The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-07-12
GODS PROMISE.
international Sunday-schoo Les
son for July 10, 1899
The Prayer Of Moses and the Promised
Presence-The Necessity Of Compan-
ionship with God--Tho Glory
Of tho Lord.

Especially arranged from 9. g. Quartorly.l
LRssoN TExr--Ex. 33:12-23.
GOLDEN TExT-Lo, ON with you alway,
even unto tho end Of the world. Matt.
2S:20
CENTRAL TRUTu-God is ever with His
children the guide and guard.
TiMB-July, BIC. 1491. Soon after tho last
lesson. Two months after the exodus.
PLAcE-Sinai and the valloy before IL.
INTRopUcTIoN--In our last lesson the pco-
pie broke their covenant with God and
were punished. Then Moses pleaded for
tho people, and to-day's lesson records the
answer to the prayer.
CONSEQUENCES of the broken covenant.
~ To be blotted out Of Gods book (32 1887.
(2) Plaques (82 "a, 35). CO Their guidance
committed TO an angel (33:2). 4). The pillar
Of cloud and fire removed out Of the camp
(83:7-1W. (5) All ornaments removed, as
symbol Of repentance 83:4-0).
HELPS OVER HAND PLAcEs-12 Whom thou
trtn send: whether some angel, or whether
His own presence. 10. Shep me nOD Thy tDdW
Thy plans and purposes. What Thou pro-
posest to do with the people. Wilt Thou
forgivoa Wilt Thou lead us ona What is
tho meaning Of the tabernacle, the offerings,
tho ceremonialsi THIS nation Is Thy people,
Although they have sinned, Thou hast led
them out; Thou hast redeemed them by
wondrous works; Thou hast chosen them.
IA. MY presence: In the pillar Of cloud and
fire; not mere angel, as in v. 2. wtu give
thee rest: will bring your work TO sue
cessful issue. Rest Of victory over emo
mics; rest In tho promised land; rest Of
successful work, and, oil the way, rest In
this promise. 10. So shall tDe be separated:
Distinguished from oil others by Gods
presence, by Gods care and protection, by
Gods Word and laws, higher and nobler
people. 18. Shep me Thy glory: More Of Thy
real nature and power. 10. Mv0oodness pass
before thee: Goodness Il the chief glory Of
Cod He Is as good rs he Is great. Pro-
claim Tue name. The nature and character.
Gracious to VhOn I wtu be gracious: All do
is out Of pure goodness. But God always
wills according to justice, love and wisdom.
There is nothing arbitrary or unreasonable
in His decisions. 20. No man sec me, and
Npe: Q) No man while living in the body
has the power 10 see Him; or ~, to see Him
in His glory would be fatal-as looking at
tho sun destroys the eyes, or intense emo
ton destroys life. %. See MY back parts:
His vailed and cloudy glory; not His face,
the uncovered brightness Of His nature.
LESSON FAcrs-After the great transgres-
sion Of tho people, Moses pleaded with God
for them. For God told Moses that no would
not 60 before the people, as he had been do
ing, but would send an angel in his place.
This led Moses TO pray most earnestly, as
given In our lesson, that 9od would be mer-
ciful, and not withdraw his presence, but
still 60 with them as he had done hereto
fore. To this petition, God also gave o
gracious answer, and promised to go with
them. lAfter this Moses was embodied
to ask God to reveal himself to his servant,
a. he had never done before. This, also,
God said he would do, and though no man
could see the face of God, he would lot
Moses see him after he passed by.
CoMMENTs-R Return to tho anguish Of
Moses when God told him that ON angel
should go Up with them, instead Of God
Himself. Why could the leader Of the peo-
pie not be satisfied with the guidance Of an
angell Why did he make 80 great point
of having the Lord Himself 60 with theml
Undoubtedly because he realized the very
great difficulties In tho way. To carry two
millions Of people into tho country Of On
enemy was no slight undertaking In itself.
But to take this same vast army forward,
whom they wore 80 easily turned aside to
ovil and rebellion, was IN awful RESPONSE
bility, which Moses was totally unwilling to
meet, unless the presence Of God Himself
were promised. This was why ho pleaded
so pressingly that no moro angel should
take tho place Of tho Almighty. Without
the power and guidance Of God, Moses felt
sure that the whole thing would end in fear
full disaster. So his prayer: "If Thy pros
ence go not with me, carry US not up hence"
was most fitting prayer for tho occasion.
Now this same prayer fits our needs, rs
yuall IA thpaQ nf tho lan1nr NJ Taraal For
like him, we are going forward into tho
country Of On enemy, and there arc many
dangers on cvcry hand. This we know
well, and our past experiences bear witness
to this fact. In order to overcome tcmpta-
tions we need tho presence and help Of God,
as much as the army of Israel did. Satan
is too powerful TO allow US to think of meet
ing him alone.. Unless VIC are to bc over
come In tho fight Of faith, we simply must
have the presence Of God with US. Alas, for
the man who In deep sorrow has not the
presence of power greater than that Of
man! There Is the greatest difference be-
tween the worldly man and the man of God
whom they are plunged into deep afflicti0n.
The one has no hope, while the other has
rays OF light shining through the gloom Of
his bitterest grief. Every minister knows
well how much easier II 10 TO go to the
house Of believers, in times Of AZ
Fiction, than to the home of the unbe-
lever. Yes, to enable US to meet the
sorrows OF life, we need tho presence OF
God. II we offer this prayer of Moses, are
we sure Of an answer such as he hadi Yes,
for God Is the same to-day that He was In
the days Of old. He is always willing to gc
with those who are anxious to have Him. In
fact, He is more ready to 60 with US and
guard us than we are to have Him. 1t ID
far more question Of our willingness than
Of His readiness. No one ever asked for
the guidance Of his heavenly Father who
did not receive 1t, though TO many He has
offered II, only to have 1t contemptuously
refused. NJ will guide thee with mine
eye" He says, and yet many Of His chif
dren are 80 headstrong that He has TO hold
them in with bit and bride, lest they rush
on to their own ruin. Remember in all the
journey through this world men are
wrecked, not because God refuses to guide
them, but because they refuse TO be guided
by Him. II ut the last you are forever
ruined, the fault will not be with God, bu
with you.--Reu. a. +. Schau0Isr.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
I. Knowing Gods way Is q great aid Il
right living; we see tho object and ideal to
ward which TO walk.
2. We need the abiding presence Of Go,
TO guide us safely through the dangers, tn
conflicts, and tho unknown paths Of life.
| 3. Gods presence Is O guard, protection
guidance, comfort, salvation.
4. We should sock and pray that we ws
know more OF God.
/ h~la tvn