. Where was He driven from? 9. Where did he go? 10. Who
came after Him? 11. What was all He had to feed them with? 12. Who
brought the five loaves and two fishes? 13. Where did they sit? 14.
What did our Lord do first? 15. Who gave out the food? 16. How much
was left? 17. How many had eaten?
[Illustration]
[Illustration: The Lords Prayer
Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done in earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our
daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that
trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us
from evil: For Thine is the Kingdom, The Power, and the Glory, For ever
and ever. AMEN.]
THIRD READING.
"Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."--_Matt. 14:27._
THE people whom JESUS had fed wanted to make Him a king, but He would
not be an earthly king; so He told the apostles to row away across the
lake, while He went up alone into the hills to pray to His Father,
where the people could not find Him.
[Illustration: JESUS SUPPORTS THE SINKING PETER.--Matt. 14:30, 31.]
It was a rough night. The wind came down from the hills, and tossed the
lake up in great waves; and the apostles rowed with all their might,
but they made little way. But when the night was far on, they saw a
Figure coming to them, walking on the waves. They were frightened, and
cried out. Then the Figure said, "It is I; be not afraid!" and they
knew it was their Master, and were glad.
And Peter said, "Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the
water." So he came out of the boat, and as long as he trusted in His
Master, he could walk; but when he saw the wind boisterous, he was
afraid, and cried out, and then he began to sink.
He called out, and Jesus put forth His hand and held him up, saying, "O
thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Then they were both
taken into the boat, and the wind ceased, and the lake was calm and
still.
QUESTIONS.
1. What did the people want to do? 2. Why did they want to make Jesus
a king? 3. What did He do to get out of their way? 4. Where did He bid
the disciples go? 5. What sort of night was it? 6. What happened to
the apostles? 7. How did our Lord come to them? 8. What did they do
when they saw Him first? 9. How did they know Him? 10. Who came out to
Him on the water? 11. When was St. Peter safe? 12. When did he begin
to sink? 13. What did our Lord say to him? 14. What happened as soon
as they were in the boat?
[Illustration: THE WELL OR FOUNTAIN AT NAZARETH.]
Forty-fifth Sunday.
_WONDERS OF OUR LORD'S WORKING._
FIRST READING.
"Young man, I say unto thee arise."--_Luke 7:14._
NO one can think how good and kind our blessed Lord Jesus was. Once,
when He was going with His disciples into a village called Nain, He
met a funeral coming out. People are not carried to the grave in their
coffins in the East; but they are laid on a sort of bed called a bier,
with all their best clothes on, and a wreath of flowers round the head.
The person who was now to be buried was quite a young man, and he was
the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And when the Lord saw
it, He had pity on the poor woman, and He said to her, "Weep not." Then
He came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. Then He
said, "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise." And he that was dead sat up
and began to speak; and our Lord gave him back alive to his mother.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was our Lord always doing? 2. What village was He going into?
3. What did he meet? 4. Who was going to be buried? 5. Had his mother
any more sons? 6. And what was she? 7. How are people carried to their
graves in the East? 8. Who had pity on the mother? 9. What did He say
to her? 10. What did He do? 11. What did he say to the dead man? 12.
What did the dead man do at once? 13. To whom was he given back? 14.
How came JESUS to be able to work such miracles? 15. Was not he most
kind and loving so to do?
SECOND READING.
"His face did shine as the sun."--_Matt. 17:2._
ONLY once all the time He was in this world did our Lord Jesus let
His apostles see any of His glory, and then it was only the three who
believed in Him best, and whom He kept the most with Him.
One night, He took Peter and James and John out to a mountain with
Him, as He was wont to do when He was going apart to pray. They went
to sleep; but when they woke, they saw Him in bright light and glory.
His face was shining like the sun, and His clothes were as white as the
light; and there were two talking with Him, Moses and Elias. And they
were talking of how He was come to die at Jerusalem.
[Illustration: THE TRANSFIGURATION.--Luke 9:29-32.]
The three were afraid, but they were happy too; and Peter said,
"Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three
tabernacles; one for Thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias;" for,
indeed, he hardly knew what he was saying.
[Illustration: THE GOOD SAMARITAN.--Luke 10:33, 34.]
[Illustration: JESUS AND THE SISTERS OF BETHANY.--Luke 10:41, 42.]
And even as He spoke, a bright cloud came and hid the wonderful sight
from them, and then they found that no one was with them but their
Master, Jesus, looking as usual; and He bade them tell no one about
what they had seen, until the Son of man should be risen again from the
dead.
[Illustration: THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON.--Luke 15:22.]
They knew that their Lord was the Son of man; but they could not think
what He could mean by rising again from the dead.
This wonderful showing forth of His glory is called the Transfiguration.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was the Transfiguration? 2. Who were allowed to see it? 3.
Where did it happen? 4. What was our Lord's face like? 5. What were
His clothes like? 6. Who came and talked to Him? 7. Who was Moses? 8.
Who was Elias? 9. Do you remember what had become of Elias? 10. What
were Moses and Elias talking about with Him? 11. What were the three
apostles doing at first? 12. What did Peter say when he woke? 13.
What happened then? 14. Who was left with them? 15. What did He forbid
them to do? 16. When might they speak of it? 17. What could not they
understand?
THIRD READING.
"Suffer the little children to come unto me."--_Mark 10:14._
AFTER His Transfiguration, our Lord Jesus often told His apostles that
He was going to be taken by the chief priests at Jerusalem, and that
He should be ill-used, and beaten, and spit upon, and put to death on
a cross; and that the third day He should rise again. But they never
could understand how this would be, for they had never heard of rising
from the dead; and they were so sure that He was Christ, and that
Christ would be a great King, that they never understood or believed
that He was to die.
[Illustration: THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS THE BEGGAR.--Luke 16:19-21.]
And sometimes they even disputed among themselves who would be first
and greatest in His kingdom. When they did this our Lord called a
little child, and took him, and set him in the midst, and said that the
greatest in His kingdom would be the most like that little child; for
only those who are ready to be last here can be high up there.
[Illustration: "SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME."--Mark 10:14.]
The Lord loved little children. Once, when the mothers were bringing
their babies for Him to touch, the disciples wanted to keep them away;
but He said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid
them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
And then He took the little ones up in His arms, and put His hands on
them, and blessed them. And just so He embraces and blesses the little
children we bring to Him in church, though we cannot see Him now; and
He is always glad to hear them pray.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was the Transfiguration? 2. What did our Lord say would happen
to them? 3. Why would not the disciples believe it? 4. What did they
dispute about? 5. Whom did our Lord call? 6. What did He tell them?
7. What is the way to be high in the kingdom of heaven? 8. Who were
brought to Him?
[Illustration: THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN.--Luke 18:11-13.]
[Illustration: THE RAISING OF LAZARUS.--John 11:43, 44.]
Forty-sixth Sunday.
_GOING UP TO JERUSALEM._
FIRST READING.
"Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David."--_Matt. 20:30._
[Illustration]
FOR three years our blessed Lord went about doing good and teaching,
generally in Galilee, in the towns or on the hills, where the people
came out to hear Him; and at the feasts, when people ought to worship
at Jerusalem, He used to go up and speak to them in the outer court of
the Temple.
But there was a wicked high priest named Caiaphas, who had been set up
by the Romans, and he and the Pharisees and Sadducees all hated JESUS,
because He found fault with their evil ways, and they would not believe
He was the Christ, but wanted to put Him to death.
So whenever He came to Jerusalem it was more dangerous; and then they
stirred up the chief men of Galilee, so that He could not be in the
town, but had to wander on the hills. Once, when a man wanted to follow
Him, He said, "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests;
but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head."
And at last, when His time was come, He set His face to go to Jerusalem
to keep the Passover, though He knew that He would be taken and put to
death there, and so be the real Passover. As He was going, two blind
men, who sat by the roadside begging, called out, "Have mercy on us, O
Lord, thou son of David!" And He stood still and cured them both.
[Illustration: MARY ANOINTS THE HEAD OF JESUS.--Mark 14:1-11.]
QUESTIONS.
1. How long did our blessed Lord teach? 2. Where did He teach? 3.
When did He go to Jerusalem? 4. What did He go to Jerusalem for? 5.
Where did He teach? 6. Who hated him? 7. Who was Caiaphas? 8. Why did
they hate Him? 9. Where did they drive Him? 10. What did He say about
having no home? 11. When did He set His face to go to Jerusalem? 12.
What feast was He going to keep? 13. What did He know would happen to
Him? 14. Whom did He cure as He was going? 15. What did the blind men
cry out?
[Illustration]
SECOND READING.
"Hosanna to the son of David."--_Matt. 21:9._
IT was only the great rich wicked men that hated our Lord. The common
people heard Him gladly, and only wanted Him to begin to be king. And
they really thought the time was come when He came up to Jerusalem.
Just before He came in, He sent two of His disciples to fetch a young
ass on which no one had ever sat, and on it He rode down Mount Olivet.
[Illustration: CHRIST ENTERING JERUSALEM.--Matt. 21:8, 9.]
Now, there was an old prophecy which said to Jerusalem, "Behold,
thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass." People
remembered this, and began to receive Him like a king; they spread
their mantles on the ground before Him, and others cut down branches
from the trees and strewed them in the way; and the people before
and behind, especially the children, cried out with all their might,
"Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of
the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna means, "save now."
The Pharisees were very angry, and bade Him stop them; but He answered
with the verse of a Psalm, "Yea, have ye never read, Out of the mouth
of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength?"
But as He looked at beautiful Jerusalem, He wept over the city, for He
knew that sad and dreadful punishments were coming on it; and yet the
people would not listen to Him, and be sorry, and so be saved.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who loved our Lord? 2. What did they want Him to do? 3. What made
them think His reign was coming? 4. How did He come into Jerusalem?
5. What was the old prophecy? 6. What did the people do in His honor?
7. What did they cry? 8. What does "Hosanna" mean? 9. Who were angry?
10. What did He say? 11. But why was He grieving? 12. What made Him
sorry for the city? 13. How were the people bringing sad punishment on
themselves?
THIRD READING.
"My house shall be called the house of prayer."--_Matt. 21:13._
THE first thing our blessed Lord did at Jerusalem was to go into the
Temple; and there, in the courts, He found people keeping shop, selling
the lambs that were wanted for the Passover, and doves for other
services, and changing the coin that strangers brought for Jewish money.
This was very disrespectful to God, and He was angry. He had driven
them all out once, and they had come back, and now they were doing it
again. So He drove them all out, and told them His Father's house was a
house of prayer, but they had made it a den of thieves.
No one dared to answer Him, and all that day and the next He stood
in the Temple, teaching the people, and showing the wickedness of
the chief priests and Pharisees. It seemed as if all the people of
Jerusalem were ready to follow Him, and as if He might begin His reign
directly; but this was not what He came for, and, as He well knew, the
Pharisees were planning against Him.
[Illustration: JESUS DRIVES OUT THE MONEY-CHANGERS.--Matt. 21:13.]
They wanted to get Him to say something that they could say was against
the Law, so they asked Him many hard questions, but His great wisdom
put them all to silence, and made them ashamed; but they were so hard
and wicked that they only hated Him the more.
QUESTIONS.
1. Where did our Lord go? 2. What were the Jews doing there? 3.
Why was this wrong? 4. What did He do to them? 5. Had He done this
before? 6. What did He tell them? 7. Who was his Father? 8. What was
His Father's house? 9. What are our houses of prayer? 10. How must
we behave in them? 11. Who were planning against Him? 12. But who
followed Him gladly? 13. What did they want Him to be?
Forty-seventh Sunday.
_THE EVENING OF THE BETRAYAL._
FIRST READING.
"JESUS knew that his hour was come."--_John 13:1._
THE chief priests grew more fierce and bitter when they saw how all
men listened to the Lord Jesus. They could do nothing to Him by day,
because the people would have risen up to defend Him; so they tried how
to find Him alone and at night, to take Him secretly.
Now, one of the twelve apostles, named Judas Iscariot, was too fond
of money, and used to take for himself what was trusted to him to
take care of. So he went on from bad to worse, till at last he did
the dreadful thing of promising the chief priests that he would show
them to some lonely place, where they could take his Lord and Master
prisoner; and then they were to pay him for this wickedness with thirty
pieces of silver.
Judas settled all this, and then he went back to our Lord and the other
eleven apostles just as usual, thinking they did not know; but our Lord
did know very well. But He bade the apostles get ready the supper that
was eaten the night before the Passover, in a large upper room that was
lent to them for it, and there He sat down to eat with them.
QUESTIONS.
1. What feast was being kept at Jerusalem? 2. Why were the priests and
Pharisees angry? 3. What did they want to do? 4. Why did they not take
Him in the Temple? 5. Where did they want to take him? 6. Who said He
would show them the way? 7. What did they promise to Judas Iscariot?
8. Who was he? 9. Then how came he to be so wicked? 10. Where did our
Lord go to eat His Last Supper? 11. Who were eating with Him?
[Illustration: JESUS WASHING HIS DISCIPLES FEET.--John 13:2-5.]
SECOND READING.
"This do in remembrance of me."--_Luke 22:19._
WHEN our Lord and His apostles were eating the Supper together, He was
very sorrowful, and said, "One of you shall betray me." The apostles
were grieved, and each said, "Lord, is it I?" And He said, "He that
dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me."
And then, as the custom was, He dipped His piece of bread in the
dish in the middle of the table, and gave it to Judas. Then the wicked
man presently got up and went away.
[Illustration: CHRIST ENTERING JERUSALEM.]
And as they were still in the upper room, our Lord took bread and
broke it, and gave a piece to each of His apostles, and said, "Take,
eat: this is My Body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance
of me." And He took a Cup of wine, and said, "This Cup is the new
testament in My Blood: This do, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance
of me."
[Illustration: THE LAST SUPPER.--Matt. 26:26-28.]
And that was the beginning of what we call the Holy Sacrament of the
Lord's Supper, "For as often as ye do eat of this Bread, and drink this
Cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come."
QUESTIONS.
1. Who were eating together? 2. When was it? 3. Why was our Lord
sorrowful? 4. What did He say one of them would do? 5. What did they
all ask? 6. Who did He say it would be? 7. What did He dip then? 8. To
whom did He give it? 9. Who went away? 10. What holy Sacrament did He
appoint? 11. What did He take? 12. What did He say of the bread? 13.
What did He then take? 14. What did He say of the wine? 15. What is
the outward sign of the Lord's Supper? 16. What is the inward grace?
17. What does it show forth?
[Illustration: JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE.--Matt. 26:38, 39.]
THIRD READING.
"Not as I will, but as Thou wilt."--_Matt. 26:39._
SUPPER being over, and night coming on, our Lord went out with His
disciples to a garden, full of olive trees, called Gethsemane, where
He often used to pray. He told them again on the way that they would
soon all be afraid, and leave Him; but Peter could not think so, and
said boldly that if everybody fell from Him, he never would. But JESUS
answered, "Verily, I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock
crow, thou shalt deny me thrice."
Then He went on to the garden, taking only Peter, James, and John into
it with Him, and telling them to watch while He went apart to pray.
They were heavy and sorrowful, and could not keep awake; but while He
was praying, He was in the greatest trouble and grief that ever anyone
felt.
He knelt and prayed in an agony, till His sweat was as great drops of
blood falling down to the ground. For He was feeling the sorrow for all
the sin of all the world--the sorrow that belongs to you and me.
The disciples heard Him say, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this
cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt." He
came to them more than once, and called them, as if He longed for them
to comfort Him; but still they fell asleep again, though He said,
"What, could ye not watch with me one hour? The spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak."
QUESTIONS.
1. Where did our Lord go then? 2. What was the garden full of? 3.
What did He say the apostles would all do? 4. Who thought He never
could leave Him? 5. What did our Lord tell Peter? 6. Whom did He take
into the garden? 7. What were they to do? 8. What great grief did He
suffer? 9. Why did He suffer such agony? 10. What did he pray? 11.
What could not the disciples do? 12. What did He say at last? 13. What
was their flesh? 14. Was He angry? 15. But was He not much grieved
that they did not comfort Him?
[Illustration]
Forty-eighth Sunday.
_THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION._
FIRST READING.
"Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?"--_Luke 22:48._
JUST as our Lord had wakened His three apostles for the last time,
there came a tread of soldiers, and lanterns gleamed through the olive
trees. For Judas Iscariot, the traitor, knew that his Master was apt
to go to the olive garden to pray at night, and he was leading them,
and he said to them, "Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He: hold
Him fast." And he came up first to JESUS, and said, "Hail, master;" and
kissed Him. All our Lord said was, "Judas, betrayest thou the Son of
man with a kiss?"
Peter tried to defend Him, and drew a sword and cut off the ear of one
of the servants; but our Lord bade him put the sword back into the
sheath; and then, in His great love, our blessed Lord touched the ear,
and cured it in an instant, and begged that all the disciples might be
allowed to go their way. Indeed, they were so much afraid that they all
forsook Him and fled away, except John and Peter, who both followed to
see what would be done with Him.
The soldiers dragged our blessed Lord to the house of the high priest,
Caiaphas, where his enemies tried to make out some charge to bring
against Him; but as He was good and holy, and had no sin at all, they
could accuse Him of nothing. And when they asked Him questions, He
answered them not a word, for He knew that it was only to accuse Him.
While He stood at the upper end of the hall, John, who knew one of the
servants, had come in to the lower end, and had brought in Peter with
him. The chill of the morning had come on, and the servants lighted a
fire on the pavement, where Peter stood and warmed himself. One of the
maids there looked at him, and asked if he did not belong to Jesus of
Nazareth. Peter was afraid, and said, "I know not what thou sayest."
[Illustration: JUDAS BETRAYS JESUS.--Matt. 26:48-50.]
But then another maid said, "This fellow was also with Jesus of
Nazareth.." Peter grew more afraid, and went on declaring he did not
know such a person; but presently another servant said, "Did not I see
thee in the garden with Him?" Again Peter's fear of being punished for
wounding the man in the garden led him further astray, for he began
to curse and swear, and say, "I know not the man." Just then the cock
crew, and the Lord turned round and looked upon Peter.
That look went to his heart. He went out and wept bitterly; and
whenever he thought of his sin, he wept.
[Illustration: CHRIST BEFORE CAIAPHAS.--Matt. 26:65, 66.]
QUESTIONS.
1. Where was our Lord? 2. What time was it? 3. Whom had He taken with
Him? 4. Who came up in the night? 5. Who was leading them? 6. How did
Judas show which was our Lord? 7. What was he wicked enough to say? 8.
How did our Lord answer? 9. How did Peter try to save Him? 10. What
blow did He strike? 11. What command did our Lord give Peter? 12.
What did he do for the wounded man? 13. What care did He take for His
disciples? 14. Who only followed Him? 15. Where was our Lord taken?
16. What did the chief priests try to find? 17. Why could they find
nothing to accuse Him of? 18. What had He said Peter would do? 19.
What had Peter then said? 20. Yet what did he do? 21. What made Him
deny? 22. What did he answer? 23. What brought his better mind back?
24. What sound? 25. What look? 26. What did he do when he thought of
his sin?
[Illustration]
SECOND READING.
"He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter."--_Isaiah 53:7._
AS soon as it was light, all the chief men of the Jews met in the
council chamber in the Temple, and had our Lord brought before them.
But no one could prove that He had broken the law; and whenever a story
was brought against Him, it turned out not to be true.
[Illustration: PETER DENYING JESUS.--Luke 22:60, 61.]
