1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; 5 and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
6 “And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the 8 firmament; and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.
9 “And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear; and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called He Seas; and God saw that it was good. 11 And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herb yielding seed, and fruit tree bearing fruit after its kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, herb yielding seed after its kind, and tree bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after its kind; and God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.
14 “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for 15 signs, and for seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth; and it was so. 16 And God made the two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; He made the stars also. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
QUESTIONS.
(1) Who is the first person mentioned in the Bible? What is He there represented as doing? At what time? V. 1. Note 1. (2) In what condition was the earth? In what was the earth shrouded? What moved upon the waters? V. 2. (3) What was God’s first command, and what was the result? V. 3. Note 2. (4) Who saw the light, and what did He say of it? Could the light and darkness dwell together? V. 4. (5) What did He call the light? What the darkness? What constituted the first day? V. 5. What has constituted every day since then? Note 3. (6) What was God’s second command? What was the result? Vs. 6, 7. (7) On what day was this work done? V. 8. (8) What was God’s third command? With what result? V. 9. (9) What was the dry land called? What was the gathering together of the waters called? What was the character of this work? V. 10. (10) What was God’s fourth command? What was the result? What is said in reference to this work? Vs. 11, 12. (11) What day of creation week is now past? V. 13. (12) What command was given on the fourth day? V. 14. (13) Where were these lights placed, and for what purpose were they made? Vs. 14–18. (14) What other lights did God make? V. 16. Note 4. (15) On what day did God place the lights in the firmament? V. 19.
SUGGESTIVE READINGS.
Chapter on “The Literal Week” in “Christian Education,” pp. 190–197; also in “Patriarchs and Prophets,” pp. 111–116. “The Gospel in Creation,” pp. 13–124.
NOTES.
1. The first verse of the Bible reveals God as Creator; the last, as Redeemer; and both, like every verse between the two, reveal Him as He is, a God of love. To fallen man the Gospel in creation becomes the Gospel of salvation. But lost man may not see God in the book of nature either as Creator or as Redeemer; therefore, God in His mercy and love has given him the book of Revelation. But even here man sees only in part. In Gen. 1:1 are revealed the deep things of God in mysteries. “In the beginning”—who can tell just when?—“God”—who can find Him out unto perfection?—“Created”—who can explain the secret of the process?—“the heaven and the earth”—who has comprehended their range or their glory? But this is the Christian’s God. “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all;” and yet, “clouds and darkness are round about Him.” By hiding He reveals Himself. His works and His manner of working are mysteries. He has robed all nature in garments which man can not fully rend: “Lo, these are but the outskirts of His ways; and how small a whisper do we hear of Him! but the thunder of His power who can understand?” Job 26:14, R. V. In this connection read “God in Nature,” by Mrs. E. G. White, as recorded in General Conference Bulletin for 1897, No. 5, pp. 73, 74; or in “Special Testimonies on Education,” pp. 56–62.
2. It is not beyond the power of faith to see that when He who is the light of the whole universe, in whom there is no darkness at all, who dwelleth in the light unapproachable, and in whose presence the sun is ashamed, was present, and said, “Let there be light, and there was light,” that it should exist even before the sun was made on the fourth day. It is not hard for the child of trust to believe that He who now uses the sun to cause the “grass to grow for the cattle and herb for the service of man,” should by His own light cause the grass, herbs, and trees to spring forth in a single day, carpeting the whole earth with living green, lofty trees, and magnificent flowers.
3. The infinite power of Him who upholds all the numberless worlds in limitless space, may not be called in question by finite man. To the Christian it is not a thing incredible that God should make this world and our solar system in just six days of twenty-four hours each, and in just the order named in the Mosaic record. On the contrary, it is just what we would expect of Him, that He should do a definite work in a definite time. For “He taketh up the isles as a very little thing,” and the nations are to Him “as the small dust of the balance.” It is in perfect harmony with His manner of working when upon the earth, in the healing of diseases and in the performance of the miracles of bread and wine, and of stilling the waves of the sea. It is just what we would expect of Him who takes note of the fall of the sparrow as well as the fall of the world. Our earth, compared with the universe of worlds, is, as it were, but a grain of sand upon the seashore. God has not revealed to us the process of creation further than that “He spake, and it was; He commanded, and it stood fast;” and this is enough so that by faith we may understand.
4. The expression “the stars also,” calls attention to the fact that God made the stars as well as the sun and the moon. The names of the planets which revolve around our sun, in the order of their distances from it, are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
11. Compare the beginning of creation as recorded in the first verses of Genesis with the record in John 1:1–5. Why should Christ be called the Word?
