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S h e l t o n C o l l e g e Formerly The National Bible Institute offers a liberal arts education free from denominational bias and all entangling alliances with modernism. More and more churches and mission boards are demanding college trained candidates. SHELTON provides high col lege standards on a sound Bible- believing basis with strong theological and pre-theological departments. Write for catalogue. Shelton College Dr. J. Oliver Buswell, Jr., President 340 W. 55th Street New York 19, N. Y.
Pointers on the
H omer A. K ent , T h .D.
Helps for the Children A llison A rrowood
Lesson material is based upon out lines of the International Sunday School Lessons copyrighted by the International Council of Religious Education; used by permission.
NOW THAT I BELIEVE , by Robert Cook
July 6, 1952 MAN'S SIN AND GOD'S MERCY Judges 2:8-17; 21:25
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Pointers on the Lesson Today’s lesson begins a new series extending from the beginning of the period of the Judges to the conclusion of Solomon’s reign. This series is really a continuation of the study of the Old Testament history commencing with the unit entitled, “ Beginnings of the He brew Nation,” which was studied during the period of October through Decem ber of 1951. God’s dealings with His people Israel, during the time of this quarter’s lessons, will provide many practical lessons for believers of the present day. The Time 2 : 8-10 It is always a serious experience for any nation to lose one of its great lead ers. Sad reactions sometimes take place. Israel went through such an experience in the death of Joshua. The people had learned to depend largely upon this great leader. He was worthy to be fol lowed. But it is always dangerous to put too much confidence in any man. God is the One in whom implicit trust should be placed. There are never any sad re actions when men trust God. Not only had Joshua died but most of the other leaders who had been associated with Joshua in guiding the destinies of Is rael had also been “gathered unto their fathers.” The statement that follows is tragic indeed: “ There arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord” (v. 10). They seemed to have no concern at all for the things of God in relation to the life of Israel. Thus it was a time of crisis in Israel.
deliverance and thus reveals the reli gious decline and moral chaos of the period. In spite of a great spiritual background, Israel sinned miserably. These people seemed to forget all about the goodness of God in their behalf in delivering them from bondage in Egypt and turned to the worship of other gods with whom they became associated in the land of Canaan. Baal, in particular, they followed (v. 11). His worship in volved all sorts of fleshly perversion. Ashtaroth was another false deity who was often followed by the Israelites. This was a female deity, whereas, Baal was a male deity. Both did much toward dragging God’s people into sin and failure. Divine Chastisement 2:14, 15 Sin on the part of God’s children brings chastisement. Israel found it so. God permitted the nations in the land whom Israel failed to drive out of the land as God had told them to do, to act as the divine rod to bring His people back to Himself. Succeeding chapters of the book name the people who afflicted Israel: Philistines, Canaanites, Sido- nians, Hivites, Hittites, Amorites, Periz- zites, Jebusites, etc. It is a New Testa ment principle that “whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” (Heb. 12:6). God is too good to let His children go on and on in the pathway of sin and rebellion without doing something to restore them. Thus any Christian who persists in walk ing apart from God’s will may expect God to use the rod upon him. Only thus can He bring many of His children back to Himself. Restoration 2:16, 17 In the time of the judges, again and again the Lord raised up saviours, or deliverers, who brought them out of
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The Sin 2:11-13
WINONA LAKE, INDIANA Alva J. McClain , President
This lesson records the recurring cycle of apostasy, chastening, penitence, and
JUNE, 1 9 5 2
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