At last the high priest stood up and commanded Him to say whether He
were the Christ or not. He answered, "Thou hast said: nevertheless,
I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the
right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."
At this answer, Caiaphas and all the other enemies made a great outcry,
as if they were very much shocked, at His speaking of Himself as the
great Judge of all--namely, as God.
They all cried, "He is guilty of death;" and they began to beat Him
and strike Him; and they blindfolded Him, and struck Him on the face,
and bade Him say whose blow it was. And all the time He stood gentle
and patient, and said not one word of complaint or anger.
Since the reign of the great wicked Herod, the Romans had not allowed
the Jews to put anybody to death without their leave; so the chief
priests were obliged to take JESUS before the Roman governor, Pontius
Pilate. But it was not possible to find anything that a Roman would
think He deserved to be put to death for.
When the chief priests said that "by our law He ought to die, because
He made Himself the Son of God," Pilate only feared to do anything
against Him; for he saw that there was no fault in JESUS, but that the
chief priests were spiteful, and hated Him.
Then the chief priests said that He called Himself King of the Jews.
This made Pilate more anxious, for to set up to be an earthly king
would have been rebelling against the Romans; but still he wanted to
let JESUS go, because he saw that He was innocent; yet he did not
like to offend the priests, who might have accused him to the Emperor
of Rome. Pilate saw what was just; but he was afraid, and cared for
himself more than for his duty.
QUESTIONS.
1. Where did the chief priests meet? 2. Who was brought there before
them? 3. What did they intend to do? 4. But could they find any fault
in Him? 5. So what did the chief priest ask Him? 6. What did He say?
7. What did they all cry out? 8. How did they begin to treat Him? 9.
How did He bear it all? 10. How can we try to be like Him? 11. What
were not the Jews allowed to do? 12. Who had the power over them? 13.
Before whom did the chief priests take our Lord? 14. Who was Pilate?
15. What did Pilate think of the charges against Him? 16. But why did
not Pilate set Him free? 17. Why was he afraid of His being called
King of the Jews?
[Illustration]
THIRD READING.
"Ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be
granted unto you."--_Acts 3:14._
PILATE thought he had found a way of saving the Lord Jesus without
offending the Romans. It was the custom that at the feast of the
Passover he should set some prisoner free, whomsoever the Jews asked
for. And he thought, as the people loved our Lord, that they would ask
for Him.
[Illustration: JESUS CROWNED WITH THORNS.--Mark 15:16-19.]
But there was a robber and murderer in prison named Barabbas, and the
enemies of our Lord went about among the people, stirring them up to
ask for him to be set free; so that the poor, foolish people all broke
out with a great shout to ask that this murderer Barabbas might be set
free.
Pilate asked them what he was to do with JESUS, and then there was a
great roar from all the people, "Crucify Him! crucify Him!"
Now, crucifying was a very horrible and painful punishment, that had
never been allowed among the Jews, but was chiefly used by the Romans
themselves for slaves and for robbers; so that their savage cry was for
JESUS to have the punishment that belonged to Barabbas.
[Illustration: CHRIST BEFORE PILATE.--John 19:14-16.]
Pilate's soldiers were very cruel, and they laughed at a poor man being
called a king; so when they had beaten the blessed JESUS till He was
bleeding all over, they took one of their old red soldiers' cloaks and
threw it over Him; and they platted a crown of sharp thorns, and forced
it upon His head; and they put a reed in his right hand, instead of a
sceptre; and they bowed their knees, mocking Him by pretending to do
Him honor.
He never spoke one word of anger all this time; and when Pilate saw His
meek, brave, patient face, pale and faint with pain, and streaming with
blood, he thought the people would pity Him; so he led Him out once
more to the top of the steps of the judgment hall, and said, "Behold
the man!" But the people were too mad to have any pity or feeling, and
they only cried louder and louder still, "Crucify Him! crucify Him!"
Pilate was not brave enough to go against them all, even to save an
innocent man; so all he did was to take water and wash his hands before
them all, to show that he was clear of wishing it, and he said, "I am
innocent of the blood of this just person." But the chief priests made
the dreadful answer, "His blood be on us, and on our children!" meaning
that they would take the guilt and punishment.
[Illustration: THE END OF JUDAS ISCARIOT.--Matt. 27:3-5.]
QUESTIONS.
1. What plan had Pilate for saving our Lord? 2. Whom did he always set
free at the feast? 3. Whom did he wish to set free? 4. But whom did
the chief priests make them ask for? 5. Who was Barabbas? 6. What did
they all cry out? 7. What kind of punishment was crucifying? 8. To
whom would it naturally have belonged? 9. But who was going to bear
the worst of punishments? 10. How did the soldiers treat our Lord? 11.
Why did they mock Him? 12. What did they put on His head? 13. What did
they dress Him in? 14. What did they put in His hand? 15. What did
Pilate hope to do? 16. What did he say? 17. What was the cry in answer?
Forty-ninth Sunday.
_THE CRUCIFIXION._
FIRST READING.
"They pierced my hands and my feet."--_Ps. 22:16._
[Illustration]
WHEN the judgment was over, Pilate gave up our Lord to the four
soldiers who were to crucify Him. His cross, a heavy beam of wood, with
another fastened across it, was laid on His shoulders, that He might
carry it to the place where He was to suffer--a place named Calvary,
outside the walls of Jerusalem.
He was so weak and worn out after the long sad night, the being taken
from one judge to another, and the beating and tormenting, that He
could hardly walk under it; and the soldiers met a man coming out of
the country whom they forced to carry it after Jesus.
When they came to Calvary, the soldiers made the blessed JESUS lie down
on the beam of wood, and they stretched His arms out on the cross-beam,
and drove a large nail through each of the palms of His hands into the
wood, and another nail through His feet; and then they lifted up the
cross, with Him upon it, and planted it in the ground, that He might
hang there till He should die.
And all He said while they were thus nailing Him were the words,
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do!" That was the
great pain He bore to save us!
QUESTIONS.
1. Where was our Lord to be crucified? 2. Who led Him there? 3. Where
was it? 4. What had He to carry? 5. But who had to be called to help
Him? 6. Why was He so worn out? 7. What had they done to Him? 8. What
was the cross? 9. How was He fastened to it? 10. What was done to it
then? 11. What prayer did He make? 12. For whom was He praying? 13.
For whom was He dying?
[Illustration: JESUS FALLS UNDER THE CROSS.--Luke 23:27, 28.]
SECOND READING.
"Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews."--_John 19:19._
OVER the head of the blessed Lord on the cross was a tablet, with the
words, "JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS;" and on each side of
Him was another cross, with a robber upon it.
There He hung patiently, while the chief priests and Pharisees passed
by, mocking and laughing at His pain, and crying out, "He saved others;
Himself He cannot save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come
down from the cross, and we will believe Him."
Even the robbers at first joined in the cry; but by-and-by one of them
began to feel that He who was so patient and so great in all that agony
must truly be the Son of God; and he rebuked his fellow, and said,
"Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom!" And the Lord
answered, "To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise!"
[Illustration: THE CRUCIFIXION.--John 19:30.]
His holy mother had come to stand by the foot of His cross, and with
her, her sister and some other women, and His beloved apostle John.
The Lord looked down at her, and said, "Woman, behold thy son!" and
He looked at St. John, and said, "Behold thy mother!" And John took
the blessed Virgin home with him, and was always like a son to her
afterward.
At noon-day, a dreadful darkness came over all the earth, and it lasted
for three whole hours, as if the very sun mourned for Him who made it.
Just at three o'clock, the blessed Lord said, "I thirst;" and as one
of the soldiers was touching His lips with a sponge full of vinegar, He
gave a great sad cry, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me!"
Then presently he added, "It is finished! Father, into Thy hands I
commend my spirit!" And He cried with a loud cry; and so He, who was
God and man in one, died for us men, and for our salvation.
QUESTIONS.
1. What was set up over our Lord's head? 2. Who were crucified on each
side? 3. How did the robbers behave at first? 4. How did one change?
5. What did he say? 6. How did our Lord answer? 7. Who were standing
by His cross? 8. What did He say to His mother? 9. What did He say to
John? 10. What did John do for her? 11. What came over the earth? 12.
How long did the darkness last? 13. What did our Lord cry out? 14. How
did a soldier try to quench His thirst? 15. What was His sad cry?
THIRD READING.
"And rested the sabbath day."--_Luke 23:56._
THERE were some good people even among the chief of the Jews; and two
of these, named Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, went to Pontius
Pilate, and asked him to let them bury the body of Jesus. People
generally were much longer in dying on the cross, so Pilate sent to see
if He was dead.
To make sure, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and
out came blood and water together. The robbers were still alive, so
the soldiers broke their legs, that they might die sooner; and so the
repenting one soon went to our Lord in Paradise.
Then Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took the holy body down from
the cross, quite dead. Now, close by, Joseph had a garden, and in it
was a cave which he meant to be buried in, but where no one had yet
been laid. They carried our Lord's body there; and the good women who
followed Him, Mary Magdalene and the rest, wrapped it up in linen
cloths and sweet spices.
They wanted to do more for it; but it was getting late on Good Friday
evening, and the Sabbath or seventh day was counted from sunset, and
then they could do no manner of work. So they had to wait till the
Sabbath should be over; and Joseph rolled a great rock to close up the
door, and they went away in their grief.
[Illustration: THE BURIAL OF JESUS.--John 19:41, 42.]
And then came a guard of soldiers, whom the chief priests had sent to
watch the stone, for fear, as they told Pilate, that the disciples
should steal the body away in the night. So they put seals, to make
sure that no one should move the stone; and the soldiers were set to
watch.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who asked for our Lord's body? 2. What did Pilate want to know? 3.
How did they make sure that our Lord was dead? 4. What was done to the
robbers? 5. Where did Nicodemus and Joseph take the body? 6. To whom
did the cave belong? 7. Who were there too? 8. How did they wrap the
body? 9. What did they put with it? 10. Why did they not do any more?
11. What day was it? 12. What was the next day? 13. What is the Fourth
Commandment? 14. When did the Sabbath begin?
Fiftieth Sunday.
_THE RESURRECTION._
FIRST READING.
"Now is Christ risen from the dead."--_1 Cor. 16:20._
[Illustration: As it began to dawn.]
THE holy women waited all the Sabbath day in sorrow; and our Lord Jesus
lay in His grave. But, on the night after, He rose up from His grave,
and came forth again, for He is alive for evermore. There was a great
earthquake, and an angel came from heaven, and rolled away the stone
from the door of the cave, and sat upon it; and for fear of him the
keepers did shake, and were as dead men.
[Illustration: As it began to dawn.]
Very early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and the other women came with
the sweet spices they had prepared. They wondered who would roll away
the stone for them; but when they came nearer, they saw that it was
taken away; and when they went in, they saw that the body of the Lord
was gone.
They feared at first that some one had taken it away; but behold, two
men stood by them in shining garments, who said, "Why seek ye the
living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen, as He said. Come,
see the place where the Lord lay."
[Illustration: THE RESURRECTION.--Matt. 28:2-4.]
[Illustration: THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB OF JESUS.--Mark 16:5, 6.]
And as the women went in great wonder to tell the disciples, they saw
JESUS Himself, the same whom they had seen and touched quite dead the
day before yesterday, standing before them, speaking kindly to them. So
they held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him. For never was there such
wonderful joy and gladness in all the world.
[Illustration: MARY MAGDALENE AT THE SEPULCHRE.--John 20:11-13.]
QUESTIONS.
1. What happened all the Sabbath? 2. What happened the night after?
3. Who rose again? 4. Who came down from heaven? 5. What happened to
the soldiers? 6. Who were the first at the grave in the morning? 7.
What did they bring? 8. What did they wonder about? 9. What did they
find? 10. Who stood by them? 11. What did the angels say? 12. Who was
living? 13. Whom did they go to tell? 14. Who met them? 15. How did
they show their joy? 16. Why were they so very glad? 17. What day was
it?
SECOND READING.
"The Lord is risen."--_Luke 24:34._
IT was the first day of the week that our Lord rose from the dead, and
we call that day the Lord's day, and have kept it holy ever since,
instead of the seventh. But on that first day it seemed too wonderful.
The apostles had never understood when their Lord spoke of dying and
rising again; and though the women said they had seen Him, they were
afraid to trust their word, and thought it a mistake.
[Illustration: JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE.--John 20:16.]
Later in the day, two of the disciples were walking to Emmaus, a little
village near Jerusalem, when a stranger came and joined them. He asked
why they were sad, and what they were talking of. They told Him it was
of Jesus of Nazareth, who had been a great prophet, and they had hoped
would have redeemed Israel; but now He had been put to death the day
before yesterday, yet that some of the women said that they had seen a
vision of angels which said that He was alive.
Then the stranger began to show them, as they had never seen before,
that all the Old Testament meant that when the Christ came, the Seed of
the woman, He was to suffer, and save the world before His kingdom and
glory could begin; and their minds understood, for they were opened to
see and know the Scripture, so that they were sure that Jesus was the
Christ.
So they came to Emmaus, and went into a house; and the stranger made as
if He would have gone farther, but they pressed Him to come in.
He sat down with them, and took bread and blessed and broke it; and
then their eyes were opened, and they knew it was JESUS Himself! And
as they knew Him, He vanished out of their sight. And they said to one
another, "Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by
the way?"
QUESTIONS.
1. What day did our Lord rise? 2. What is it called? 3. Which day
do we keep holy? 4. Who could not believe yet? 5. Where were two
disciples going? 6. Who came and walked with them? 7. Who was it
really? 8. Did they know Him?
THIRD READING.
"Peace be unto you."--_Luke 24:36._
In the evening, the ten apostles were all together in the upper room,
with the doors close shut, for fear of the Jews. There were only ten,
for Thomas was not there; the wretched Judas had hung himself in his
grief and despair.
The two disciples came back from Emmaus, and told how they had seen
JESUS; and while they were telling about it, though the door was not
opened, they found JESUS Himself standing in the midst, and they heard
His voice say, "Peace be unto you."
They were afraid at first; but again He said, "Why are ye troubled?
and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet,
that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh
and bones, as ye see Me have." Then He showed them that there were the
marks of the nails in His hands and feet, and the spear-wound in His
side; so that it was His own real body that had come again from the
dead.
[Illustration: JESUS APPEARS TO TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES.--Luke 24:15.]
And while they could not believe for joy, and wondered, He said, "Have
ye here any meat?" And they gave Him a piece of broiled fish and a
honeycomb; and He ate with them, to make them quite sure it was Himself.
QUESTIONS.
1. Where were the ten met? 2. Why were there only ten? 3. Who were
away? 4. What had become of Judas? 5. Who had come home? 6. Who stood
in the midst? 7. What did He say? 8. What did He show? 9. What did He
eat before them?
Fifty-first Sunday.
_THE ASCENSION._
FIRST READING.
"Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."--_John
20:29._
[Illustration: THEN SAID JESUS UNTO THEM BE NOT AFRAID]
OUR blessed Lord Jesus did not stay with His apostles as He did before
His death and rising. They did not see Him after that first day for a
whole week; and they could not make Thomas, who had not been there when
He came, believe that it was true that any man could come again from
the grave.
He said He should never believe that it was the Lord Himself, unless he
could put his fingers into the prints of the nails, and his hand into
the wound in the side.
The next Sunday evening, Thomas and the other ten were all in the
upper room together, when Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said
to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach
hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but
believing."
Then Thomas knew Him indeed, and could only say, "My Lord and my God."
And the Lord answered, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast
believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."
And that is the blessing for all of us, who have not lived when our
blessed Lord was on earth. We have not seen Him, but we must believe in
Him; and that faith is the beginning of all goodness.
[Illustration: JESUS CONVINCING THOMAS OF HIS RESURRECTION.--John
20:26-29.]
QUESTIONS.
1. What had happened on Easter-day? 2. Who saw our Lord then? 3. Who
had not seen Him? 4. What could not Thomas believe? 5. What did He
say? 6. What prints did he mean? 7. When did our Lord come again? 8.
Where were the apostles? 9. Who was there this time? 10. What did our
Lord say to him? 11. What did Thomas answer? 12. What did our Lord
then say? 13. Why had Thomas believed? 14. But who are blessed? 15.
Have we seen our Lord? 16. But what must we do? 17. What is believing
called? 18. What begins with faith?
[Illustration]
SECOND READING.
"Feed my lambs."--_John 2:15._
OUR Lord told His apostles to go into Galilee; and there some of them
went out fishing on the lake, as they used to do; but they fished
all night, and caught nothing. In the dawn of morning, they saw One
standing on the bank, and He said, "Children, have ye any meat?" They
said, "No." Then He said, "Cast the net on the right side of the ship."
And directly the net was full of a hundred and fifty-three fishes, all
large and good, and it did not break!
[Illustration: JESUS APPEARS TO HIS DISCIPLES AT THE SEA OF
TIBERIAS.--John 21:1-7.]
Then John knew who it was, and said to Peter, "It is the Lord." And
Peter was so glad, that he sprang out of the boat, and came hurrying
through the water to His Master's feet.
And JESUS said, "Come and dine;" and the disciples found a fire ready
lighted on the bank, with the broiled fish and bread; and they ate
with Him again, and felt His care after their long, weary, hungry night.
When they had eaten, the Lord said, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou
me more than these?"
"Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee," Peter answered.
"Feed my sheep," our Lord said. Then again He asked, "Simon, son of
Jonas, lovest thou me?" "Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee,"
said Peter. "Feed my lambs," He said; and again He asked, "Simon, son
of Jonas, lovest thou me?" Then Peter was grieved, and said, "Lord,
Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee."
And again Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." Peter knew that our Lord is the
Good Shepherd, and that His sheep and lambs are the people and the
children of His flock, the Church; and that he was to show his love for
His Master by taking care of them.
QUESTIONS.
1. Where did our Lord come to His disciples again? 2. What were they
doing? 3. What time did He come? 4. How did they know Him? 5. Had He
ever done anything like this before? 6. Who knew Him first? 7. Who
sprang to Him first? 8. What did He give them to eat? 9. What question
did He ask Peter three times? 10. What had Peter once done three
times? 11. What did Peter answer now? 12. What did our Lord three
times bid him do? 13. Who is the good Shepherd? 14. Who are His sheep?
15. Who are His lambs?
THIRD READING.
"This same JESUS, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so
come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."--_Acts 1:11._
FOR forty days our Lord came in ways like what I have told you to see
and teach His disciples. Once, five hundred of them saw Him together;
but He never came to the wicked unbelieving Jews again.
But when the feast of weeks was near, the disciples went back to
keep it at Jerusalem. There our Lord came to them again, and He led
the eleven apostles out with Him to the Mount of Olives. He taught
them, and charged them much; and He gave them a great command, "Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world."
[Illustration: THE ASCENSION.--Luke 24:50, 51.]
And then He bade them stay at Jerusalem until they should be endued
with power from on high. And while He talked with them, He was parted
from them, and went rising up into heaven, going higher and higher,
till a cloud received Him out of their sight.
While they still looked up after Him, two angels stood by them, and
said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same
JESUS, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like
manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."
And so it was that our blessed Lord Jesus ascended up to His throne in
heaven again, after He had been born, and lived, and died to save us.
And there He is in heaven, now watching over us, and laying all our
prayers before His Father in heaven, and getting ready our home there
for each of us.
QUESTIONS.
1. How long did our Lord stay below? 2. Where did the disciples go? 3.
Where did He take them with Him? 4. What was the great charge He gave
them? 5. Whom were they to teach? 6. What were they to do to those
whom they taught? 7. In whose name were they to baptize them? 8. What
were they to teach them? 9. Who would always be with them? 10. What
happened while He was speaking? 11. Where did He rise? 12. Who came
to tell them where He was gone? 13. What do we call the day? 14. When
will He come again?