Lesson I.—Sunday, July 3, 1898.
THE KINGDOM DIVIDED.
NOTE.—The kingdom of Israel was divided because of the idolatry of Solomon. The prophet Ahijah had told Jeroboam, one of Solomon’s officers, that he should reign over ten tribes, but the division should not take place until after Solomon’s death. When Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, came to the throne, the people, headed by Jeroboam, asked him to lighten some of the burdens that his father had imposed upon them. Acting upon the counsel of his young and inexperienced associates, rather than upon the advice of the older men, the king refused the request of the people. See chap. 11:26 to 12:15. Then follow the events recorded in our lesson.
16 “And when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse; to your tents, O Israel; now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the levy; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. And King Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against the house of David, unto this day. And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was returned, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel; there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.”
21 “And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, and the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel; return every man to his house; for this thing is of Me. So they hearkened unto the word of the Lord, and returned and went their way, according to the word of the Lord.”
25 “Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and he went out from thence, and built Penuel.”
Golden Text: “A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger.”Prov. 15:1.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) When the ten tribes saw that the king would not hearken to them, how did they answer him? V. 16. Note 1. (2) What was the general response to this cry? Same v. (3) What did those of the ten tribes do who resided in Judah? V. 17. Whom did Rehoboam send to mediate with the revolting tribes? (4) How was he received? Same v. Note 2. (5) What then did Rehoboam do? Same v. (6) What was the result of this great demonstration? V. 19. (7) Whom did the ten tribes call to rule over them? V. 20. Note 3. (8) When Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem, what course did he propose? V. 21. (9) How was he prevented from carrying out his purpose? Vs. 22-24. Note 4. (10) What was the result of this counsel? V. 24, last part. (11) How did Jeroboam set about building up his kingdom? V. 25. Note 5.
NOTES.
1. AS THE royal family belonged to the tribe of Judah, and the capital city, Jerusalem, was in Judah, the other tribes felt that their rights or demands could have no just consideration from that quarter; therefore they could have no interest in common with the kingly tribe. “See to thine own house, David,” meant that the seed of Jesse would have no more support from the ten tribes. The Lord had preserved one tribe, that His promise to David concerning the Messiah might be fulfilled. See chapter 11:13, 36; 2 Sam. 7:12, 13; Ps. 132:11; Acts 2:29-36. This was also in pursuance of the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and was the objective point of the national covenant made with Israel at Sinai. See Ex. 19:4-6; 32:11-14; Deut. 4:37; 7:6-8; 10:15.
2. REHOBOAM showed very poor judgment, or the folly of his advisers, when he sent Adoram (or Adoniram) to pacify the discontented people. This man was the head of the revenue department, and the heavy taxation and enforced labor, caused by the extravagant life of Solomon and his many public works, were the principal causes of complaint, and which Rehoboam had threatened to make still heavier. But the young king had undertaken to overcome a decree of the Lord, and therefore could not be expected to do anything wisely in the furtherance of such a purpose.
3. JEROBOAM had fled to Egypt soon after the prophet Abijah showed him that he was to be king over the ten tribes. He took this precaution in order to save his life; for Solomon, on hearing of the prophecy, had sought to put him to death. But when he heard of the death of Solomon, he returned to the land of Israel.
4. THE LORD showed his characteristic kindness in sending a message of warning to Rehoboam. He is always long-suffering toward men who seem determined to throw away golden opportunities. He always “pities the straying.” Furthermore, the rash act of Rehoboam in going to war with a much stronger people was endangering the maintenance of the kingdom of Judah, which God especially proposed to preserve on account of his covenant promises.
5. “JEROBOAM built Shechem;” that is, he enlarged and fortified the old town for his capital, virtually making a new city of it. But he afterwards removed the capital to Tirzah, a few miles distant. I Kings 14:17; 16:23. The capital was retained here until the time of Ahab, who removed it to Samaria. Penuel is the same as Peniel, at the fords of the Jabbok, east of Jordan, near where Jacob wrestled with the angel. This was a fortress for the defense of the eastern portion of the kingdom.
