Numidia Mennonite Bible School - Reflector Yearbook (Numidia, PA)

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EZEKIEL And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land that I should not destroy it but I found none Ezekiel 22 30 In the first half of this prophetic book Ezekiel was commissioned by God to warn the children of Israel of their impending judgment, and the complete destruction of Jerusalem. God has no pleasure in judgment, but the rebellious and stiff necked children of Israel would not turn from their wicked ways and idolatrous worship. Throughout the book we see the just suffering with the unjust in judgment. God always keeps His eye on the faith ful remnant and will not forget them. In in favor of making their own palaces Re sultantly famine impoverished the land National adversity was due to national departure from God A restoration IS prom 1sed in the climaxing paragraph Carl Chrlstophel TABERNACLE STUDY For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. Hebrews 1011. In these studies we see the tabernacle as only a shadow of good things to come. As we approach the tabernacle, a type of Salvation, there is only one entrance, Christ. cc , - , . . m . . , . . - ' I , . . . . ' . as - . . , ...-. time of judgment He will be to them a little sanctuaryn or refuge, wherever they are. This is a comforting truth for us today as we endeavor to stand in the gap for those who are seeking truth. The prophecies following chapter 37 are basically unfulfilled. Ezekiel 'foretells that the land of Israel shall again be in- habited by Godls chosen people, and its ruins rebuilt. -Verna Lehman HABAKKUK, ZEPHANIAH, HAGGAI The parallel characteristics of this study of three minor prophets are calamity, con- sumed, and corrected. Habakkuk-calamity is noted because the prophet sees mighty Babylon over- shadowing the weakening Judah and Jeru- salem. Destruction is an accepted fact. The just shall live by his faith, is the noted promise to the saint. Zephaniah- I will consumef' are the primary words which give an index to the book. The day of man and the day of Jehovah manifest the two major divisions. This prophet, active long before the cap- tivity, prophesied judgment on the sins of Judah and her neighboring nations. Haggai-correctional rebuke is given by the prophet to the builders of Jerusalem after the captivity in Babylon. The temple construction was forsaken by the people We must then come to the altar, the cross, and deal with our sins. We dare not stop here, but as the priests washed in the laver, so we must daily be cleansed by the Word to fit ourselves to enter God's presence. As we move into the tabernacle, we see the candlestick as a type of the church with Christ central. The table of shew- bread was the center of union and fellow- ship for the priests, typifying our com- munion service. This study has been a means of helping us appreciate more the covenant we live under. -Carolyn Sensenig TYPES AND SHADOWS To begin the study of Types and Shadows, we defined the terms type, antitype, and shadow. A type is an Old Testament person or object which exemplifies an antitype in the New Testament. An antitype is a New Testament person or object represent- ed by the type. The shadow shows that something real is in the background. Sometimes we are limited in our com- prehension of types. They are limited in themselves because they cannot experience the joy of the real. They cannot contain all the truths and details embodied in the New Testament objects. One example of this is contained in John 3:14 and 15. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wild- erness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in 23