[Illustration]
Fifty-second Sunday.
_THE WAITING-TIME._
FIRST READING.
"I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that
he may abide with you forever."--_John 14:16._
[Illustration]
OUR Lord had told the apostles that though He was going to heaven, He
would send them another Comforter, who would be with them for ever,
and in whom He Himself should be present with them--even God the Holy
Ghost, who is One with God the Father and God the Son.
Ten days after He had ascended up to heaven, on the great day of the
feast of weeks (or, as we call it, Whitsunday), as the disciples were
together in one place at Jerusalem, they heard a sound like the noise
of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house; and there came
flames like tongues divided in the midst, and sat on the head of each
disciple--not burning, but shining.
And wonderful knowledge came to all of them--they understood all
they could not understand before; and they could speak all sorts of
different languages, without ever having learnt them. These wonders
were to show them that God the Holy Ghost had come down from heaven to
be with them, and to dwell in them, and help them, and make them strong
for ever and ever.
[Illustration: TONGUES OF FIRE RESTING ON THE DISCIPLES.--Acts 2:2-4.]
QUESTIONS.
1. Whom had our Lord promised to send His disciples? 2. Who is that
Comforter? 3. Who is with us when God the Holy Ghost is with us? 4.
How long after our Lord's Ascension did He come? 5. What feast was it?
6. What do we call the day? 7. Where were the disciples? 8. How did
they know when God the Holy Ghost came down? 9. What did they hear?
SECOND READING.
"Abide in me."--_John 15:4._
THE Lord God the Holy Ghost goes on coming and being with us still.
He does not show us when He comes now, because it is more blessed to
believe than to see; but we know He does come to each of us when we are
baptised, to help us and make us good.
The reason He made the apostles able to speak all those languages, was
that they were to go and teach all the nations round the Gospel--that
is to say, the good news that Christ was come, and had died for the
sins of everyone, and risen again. They did go and teach; and all who
chose to believe and belong to Christ's kingdom were baptised.
Then each of us receives the Presence of the Holy Ghost, to help us to
be good, and to keep God's holy law, the Ten Commandments, that He gave
on Mount Sinai.
More and more of that good help of the Holy Spirit is given to everyone
who comes, as our Lord bade, to take and eat and drink of the bread and
wine, by which we partake of the Body and Blood of Christ; and He gives
all that we ask to us if we pray to Him. For we belong to those nations
that the apostles were commanded to teach and baptise, and bring into
the fold; and we belong to Jesus Christ just as much as His own first
disciples did.
We are called Christians, after His name; and all the time we live
here, He takes care of us; and if we serve Him, He takes our souls to
be with Him in Paradise, when death parts them from our bodies.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who stays with us still? 2. When does He come to us? 3. What
does He come to us for? 4. Why did He teach the apostles to speak
languages? 5. Where were they to teach the nations? 6. What does
Gospel mean? 7. What is the good news? 8. Who belong to His kingdom?
9. What have we to do? 10. What are His laws? 11. Who will help us to
keep them?
THIRD READING.
"We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new
earth."--_2 Pet. 3:13._
THE Lord Jesus Christ is coming again. We do not know when it will be;
but, sometime or other, He will send His angel to blow a trumpet; and
all that are in their graves shall hear His voice, and their souls will
come back to their bodies; and we shall all be alive again; and if we
have been good and holy, we shall be caught up to meet the Lord Jesus
in the air.
For then He will come, with all His holy angels, and will sit on a
great white throne; and all that have ever lived will be called before
Him, and judged for all the things they have done, and the words they
have said.
And then those that have gone on doing wrong, and never being sorry,
and never caring for the Lord Jesus, but have made Satan their master,
will be given to Satan, to be in misery in hell-fire for ever.
But those who have tried to do their best, and held fast to our Lord
Jesus, and prayed Him to wash them clean in His blood, will be taken
home for His sake. And they will have the happiest and most blessed
home that ever can be in heaven. There will be all brightness, and no
more pain, nor grief, nor sorrow; and the Lord shall wipe off all tears
from all eyes; and there shall be gladness and joy for ever and ever.
The old earth will be burnt up; but there will be new heavens, and a
new earth, all beautiful, with nothing that will hurt or spoil or fade,
but all lovely and peaceful.
And then there will be the great joy of singing the praise of God, who
made us, and saved us, and helps us to be good, for ever and ever.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come!
Alleluia!
QUESTIONS.
1. When will our Lord come again? 2. What will He come for? 3. How
will the dead be waked? 4. Who will be caught up to meet Him? 5. What
will He sit on? 6. Who will come before Him? 7. What will everybody
be tried for? 8. Who will be punished? 9. Who will be saved? 10. What
will become of the old world? 11. What will the new home be? 12. What
sort of place will it be? 13. Why will it be so happy?
New Testament Story in Verse
BY ANNE FLETCHER.
The Archangel's First Visit.
TWAS in the days of Herod--
First king of that proud name--
Who reigned over Judea,
The land of Scripture fame.
A certain Zacharias,
Of the large, priestly force,
The temple of Jerusalem
Was serving in his course.
His wife, Elizabeth, belonged
To Aaron's favored line;
And they were righteous before God,
And kept the law Divine.
But this couple had no children,
And they were very old;
And lived alone, nor ever hoped
A son they should behold.
And it came to pass one morning--
As Scripture doth record--
That Zacharias burned incense
On the altar of the Lord;
And outside the people waited,
And stood in silent prayer;--
For in this way they worshiped
In that holy temple fair.
And, in that solemn season
To Zacharias' sight--
Standing beside the altar--
Appeared an angel bright.
And the good priest was troubled,
When he saw the spirit form,
And fear fell on him, and he shook
Like willow in a storm.
But the angel said to him: "Fear not,
Thy prayer is heard in heaven,
And to thy wife, Elizabeth,
A son shall now be given.
"And thou shalt call the baby John,
And thou shalt have great joy;
And many shall rejoice with thee
Over this precious boy.
"And he shall, in the holy sight
Of God, be great and high;
And wine, or ardent spirit,
His lips shall ne'er come nigh.
"The Holy Ghost shall early
Spread through his heart abroad,
And many of your ancient race
Shall he turn to their God.
"And in the power and spirit
Of Elias, he shall go
Before Him who is coming
To save the world from woe."
Then Zacharias, in surprise
And overwhelming bliss,
Demanded of the angel:
"Whereby shall I know this?"
And the angel, answering, said:
"I am that Gabriel,
Who stand in God's high presence,
And am sent glad news to tell.
"And, now, because thou doubtest,
Behold thou shalt be dumb,
And shalt not speak, until the child
I have foretold has come."
Meanwhile the people waited till
The priest should come outside,
And marvelled at his long delay--
What could to him betide?
And, when to them he did appear,
And could not speak a word,
They knew that he had seen, within,
A vision from the Lord.
And so he served the temple
Until the day had come
When, his ministration over,
He departed to his home.
The Archangel's Second Visit.
SIX months, and, sent again from God,
The angel Gabriel came
To a city of fair Galilee,
And Nazareth by name,
To a virgin, spouse to Joseph
Of David's royal race;
And the virgin's name was Mary,
Whose life was truth and grace.
The angel entered softly,
Where Mary sat alone,
Saying: "Hail! the Lord is with thee,
Thou highly favored one."
But, when she saw the stranger,
Mary was troubled sore;
For such a salutation
She ne'er had heard before..
But: "Fear not," said the angel,
"For, Mary, thou hast found
Favor with God, whose goodness
And mercy doth abound.
"And thou art greatly honored,
For God hath chosen thee
To nurse the high, anointed One
Whose name shall Jesus be.
"He shall be great, and shall be called
The high Jehovah's Son
And the Lord God shall give to Him
His father David's throne.
"And he shall reign o'er Jacob's house
For ever, evermore;
His Kingdom still shall flourish
When earthly reigns are o'er.
"Behold," he said, "Elizabeth,
Thy cousin, good and kind,
I've also promised her a son,
And the promise true she'll find.
"For God is the omnipotent,
All power is in His hand,
And nothing is impossible
To His Divine command."
Then Mary meekly said: "Behold
The handmaid of the Lord;
And let the honor be to me
According to thy word."
The angel then departed--
Ascending up above--
And left the gentle virgin bowed
In humble trust and love.
Mary's Visit to Elizabeth.
NOW Mary felt a longing
To see her cousin dear,
And with Elizabeth to spend
A season of good cheer.
And so in haste, and early,
She started forth one day,
And journeyed to a city
In Judea's hills away.
For there dwelt Zacharias,
And Elizabeth so pure,
And, entering in, the virgin found
A welcome, warm and sure.
For the Holy Ghost gave token
To Elizabeth's glad heart,
That her visitor, in God's wise plan,
Should have a happy part.
Then out she spake, exultant,
"O, why to me accord
The honor of a visit
From the mother of my Lord?
"And blessed is she for evermore,
Who humbly hath believed,
For every word shall come to pass
Which she from God received."
And Mary said: "O, how my soul
Jehovah magnifies!
And how my spirit joys in God,
My Saviour, 'bove the skies!
"For He hath had regard unto
His handmaid's low estate,
And henceforth all shall call me blest--
The humble and the great.
"For He, the high and mighty One
Hath done to me great things,
And holy is His honored name;
His praise my spirit sings.
"His mercy they that fear His name
Enjoy from day to day;
From age to age it is the same,
And shall be so alway.
"And He hath shown abroad the strength
Of His almighty arm;
For He hath chased the proud, who sought
To do the humble harm.
"He hath put down the mighty
From their haughty seats on high;
And lifted up the lowly to
The region of the sky.
"His hand hath filled the hungry poor
With daintiest of food,
And the rich he hath sent empty
Away from hope of good.
"He hath come to the assistance
Of His servant Israel's race;
In remembrance of His mercy,
His promise and His grace,
"As He spake, in the beginning,
To Abraham, our head,
And to Jewish tribes for ever--
Naught hath failed of all He said."
After this the virgin Mary
With Elizabeth, so true,
Made a pleasant three months' visit,
Then to her home withdrew.
Now that great thing did come to pass,
Which Gabriel had foretold,
In the sacred temple service,
To Zacharias old.
And soon Elizabeth received
The promised baby boy;
And gazing on the heavenly gift,
Her heart was filled with joy.
And all her friends and cousins,
To whom the tidings went,
Came with their gratulations,
Upon the glad event.
Then on the day of naming,
The parents both agreed
That John the infant should be called,
As Gabriel had decreed.
And the speech of Zacharias
Immediately returned;
He praised and glorified the Lord,
His heart with fervor burned.
And fear came on the neighbors all,
As these things were noised abroad;
And they said: "What kind of child is this
Who comes, foretold of God?
But the hand of God rich blessings
On the babe, each day, bestowed;
And the heart of Zacharias
With the Holy Ghost o'erflowed.
And he burst forth in thankfulness,
And praised, and prophesied
Of all the wondrous goodness
That should to men betide.
For the light of inspiration
Had shown to him, indeed,
That his son was the Elias,
Who should the Lord precede.
The Holy Child.
ROME was the world's proud mistress,
And would tax her subjects all:
Thus every man, to his own town,
Received Imperial call.
And Joseph, wed to Mary,
Must go to Judah's land,
And, with the sons of David,
Must take his lineal stand.
Then, from Nazareth, he journeyed,
With his fair and gentle spouse
To Bethlehem of Judea,
The place of David's house.
But when--their journey ended--
They sought repose to win,
Their lodging was a stable,
So crowded was the inn.
And to that stable, lowly,
In humble, human guise,
There came a babe most holy,
Descended from the skies.
'Tis written that the angel
Had to the virgin come,
And told her that this Holy Child
With her should make his home.
And now a rosy light from heaven
On Bethlehem's city shone;
And this was the first Christmas
The world had ever known.
For Jesus was the promised Christ,
So long ago foretold--
The King that all the Jewish race
Were longing to behold.
The Shepherds.
THE men, who watched the sheep that night,
Were seated on the ground,
When a glorious light from heaven
Shone brightly all around.
And, lo! an angel of the Lord
Appeared before their eyes,
And they were filled with sore affright,
With wonder and surprise.
The angel said to them: "Fear not,
For I have come to tell
News of the joyfullest event
The world has e'er befell.
"For, this day, unto you is born,
In David's' city fair,
A Saviour, who is Christ, the Lord,
And David's lineal heir.
"And this shall be a sign to you
That true is what I've said:
You'll find the babe in swaddling clothes,
And in a manger laid."
Then suddenly a crowd appeared
Of spirits, bright and fair,
And their glad voices, praising God,
Resounded through the air.
"Glory to God," they sweetly chant,
Who reigns in highest heaven,
And peace on earth for evermore,
And love to men be given.
Thus singing, shining, up they went
Away to heaven again;
And night and silence were restored
To ancient Bethlehem's plain.
"Come," said the shepherds, "let us go
Into the city old,
And see the strange, mysterious child,
Of whom we have been told."
And, leaving there their flocks, they went
Into the town near by;
And found the babe, as they had heard,
His gentle mother nigh.
And, having seen him, they made known,
To people all abroad,
The things that had been told to them
About the Son of God.
The people listened to the news
With very great surprise,
The wondrous things the shepherds heard,
And witnessed with their eyes.
But these strange things within her heart
The mother kept concealed,
And pondered o'er them, nor her thoughts
To any she revealed.
The shepherds, thrilled with gladness, praised
The God of heaven above,
For all things they had heard and seen
Of His unbounded love.
Good Old Simeon.
NOW, when a week had passed, the babe
Received the sacred sign
Which God to Abraham had given,
As covenant divine.
They gave him Jesus for his name,
According to the word
Of the archangel Gabriel,
Who stands before the Lord.
And, then, a few weeks later,
To Jerusalem they went,
Before the great Jehovah
The young child to present;
And to offer, on the altar,
In thankful sacrifice,
A pair of doves, or pigeons,
Of small and humble price.
At that time, in the temple gate,
There was an aged saint,
Who waited for the promised Christ
Nor did his firm faith faint.
A just and righteous man was he,
And Simeon was his name,
And the Holy Ghost, with power,
Upon his spirit came.
And it was thus revealed to him
That he should never die,
Until his mortal eyes had seen
The Lord's Christ, from on high.
And he came, by the spirit,
The temple court within
Just as his earthly parents
Their infant child brought in.
Then Simeon took the Holy Child
Into his arms, and said:
"Bless Thee, my God, for all the way
Thou hast Thy servant led.
"And now let me depart in peace
According to Thy word,
Since my old eyes have haply seen
My Saviour and my Lord;
"Whom Thou hast sent into the world,
To lighten all mankind,
And that Thy people, Israel,
Their precious Prince may find."
Then Joseph and the virgin
Were filled with great surprise
At the words that Simeon uttered--
So grave, devout and wise.
And Simeon blessed both parents,
And said to Mary then,
"This child is set that Israel
May fall and rise again;
"And for a sign, which wicked tongues
Shall slander and indict,
And that the thoughts of evil hearts
May be exposed to sight."
The Prophetess.
THEN, also, lived one Anna,
A prophetess of God,
Who, in His faith and service,
Her way, through life, had trod.
She was an aged widow, too,
Daughter of Israel's race;
And, coming in that instant,
She joined in thanks and praise;
And then throughout the city went,
And told the glorious news
From house to house, wherever dwelt
The pious, hopeful Jews;
Told that the great Messiah,
Long looked for, now had come,
An infant in a virgin's arms,
And in a lowly home.
The Wise Men.
NOW, when this wondrous babe was born
Into his low estate,
Another strange event occurred,
Which Scripture doth relate.
There dwelt, far off, in eastern land,
Wise men devout and good
Who nature's grandest mysteries
Revered and understood.
One night as eagerly they scanned
The splendors of the sky,
They saw a new, strange star appear
Among the worlds on high;
And said it came thus suddenly
Important news to bring--
The sign that Balaam had foretold--
Of Israel's glorious King.
And when they reached Jerusalem,
"Where is your King?" they said,
"For we have come to worship Him,
And by his star were led."
This question greatly troubled
Proud Herod, on the throne,
For, in the land of Judah,
He would be King alone.
At once he called the priests and scribes,
Demanding they should tell
In what place had it been foretold
That Christ should come to dwell.
And readily they answered--
Nor waited to take note--
"In Bethlehem of Judea,"
For thus the prophet wrote:
"Thou Bethlehem, in Judah's land,
Art not 'mongst princes small;
For out of thee shall come a Prince
And rule my people all."
Then Herod for the wise men called,
And, with foreboding fear,
He bade them tell him just what time
The star did first appear;
And said: "Go search in Bethlehem,
And when the babe you find,
I, too, will come and worship Him,
For thus I am inclined."
The wise men were rejoiced to see
The radiant star once more,
And gladly followed, as it led
The way to Joseph's door.
They opened, then, their treasures,
Gold, frankincense and myrrh--
Fit offering to a Prince Divine,
From reverent worshipper--
And joyfully bestowed their gifts
Upon the Son of Man--
And thus the custom, since observed,
Of Christmas gifts began.
The wise men to their lodging went,
For rest and sleep, that night;
But God came to them in a dream,
Before the morning light;
And said, "To Herod ye shall not return,
Nor tell my Son's abode."
And so returning to their home,
They took a different road.
Away to Egypt.
AND when they had departed thence,
To Joseph came a dream,
In which an angel of the Lord
Appeared and spoke to him:
"Rise, take the babe and mother,
And into Egypt flee.
For Herod seeks to kill the child--
Go, till I call for thee."
Then Joseph rose, obedient,
And while it still was night,
With the young child and mother,
To Egypt took his flight.
Then cruel, wicked Herod,
When the wise men told him naught,
Or let him know what house contained
The babe whose life he sought,
Sent forth his brutal servants
To kill each little boy,
In and around old Bethlehem--
Each mother's hope and joy;
All--every tender nursling,
From two years old and less;
Nor heeded Rachael's weeping,
Her mourning and distress.
But wicked, wicked Herod,
Who would be king alone,
Was soon thereafter called to die,
And leave Judea's throne.
And now the wrathful tyrant
Has no more power to harm;
And his fierce and jealous hatred
No more can cause alarm.
To Joseph, down in Egypt,
Now comes another dream,
Wherein an angel of the Lord
Appears again to him;
And says: "Now, back to Israel's land
With child and mother go;
For he, the murderer, is dead,
Who was the infant's foe."
Then Joseph rose and willingly
Obeyed this new command,
And, taking child and mother,
Returned to Israel's land.
But hearing Archelaüs
Was king in Herod's room,
He turned aside to Galilee,
Which was his former home;
And dwelt in Nazareth city,
Thus plainly may be seen
The truth of Scripture words: "He shall
Be called a Nazarene."
And there the blessed Jesus
Spent childhood's simple days,
And, as he grew, waxed strong and wise
By God's unholding grace.
[Illustration: THE CHILD CHRIST, MARY HIS MOTHER AND JOSEPH JESUS
RENDERED OBEDIENCE, NOT ONLY TO MARY, BUT TO JOSEPH--LUKE 2:51.]
The Child in the Temple.
NOW, every year, these parents
Jerusalem did seek;
To keep the feast of passover,
And spend the holy week.
And when the child was twelve years old,
They did as heretofore;
And went up to Jerusalem,
The road oft traveled o'er.
They kept the feast as usual,
And, then, with cheerful mind,
Returned the way that they had come--
But Jesus stayed behind.