Progress of the War.—Before daylight on the morning of June 3 Lieutenant Hobson and six American sailors ran the steam collier Merrimac into the narrow channel of Santiago harbor, anchored her so that she swung across the channel, and sunk her by blowing a hole in her bottom. This effectually closed the entrance to the harbor, and prevents the Spanish war ships within from leaving the trap in which they are placed. The seven intrepid sailors were captured by the Spaniards, but Admiral Cervera has offered to exchange them for Spanish prisoners. This deed is regarded as a most hazardous and courageous undertaking, as the doomed vessel had to run the gauntlet of all the batteries along the harbor entrance......Capt. Charles V. Gridley, who commanded the flag-ship Olympia at the battle of Manila, died at the port of Kobe, Japan, while on his way home. It is understood that he received injuries during the battle which resulted in his death. ......According to advices believed to be authentic American troops have already been landed in Cuba and have united with General Garcia’s troops for the attack on Santiago de Cuba. Fifteen vessels, carrying 10,000 troops, left Tampa, Florida, on June 4, bound for Santiago and Porto Rico; and five transports loaded with troops left Mobile on the same day to join the Tampa expedition. It is the intention of the government to occupy the island of Porto Rico before Spain sues for peace, in order that this may be included in the demand for indemnity......Orders have been given for the troops at Chickamauga to proceed southward to take the place of those already embarked for the field of action......The Spanish bark Maria Dolores was captured by an American cruiser on May 30......Admiral Sampson, with a portion of his fleet, joined Commodore Schley before Santiago de Cuba, on June 1. On the preceding day Commodore Schley bombarded the principal fortification at the entrance to Santiago harbor, for the purpose of drawing the fire of the other batteries and learning their location. The amount of execution done is not given authoritatively......The pope has sent a telegram to the queen of Spain, urging her to be content with the success which Spain has already obtained, and abandon the idea of continuing the war. The queen had telegraphed the pope that her troops had sunk a large auxiliary cruiser at the entrance to Santiago harbor......The condition of the bank of Spain is now considered more serious than any reverse of the present war. The bank is unable to help the government, and without its help the government will be more seriously crippled than ever in carrying on the war. The poverty of the common people has never been so distressing, and the difficulties of the government are becoming overwhelming......A despatch from Port-au-Prince, dated June 6, states that the bombardment of fortifications at Santiago de Cuba has been renewed by Admiral Sampson, and that fighting has begun on land between the insurgents and Spaniards around the city......Admiral Dewey has reported from Manila that the insurgents have gained many victories during the week, taken 1,800 men and 50 officers of the Spanish army not native, and have closely invested the fortifications of Manila’s suburbs......The coast defense monitor Monadnock has been ordered to Manila, and will be towed across the Pacific, closely following the monitor Monterey.
Casualties and Calamities.—The Norwegian steamer Kong Frode arrived at Philadelphia on June 1, having on board sixty-five survivors from the wreck of the steamer Belvidere, which went down recently off Cape Maysi, Cuba. The vice-president of the Cuban Republic was among the number......Four log rafters were drowned by the capsizing of a sailboat on May 31, near Seoul Choix Point, Michigan......A naphtha launch exploded on Lake Mono, California, on May 31, and went down with the six men she carried......Within ten days six men have been killed in Pineville, Kentucky, as a result of the long-standing Howard-Baker feud......An unknown schooner was wrecked on Bearsea’s shoals, Massachusetts, on June 4, and it is believed that all of her crew perished......Two negroes were lynched on June 3, for criminal assault, one in Arkansas and the other in Texas. The latter was burned at the stake, while a crowd of over a thousand looked on......A report from Hongkong states that the bubonic plague is rapidly spreading in that city, and also at Macao, Swatow, and Wuchow, where Europeans as well as Asiatics are numbered among its victims. The plague is still spreading in India, and is said to be more virulent in Calcutta than it was last year. Dr. Haffkine, of Simla, India, has discovered a means of plague prevention, which is being successfully used in the inoculation of patients, proving efficacious in nine cases out of ten......A rebellion against the Japanese is considered again probable in southern Formosa, owing to the wanton massacre of thirty innocent villagers by Japanese troops......Seven of the survivors of the recent massacre of American missionaries in Sierra Leone, Africa, reached New York on June 4, and relate the particulars of the terrible sufferings and death of their seven colaborers who lost their lives at the hands of those whom they had gone to teach......The steamer Jane Gray, which left Seattle on May 19, bound for Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, with sixty-one passengers on board, foundered ninety miles off Vancouver Island, on May 22, and went to the bottom so quickly that only twenty-seven of her passengers had time to take to the boats. These were rescued; but of the other thirty-four nothing has been heard, and this is believed to be the number who perished......A cyclone swept across a portion of De Kalb County, Missouri, on June 1, killing one woman and three children at Maysville......Two steamers, the Maitland and Merkworth, were wrecked off the coast of New South Wales, on May 7, during a terrible gale, and thirty-seven of their passengers were drowned.