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JOB The theme of this book is, uthe child of God facing trialsf, This made the book a very practical study since it is something we all face in our Christian experience. We observed that Job was a righteous man and perfect, even though he was the greatest man in the East. He had submitted to God and had learned to place his trust in Him. We were challenged in Hebrews 12:1,2 to run the race of life with patience. God did not reveal to Job why he was being stricken, neither does God always show us why some circumstances come into our lives. ,We must remember, how- ever, that all things are for a good purpose. With Job's affliction we can see the in- finite control God has over his people. Job's three friends were motivated by Satan in that they tried to convince Job that sin was the cause of his affliction, when God had proclaimed him perfect. This is an encouraging account to remem- ber when Satan brings doubts accusing us of forgiven sin. A Let us always keep in mind that, the sufferings of this present time are not wort-hy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18b. -Fred Miller . I I ISAMUEL First Samuel is not a dry account of history, but we found it to be fresh with applicable lessons. The miraculous victories, the crushing defeats, and the characters interwoven throughout this book, all speak to the theme of God at work to accomplish His purposes. Amid the spiritual failure of Israel, God moved by the faith of a woman, a godly home, and a temple experience to pre- pare Samuel for His work. Through Samuel God endeavored to bring His people back to Him. By bringing judgment on Israel and through the capture of the ark, God vin- dicated His holy name among the heathen and showed Israel that His presence could not rest among rebellious people. 22 But Israel failed to recognize God's presence or His working among them, and desired a king. God's answer to their request was a man of humble beginning, but of a miserable end. God then appointed David, a faithful man, to again bring his people victory. Spiritual victory' is God's purpose for his people today. Are we going to allow Him to use us to further His purpose, or will we rebel and go down in everlasting defeat? ' -Elvin Graybill, Jr. II SAMUEL . This book portrays ae.. dark picture, with deceptions and revolts occurring. The nation of Israel was weak after Saulls death because of his unfaithfulness. David, how- ever, a man after Godls own heart, was able to strengthen it to great power. David, chosen and prepared of God for the king- dom, allowed God to remove Saul from the throne. Before taking the kingdom, David first inquired of God and then follow- ed His instructions. David's lamentations over the slain, his desire to win and make men useful for God, and establishing a proper wor- ship place, were methods he employed in strengthening the kingdom. When rebuked for sin, he repented, but still suffered the consequences. Those who revolted against the kingdom suffered death. David, being a man of war, was not per- mitted to build God's house. God promised David a son, who would build His house and for whom God would establish an everlasting kingdom. We see the ultimate fulfillment of this promise in Christ. To- day we are recipients of that everlasting Kingdom. V ' -Elton Gehman The fear of the Lord is to hate evil -,- - ,- J X 4 1 s -5 ' u' , ' ' -L gh-f. -,V 1 '

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Him should not perish, but have eternal lifef' The brazen serpent could only give natural life, not eternal life as did the Son of man. Therefore types do not establish doctrine, but simply help us to gain a clear- er understanding of it. Throughout the study of Types and Shadows we were inspired and enlightened with the New in the Old concealed, and the Old in the New revealed. -Fred Carpenter MATTHEW Where is He that is born King of the Jews?,, the wise men asked of Herod. Matthewsportrays this King as, the babe born of a virgin, and as the looked for Messiah. ' . The writer records many of the words and works of Jesus. About one half of his writings are the direct quotations of Jesus, among which is-the Sermon on the Mount, with the new and better standards of the Covenant of Grace. These include His teachings on Nonresistance, adultery, swearing of oaths, prayer and fasting, and giving of alms. Matthew also records the seven parables of the Kingdom and many of Jesus' mighty works and miracles. A Matthew relates Jesus' teaching of His coming suffering and of His Second Coming. In great detail he speaks of this great King's unjust trial, cruel scourging, crucifixion, burial, and after three days His glorious Resurrection. The Gospel concludes with our Risen Lord giving the Great Commission to His disciples. - Andrew Rudolph SERMON ON THE MOUNT Our class met four days a week to study Matthew 5, 6, and 7. With our teacher we disclosed nuggets of truth which these chapters contain. Jesus and His disciples went to the mountain and when He had sat down, He taught with authority and simplicity. Verses three to twelve of chapter 5 are k-nown as the Beatitudes, which means beautiful attitudes. Studying these verses, we noticed that spiritual exercise and nu- tritious food stimulate our appetite for 24 righteousness. We are told to be happy and rejoice when men mistreat us, and say all manner of evil against us falsely. Our reward will be great in heaven if the evil said against us is untrue. g We were remindedthat as we hear and apply God's word to our lives, we are as the wise man who built on the solid rock. If we fail toapply this, however, we build on sand, and will not remain steadfast under pressures of life. We are challenged with accepting the authority of the Sermon on the Mount. I V -Esther Yoder LUKE The writer of this book was inspired by God to write this gospel to his Friend Theo- philus, and to all people, that we might be certain of those things wherein we have been instructed. Luke, a physician, presents Christ to us as the Son of man who was born in the flesh, to die in the flesh, and was tempted in' all points like as we are. I We have to marvel as we see prophecy fulfilled in the .Son of God. Christ's labors and miracles, and His love for the lost sheep of Israel, show to us the divinity of His nature. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 We rejoice that Christ rose again for our justification, and also that we' can have life more abundantly. ' -Raymond Kraemer , . There are blessings in obedience, even if we can 't understand the command. i In returning and rest shall ye he saved,' in quietness and in conjidence shall be your strength. U ' ' - N x +1 'N Q 1 P A hex., 1