The parents traveled all day long,
Believing that their Son,
Somewhere, among the company,
Was coming safely on.
But when, at evening, they encamped,
And sought for Him around,
To their surprise and sore distress,
He was not to be found.
Still seeking Him they turned their face,
And traveled back again,
The old road to Jerusalem;
But seeking was in vain.
For three days long they went about,
Within the city lines,
Then, in the temple, found the lad,
Among the great divines.
He sat and heard the doctors talk,
And asked them questions wise;
And all who listened were amazed
At his profound replies.
And His parents were astonished
When they beheld Him thus,
And Mary said: "O why, my son,
Hast thou so dealt with us?
"Thy father, Joseph, and myself
Have three days sought for thee,
And sorrowed greatly, fearing we
Thy face no more would see."
Then Jesus, gravely, said to them:
"Wherefore my absence mourn?
My Father's work I have to do,
Till I to Him return."
And Mary, in her inmost heart,
Did secretely confine
The things He did, the words he spoke,
This wondrous Child Divine.
And Jesus rich in wisdom grew,
As passed the years of youth,
And gained the favor of all men,
By virtue and by truth.
John the Baptist.
NOW, in the fifteenth year, when reigned
Tiberias Cæsar grand,
And Pontius Pilate, under him,
Ruled over Judah's land,
And three of Herod's sons controlled
The regions North and East,
And Annas and Caiaphas were
Appointed, each, high priest,
The word of God came unto John--
Old Zacharias' son--
Who, in Judea's wilderness,
Had dwelt and prayed alone.
His raiment was of camel's hair,
There in his strange retreat,
While locusts and wild-honey
Comprised his only meat.
He preached where flowed the Jordan
Down through Judea's land;
Saying: "Repent ye, for the kingdom
Of heaven is at hand."
Now, the people all expecting
Their Messiah at that time,
Mused in their hearts if John were not
That prophet most sublime.
So the Jews sent priests and Levites,
Down from Jerusalem,
To see this new, strange preacher,
And closely question him.
And, "Who art thou?" they asked of him,
And humbly he confessed
"I'm not the Christ, looked for by you,
Nor with such honor dressed."
"What then? Art thou Elias?"
He said: "Not that I know."
Art thou a risen prophet?"
He firmly answered, "No."
Then said they: "Tell us who thou art,
That we may answer give
To them that sent us thither
Some knowledge to receive."
He said: "I am the voice of one
Who through the land doth cry,
'Make straight, as said Esaias,
The way of the Most High.'"
The messengers were Pharisees,
Who said: "Why then baptize,
If thou be not the promised Christ,
Or he that should arise?"
John answered: "I, indeed, baptize
With water from the stream;
But there is one among you now
Of whom you do not dream.
"'Tis He who cometh after me,
The latchet of whose shoes,
Because He is so mighty,
I'm not worthy to unloose.
"And He shall, with the Holy Ghost,
Baptize you and inspire,
And fill your souls with power divine,
And with celestial fire.
"Whose fan is in His hand, and He
Will thoroughly purge His floor;
And gather up His wheat, but then,
With fire the chaff devour."
And many other things said he,
Exhorting all who heard;
And preaching unto them, with zeal,
The Gospel's precious Word.
Emmanuel.
AND in those days it came to pass
That Jesus--Holy One--
From Nazareth came to Jordan,
To be baptized of John.
For He had reached just thirty years,
The age the law declared
Those called into the priesthood,
For service were prepared.
But John forbade Him, saying,
"'Tis I have need to be
A subject of Thy baptism,
And comest Thou to me?"
And Jesus, answering, said, to him,
"Suffer it now, for thus
To keep the law of righteousness,
It well becometh us."
Then, meekly, and with solemn awe,
Did John the Lord baptize,
And when the heavens were parted wide,
He saw, with great surprise,
As Jesus felt the water, and
With humble reverence prayed--
The Holy Ghost descending, like
A dove, upon His head.
And a voice, in tones majestic,
Came from the heavens, so bright,
Exclaiming, "This is my beloved Son,
In whom I take delight."
The Temptation.
THEN Jesus, with the Spirit filled,
And soul exalted high,
Was led from Jordan's bank into
The wilderness near by,
To be tempted of the devil--
Who in evil most delights.
There He, with wild beasts, made his home
For forty days and nights.
After this the Lord was hungry,
When the devil came, and said,
"If thou'rt the Son of God, command
These stones to be made bread."
But He answered, "It is written,
Man doth not live by bread alone,
But by each word, proceeding
From God, upon the throne."
The devil then conducts Him through
The holy city, fair,
And sets Him on the temple roof,
High in the ambient air;
And says to Him, "If so Thou be
The Son of God, indeed,
Cast thyself down from hence, and for
Thy safety take no heed;
"Since it is written, 'Unto God
In danger thou shalt flee,
For to His angel band He gives
A charge concerning thee.'"
Then Jesus unto him replied,
"Again the written word
Rebukes presumption and declares,
Thou shalt not tempt the Lord."
Again the devil takes Him up
Into a mountain--high,
And shows Him all the kingdoms of
The world, both far and nigh.
And saith unto Him, "All these things
Will I give unto thee
If Thou wilt own my princely power,
Fall down and worship me."
Then Jesus called him by his name,
"Satan," He said, "be gone,
For it is written, 'Worship pay
To Israel's God alone.'"
Then, thus repulsed, the devil fled,
Pursued his wicked way,
And angels came and ministered
Unto their Lord that day.
The Meeting with John.
THE next day Jesus, calm and pure,
Was walking all alone,
Down, near the banks of Jordan,
When He was seen by John;
Who said, while pointing unto Him,
"Behold the Lamb of God,
Who takes the world's dark sin away,
And bears the awful load."
Again did Jesus walk, when John
With two disciples stood,
Who, looking on Him, said to them,
"Behold the Lamb of God!"
And the disciples, at this word,
Followed where Jesus went;
Who, turning, gently asked of them,
Their purpose and intent.
"Master," they said, "Where dwellest thou?"
He answer, "Come and see."
They went, and stayed with Him that day,
In holy converse free.
Now, one of these men was Andrew,
Who, filled with thoughts profound,
And, meeting his brother, Simon,
Said, "We the Christ have found."
And brought him straight to Jesus, who
Said to him, as he came,
"Thou'rt Simon, son of Jonah, now
"Cephas shall be thy name."
The Meeting with Nathanael.
THE following day would Jesus
Return to Galilee;
And, finding Philip, saith to him,
"Come thou and follow me."
Then Philip found Nathanael,
And, unto him, he saith,
"We've seen the Christ of prophecy
Jesus of Nazareth."
Nathanael answered shortly,
"Thinkest thou can it be
That good come out of Nazareth?"
Saith Philip, "Come and see."
When Jesus saw Nathanael come,
Him did He kindly greet;
"Behold an Israelite," He said,
"In whom is no deceit."
Nathanael asked, "Whence know'st thou me?"
"Beneath the fig tree's shade,
Before that Philip called to thee,
"I saw thee," Jesus said.
Nathanael said to Him, "Rabbi"--
With wonder overawed--
"Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou art the Son of God."
"Because I told thee," Jesus said,
"I saw thee 'neath the tree,
Believest thou? Yet shall thine eyes
Much greater wonders see.
"For thou shalt see bright angels,
Through heaven's open span,
Ascending and descending
Upon the Son of man."
The Marriage at Cana.
THE third day spent in Galilee
There was a marriage feast;
In Cana was the wedding held,
And Mary was a guest.
And Jesus, to this marriage feast
Received a formal call--
The wondrous Gospel Teacher,
With His disciples all.
And when more wine was wanted,
The mother of the Lord
Requested Him to show His power,
And wine to them afford.
But Jesus answered, "Woman,
My youthful days are o'er,
And to direct my actions
Should be your part no more.
"To show to men, by miracles
My power, the wondrous sum,
'Tis mine to choose the proper time
Which has not fully come."
Then, Mary to the servants said,
"Hark what He saith to you;
And, whatsoever it may be,
That thou shalt surely do."
And there were set six waterpots,
That cleanly Jews might reach
To wash their hands, and they contained
Two or three firkins each.
Jesus unto the servants said--
Who paid respect to Him--
"These vessels all with water fill;"
They filled them to the brim.
Then He commanded, "Draw out now,
And bear a cup well filled
Unto the ruler of the feast;"
And they did as He willed.
And the ruler, when he tasted
The wine from water made,
Not knowing how it was produced,
Unto the bridegroom said:
"Each man who spreads a feast, sets forth
Good wine at first, of course,
And, when the guests have drunk it all
Produces what is worse.
"But never at a marriage feast
Has bridegroom done as thou
Who gave poor wine at first and kept
The good wine until now."
Thus, by this first of miracles,
Did Jesus show His power,
And His disciples knew Him Christ,
From that important hour.
Driving Out the Money-Changers.
THEN the Jews' passover drew nigh,
And to Jerusalem
Went Jesus, and His followers
The journey made with Him.
But when they reached the temple court
A market there they found;
Creatures on sale, for sacrifice,
And merchants sitting round.
Then Jesus made a scourge of cords,
And drove them all outside,
And, angered by their wickedness,
The money scattered wide.
And the disciples then recalled
The Psalmist's ancient word,
"I have been eaten up with zeal
Unto thy house, my Lord."
Then said the Jews, "We want to see
What evidence you show
That you possess authority
Such things as these to do?"
"Cast down this temple," Jesus said,
Let its proud walls decay,
And I will raise it up again,
Ere three days pass away."
They answer, "Forty years and six
This temple took to build,
And wilt thou rear it in three days?
Art thou so strangely skilled?"
But of his body thus he spoke,
A temple strong to view,
And the disciples, when He rose,
Recalled that word most true.
Now, while in old Jerusalem,
At the passover feast,
Jesus performed great miracles,
By which His fame increased.
Yet He gave not His confidence
To any, great or small,
Because He read the human mind
And knew the hearts of all.
And needed not to be informed
That man is weak and vain,
Who will applaud and honor now,
And persecute again.
A Ruler of the Jews.
THERE was a man, a Pharisee,
One of the chosen race,
Who, in the council of the Jews,
Maintained an honored place.
The same to Jesus came by night,
Saying, "Rabbi, well we know
Thou art from God, for no mere man
Such miracles can do."
Jesus replied, "Thou dost believe,
Yet such a faith as thine
Is naught, unless thou undergo
An inward change divine.
"Except a man be born again,
I truly say to thee,
The holy kingdom of his God
His eyes shall never see."
Then Nicodemus said, surprised,
"How can a man, when old
Become a little babe again,
Such wonders to behold?"
And Jesus answered, "Verily,
The birth of which I speak
Is by the Spirit's gracious power,
Which every one must seek.
"That which is born a little babe
Is but a fleshly frame,
But inward birth to all imparts
The Spirit's living flame.
"And, as the way the wind doth blow
Is not known by the sound,
So shalt thou feel, but not discern,
The inward change profound."
Then Nicodemus asked again,
"How can these things be so?"
Christ answered, "Dost thou rule thy race
And yet these things not know?
"I verily declare to you
The truths that are divine,
And ye receive not in your heart
These precious words of mine.
"If I have told you earthly things
And you do not believe,
How shall you of these heavenly things,
My truthful words receive?
"And no man hath ascended up
To heaven's throne, above,
But the eternal Son of man,
Who hath come down in love.
"And as a serpent Moses raised,
Upon on upright pole,
That those who felt a poisonous bite
Might look and be made whole,
"So must the Son of man be raised--
In hate, and wrath and strife--
That whoso shall believe on Him
May have eternal life.
"For God so loved this sinful world
He gave His only Son,
That those who should believe on Him
Might find their heaven begun.
"For God sent not His Son below
The wicked to condemn:
But that, through Him, salvation might
In mercy reach to them.
"He that believes is saved from death,
But he that doubts must die;
Because he has rejected, thus,
The Son of God, most high.
"And this is what condemns their lives,
That light is shining clear,
And men love darkness lest their deeds
Of evil should appear."
John the Baptist.
AFTER these things did Jesus go
Forth into Judah's land,
Attended by his followers,
A faithful holy band.
John in his holy zeal baptized
The people all around,
In Aenon, near to Salim,
Where water did abound.
And John's disciples told him all--
How Jesus, too, baptized,
And crowds of people went to Him;
But John was not surprised.
He answered, "Man can nothing take,
Except to him 'tis given,
And to baptize with water
Was my command from Heaven.
"And ye, yourselves, can witness true
I said, I am not He--
The Christ, the long expected one--
He cometh after me.
"Full happy is the bridegroom, but
His friend, which standeth near,
Rejoiceth in his happiness,
So I am filled with cheer.
"He will go on, in power and might,
His glory must increase;
While I, His humble forerunner,
Must dwindle and decrease.
"He that descendeth from above
Is Lord and King of all;
While he that is mere earthly man
Is tainted by the fall.
"He that from heaven comes to earth--
The mighty Prince and Lord--
Tells men what He has seen and heard,
And none receive His word.
"Yet he that hath received His word
Hath set his loyal seal,
That God's eternal righteousness
He doth to man reveal."
But John's bold, fearless preaching
Now, suddenly, must cease--
How truly he had prophesied
Unto himself decrease!
Wicked Herod.
HEROD, tetrarch of Galilee,
John's teaching oft did seek,
Thought him a just and holy man,
And gladly heard him speak.
Yet Herod had a wicked heart,
And crime had stained his name,
For he lived with his brother's wife,
And none had dared to blame.
But John, with holy courage, had
Condemned his sinful life,
And said, "It is not right for thee
To have thy brother's wife."
Therefore, the woman hated him--
Herodias was her name--
And would have killed him if she could,
With neither fear nor shame.
But Herod she persuaded,
To seize the preacher bold,
And in a dungeon's gloomy cell
His prisoner to hold.
Now, when the news of this event
To Jesus had been brought,
While in the land of Judah,
Where He baptized and taught,
And He well knew that word unto
The Pharisees had gone,
How, in His mission here and there,
He plainly favored John,
He left Judea's flowerey land,
And turned His face again
To Galilee, His early home,
In Herod's proud domain.
Yet neither horse nor chariot had
This royal Son of God;
But traveled humbly and afoot
The hot and dusty road.
The Woman at the Well.
HIS way lay through Samaria,
And, as the noon was high,
He came to Jacob's ancient well,
The town of Sychar nigh.
And, wearied with His journey,
He by the well sat down,
While His disciples went to buy
Some food within the town.
Then, presently, a woman came--
A daughter of the land,
To draw some water from the well--
Her pitcher in her hand.
And Jesus, full of pitying grace,
Beyond what we can think,
Looked gently in the woman's eyes,
And said, "Give me to drink?"
And thus, this poor Samaritan,
Who knew but sin and shame,
Was led to seek the living draught,
Found in Messiah's name.
And she, that single pupil, heard,
By the old patriarch's well,
The greatest, grandest lesson
That e'er from Jesus fell.
And she believed. O, woman fair,
Though fallen thou hadst been,
The Searcher of all hearts in thee
The seed of faith had seen;
And traveled through Samaria,
To meet you, and to tell
The new and wondrous doctrine
That you received so well.
And now came the disciples back,
Who wondered that He taught
One humble woman there alone,
Yet wherefore no man sought.
But the woman left her pitcher,
And to the city went,
And told to every one she met
The wonderful event;
How she had seen a traveler,
Sitting by Jacob's well,
Who all her secret history
Did accurately tell.
And, "Come and see him!" she exclaimed,
"For he the Christ must be;
Such wisdom, dignity and grace
None e'er possessed as He."
Meanwhile the Lord's disciples
Before Him set some meat,
And urging Him with gentle words,
Said, "Master, come and eat."
But, in that hour, no mortal food
His craving want could fill,
His heart and mind were wholly set
To work His gracious will.
'Twas now the harvest day of souls,
In old Samaria's fields,
And He would gather all the fruit
That faithful labor yields.
So He, in answer to the call
That He partake of food,
Taught the great lesson to all men
Of always doing good.
And, now, came the Samaritans
And begged the Lord to stay
And lodge within their city's walls,
And teach them every day.
And He who hearkens when we ask,
Complied with their request;
And in their city He abode
Two days, an honored guest.
And many of those men believed
He was the Christ--the Lord,
When they beheld His holy life,
And heard His gracious word.
The Nobleman's Son.
AND, now, upon His journey bent,
He turned His eager face
To tread the road to Galilee,
Urged on by love and grace.
And on before Him went His fame.
'Mongst Jews both great and small,
And teaching in their synagogues,
Was glorified of all.
And He was well received by them--
The men of Galilee--
Who, at the feast of passover,
His miracles did see.
There was a certain nobleman,
Who in Capernaum dwelt;
Whose son was sick, and nigh to death,
And great concern he felt.
But hearing Jesus had returned
To Galilee, was glad,
And hastened to Him, to entreat
That He would heal the lad.
Then Jesus said, to try his faith,
"Unless ye wonders see
Ye will not yield your hearts to God,
Nor yet believe on me."
To this remark the nobleman
Made no direct reply;
But said: "Oh, Sir, come down with me
Before my child shall die."
Jesus responded: "Go thy way,
Thy son doth surely live;"
And the man went, nor did he doubt
The word the Lord did give.
And as he traveled to his home,
His servants came to meet,
And tell him that his son was well;
His joy was now complete.
He asked them when the child improved,
And they, in answer, said
"The seventh hour of yesterday
The burning fever fled."
That very hour, the father knew
Had Jesus said he lived;
And he, himself, and all his house,
On Christ, the Lord, believed.
In the Synagogue.
THEN Jesus came to Nazareth,
His childhood's quiet home;
And, as to teach on Sabbath days
His custom had become,
He, in the synagogue, stood up,
To read the holy Book;
And the writings of Isaias,
When handed Him, He took;
And opened it, and found the place
Wherein the prophet spake
Of Israel's Messiah,
Who should their bondage break.
He read the text, distinct and clear,
Then closed the Book again,
And took His seat, while on Him gazed
The eyes of all the men.
And He began to say to them:
"This day, in all your ears,
This holy Scripture is fulfilled,
After so many years."
And they, in awe and wonder, heard
His words of grace and truth,
And said: "Is not this Joseph's son,
Whom we have known from youth?"
But soon their kind and gentle mood
Began to disappear,
Because He told them homely truths
They did not wish to hear.
At last, the fickle people rose
In wild and wicked wrath,
Seized Him, and roughly led Him up
The sloping, hillside path;
That, in their raging anger, they
Might cast Him headlong down
The precipice, one side the hill,
On which was built their town.
But He passed through their very midst,
An unfelt, spirit shape;
And left them, standing wonder-struck
At this most strange escape.
And so He went from Nazareth;
His home was there no more;
But in Capernaum He dwelt,
And showed His grace and power.
The Draught of Fishes.
ONE day the Lord stood by the shore
Of lake Gennesaret;
And watched the fishermen, as there
They pulled the outspread net.
And, as He stood, the people came,
And pressed upon Him round,
To hear Him preach the Gospel news,
Which they so precious found.
Then Jesus, seeing Simon's ship
Was anchored close at hand,
Stepped quick aboard, and gave command
To push a space from land.
And, sitting down, He taught the throng
Who crowded on the shore,
And heard, with joy, such heavenly truth
As ne'er was preached before.
The sermon ended, then He bade
Simon launch out for fish;
And Simon answered that he would,
If 'twere the Master's wish.
But added: "We have toiled all night,
Nor sleep nor rest have sought,
But through the water dragged out nets,
And yet no fish have caught."