Domestic Miscellany.—A party of gamblers have purchased a Yukon River steamer, which they are fitting up most elaborately as a floating dance-hall and gambling-house, and will ply their nefarious trade among the ingoing and outcoming miners......The Transmississippi Exposition at Omaha, Nebraska, was opened on June 1, with an estimated attendance of 100,000. President McKinley, at Washington, pressed the electric button which set in motion the ponderous wheels of the exposition machinery......A mutiny broke out among the convicts of the United States penitentiary at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on June 1, fifteen of them effecting their escape after overpowering the guards......The steamer Elder arrived at Vancouver, B. C., on May 31, with eighty tons of liquor on board which had been seized in Alaska by customs officials......Two members of the California Y. M. C. A. will start for Alaska on June 15 to establish the work of their association at Dawson City......On May 31 work was begun by the construction company on the railroad over the White Pass in Alaska. Six hundred men and several hundred horses are already employed in the work......The American Medical Association met in its fifty-first annual session in Denver, Colorado, on June 7, with a large attendance of delegates from all over the country.
International.—The admirals who are blockading the coast of Crete have demanded from the National Assembly the arrest of those “Christians” who recently raided the neighborhood of Canea, killing unarmed Mohammedans. The admirals threaten to make the arrests themselves unless their demands are complied with......During the 330 years in which Spain has ruled the Philippines she has built but sixteen miles of railway in the entire archipelago, which has a population of between seven and nine millions......An Italian cruiser has been despatched to Haiti to demand indemnity for the three Italians who were murdered in that republic some time ago......A garrison of 300 Russian soldiers in Andijan, Turkestan, was attacked recently by 1,000 natives, who killed twenty of the soldiers and wounded eighteen......The Franco-American reciprocity treaty is displeasing to Germany, and German exporters have announced their intention of memorializing the government upon the questions involved in the treaty......The recent voting in Victoria and Tasmania has resulted in the adoption of the Federation Bill. The result in New South Wales is still doubtful......A despatch from Gibraltar states that a mob of Spaniards attacked and stoned the commander of the English artillery at Gibraltar, while walking with another Englishman.
National.—The Universal Peace Union no longer occupies quarters in Independence Hall, Philadelphia. On May 31 a peremptory order was issued for the removal of the organization, the trouble having arisen over a letter which the president of that organization wrote to the queen regent of Spain and to Premier Sagasta......The steamer Florida has landed on Cuban soil 400 Cubans and a pack train under General Lacret. Other vessels have landed cargoes of food, medicines, arms, and ammunition......The War Revenue Bill passed the Senate on June 4 by a vote of 48 to 28. It is estimated that this measure will produce $400,000,000 annually. Beer alone will yield $96,000,000 from a tax of $1.00 per barrel. Tobacco and tea are also taxed quite heavily. Other items of taxation are bank checks, bills of exchange, drafts, promissory notes, postal money orders, telephone messages, and proprietary articles......Admiral William Sampson will receive $150,000 as his share of the prize money from the sale of the six principal ships captured by his vessels since the beginning of the war with Spain. The total value of the ships and cargoes amounts to $1,500,000.
Temperance.—The date of the State convention of New York Prohibitionists has been changed to June 29 and 30, in order not to conflict with the commencement exercises of many schools and colleges. The convention will be held in Syracuse......The State convention of New Jersey Prohibitionists will be held at Camden on June 14......The recent convention of Prohibitionists in Pennsylvania was reported to be a most enthusiastic and successful one. One thousand delegates were in attendance, besides many others. At this convention Dr. Swallow was nominated for governor of the State on the Prohibition ticket......The State Convention of California Prohibitionists will be held in Fresno, on June 8.
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“From Paradise Lost to Paradise Restored” covers the scope of this attractive volume, which has just appeared. It is in no sense supposed to become a substitute for the Scriptures, but the story of redemption is most exhaustive and comprehensive. The thoughtful reader will doubtless be inspired to a closer study of the Holy Writ, by a perusal of these pages, and to this end only has the author sent it forth. The book is profusely illustrated, printed in large type on a heavy-calendered paper, and is handsomely bound. Its mission is to emphasize the importance of the redemption of the human race, and to bring about a closer walk with God, a nearer relationship with His Word—a diligent seeking after scriptural knowledge.
