OBJECTS: A Number of Cards Contain the Names of
Forgotten Bible Characters Written on Them=
"Lest we forget" sang the old English poet. Well, we do forget
oftentimes some of the worthies of the Old Testament. Perhaps we have
never heard of them, then this lesson will introduce us to them and
help us not to forget them in the days to come.
Write the names of the people that you mention on a visiting-card,
and hide these cards somewhere on the pulpit, and say: "I am about to
introduce some strangers to you. A few good people that some of us
have forgotten." Look behind the pulpit chair and on the floor pick
up a visiting-card and say: "Here is a forgotten friend I want to
introduce to you. The Dog."
Did I ever hear of him before? Well his name is among the greatest
names in the Bible. He lived in a camp of travelers. He was known as
The Dog. Some of us would be insulted to be called _a dog_. Often we
speak of people as being "As mean as a dog," but any one who really
understands dogs loves them. The dog is the first to greet you and
the first to defend you, he is quick to forgive you, and will be
faithful to you to the last.
This "dog" was faithful, courageous, and loving. He was made the
leader of a small group of people that went forth to discover
something about a people who lived beyond the bushes in an enemy's
land. They pressed their way under the guidance of "the dog" into the
strange land. There they found the rich and fruitful vineyards,
grapes, pomegranates and figs so large they did not know how to bring
the fruits of the vine back to show the people in the camp. "The Dog"
thought it out, and calling his fellow laborers to him, he put a
stout stick across their shoulders to which he fastened the precious
load. When the people saw "The Dog" returning with this wealth of
good things they greeted them with shouts of joy. The friends of "The
Dog" said, "These are the fruits of the enemy's country, but we will
never be able to conquer the land because the soldiers protecting the
land are very many and very strong."
Then the people cried out in despair and said, "Let us get another
leader." Then "The Dog" stepped forward, and with a confident look in
his face and a determined ring in his voice stretched forth his hand
to command silence. There was a great hush among the people, and all
was quiet in their ranks. Then "The Dog" said: "The land is splendid
and rich and fruitful. God is on our side--we have no need to be
afraid of the giants. The Lord is with us, fear them not." At last
"The Dog" and his companions marched into the land, and found it
flowing with milk and honey. Who was "The Dog"? His name was "Caleb"
which is the Hebrew name for dog, and Captain Joshua was his
companion. Read the full story if you wish. Its record is found in
Numbers 13 and 14.
In closing remark we have giants to fight today--Pride, Anger, Sloth,
Untruthfulness--but never forget the words of "The Dog," "The Lord is
with us, fear them not."
Here is the story of another forgotten character.
This story can be used for a second address under the title of
"Forgotten Names" or it can be used with this lesson also.
You now bring out from under the pulpit, a bundle of old papers which
you remark are to be thrown into the waste-basket as worthless, but
in the act of throwing them into the basket which you have put on the
platform previously you find another visiting-card with another
forgotten name upon it, which you now state you have rescued from the
papers doomed for the fire. On the card you have written the words
"The Mountaineer." This man was born in a wild mountain home. His
parents passed away in his early days, and he could never remember
them. As he wandered on the hillsides he talked with God, and the
hills seemed to speak to him. He grew to manhood and became strong in
body, and fleet of foot. He was a magnificent runner, and was so
strong he once went forty days without food. The King of the land was
a weak man with a wicked wife, and the King hated him because he was
so good. One day this weak King and the young man met, and the King
hissed out, "You are the man who is bringing ruin upon the land." He
answered: "I have not brought ruin upon the land, but you and your
father's house have forsaken the commandments of God, and worship
idols. I challenge you, therefore, bring all your people to the
mountain, bring your idols and their prophets, and let us see who is
right." The King agreed to this, and at the appointed time they were
all present on the mountain.
The tall Mountaineer, with bronzed face, hair streaming down his
shoulders, wearing a rough coat of camel's hair, stepped forward and
said: "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow
him, but if the idols be God, follow them. Let us each build an
altar, and put a bullock on it, but put no fire under it; then each
of us in turn will call upon his God, and the God that answers by
fire let him be God." Then he said to the false prophets, "It is your
turn first." The heathen danced around their altar all the morning,
and when noon came they were still dancing, but no fire came down.
Then the Mountaineer called out to them and said, "Cry a little
louder, perhaps your God is asleep or gone on a journey." Maddened by
these words, they renewed their shouting, cutting themselves with
knives and lancets until their blood splashed on them, but no fire
came down. When the time for the evening sacrifice came they ceased
their crying, and the Mountaineer called the people to come to him,
and he told his men to throw barrels of water over his altar: after
this was done, he prayed, and scarcely had he finished his prayer
when there came out of the heavens a vivid flash of light which
consumed the offering on the altar, and the people fell on their
faces, and a great cry went up: "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is
God." Who was this "Mountaineer"? He was the Tishbite, Elijah. The
full story you will find in First Kings 18. This story teaches us the
great fact that "If God be for us, who can be against us?"
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