Still, while he spoke, he launched the ship
Out on the waters wide,
And let the net down in the sea,
The vessel's' rail beside.
And lo! at once, with fish 'twas filled,
A multitude so great
That the strong net came wide apart,
So heavy was their weight.
The fishermen their partners called
To bring another ship;
And soon both vessels were quite full,
And sinking in the deep.
Then Simon Peter, in amaze,
At Jesus' knees fell down;
And said: "O Lord, depart from me,
My sins to Thee are known."
But Jesus gently said to him:
"Thou need'st not be afraid;
From henceforth thou shalt sinners catch,
By my Almighty aid."
And when they brought their ships to land,
They--Peter, James and John--
Forsook their vessels and their friends
And followed Christ alone.
The Unclean Spirit.
NEXT Sabbath, in the synagogue,
When He stood forth to teach,
The people wondered at His force,
And mighty power to preach.
And one was there within whose breast
A devil foul had sway;
Who, held in bondage most unclean,
Yet sought to praise and pray;
But, by the devil moved, cried out,
And called the Lord by name;
Declaring that he knew Him well,
And also whence He came.
Then Jesus to the devil said:
"Silence and come thou forth;"
Who came forth, hurting not the man,
But casting him to earth.
And all the people were amazed
At what they saw that day,
And said, "With power doth He speak,
And spirits vile obey."
And the news spread round the country,
And was told from place to place,
Of the wonder-working prophet,
And this miracle of grace.
Simon's Wife's Mother.
WHEN Jesus left the synagogue
He did not go alone,
But with Simon and with Andrew,
Followed by James and John,
And entered into Simon's house,
Where they besought His aid,
For the kind mother of Simon's wife
Was in a fever laid.
The raging fever quickly fled
At His divine behest,
And she arose and ministered
To every waiting guest.
Casting Out Devils.
NOW, when the sun was setting low
They brought all the diseased;
He laid His hands on every one;
To heal them He was pleased.
And many devils He cast out
By His command and power;
And all the people quickly came
Together at the door.
The devils He forbad to speak,
As they around Him trod--
For one and all acknowledged Him
The Christ--the Son of God.
And so the word Esaias spoke,
Foretelling Him, came true:
"Himself bare our infirmities,
And all our sickness knew."
The next morn, rising early,
Before the break of day,
He went out to a desert place,
To meditate and pray.
And Simon and his company
Went after Him, and said:
"All seek for Thee and are amazed,
Supposing Thou hast fled."
He said to them: "I go to preach
In other cities too;
For therefore came I down from heaven,
To teach the Gospel true."
And He preached in their synagogues
Throughout all Galilee;
While, from before Him, as He went,
He made the demons flee.
Healing a Leper.
AND now it came to pass, one day,
When in a certain town,
A leper, seeing Jesus, came,
And on his face fell down.
And worshipped, and beseeching Him,
Said: "Lord, if but Thou please,
Thou hast the power to make me clean,
From this most foul disease."
At once the Lord put forth His hand,
And, with a gracious touch,
Said: "It doth please me--be thou clean;"
Thus prayer availeth much.
But Jesus charged him not to tell
The miracle abroad;
But go straightway unto the priest,
And offer gifts to God.
Yet so much more His fame went forth,
And multitudes came near,
That He might heal their sicknesses,
And they His words might hear.
But He stayed in the desert drear
While blazed abroad the news,
Fearing they would proclaim Him King,
And thus provoke the Jews.
After some days He came again
Into Capernaum;
And it was quickly noised abroad
The Master was at home.
The Man Sick of the Palsy.
AND many people gathered, till
The house could hold no more;
Grave doctors and proud Pharisees
Thronged in and round the door.
And Jesus preached, and taught them all
The precious, Gospel Word;
And healed the sick who recognized
The power of the Lord.
And now behold a kindly act:
A bed is borne by four--
On which one sick of palsy lies--
Near to the crowded door.
And when they cannot enter in,
They to the roof ascend;
And, breaking it, let down the bed
On which is laid their friend.
Thus to the sick man Jesus spake:
"Thy sins are all forgiven."
And then the scribes said in their hearts,
"Who thus blasphemeth Heaven?"
Immediately the Lord perceived
Their thoughts, and answer gave,
"Which is the easier, from sin
Or from disease to save?
"But that ye now may learn the fact,
And know it from this hour,
That to forgive all sin on earth
The Son of man hath power;"
He said unto the sick man: "Rise,
Take up thy bed and bear
It on thy shoulders hence away,
And to thy house repair."
Immediately the man arose,
To perfect health restored;
And taking up his bed, went home,
And glorified the Lord.
The Calling of Matthew.
NOW, after this, as Jesus passed
Where customs were received,
He saw a man named Matthew sit
And, knowing he believed,
Said to him only: "Follow me,"
And Matthew, leaving all,
Rose up and the disciples joined,
At this most simple call.
Then Matthew--sometimes Levi called--
Prepared a splendid feast,
Inviting a great company,
With Jesus, honored guest!
But Matthew was a publican,
On whom the Jews did frown,
And so were many of his friends,
Who at the feast sat down.
And thus the scribes and Pharisees
To the disciples said:
"With publicans and sinners vile
Why doth your Lord eat bread?"
Then Jesus said: "Not to the well,
But sick, are doctors sent;
And I came, not to call the good,
But sinners to repent.
The Pool of Bethesda.
SOON after this, again the feast
Of passover came round,
And Jesus, at Jerusalem,
All worshipful was found.
For, to fulfill all righteousness
He taught the people all,
And joined the service in God's house
At every stated call.
Now, in Jerusalem, there is
At the sheep-gate a pool,
Bethesda called in Hebrew phrase,
Five-porched, of water full.
And in these porches lay a throng,
Diseased and racked with pain;
Blind, halt and withered, hoping from
The water help to gain.
For, sometimes, down an angel went
And tossed the quiet pool;
And who could, after, step in first,
Was sure to be made whole.
And one poor sufferer lay there,
On that unhappy ground,
Who eight and thirty tedious years
Infirmity had bound.
When Jesus, passing, saw him lie,
He knew his wretched case;
And He who shares His peoples' woes,
Looked down with pitying grace;
And kindly asked the man: "Wilt thou
Be healed of thy disease?"
Well knowing that no earthly boon
Could more the cripple please;
Who answered, in dejected tone,
"Sir, I have no kind friend--
Whene'er the water is stirred up--
His kindly help to lend.
"But while with slow and painful steps,
I try to move alone,
Another suff'rer gets down first,
Whose limbs are good and strong;"
Then Jesus said: "Rise, lift thy bed,
And walk with it away."
Immediately the man obeyed;
And 'twas the Sabbath day.
The Jews who met him, therefore, said:
"Thou'rt doing very wrong,
Upon this holy, Sabbath day,
To bear thy bed along."
He answered them: "The man who did
The wondrous work on me,
Of healing by His own command
My long infirmity--
"He said: 'Take up thy bed and walk,'
And, instantly, there came
A healthful glow through all my limbs,
With power to do the same."
Then asked they him: "What man is he,
Who thus irreverent spake,
Commanding thee thus wickedly
The Sabbath law to break?"
But the healed man knew not the friend
Who did him so much good;
For Jesus bore Himself away
To escape the multitude.
But afterward, as Jesus taught
Within the temple gate,
He found this man and said to him,
"Behold thy healthy state;
"Now sin no more, lest worse should come
Upon the guilty soul."
Then went the man and told the Jews
'Twas Jesus made him whole.
Therefore the Jews did persecute
The Lord and seek to slay,
Because He did these wondrous things
Upon the Sabbath day.
But Jesus preached to them the truth,
In language strong and clear;
And happy were they who believed,
And lent a willing ear.
The Man With a Withered Hand.
AGAIN, as in the synagogue,
The Lord on Sabbath taught,
A man who had a withered hand
His kind attention sought.
And scribes and Pharisees around
Watched if the Lord would use
His power to heal upon this day,
That they might Him accuse.
But He, who knew their evil thoughts,
Unto the sufferer said:
"Arise, and stand forth in the midst;"
And the poor man obeyed.
Then He, to those who watched Him, said:
"I one thing ask of you;
Is it on Sabbath days correct
Evil or good to do?"
But they replied not, then He said:
"What man among you all
Shall have one sheep which on this day
Into a pit shall fall;
"And he will not lay hold on it,
And quickly lift it out?
That man is better than a sheep,
You surely cannot doubt.
"Wherefore 'tis lawful thus to do
Good on the Sabbath days;"
And He looked on them with surprise,
Grieved by their wicked ways.
Then to the man who meekly stood,
Waiting the Lord's command,
In centre of the synagogue,
He said: "Stretch forth thine hand."
And though the hand hung helpless down,
The heart with faith was strong;
And instantly ran vital force
The arm's whole length along.
Then went the haughty Pharisees
And the Herodians rude,
And held a council to destroy
Him who did only good,
But Jesus, knowing it, withdrew,
Still followed by the crowd;
He healed them all, but charged that they
Speak not His name aloud.
The Twelve are Chosen.
AND then up to a mountain's side,
One day, the path He trod,
And there alone He bowed Himself
All night in prayer to God;
And in the morning called all those
Who Him their Master claimed,
And, from amongst them, chose out twelve,
Whom He apostles named.
And He ordained this favored few,
With privilege to each
To be with Him when He so willed,
Or be sent forth to preach;
And to have power to heal the sick
The dumb, the halt, the blind,
And cast all evil spirits out,
That vex and curse mankind.
And these were the twelve chosen men:
Simon, to whom the Lord
Had given the name of Peter--
A stone, both strong and hard;
And Andrew, Simon's brother, and
The sons of Zebadee,
Bold James and John, whom Jesus said
Should Boanerges be,
Which means the sons of thunder, and
Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew and Thomas, James and Jude,
Both sons of Alpheus true;
Simon, who was a Canaanite--
By Luke Zelotes named--
And Judas called Iscariot;
Traitor, for evil famed.
Healing the Sick.
HE then descended to the plain,
To seek for food and rest,
When all the people of the land
In crowds around Him pressed.
The weary sick and those who felt
The pangs of racking pain,
And others vexed with devils hoped
From Him relief to gain;
And, following, sought to touch Him,
As power from Him had flown;
But in compassion He beheld
And healed them, every one.
[Illustration: THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT St. Matthew 5:5-7. St. Luke
6:20-49.]
The Sermon on The Mount.
AGAIN, up to the mountain side
He went, and took His seat;
And His disciples followed Him,
And gathered round His feet.
And lifting up His eyes on them,
He raised His voice to teach,
Declaring those exalted truths
He came on earth to preach.
He told them, first, the blessedness
Of purity and grace;
And that the souls most like to God
Should see the Father's face.
Then told them of their high estate,
Their privilege sublime,
To upright stand, and shed forth light
Upon the realms of time.
And taught them of the moral law,
And of the law of love,
For heart and spirit to be kept,
All human laws above.
In simple words He framed for them
A solemn, fervent prayer,
By which they could approach to God,
And on Him cast their care.
He taught that, if their neighbors' faults
Were lovingly forgiven,
They all might claim in humble faith
The Fatherhood of Heaven.
Then charged them 'gainst the error made
From that time until now,
That men to different masters
Allegiance can avow.
"For God," He said, "ye cannot serve,
And mammon serve beside;
In love to one and not to both,
Your spirit must abide."
He then the precious lesson taught
Of God's vast providence,
Which is our faithful guardian,
And our secure defence.
The little songsters of the air,
The lilies of the field,
Are fed, and clothed, from day to day,
While they no forethought yield.
And man, much better in His sight--
How little faith has he,
To doubt the providential care
That all his needs can see!
"Seek first the kingdom of your God,
His righteousness divine,
And all the stores of earthly good
Shall graciously be thine."
The Preacher then went on to charge
'Gainst judging others' sin--
Those fond of spying evil deeds,
Should with their own begin.
And they who ask, or seek, or knock,
God never will deny;
And men to other men should do
As they would be done by.
And it is wise to enter in
The narrow way and straight;
And shun the way where many go--
The wide and open gate.
Though men may openly appear
What they are not within;
Yet you shall know, if in their lives
You see the fruit of sin.
For every good and perfect tree
Doth faultless fruit bring forth;
But when you see an evil tree,
Its fruit is nothing worth.
And each tree bearing not good fruit
Into the fire is cast;
Wherefore, 'tis by their deeds ye know
The doom of all, at last.
"Not every one who says to Me;
"Lord, Lord,' shall enter heaven;
But he that does my Father's will;
And knows his sins forgiven.
"Many will say to me that day:
'I've done good in Thy Name;'
I never knew you, I will say,
I disregard your claim.
"Therefore, who hears these words of mine
And doth not doubt or mock,
Is like a man who wisely built
His house upon a rock.
"And the rain fell and floods came on,
And winds blew fierce and long;
But that house stood, securely firm,
On its foundation strong.
"And every one that hears my words
And disobeys, shall stand
Like to a foolish man, who built
His house upon the sand;
"And the rain fell and floods came on,
And winds blew round and round
Upon that house, and soon it fell
In ruins on the ground."
The Centurion's Servant.
AND, now, when Jesus entered
Into Capernaum;
A Centurion besought Him for
A servant, sick at home.
"I will come," He said, "and heal him."
The Centurion answered: "Lord,
I am not worthy Thou should'st come,
But only speak the word.
"For I, myself, am in command,
And whatsoe'er I say
To one, or to another man,
They instantly obey."
When Jesus heard him, in surprise
He said to those around:
"I verily, in Israel,
Such great faith have not found."
Then said to the Centurion: "Go,
Thy faith the work has sealed;"
And in the self-same hour he found
His servant had been healed.
Raising the Widow's Son.
IT came to pass upon the day
Succeeding this event,
That as He journeyed on His way,
Much people with Him went.
Along the road He traveled on,
Until He came to Nain;
When, just outside the city gate,
He met a funeral train.
In sorrow they were bearing forth
A weeping widow's son;
And many sympathized with her--
He was her only one.
And when the Lord saw her He had
Compassion on her grief;
And said unto her: "Weep no more,
I bring you sure relief."
He touched the bier, and all the friends
Stood still in mute surprise,
When to the dead He spoke: "Young man,
I say to thee arise."
And the dead youth sat up, alive,
And to her speechless joy,
The mother from the Lord received
Her resurrected boy.
The Pharisee and the Woman.
IT happened that a Pharisee
Invited Christ to eat,
When a poor, sinful woman came
And worshipped at His feet;
And washed them with her copious tears,
And wiped them with her hair,
And kissed them, and anointed them
With ointment rich and rare.
The Pharisee, within himself,
Said: "If this man were wise,
And were a prophet, he would know
This sinner to despise."
And Jesus, answering his thought,
Explained the woman's love:
She was a sinner who, now saved,
Her gratitude would prove.
And while the guests in wonder gazed,
He to the woman spoke:
"Thy sins are all forgiven--thy faith
Hath broken Satan's yoke."
The Blind and Dumb Man.
AGAIN a man they bring to Him,
Of Satan sore possessed,
Both blind and dumb, in wretched plight,
But Jesus gave him rest.
The sufferer both spake and saw,
When people, every one,
Who saw this miracle, exclaimed:
"Is not this David's Son?"
But the proud Pharisees, in heart
Ignored this title true;
And said the wondrous healing gift
To Satan's power was due.
Then Jesus knew their thoughts and said:
"What logic ye command!
If Satan cast out Satan, then
His kingdom cannot stand."
The Storm on Galilee.
AND as the multitudes increased,
And thronged about the Lord,
He said: "I other towns must seek,
And in them preach the word."
So He commandment forthwith gave
That His disciples go,
And get a ship in readiness,
Across the lake to row.
Then a certain scribe said: "Master,
I'll follow Thee to-day,
By land or water, wheresoe'er
Thou goest or shalt stay."
And Jesus answered: "Foxes can
Run into holes for rest,
And every bird of air can fly
Into a pleasant nest;
"But no place hath the Son of Man
Whereof it can be said:
'That is His home, where He may lay
In peace His weary head.'"
The scribe had nothing more to say;
He, doubtless, did not care
The fortunes of so poor a man
To follow and to share.
Another said: "Lord, let me go
My father's grave to make."
Said Jesus: "Let the world do that,
Come thou, my portion take."
And now the followers of Christ
Were all aboard the ship,
And He, o'ercome with weariness,
Lay down and fell asleep.
And the disciples, in alarm,
Their Master woke from sleep;
"Lord, we must have thine instant help
Or perish in the deep;"
When He, in calm and gentle voice,
Said: "Wherefore do ye fear,
O ye of little faith and trust.
While I, your Lord, am here?"
Then He arose in dignity,
And spoke His sovereign will,
Commanding both the winds and sea
To hearken and be still.
And instantly all nature's face
A tranquil aspect wears,
Hushed is the tempest, and the sky
Again serene appears.
The men each to the others, said,
In awe and great amaze:
"What kind of man is this, whose word
The fearful storm obeys?"
The Legion of Devils.
NOW when they reached the other side,
All fright and danger o'er,
The country of the Gadarenes
Received them to its shore.
But many steps they have not gone
To reach the city near,
When suddenly two unclad men
From 'mongst the tombs appear.
By unclean spirits sorely vexed,
No firm restraints could hold
Their demon-strengthened limbs, or keep
Their frantic souls controlled.
And in the mountains and the tombs,
With cries, both night and day,
They cut themselves, and caused such fear,
None dared to pass that way.
But when the Lord approached, a change
Came o'er these men possessed;
One fled--the other, falling down
In worship, sore distressed,
Cried: "What have I to do with Thee,
Jesus, Thou Son of God?
Torment me not, nor banish me
To my most drear abode."
Then Jesus said: "Come out of him,
Thou unclean spirit, vile,
And let thy presence ne'er again
His tortured soul defile."
And then He asked: "What is thy name?"
"Legion," the man did say,
For many, many devils bold
Within him had held sway.
The devils, knowing they no more
In this poor man could dwell,
Imploringly besought the Lord
To drive them not to hell;
And seeing a great herd of swine
Upon the mountain side,
Begged His consent to enter them,
With which the Lord complied.
But though there were two thousand swine
They could not fight nor flee,
The legion entered them, and all
Rushed headlong in the sea.
And they that fed the swine, alarmed,
Ran hastily away,
And told in town and country round
The wonders of that day.
Then every one went out to see
What wondrous things were done,
And still and calm the country lay,
And all the swine were gone.
And he who long had raged around,
A terror to mankind,
Sat peacefully at Jesus' feet,
Clothed, and of rightful mind.
And they who saw the miracle,
With eager tongues revealed
How he of legion once possessed
So suddenly was healed.
Then the whole multitude from all
The country round appear,
And beg the Lord to leave their coasts
For they were filled with fear.
Now, as the Lord took ship again,
The man thus saved from woe,
Prayed that he might be with the Christ,
Wherever He should go.
But Jesus answered: "Nay, return
To thine own house, and tell
What God hath done for thee, and hence
With thine own kindred dwell."
And the man did as Jesus said,
And told to great and small
Of his most glad deliverance
From Satan's dreadful thrall.
The Daughter of Jarius.
IT came to pass as Jesus thence
Returned, across the sea,
Many He found awaiting Him--
The men of Galilee.
And behold, Jarius, ruler of
The synagogue, drew near,
And knelt at Jesus' feet, and prayed,
In great distress and fear,
That Jesus to his house would go
And heal his dying child--
A little daughter, twelve years old,
In manners sweet and mild.
Then Jesus, whose glad work it was
To cheer each broken heart,
Went with him, followed by the crowd,
Who would not from Him part.
And a poor woman, suffering
From a severe disease,
Who, for twelve years, her money all
Had spent in doctors' fees;
When told that He was passing by
Came in the crowd, behind,
And said: "If I may touch His clothes,
I sure relief shall find."
And, stooping down, she gently touched
His garment's hem: when, lo!
She felt the fountain of her plague
Had ceased at once to flow.
When He, perceiving in Himself
Some loss of power Divine,
Turned and demanded of the crowd:
"Who touched this robe of mine?"
Then His disciples said to Him:
"The people throng round Thee,
They closely press on every side,
And sayest Thou: "Who touched me?'"
But He still looked around, when she,
Knowing she was not hid,
Came, trembling, fell down at His feet,
And told Him what she did.
But He said, kindly: "Daughter, thou
This act must not deplore,
Thy faith hath healed thee, go in peace;
No plague shall vex thee more!"
And while He spoke, from Jairus' house
Came messengers, who said:
"Trouble the Master now no more;
The little maid is dead."
But Jesus to the ruler turned,
And said: "You need not grieve;
All shall be well with thee and thine,
If only thou believe."
Before He reached the ruler's house,
He told the rest to wait,
And none but Peter, James and John,
Went with Him through the gate.
And when He entered in the house,
He found it full of grief,
Nor did the mourning company
Expect from Him relief.
Then He said gently to the friends:
"Why make this noise, and weep?
The damsel is not truly dead,
But taketh rest in sleep."
And they all laughed--a laugh of scorn--
Well knowing she was dead,
When He turned out the sneering crowd,
And calmly onward led.
The father and the mother, who
No doubting did betray,
And His believing followers,
To where the maiden lay;
Then took her gently by the hand,
And said, with pitying eyes:
"Talitha Cumi; damsel, I
Now say to thee arise."
Then instantly the maid arose,
And walked upon her feet,
When He in kindness ordered that
They give her food to eat.
Two Blind Men Healed.
NOW when the Lord departed thence,
Two blind men followed close,
And, "Oh! Thou Son of David," cried,
"Have mercy upon us."
And when He reached His lodging house,
The blind men entered too;
Then Jesus asked: "Do ye believe
That I this thing can do?"
They said: "Yea, Lord;" then did he touch
Their eyes, with fingers kind,
And said: "According to your faith,
Be ye no longer blind."
Forthwith they saw, and Jesus charged
That they let no man know;
But they went out and spread His fame
Wherever they did go.
The Disciples Sent Forth.
STRAIGHTWAY the Lord departed thence,
And came to His own home,
And in the synagogue He taught
When Sabbath-day had come.
The people wondered at His words,
And asked: "How can it be
That this man has such power gained
As we both hear and see?
"For is not this the carpenter?
We know his mother well;
His brethren and his sisters, too,
All here among us dwell."
And so they took offence at Him,
And Jesus said: "In vain
A prophet much esteemed abroad
At home would honor gain."
And He could do no mighty works--
Save healing a few sick,
And teaching in the villages--
Because their faith was weak.
But looking on the people with
Compassion in His heart,
As scattered sheep, and ignorant--
He called the twelve apart,
And sent them forth, through all the land,
To preach, by two and two,
To the lost sheep of Israel,
The Gospel, pure and true.
Death of John the Baptist.
HEROD, the king, his birthday kept,
And festive supper spread,
For lords, high captains and chief men,
Of Galilee the head.
And with the flowing of rich wines,
And strains of music sweet,
The daughter of Herodias danced
On light and airy feet;
Which dancing so much pleased the king
He promised, with an oath,
That whatsoever she would ask
He'd give her--nothing loth.
The daughter of her mother asked:
"What gift shall I desire?"
The wicked woman answered her:
"John Baptist's head require."
Straightway the brazen damsel came,
And, with petition bold,
Demanded John the Baptist's head,
Just as she had been told.
Although the king was sorely grieved,
He would not break his word,
In honor of the company
By whom the oath was heard.
Now, soon as John's disciples knew
Of his most cruel doom,
They took his body, tenderly,
And laid it in a tomb;
And to the Master straightly told
What had befallen John--
The deed which at the king's command
His servile guard had done.
But fear's dread torment soon drew near,
When Herod heard the news
Of the wonder working Jesus,
Now preaching to the Jews.
And he, with pale and trembling lips,
Unto his servants said:
"This is the Baptist whom I slew,
Arisen from the dead.
"Therefore do wondrous works in him
Show forth themselves, to prove
That he a mighty prophet was,
Appointed from above."
Feeding the Multitude.
THE twelve apostles, when the time
For their return had come,
Betook themselves with one accord
To Jesus, at His home;
And told Him all things that befell
While they had been away;
What they had done, what they had taught,
And how they fared each day.
Then Jesus at Bethsaida
Was with compassion moved,
To see the people crowd around--
The sheep He so much loved.
He talked to them of God and heaven--
The land above all lands--
And healed as many as had need
Of healing at His hands.
Then said the twelve: "Lord do Thou send
The multitude away,
That they some victuals may procure
Before the close of day."
But Jesus knew that poverty
Oppressed the multitude,
And kindly to His followers said:
"Can ye not give them food?"
"Two hundred pennyworth of bread,"
Philip at once replied,
"Would not a little food for each
Of this great crowd provide."
Then Andrew, Peter's brother, spoke:
"Here is a lad," he said,
"Who two small fishes has, beside
Five loaves of barley bread.
"But, what are they to such a crowd?"
The Lord said: "Bring them here.
Then seat the people on the grass,
By fifties, far and near."
And taking in His hands the bread
And fish, He looked toward heaven
And blest it in the name of Him
From whom all bread is given;
Then brake, and the disciples passed
The broken food around
To all the multitude, who sat
Expectant on the ground.
Then Jesus said: "Go, gather up
The fragments careless tossed
Upon the ground, in wanton waste,
That nothing may be lost."
And the disciples--patient men,
Went, stooping, o'er the field,
And fragment of the late repast
Twelve baskets full did yield.
And when the Lord perceived that they
Did meditate to bring
United force with the intent
That they might crown Him king,
He urged that His disciples should
Take ship and cross the sea,
While He dispersed the multitudes,
And followed secretly.
Jesus Walks Upon the Sea.
WHEN Jesus, up the mountain side
Ascended all alone,
To spend some hours in peaceful prayer
Before His Father's throne.
Meanwhile the twelve were toiling hard
In rowing o'er the lake,
But 'gainst the stormy winds they could
But little progress make.
And Jesus, on the mountain high,
Engaged in fervent prayer,
Looks on the lake and sees his friends,
And feels their toil and care.
Now comes the fourth watch of the night;
The tired men still row
Against a rising, boisterous sea,
While angry tempests blow.
But now, amid the wild uproar,
And darkness of the storm,
They saw approaching, o'er the waves,
Their Master's much loved form.
They failed to recognize their Lord,
With storm and darkness near,
Supposed He was a spirit form,
And cried aloud for fear.
Then straightway Jesus hushed their cries;
"Be of good cheer," He said;
They knew the kind, assuring voice:
"'Tis I, be not afraid."
Then Peter, warm, impulsive, bold,
Said: "Lord, if it be Thou,
Bid me and let me come to Thee
Upon the waters now."
Jesus said: "Come." Then Peter stepped
Over the vessel's side,
And walked securely and alone
Upon the stormy tide.
His eyes were on the Master fixed,
But, looking on the wave,
At once he did begin to sink,
And cried out: "Lord! Oh, save!"
Then Jesus quickly stretched His hand
And raised the sinking man,
Said: "Wherefore did'st thou doubt?" and placed
Him on his feet again.
And when they step aboard the ship,
There is a sudden peace,
The wind is still, the stars are bright,
The waves their motion cease.
And the disciples, bending low,
Their spirits deeply awed,
Said: "Of a truth we now are sure
Thou art the Son of God."
Then comes to pass another thing,
They cannot understand;
The ship, so lately out at sea,
Is now quite close to land.
And, resting from their hours of toil,
And filled with wonder deep,
The twelve around their Master's feet
Lie down in peaceful sleep.
The Bread from Heaven.
THE next day, for the absent Lord,
The people searched around,
Near to the place where He had fed
Five thousand on the ground.
Then Jesus said: "Ye seek me not
In honor of my power,
But for the bread I brake to you
In hunger's helpless hour.
"Labor not so for earthly meat,
Which perisheth away,
But for that meat which shall endure
Through everlasting day."
And then He preached to them the words
Of saving, Gospel truth,
Of Bread that keeps the soul in strength
And in immortal youth.
He told them that He was the Bread
Which had been sent from heaven,
That Bread of everlasting life,
To all believers given.
And some went back, and walked no more
With Him--the Truth, the Way;
Then to the chosen twelve He said:
"Will ye, too, go away?"
Then Simon Peter answered Him:
"Lord, to whom shall we go?
Thou hast the words of endless life;
From Thee doth wisdom flow.
"And we believe, and we are sure
That Thou are Jesse's Rod;
The promised Christ of Israel--
Son of the living God."
Jesus said: "Have I not chosen
Twelve of you to believe,
And witness to a sinful world
The truth which ye receive;
"And one of you a devil is?"
He spoke of Judas vile,
Who should, by wicked treachery,
The bishopric defile.
Now, when around Capernaum
The Lord had done much good,
He rose and traveled forth, to where
Old Tyre and Sidon stood;
And entered in a house, that He
Might of the crowd be rid,
And rest in peace there for a day;
But He could not be hid.
For a woman, whose young daughter
Had an unclean spirit, heard
That He was that great prophet who
Could heal her with a word.
And, hast'ning to Him, she knelt down,
And bowed her weeping face,
Relating in His willing ear
Her daughter's grievous case.
But Jesus answered not a word;
The apostles wondered why,
And said to Him: "Send her away,
We're weary of her cry."
And then He said: "I am not sent
Save to the sheep astray
From Israel's fold--beloved of God--
To guide them in the way."
Now this poor woman was a Greek,
And of Phœnician birth;
But she believed great David's Son
Was Prince of all the earth;
And that He loved all human kind,
Of every degree;
So, drawing near, she worshipped Him
Exclaiming: "Lord, help me!"
Then He replied: "It is not meet
To take the children's bread
And cast it out to dogs, while they--
The children--are not fed."
But she said: "Yea, Lord, very true,
Yet dogs, Thou know'st, do eat
The crumbs that from the table fall,
Beneath the children's feet."
"O, woman," Jesus answered then,
"Great is thy trusting faith;
And be it unto thee, and thine,
Whatever thy heart saith."
And she went joyful to her house,
And found the devil fled,
And her fair daughter calm and well,
And laid upon her bed.
Feeding the Hungry.
AND now, this gracious work performed
The Lord returned again
Unto the sea of Galilee,
And through Decapolis plain.
Unto a mountain He repaired,
And sought a quiet seat;
But many sufferers followed Him,
And crowded round His feet.
The eager multitudes brought forth
The blind, and dumb, and lame,
And Jesus healed them, every one,
Who to His presence came.
And all the people glorified
The God of Israel;
And, much astonished, they exclaimed,
"He hath done all things well!"
Then the Lord sent the people home,
And, taking ship again,
Sailed with the twelve along the sea,
Unto Magdala's plain.
There Pharisees and Sadducees
Came, tempting Him, and sought
A sign from heaven that they might know
The doctrines that He taught.
But He refused to give a sign
To hypocrites so base,
And leaving them, and taking ship,
Sailed to another place.
Curing the Blind.
NOW, coming to Bethsaida,
They bring a blind man down,
Beseeching Him to touch him,
But He leads him out of town.
Then, spitting, moistens the blind eyes,
And asks him if he sees;
And the man looks up and answers:
"I see men walk, as trees."
Then Jesus put His gentle hands
On the man's eyes again,
Made him look up--his eyes were healed,
And he saw all things plain.
The Apostle Peter.
THEN, after that, as Jesus with
His twelve disciples walked
To Cæsarea Philippi,
And gravely with them talked,
He asked them who the people said
That He, Himself, might be;
They answered John, Elias, and
The prophet Jeremy.
He saith: "But whom say ye am I,
Who long with you have trod?"
Peter exclaimed: "Thou art the Christ,
Son of the living God!"
Then Jesus answered him: "How blest
Simon Bar-jona, thou,
For flesh and blood hath not revealed
What thou, from heaven, dost know.
"And I say also unto thee,
That thou art Peter sure,
And on this rock I'll build my church
From gates of hell secure.
"Keys of authority and truth
Shall unto thee be given;
What thou dost bind or loose on earth
Is bound and loosed in heaven."
From that time forth the Lord began
To tell, and to explain
To His disciples, how He should
Be killed, and rise again.
But Peter said: "Nay, nay, my Lord
This, surely, shall not be;
Such treatment of the Prince of Life--
Were great indignity."
But Jesus turned and said to him:
"Satan, get thee behind,
Thou savorest not the things of God,
But pride of carnal mind."
And then said Jesus to them all:
"Who will my servant be,
Must deny self, take up his cross,
And humbly follow me.
"For whosoe'er will save his life,
Shall lose it in the end;
But he who yields it for my sake,
To life in heaven shall tend.
"For what is a man profited
If he shall gain the whole
Of this world's pompous wealth and power,
Yet lose his own poor soul?"
Jesus is Transfigured.
NOW Jesus tarried round these coasts
Till six days passed away;
Then He took Peter, James and John
Up in a mount to pray.
And, as He prayed, His face was changed,
And shining as the Sun;
His raiment became white as snow,
When glistening at noon.
And while He thus transfigured stood,
In His apostles' sight,
They suddenly beheld two men
Appear, with Him, in light.
'Twas Moses and Elias, who
Talked feelingly with Him
About the death He must endure
Soon at Jerusalem.
Then Peter spoke--his heart was full
Of holy love and fear:
"Lord, it is good," he said, "for us
To dwell forever here.
"Let us three tabernacles build;
The first shall be for Thee,
One be for Moses, man of God,
One for Elias be."
He spoke his heart's sincere desire,
But ere the words were said,
A bright cloud overshadowed them,
And covered every head.
And from the cloud a voice was heard,
"This is my Son beloved,
In whom I am well pleased--hear Him,
If ye would be approved!"
When the disciples heard the voice,
They fell upon their face,
O'ercome by fear and sore dismay,
In that most awful place.
And Jesus, touching each one, said:
"Arise and do not fear;"
And when they looked around they saw
No one but Jesus near.
And as they came down from the mount,
He bade them not disclose
What they had seen and heard that day,
Till from the dead He rose.
And they obeyed, and of that scene
No word to others said;
But 'mongst themselves enquired what meant
The rising from the dead.
An Only Child Healed.
THE next day, coming to the place
Where they had left the nine,
They found a crowd, glad to behold
The Master's face, Divine.
He asked the scribes: "What question ye
With my disciples here?"
When one in haste approaching Him,
And kneeling down in fear,
Said: "Lord, have mercy on my son--
He is my only child;
And a dumb spirit tortures him,
And makes him fierce and wild.
"And often in the fire he falls,
And in the water too;
And I spoke to Thy disciples,
But they could nothing do."
Then Jesus said: "O, men perverse,
Why can ye not believe?
How long shall I be with you ere
The faith ye will receive?"
Then to the father: "Bring to me
Your son." The child was brought,
When he fell, foaming, on the ground,
By the foul spirit wrought.
Then Jesus asked the man: "How long
Has he been troubled thus?"
He answered: "From a little child;
But, Lord, canst Thou help us?"
Jesus replied: "If thou hast faith,
Then thou shalt have relief."
The man cried out: "Lord, I believe;
Help Thou mine unbelief."
Then Jesus to the demon spoke:
"Deaf and dumb spirit sore,
I charge thee to come out of him,
And enter him no more."
The spirit cried and troubled him,
Till, like one dead, he fell;
But Jesus took him by the hand,
And, lo! the child was well.
And now the Master and the twelve
Into a house retired;
And the nine came to Him and asked
That which they most desired:
The twelve then asked: "Why could we not
Cast out that spirit, pray?"
He said: "Because your unbelief
Stood boldly in the way.
"For, verily, if ye have faith
As a small, mustard grain,
Then shall unto this mountain say,
'Remove to yonder plain.'
"It shall remove. Nothing shall be
Impossible to you;
Yet these foul spirits go not, save
By prayer and fasting, too."
Jesus Teaches Humility.
ONE day while Jesus sat at rest
He asked the twelve to say
What was it they disputed, as
They walked along the way.
But they replied not, for they had
Disputed which should gain
The greatest rank and power, when
Their Lord should come to reign.
Then Jesus said: "If any man
Desire the highest place,
He shall be last, and servant, too,
Within the realm of grace."
He set a child in midst of them,
Then took him in His arm,
And said: "Whoso receiveth such,
And shieldeth him from harm,
"Receiveth me, if, with true love,
He does it in my name,
And not only receiveth me,
But Him from whom I came."
The Young Lawyer.
AND now behold a lawyer rose
With tempting question vain,
And said: "Master, what must I do
Eternal life to gain?"
Jesus addressed His questioner
With manner frank and kind,
And by a parable He taught
His keen and doubting mind;
Told of the good Samaritan
Who succored a poor Jew;
Then, in conclusion, counseled him:
"Go thou and like wise do."
At Bethany.
AND as they went, He and the twelve,
Along the public road,
They entered into Bethany,
Where Martha, kind, abode;
Who hospitably welcomed Him
Into her house to rest,
Then hastened to provide for Him
Refreshments of the best.
Meanwhile her sister Mary,
Who long had wished to meet
The gracious Lord and hear His voice
Sat meekly at His feet.
But Martha, cumbered and perplexed
With anxious, household care,
And wishing for her welcome Guest
A banquet to prepare,
Entered the room where Jesus sat,
And said: "Lord, dost Thou know
My sister lets me serve alone?
Bid her some help bestow."
And Jesus answered in a tone
Of grace yet kind concern,
"O, Martha, Martha, good and true,
Thou something hast to learn.
"Thou careful art, and troubled much
All good things to enjoy,
And that thy friends may feast full well
Thy time and means employ;
"And yet there's but one needful thing,
Worthy thine utmost thought,
And that good part is Mary's choice,
Which from her take thou not."
The Lord's Prayer.
AGAIN, did Jesus journey on,
When, in a certain place,
He lifted up His voice in prayer
With unction, power and grace.
When He had ceased one of the twelve
Said: "Lord, teach us to pray,
As John taught those who followed him,
"We wish to do as they."
He taught them then that form of prayer
Which pure devotion is;
Known as THE LORD'S PRAYER ever since,
Because the words are His.
Then on He went, and preached the truth,
Along each country road,
And taught the people, high and low,
The love and fear of God;
And told them how God answers prayer,
If prayer be warm and true--
With far more loving, swift response
Than earthly parents do.
The Woman with an Infirmity.
NOW, in a synagogue, as He
One Sabbath day did preach,
Behold a woman, quite bowed down
And listening to His speech,
A poor, afflicted sufferer,
Who bore with groans and tears,
A spirit of infirmity
For fully eighteen years.
Upon her Jesus laid His hand,
And, suddenly made straight,
She rose and glorified her God,
Whose mercies are so great.
The ruler of the synagogue,
Indignant that the Lord
Upon the Sabbath day had wrought
This healing by His word,
Unto the people said: "There are
Six days in which you may
Do all your works;--in them be healed--
Not on the Sabbath day."
Then Jesus answered: "Hypocrite,
Doth not each of you think
It right, on Sabbath day, to lead
His beast away to drink?
"And ought not this poor woman, who
Is Abraham's daughter, be
Made loose from pain she bore so long
Through Satan's tyranny?"
And all His adversaries were
Ashamed when thus He chid,
While others wondered and rejoiced
For all the works He did.
[Illustration: FINDING OF THE LOST SHEEP. St. Matthew 18.12-14; St.
Luke 15.3-7]
The Man Born Blind.
WHEN, coming near His journey's end,
Jerusalem was nigh,
He, one day, saw a man, born blind,
As He was passing by.
And His disciples questioned Him:
"Master, whose sin hath done
Such evil as is this man's lot--
His parents' or his own?"
And Jesus answered: "Neither hath
His parents sinned nor he,
But that the works of God, in him,
Might be made plain to see.
"I must perform my Father's works
While it is day; the night
Is coming, when no man can work;
But I am the world's light,
"As long as I am in the world."
And when He thus did say
He spat upon the ground, and made
The spittle into clay;
And with it He anointed thick
The eyes that ne'er had seen,
Then said unto the man: "Go wash
In water pure and clean."
Then went the man obediently,
And washed his sightless eyes,
And instantly he saw all round,
With grateful, glad surprise.
The neighbors said: "Is this the man
Who begged, and could not see?"
Said others: "He is like to him."
But he said: "I am he."
They asked him how he gained his sight,
And he, with thankful voice,
Told all about the wondrous work
That made his heart rejoice.
And now unto the Pharisees
The happy man they brought;
And it was on the Sabbath day
This miracle was wrought.
Questioned by doubting Pharisees,
He did to them relate
The way by which he was relieved
From his unhappy state.
They said the man who gave him sight
A sinner, sure must be
Or He would not, on such a day,
Make a blind man to see.
Yet others said: "How can a man
Who is a sinner do
Such miracles?" The healed man said:
"He is a prophet true."
The Jews would not believe the man
Was ever blind at all;
And, to find out if it were so,
They did his parents call,
And asked them: "Is this man your son,
Who without sight was born?
How, then, doth he now see so well,
Yet blind until this morn?"
The parents said: "He is our son,
And was born blind, we know;
But know not how he gained his sight;
Himself the truth must show."
The Jews straightway recalled the man,
And said: "Give God the praise,
We know this man's a sinner, by
His Sabbath-breaking ways."
He answered them: "I know not if
This man a sinner be;
One thing I know, that whereas I
Was blind, yet now I see.
"We know that God regardeth not
A sinful man's appeal;
But to obedient worshippers
He will Himself reveal.
"Since first the world began can ye
Such wondrous power find
As that a mortal man could heal
The eyes of one born blind?
"And if this man were not of God,
Nor down from heaven came,
He could do nothing in my case--
All glory to His name!"
And then they answered, wrathfully:
"Thou, who believest thus,
Wast altogether born in sin,
And art thou teaching us?"
They cast him out; which Jesus heard,
And found him, when alone:
"Believ'st thou on the Son of God?"
He asked in gentle tone.
The man said: "Lord who is He, that
My faith to Him might bow?"
Said Jesus: "Thou beholdest Him,
He talketh with thee now."
Then he said: "Lord, I do believe,"
With fervent voice, and loud,
And bending forward to the earth,
In reverent worship bowed.
[Illustration: RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON. St. Luke 15.15-32]
The Raising of Lazarus.
OF Martha you've already heard,
Who entertained the Lord
When once He passed through Bethany,
And Mary heard His word.
They had a brother, Lazarus,
And Jesus loved the three,
And now the young man was brought low,
And very ill was he.
And his sisters sent a message
Unto the Lord, in haste:
"Behold, he whom Thou lovest well
Is sick and failing fast."
But Jesus said: "This sickness
Comes not that he must die,
But for God's glory, that His Son
Be glorified thereby.
"Our friend, Lazarus, sleepeth,"
Were the next words He spake:
"And I go hence that I may him
Out of his sleep awake."
Then said they: "Lord, if Laz'rus sleep
He surely shall do well"--
Thinking that it was natural rest
That o'er his eyelids fell.
Then He said, plainly: "Lazarus
Is cold and still in death.
But well, for your sakes, 'tis that I
Went not while he had breath.
"For so your faith shall be made bright,
That may be somewhat dim;
But now arise and leave this place,
That we may go to him."
Then Thomas said--called Didymus--
To the disciples all,
"Let's go, that we may die with Him,
If death should Him befall."
And now all hearts are sad and still,
And many throb with fear,
As Jesus and His followers
To Bethany draw near.
And those who meet Him tell the news
Of sorrow and of gloom,
That Lazarus has already lain
Three days within his tomb.
Now Bethany was very near
Unto Jerusalem;
And many to the sisters came,
To see, and comfort them.
And as they sat in silence,
Their hearts with grief bowed down,
The word was brought that Jesus
Was coming into town.
Then Martha went to meet the Christ,
And said unto Him: "Lord,
If Thou hadst been here, my brother
Had recovered by Thy word."
"Thy brother," thus the answer came,
"Shall rise again, I say."
"Yea, in the resurrection morn,"
She said, "at the last day."
"I am the resurrection, and
The Life," the Lord replied.
"He that upon my name believes
Shall live, though he had died."
"Oh, Lord," she answered fervently,
"I truly do believe
Thou art the Christ, the Son of God,
Whom this world should receive."
When Jesus saw the sisters' tears,
And tears of those around,
He groaned in spirit and was sad,
With troubled thoughts profound.
He said to them: "Where have ye laid
Your friend and mine to sleep?"
They say to Him: "Lord, come and see,"
Then all beheld Him weep.
And then they took away the stone
From where the dead was laid,
And Jesus lifted up His eyes,
And solemnly He said:
"Father I thank Thee that Thou hast
Heard my heart's secret prayer,
And I know that Thou dost always
Bow down to me Thine ear."
And when He thus had spoken,
He cried in accents loud:
"Lazarus, come forth," and the dead
Came forth, bound in his shroud,
And his face bound with a napkin;
His movements thus were slow;
But Jesus called out, with command:
"Loose him and let him go."
Then O, what deep and solemn joy
The sisters' hearts conceived!
While many of the Jews around
On Jesus Christ believed.
They Brought Little Children to Him.
ONE day the mothers, who believed,
Their little children brought,
And from the Master's gentle hand
A gracious blessing sought.
But the disciples, in their zeal,
Said: "Take these children home,
They're in the way of older ones,
Who for some good have come."
But Jesus loved the little lambs,
And much displeased was He,
Saying: "Suffer little children,
That they may come to me.
"For 'tis such innocents as these
That God's high kingdom win;
And all must have as simple hearts
Who gain a place therein."
Then gently lifting in His arms,
And folding to His breast,
He put His hands upon their heads,
And every infant blest.
The Young Ruler.
NOW, as He went forth in the way,
A certain ruler came;
"What shall I do," he frankly asked,
"That I may heaven claim?"
"Why callest thou me good?" the Lord
Enquired in gentle tone.
"There is none good in earth or heaven
But God, and God alone.
"Thou knowest the Commandments;
Keep them in deed and truth,
He answered and said: "Master, I've
Observed them from my youth."
Then Jesus looked at the young man,
And loved him in His heart,
And said: "One thing thou lackest yet,
Thou with thy wealth must part.
"Go sell, and give all to the poor,
And stored in heaven 'twill be,
Then come and cheerfully take up
The cross and follow me."
But the young man was sad at heart,
Unwilling to obey;
His riches he would not give up,
So, grieved, he went away.
And then to His disciples
The Lord said, grave but kind:
"How hardly shall the rich their way
Into God's kingdom find?
"It is easier for a camel
Through a needle's eye to go
Than he who loves his worldly goods
The bliss of heaven should know."
[Illustration: CHRIST BLESSING LITTLE CHILDREN ST. MATTHEW 19:13-15;
ST. MARK 10:13-16; ST. LUKE 18.15, 16.]
Peter Questions Him.
AND Peter then began to say:
"Lo! we have given up all,
And followed and believed on Thee;
What shall to us befall?"
And Jesus answered, "Verily,
I say, no man hath left
Parents or brethren, wife or child,
Of home or lands bereft,
"To suffer for the Gospel's sake,
Who shall not find much more,
Both in this world and that to come,
Laid up for him in store.
"But they who will be first on earth
Shall be the last in heaven;
And they who here take lowest seats
Shall then have highest given."
Parable of the Laborers.
AND Jesus taught them as they walked,
By pointed parable,
That all shall have an equal right
Who serve the Master well.
He told them of a man who hired
Some laborers to work,
And promised each a penny, for
The day, from morn to dark.
Again at noon, and later still,
He others idle found,
And sent them into his vineyard
To work upon the ground.
And then again, and just before
The closing of the day,
He hired others who should get
A penny for their pay.
But when the eventide had come,
And the day's work was done,
The men were called, that each might get
Whatever was his own.
The last come were paid first, and each
A pleased expression wore.
But when the first were paid they thought
That they should get still more.
And when a penny each received,
They murmured at the pay,
Which was the same for one hour's work
As for the long, warm day.
The good man answered one of them:
"Friend, I do thee no wrong;
A penny I agreed to give--
That doth to thee belong.
"Take that thine is and go thy way,
I will to this last one
Give just the same as unto thee--
Is it not all my own?
"So shall the last be as the first,
And first as last to view;
For many be the called of God,
And yet, the chosen, few."
Foretells His Death.
THEN Jesus took the twelve apart,
And gravely said to them:
"Behold, we now are on our way
Up to Jerusalem,
"And all things that the prophets wrote
About the Son of Man,
Shall be accomplished in that place,
True to the ancient plan.
"And He shall be betrayed unto
The chief priests and the scribes,
Delivered up to the Gentiles,
And mocked with taunts and jibes;
"And they shall scourge and spit upon,
And crucify your Lord;
The third day He shall rise again,
According to His Word."
The apostles listened, yet these things
They could not realize;
The meaning of the truths they heard
Was hidden from their eyes.
The Request of James and John.
THEN came, as they were walking on,
The wife of Zebedee,
Who said: "Lord, what I most desire
Wilt Thou grant unto me?"
He said unto her: "What wilt thou?"
She answered: "That my sons
May at Thy right and left sit down,
Thy kingdom's greatest ones."
Then Jesus to the young men said:
"Ye know not what ye ask.
To drink my cup, my baptism bear,
Would be too hard a task."
They answered: "We are strong enough.'
Then He said: "Ye shall try
To drink my cup, my baptism bear,
While grace shall strength supply.
"But to sit at my right and left
I cannot give to you;
My Father doth reserve those seats
For whom He deems them due.
"Be not such lords as Gentiles are,
And who would highest be
Let him be servant to the rest,
And take a low degree.
"E'en as the Son of Man came not
To take a lofty place,
But to be minister, and give
His life to save the race."
Blind Bartimeus.
AND now the Lord His way must take
Through ancient Jericho.
The people crowd around Him there,
And make His progress slow.
And Bartimeus, blind and poor,
Was sitting by the way;
Another beggar, sad and blind,
Sat by his side that day.
And when they heard the tramping crowd,
And asked the reason why,
They learned that Christ of Nazareth
Was just then passing by.
Then each man cried aloud at once,
In tones of earnest plea:
"Jesus, Thou Son of David,
Have mercy upon me."
And Jesus had compassion on
Their dark and helpless plight,
And gently touched their eyes and said:
"Your faith doth give you sight."
Immediately their eyes were healed,
And both with joyful mind,
Followed the Master, praising God,
And all the people joined.
Zaccheus.
AND now, as Jesus passed along,
A rich man hasting came--
A chief among the publicans,
And Zaccheus by name.
Jesus he sought to see, as did
The people, one and all,
But could not overlook the crowd,
His stature was so small.
So he ran on before, and climbed
Into a sycamore tree;
That, perched above the surging throng,
He might the better see.
And when the Lord came near, He raised
His eyes, saw him, and said:
"Zaccheus, in thy house, to-day,
I will take rest and bread."
And then in haste the man came down,
And joyfully received
Into his house, which stood near by,
The Lord, whom He believed.
And when the crowd saw what was done,
To murmur they began,
That Jesus was content to be
Guest with a sinful man.
Yet Zaccheus heeded not, but stood,
And said unto the Lord:
"Behold, Lord, half of all my goods
I to the poor afford.
"And if I aught have taken,
Through falsehood to me told,
More than is right from any man,
I give it back fourfold."
And Jesus said: "Salvation is
To this house come to-day;
For this man is of Abraham's line,
Though having gone astray.
"For I, the Son of Man have come
Into this world below,
To seek the straying and the lost,
And save from guilt and woe."
Parable of the Pounds.
AND as the people all around
Attentively did hear,
Believing that God's kingdom would
Without delay appear;
He taught the listening company,
By parable profound,
How God expects His faithful ones
To occupy His ground.
And as He does commit to them
Ten pounds, or five, or one,
He will reward them, at the last,
By what they each have done.
And having finished His discourse,
Wisely instructing them,
He went before them, in the way,
Up to Jerusalem.
The Anointing at Bethany.
SIX days before the Passover
The Lord appeared again
In Bethany, where Lazarus dwelt,
And his good sisters twain.
There, by a supper in the house,
Their welcome was expressed,
And Martha served, but Lazarus sat
At table with the guest.
Then Mary came and took her place
Down at the Master's feet,
And broke an alabaster box,
Of odor very sweet.
And tenderly she did anoint
The feet of Jesus there;
And wiped them with the flowing locks
Of her luxuriant hair.
Then Judas, called Iscariot,
His sullen silence broke,
And of the woman's costly gift
Thus, with a sneer, he spoke:
"For three hundred pence, in money,
This ointment would have sold,
And that would feed and clothe the poor,
Who hungry are, and cold."
He said this, though he had no care
Or pity for the poor;
But was a thief, and had the bag,
And coveted the store.
Then Jesus said: "Let her alone;
Against my burial day
She poured this ointment on my feet,
Her last regards to pay.
"The humble poor ye always have
With you, to help their needs;
But me ye cannot always have
To show me loving deeds."
Now many people of the Jews
Soon knew that He was there,
And crowded in, that they might see,
And His discourse might hear.
Yet not for Jesus' sake alone
Had they the visit made,
But to see Lazarus, whom He
Had raised up from the dead.
Entry into Jerusalem.
THE morning rose with peaceful skies,
The first day of the week,
And Jesus forthwith went His way,
Jerusalem to seek.
He knew what waited Him--the thought
His lofty spirit thrilled--
That all His Father's' work be done,
And Scripture be fulfilled.
Along the road towards Olive's mount--
That oft-trod road--He went,
Then two of His disciples
Into Bethphage He sent;
And said: "Into the village go,
Where straightway ye shall see
An ass tied, and a colt with her;
Loose them and bring to me.
"If any may say aught to you,
This shall be your reply:
'The Lord hath need of them,' then he
Will cheerfully comply."
Then the disciples went their way,
And found, as they were bidden,
An ass tied, and a colt, whereon
No man had ever ridden.
And their owners, as they loosed them,
Enquired: "Why do ye so?"
They said: "The Lord hath need of them."
And then they let them go.
And they brought them unto Jesus,
And put on them their clothes;
And Jesus rode upon the colt,
While loud Hosannahs rose.
And multitudes of people spread
Their garments in the way,
While others strewed palm branches where
The Master rode that day.
And "Hosannah, Son of David!"
They cried with one accord,
"Blessed is He that cometh thus
In the name of the Lord!"
But the Pharisees said: "Master,
Rebuke this noisy shout."
Said Jesus: "Should they hold their peace,
The stones would then cry out."
Now they descend fair Olive's Mount,
Jerusalem appears,
And Jesus beholds the city,
And over it sheds tears,
Saying: "Hadst thou but known the things
Which belong to thy peace:
But now from thine eyes they are hid;
Thy day of hope shall cease."
The city's gate they enter now;
Much moved, the people say:
"Who is this?" Some answer: "Jesus,
Prophet of Galilee."
Then to the temple went the Lord,
To clear its spacious courts
Of those who bought and sold within
Its sanctified resorts.
And when the chief priests and scribes saw
His wondrous works and ways,
And children in the temple courts
Shouting these words of praise:
"Hosannah to great David's Son!"
They very angry were,
And said to Him: "These babbling cries
Around, dost thou not hear?"
And Jesus saith unto them: "Yea,
Have ye not read the Word:
'The mouths of babes and sucklings doth
Thy perfect praise accord?'"
The Pharisees, among themselves,
Said: "Do ye not perceive
That ye prevail naught while the world
Doth on this man believe?"
The Barren Fig-Tree.
BUT now the eventide was come,
And Jesus turned away,
And with His twelve disciples went
And lodged in Bethany.
Next morning, as the Lord returned,
Quite early in the day,
He wanted bread, and looking, saw
A fig-tree in the way.
Without delay He went to it,
To get some figs to eat;
But He found only leaves thereon,
Which are not good for meat.
And then the Master spoke to it--
Spoke to the useless tree--
And said: "Henceforth, forevermore
Let no fruit grow on thee."
Into the city then He went,
And in the temple taught,
And preached to all who thronged around
And His instructions sought.
But the chief priests and elders came,
And asked Him: "Who gave thee
Authority to do these things
That we both hear and see?"
And Jesus answered: "I, also,
Will ask one thing of you,
Which, if you tell me, I will tell
Who prompts the things I do.
"The baptism of John, whence was it,
From heaven, or of men?"
This question, which He asked of them,
They could not answer then.
For thus they reasoned with themselves:
"If we shall say from heaven,
He will say: 'Why not, then, to him
Was your attention given?'
"But yet, if we shall say of men,
The people's wrath we fear;
For all hold John a prophet true,
And his name they revere."
And so they said: "We cannot tell."
He answered: "Nor to thee
Tell I by what authority
I do the things you see."
And then, as evening fell, the Lord
With His disciples went
Unto the mount of Olives, where
The night they often spent.
And in the morning they returned,
And lo! as they passed by,
They saw the fig-tree in the way,
All withered up and dry.
And Peter then remembered well:
"Master, behold," he said,
"The fruitless tree which Thou didst curse
Is withered all and dead."
And Jesus, answering, said to them:
"Verily, I say to you,
Have faith in God and doubt Him not,
And ye shall such things do.
"And who shall to this mountain say,
In firm, believing faith,
'Be thou cast forth into the sea,'
It shall be as he saith.
"And whatsoever ye desire
And ask for when ye pray,
Believe that ye receive the gift;
It shall be yours straightway.
"And when you pray forgive all those
Who have offended you,
That so your Heavenly Father may
Forgive the wrongs you do."
The Law of Love.
NOW, "Master," said a Pharisee,
Thus tempting Him again:
"Which commandment is the greatest
That the law doth contain?"
Jesus said: "Thou shalt love the Lord
Thy God with all thy heart,
And all thy soul and all thy mind--
This is the first great part.
"And the second is like to it:
Thou shalt thy neighbor love
In the same way thou lov'st thyself;
By deeds this new law prove.
"Upon these two commandments--
Within the spirit wrought--
Hang all the law that Moses wrote,
And all the prophets taught."
The Widow's Mites.
AND now the Lord was sitting where
He could the people see
As they cast their gifts of money
Into the treasury.
And many rich cast in large sums;
Then came a widow, poor,
And she threw in two mites, which make
One farthing, and no more.
Then the Lord called His disciples
And said to them: "Verily,
This poor widow has cast the most
Into the treasury.
"For all they, of their abundance,
Offered, some less, some more,
But she, of want and penury,
Did cast in all her store."
[Illustration: THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS. St. Matthew 25:1-13]
The Hypocrites.
JESUS spoke to the multitude,
That gathered at His feet:
"The scribes and Pharisees do sit
In Moses' sacred seat.
"Do, therefore, what they bid you do,
But follow not their way;
For they, themselves, keep not the law,
Nor do they what they say.
"For they bind heavy burdens
For other men to bear;
But will not give a helping hand
To ease another's care.
"And all they do is to be seen
Of men they daily meet;
Their outward garments they adorn,
Down to their very feet;
"And love the upper rooms at feasts,
And greetings in the crowd;
And the chief seats in synagogues
And titles make them proud.
"But be not ye called 'Rabbi,' for
To Christ that name is given;
And call no man father on earth;
Your Father is in heaven.
"Nor be ye masters called, for One,
Even Christ, your Master is,
And he that would be greatest, let
The servant's place be his.
"And whoso shall exalt himself
Shall be low and abased,
And he that humbles himself shall
To lofty seat be raised."
He Weeps Over Jerusalem.
AND then, His gentle spirit grieved
For Israel's sin and pride,
With tender pity in His voice,
He sorrowfully cried:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
Which doth the prophets kill,
And stonest them sent unto thee,
The promise to fulfil;
"How oft would I have gathered
Thy children to my breast,
As a hen her brood doth gather
Beneath her wings to rest.
"And ye would not. And now, alas!
Behold your sad estate,
Your doom is nigh, your house is left
Unto you desolate.
"Moreover, ye shall not see me
Until ye say the word:
'Blessed is He that cometh in
The name of Israel's Lord.'"
And His disciples then He warned
To watch, and faithful be,
Not knowing at what hour they
The Son of Man should see.
Parables of the Virgins and Talents.
AND then He pictured to their minds,
In parables most clear,
What should take place before the throne
When the Lord should appear.
The fate of the ten virgins,
Of whom but five were wise,
And five were foolish, without grace,
He placed before their eyes.
And of the nobleman who went
To travel far away,
And to his servants talents gave,
Their wisdom to display.
And two their talents used in trade,
And brought their master gain,
Which pleased him so he raised them up
O'er cities fair to reign;
While one was slothful, loving ease,
His talent hid away,
And brought with it a vain excuse
Upon the reck'ning day.
But his lord answered wrathfully,
He no excuse would take,
But told him what he should have done,
A lawful gain to make.
Then ordered that they take and cast
Nor pity him, nor spare--
The unprofitable servant
Out into dark despair.
The Corn of Wheat.
AND while He taught the people all,
From highest to the least,
Some Greeks appeared, who had come up
To worship at the feast.
The same approached to Philip, who
Was of Bethsaida,
Saying: "Sir, we would the Master see,
And from Him knowledge draw."
Philip and Andrew went apart,
And they informed the Lord
That polished strangers, standing near,
Desired to hear His word.
"The hour--the long-approaching hour--
Is come," the Lord replied,
"When I should close my earthly work,
And should be glorified.
"Verily, I say unto you,
Except a corn of wheat
Sink in the ground and die, it will
Alone produce no meat.
"But if it die, it brings forth fruit;
And he that life doth love
Shall lose it: he that hates it gains
Eternal life above.
"If any man will serve me, then
Let him come after me;
And where I am, there, also, shall
My faithful servant be.
"Now is my soul in agony,
And what more shall I say?
Father, save me from this sad hour,
My human heart would pray,
"But for this cause--that I might die--
Unto this hour I came,
So in my heart I cry: "Father,
Glorify thine own name!"
Then came there a voice from heaven,
Saying, in clearest strain:
"I have glorified it, and I
Will glorify it again."
The people standing by were sure
That thunder shook the air;
But others said: "Not so, it is
An angel's voice we hear."
Jesus answered, and said: "This voice
Came not because of me,
But that ye all might understand
The power of Deity.
"Now is the judgment of this world;
Its prince cast out shall be;
And I, if I be lifted up,
Will draw all men to me."
The Traitor Judas.
NOW Satan to the carnal heart
Of Judas entered in--
He that was called Iscariot,
Who money loved to win.
And he went unto the chief priests,
And bargained to betray
His Master to their evil power
If they would give him pay.
And his base scheme these men were glad
To hear and understand,
And thirty shining silver coins
They weighed into his hand.
And from that time he sought a way
He could, by sign or word,
In absence of the multitude,
Deliver up his Lord.
The Upper Room.
NOW came the first day of the feast--
Day of unleavened bread--
When the Passover must be killed;
And the disciples said:
"Where wilt Thou, Lord, that we shall go
And preparation make
For Thee to eat the Passover,
And we, with Thee, partake?"
Peter and John He then sent forth,
Saying: "As ye walk the street,
A man, bearing a pitcher
Of water, ye shall meet.
"Then follow him into the house,
And to the good man say:
The Master needs the guest-chamber
To keep the feast to-day.
"And a large, furnished, upper room
He unto you will show."
Then the disciples went and found,
As the Lord said, 'twas so.
Now, at the evening hour, the Lord
With His disciples came,
And sat down round the table where
Was served the paschal lamb.
And He said unto them: "I have
Desired with every breath
To eat this Passover with you,
Before I suffer death."
Washing the Disciples' Feet.
THIS being over, Jesus rose,
And laid His robe aside,
And a towel girded round Him,
So free was He from pride;
And with water in a basin
Washed the disciples' feet.
O, lowly Master! loving Lord!
Thy meekness is complete!
But Simon Peter would refuse,
With love and high esteem,
This humble office should be done
By Jesus unto him;
Till Jesus, checking his proud will,
Answered decidedly,
By saying: "If I wash thee not,
Thou hast no part with me."
Then Peter cried: "Lord, not my feet
Only from stain be free;
But also let my hands and head
Be purified by Thee."
Jesus said: "He whose feet are washed
Is every whit made clean;
And ye are clean, but not you all--
He Judas, false, did mean.
So, when the Lord had washed their feet,
And had His robe put on,
And took His seat, He said: "Know ye
What I to you have done?"
Then taught them that if He, their Lord,
Had washed their feet, then so
Should they to one another
Such act of grace bestow;
That they to His example
Should prompt respect accord,
Well knowing that the servant is
Not greater than his Lord.
Jesus is Betrayed.
NOW, after this, was Jesus sad,
And trouble did display;
For one of them who sat with Him
He said should Him betray.
And then, all being sorrowful,
Said: "Is it I?" in turn.
But He said: "'Twere good for that man
If he had ne'er been born."
Now the disciple Jesus loved,
Who next His bosom lay,
At sign from Peter asked: "Who, Lord,
Would vilely Thee betray?"
Jesus said: "When I dip the sop
It shall be that man's lot."
And when He dipped He gave it to
Judas Iscariot.
Yet upon Judas' callous heart
No softening touch it gave:
But Satan entered into him,
To harden and enslave.
Jesus said: "What thou do'st, do now."
None knew what this did mean;
But Judas rose and left the room,
And sought a different scene.
The Last Supper.
AND now the evening shades had closed,
And night was o'er the sky;
Supper was ended and lamps lit
Within that chamber high.
The Lord took bread, and, blessing it,
He brake in pieces small;
Saying: "Take, eat, this is my body,
Once broken for you all."
Then took the cup, and, giving thanks,
He gave it to them, too;
Saying: "Drink ye, for this is my blood,
Which is poured out for you.
"And eat this bread, and drink this cup,
For memory of me.
But I'll not taste the wine till I
My Father's kingdom see."
Peter's Warning.
THEN Peter cried out in alarm:
"Lord, whither goest Thou?
I will go with Thee unto death,
Or unto prison now."
Jesus said to him: "Verily,
Before the cock shall crow,
This day thou wilt deny full thrice
That thou the Lord dost know."
Promise of the Comforter.
AGAIN the Master's voice arose
In precious converse sweet,
The last and richest lessons,
With wisdom most replete:
"Let not your heart be troubled,
Believe in me, most true,
For in my Father's house I shall
Prepare a place for you."
And on, in soothing accents, flowed
Upon their listening ears
Words which, while they increased their love,
Excited still their fears.
For He talked of going from them,
Yet being with them still,
And giving them what they should ask,
If they would do His will;
And said He would pray the Father
The Comforter to send--
The Holy Ghost--who, teaching them,
Would lead them to the end.
And again He said unto them,
As He, at first, had said:
"Let not your heart be troubled,
Nor let it be afraid."
The Parable of the Vine.
WHEN it was time to go, He said:
"Arise, let us go hence,"
And they all stood and sung a hymn
Ere they departed thence.
Then out into the shadowed street,
After the close of day,
The Lord and His eleven friends
Walked slowly on their way;
On towards the mount of Olives, where
His custom was to go,
Along the well-known path which crossed
Where Kedron's waters flow.
And still the Master, as His wont
When walking with His friends,
Continued teaching golden truth
The which to glory tends.
He likened Himself to a vine,
While they the branches were;
His Father was the husbandman,
Who of the plant had care;
And charged them that they must bear fruit,
And never barren prove;
His Father should be glorified
Through faith that works by love.
And charged them to abide in Him,
And thus much fruit return;
And warned them 'gainst the dreadful fire,
Where barren branches burn.
He then unfolded to their view
The things that should be done,
When He, their Head, should go away,
And they be left alone;
And told them if they asked of God,
In His name, any thing,
Such prayer would quickly rise to heaven,
And joyful answer bring.
Again He spoke to them of love,
And of His blessed peace,
And said, as He had overcome,
So should their warfare cease.
His Prayer for His Disciples.
AND then He stood and raised His eyes
To heaven's transparent dome;
And in the same clear voice He said:
"Father, the hour is come."
Then followed such a solemn prayer,
With holy nearness filled,
As human lips ne'er breathed before,
By faith however thrilled.
The prayer ended, then Jesus crossed
Over the Kedron brook,
And the last walk, in silence calm,
With His disciples took.
Christ in Gethsemane.
ON Olivet a garden grew--
Gethsemane its name--
And here, in that portentous hour,
The "Man of Sorrows" came.
The shadows of the midnight fell,
And silence reigned around,
As He and His eleven friends
Trod the familiar ground.
Then, Oh! such heavy agony
Descended on His soul,
That even His strong spirit was
Unable to control.
He said to them: "Exceeding woe,
Beyond all mortal grief,
O'erwhelms my soul; watch here while I
In prayer shall seek relief."
Then went a little farther off,
And on His face He fell,
And offered up this earnest prayer:
"If it be possible,
"My Father--Oh! My Father!--
Let this cup pass from me.
Nevertheless, Thy holy will,
And not my will shall be."
Then, coming back to those He left,
A mournful watch to keep,
He found them prone upon the ground,
And wrapped in heavy sleep.
But Jesus said: "Sleep now and rest,
The hour is close at hand.
Behold the Son of Man betrayed
To an ungodly band."
At the Palace of the High Priest.
AND as He spake, behold a crowd
With lanterns and with swords;
And Judas, traitor, came before,
With kiss and guileful words.
But He who reads all hearts, and points
To what He finds amiss,
Said: "Judas, dost thou thus betray
Thy Master with a kiss?"
Then gently turning to the crowd,
He asked them: "Whom seek ye?"
They said: "Jesus of Nazareth."
He answered: "I am he."
And the armed band led Jesus
Along the city road,
Up to the high priest's palace--
Caiaphas' abode.
Meanwhile sat Peter by the fire,
Wondering how this would end,
And feeling wholly powerless
His Master to defend.
A servant, passing, said to him:
"Thou with this man hast been."
But Peter in great fear replied:
"I know not what you mean."
And soon another said he had
Of Jesus' friends been one,
But Peter cursed and swore that he
Had never Jesus known.
Just then the cock crew, shrill and clear,
And Jesus turned His face,
And full on Peter cast a look
Of love, reproach and grace.
Then over Peter's aching heart
Repentant anguish swept,
And he rushed out into the dawn,
And bitterly he wept.
Christ before Pilate.
AND now the morning beams appeared
The council of the Jews
Led Jesus to the judgment hall,
That they might Him accuse.
And Pilate gathered to his aid
Chief priests and rulers all,
And Jesus stood before him in
The royal judgment hall.
And Pilate said unto them: "Ye
Have brought this man to me,
Saying, 'He perverts the people,'
But no fault in Him I see.
"Nor yet Herod; for I sent you
With your prisoner to the king;
But no offence to Roman law
Could you against Him bring.
"I, therefore, will chastise Him
And order Him released;"
For 'twas custom he should free to them
A prisoner at the feast.
But they exclaimed: "Away with Him,"
And cried, with one accord,
That he release Barabbas,
And crucify the Lord.
Now Barabbas was a robber,
And they knew his record well;
He for murder and sedition
Lay in a prison cell.
"Why, what great evil hath He done?"
Pilate, the third time saith;
For he knew it was for envy
That they desired His death.
Pilate's Wife's Dream.
AGAIN upon the judgment seat,
To end this cruel strife,
Sat Pilate, when a servant came
With message from his wife.
"Beware"--the word the lady sent--
"That thou no evil do
To Him who stands before thee now--
That man so just and true.
"For I while sleeping on my bed,
Have suffered, in a dream,
Much anguish and distress of mind,
This day, because of Him."
Then Pilate saith to Jesus:
"Art thou the very king
The Jews expected should appear,
And their salvation bring?"
"My kingdom," Jesus answered,
"Is not beneath the skies,
Else to protect me from the Jews
My servants would arise."
"Art thou a king, then?" Pilate asked.
"Thou sayest it," the reply;
"For I was born, and hither came,
The truth to testify."
Pilate said to Him: "What is truth?"
Then left the judgment hall,
And said unto the Jews: "I find
In Him no fault at all."
Then Pilate, taking water, washed
His hands before them all;
And said: "This just man's blood on me
Shall not in judgment fall."
Then answered all the people:
"Let this man's blood be shed;
And let it fall on each of us,
And on our children's head."
[Illustration: THE CRUCIFIXION St. Matthew 27:35-38; St. Mark 15:24-28;
St. Luke 23:33, 34; St. John 19:18-24]
The Crucifixion.
IT was outside the city wall
Of proud Jerusalem,
That Roman soldiers crucified
Whom Pilate dared condemn.
But from the suffering Nazarene
No word of murmur came;
Patience appeared through keenest wrong,
And dignity through shame.
Only this kind and earnest plea
Their malice from Him drew:
"Father, I pray, forgive them now,
They know not what they do."
The Mother of Jesus.
NOW there stood by that dreadful cross
The mother of the Lord,
Whose soul with sharpest agony
Was pierced, as with a sword.
When Jesus therefore saw her near,
And His disciple, John,
The man whom He loved best, He said:
"Woman, behold thy son."
Then said to the disciple:
"Thy mother here behold!"
And John thenceforth his loving care
Around her did enfold.
The Darkened Sun.
NOW 'tis high noon and, solemn sight,
The sun withdraws his face,
And shadows, over all the land,
The beams of day replace.
All nature, wrapped in solemn awe,
Stood shuddering in dismay,
As hours of stern, Almighty wrath,
Passed tediously away.
Once, from the cross, an anguished voice
Came languidly: "I thirst,"
And then a cry, as though the heart,
So full of love, had burst.
"Eli, Eli," these were the words,
"Lama Sabachthani?"
Oh! what acutest agony
Wrung forth that mournful cry!
Meanwhile a sponge, in vinegar,
One standing near Him dips;
And, putting it upon a reed,
He lifts it to His lips.
He then, with exclamation loud,
His voice aloft doth send,
Saying: "Father, now into Thy hands
"My spirit I commend!"
And, then, behold! the temple vail
From top to bottom rent;
An earthquake shook the city's walls,
The rocks to pieces went.
And the centurian, with his guard,
Seeing these signs abroad,
Exclaimed in fear: "Now, of a truth,
"This was the Son of God."
The Burial.
NOW a good man, Joseph by name,
Of wealth and high renown,
In secret a disciple true,
Of Rama's ancient town,
Besought that Pilate grant to him
Permission to remove
The body of the Crucified,
Whom he had learned to love.
And then came Nicodemus,
With aloes and with myrrh--
Another who had been of Christ
A secret worshipper.
And these two men, who ne'er had made
Profession, great or small,
Prepared the sacred body for
An honored burial.
They wrapped it, with the spices,
In clean, white linen clothes;
According to the way in which
The Jews their dead dispose.
Then reverently laid it down
In Joseph's tomb--quite new,
Which he had hewn from out the rock,
His own last sleep in view.
The Resurrection.
THE Sabbath passed in sullen calm
The Lord of all things slept,
And some exulted in their crime,
While others mourned and wept.
It passed, it ended, and, behold!
While darkness veiled the sky,
Midst shock of earthquake, there came down
An angel from on high.
He sought the silent sepulchre,
And rolled away the stone--
The heavy stone that filled the door--
And took his seat thereon.
His features shone with lightning glow,
His robes were snowy white;
With solemn awe the keepers shook,
And fell, as dead, with fright.
Women at the Tomb.
MEANWHILE the day began to dawn--
The first day of the week--
And sorrowing women early came,
The sacred tomb to seek;
With spices and with ointments sweet,
To preserve the precious clay;
And saying: "Who shall roll for us
That heavy stone away?"
But when they reached the sepulchre,
They saw the stone removed,
And, entering in, they also missed
The form of Him they loved.
Instead, they saw a strange young man,
Sitting up on the right,
Clothed in a long, white flowing robe,
And they were filled with fright.
And he said unto them: "Fear not,
Ye seek Him who was slain.
He is not here. He's risen indeed,
Come, see where He has lain."
[Illustration: "THEY CAST THE NET ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SHIP AND
WERE NOT ABLE TO DRAW IT FOR THE MULTITUDE OF FISHES." St. John 21. 6]
The Ascension.
ON sacred Olivet, once more,
The apostles met their Lord,
And looked with rapture on His face,
And heard with joy His word.
He spake with old-time gentleness,
And dignity, and love,
Commanding that they should not from
Jerusalem remove.
"But wait there till the promise of
My Father come," He said,
"Of which you heard me plainly speak
The night I was betrayed.
"For John baptised with water,
But ye shall feel the glow
Of baptism with the Holy Ghost,
Not many days from now."
And as He talked He led them on
As far as Bethany,
When they, together, forward came
And asked Him earnestly,
Saying: "Lord, wilt thou at this time
To Israel restore
The kingdom in such splendor
As it enjoyed of yore?"
But Jesus said unto them all:
"'Tis not for you to know
That which the Father doth intend
Respecting things below.
"But ye shall be endued with power,
And strength, and majesty,
After the Holy Ghost has come
Upon you from on high.
"And ye shall witness unto Me
Both in Jerusalem,
Judea and Samaria,
And lands ye now condemn."
And then He lifted up His hands,
And blessed them as they stood,
While He ascended from their sight,
Their Master, great and good.
And they beheld Him rise aloft
Into the ether bright,
Until a cloud enveloped Him,
And bore Him from their sight.
And while they looked up after Him
Toward heaven, amazed and sad,
Behold two angels stood by them,
In white apparel clad;
Which said: "Ye men of Galilee,
Why stand ye, gazing up,
As though the Lord had gone away,
And left you without hope?
"As ye have seen Him rise to heaven
In majesty sublime,
So, in like manner, shall He come,
In the allotted time."
Transcriber's Notes:
Bold type is shown as =strong=.
Italics are shown thus: _sloping_.
Small capitals have been capitalised.
Illustrations have been moved out of mid-paragraph.
Variations in spelling and hyphenation are retained.
Punctuation has been retained as published.
In the list of illustrations Return of the Prodigal Son 278 has been
corrected to 378
*** End of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "Captivating Bible Stories - For Young People Written in Simple Language" ***
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