Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-08-24
THE WONDERFUL PILLAR.
LESSON TX, THIRD QUARTER IN
TERNATlONAL SERIES, AUG. 2e.

init Verses i5, ie-Golden Text, Ps.
kilt, g. Commentary by Rev. ID. NJ.
stearns.
CONDENSED from Lesson Helper Quarterly. by
permission OF q. s. Hoffman, Philadelphia,
publisher
This fourth book in the Bible, called the
Book of Numbers, tells us in the first chapter
Of the numbering of the people after they
left Egypt, and in the twenty sixth chapter
Of the second numbering, thirty-eight years
later. AT the first numbering there were
Coz, $50 men of war ii, 46l at the second num-
bering there were COL $50 men of war XVI,
5n. but in the last numbering there was not
a man of them whom Moses aud Aaron had
numbered at the first, except Caleb and
Joshua txxvi, GA, 65l; all the sos, 54S had died
in the wilderness because of their sin in MUIR
muring against God xiv, 1881.
v. Is. "On the day that the tabernacle was
reared up" That was on the first day of the
first month of the second year; then this
cloud which had already proved their guide,
their shield and their avenger covered the
tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filed
the tabernacle. Ex. xl, 17-34) So also,
when the temple was completed. the cloud of
glory filed the house. I'll Chron. v, ID, Ia II
was a visible manifestation of the presence
of God
1.-THE tent of the testimony" because In It
was the ark Of the covenan containing the
two tables of testimony; the law t~estifying
to the Righteousness which God demands, and
the blood upon the mercy seat testifying to
the salvation from the consequences Of a
hrAlya, Law anA 20 tha righteousness Z
God provides.
Fire, until the morning." To give them
light lex xiii, 2I. He spread a cloud for a
covering, and fire to give them light in the
night FPS. CIV, 39. Thus they had continual
light, the sun by day and the pillar of fire
by night. Jesus said: ~ am the light of the
world; he that followeth Me shall not walk
in darkness, but shall ave the light Of life"
Until the morning" is an expression that
always arrests my attention, since | have
been led to live day by day looking for Him.
loving His appearing. Then shall be 'the
light Of the morning without clouds" when
the upright shall have dominion over the I'M
godly, and when the Joy shall come that ends
all weeping, because the morning star has
arisen I'll Sam xiii, 4; Ps. xix, IA, Xxx s.;
lev. xxi, 49, Are you in sympathy, dear
readert Does your heart say: my soul
waiteth for the Lord more than they that
watch for the morning they that watch for
the morning; and in His word do | hope.n
lPs. XXI 8, g.
10. $50 it was Away" "Loi I am with
you Away" HE hath said: | will never
leave thee nor forsake thee, for He
is Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to
day and forever.
Il. Israel journeyed. Israel
pitched their tents" Nothing had Moses Or
Aaron to say in this matter. the cloud de-
cided all The soul that now waits upon God
sincerely desiring His guidance and His will
In all things will surely be guided by His
word and His providence as plainly as Israel
was by the cloud; only be sincere and be just
as willing to stay as to go, or to go as to stay.
Be warned by Jer. xiii, xiii; be comforted
and established by Ps. xxi. s; only dissem-
BILE not in your heart.
is. AT the commandment Of the Lord. N
Twice in this verse, twice in verse 90, and
three times In verse %, do we find this ex-
preston in our lesson. just seven times, sig
nifying a perfect obedience. The same is no
ticeable in Elk. H, 1892. in connection with
the erection Of the Tabernacle. If We love
me. keep my commandments" 'if ye keep
my commandments, ye shall abide in
my love-" this is:my commandment, that
We love one another John xiv. Is. XIV, ~,
II, see some of the words of Him who was
in all things the perfectly obedient one II
We would know the Joy and comfort of the
spirit dwelling in us, we must be cheerfully
willing and obedient; as Jesus said that BE
came not to do His own will, nor seek His
own glory John vi, 50. viii, 50l, we must be
able in some measure to say the same If we
have His spirit dwelling in us.
l9. when the cloud tarried long" II II
was a very pleasant place, al Elm and not a
Marah lex XIV, 22-20, we may suppose they
would be content to tarry as long as God
pleased, but if the surroundings were no
agreeable, how trying it must have been e
tarry long in such a place. We often thint
we are content with tine will of God and ever
take delight i'll 1t, but He who reads the
heart proves to us, by some change of cir
cumstances or by asking us to tarry long il
unpleasant surroundings, that self is still I'm
subdued in us.
20. 81, % when the cloud was a few
days, " q" . from evening unto the morn
ing, two days or a month or
year" How uncertain Of the future, how
dependent upon God, how impossible to max,
plans for the morrowi And yet are not w
taught that We can only go here or there
and do this or that IF the Lord willF Jas
!, iv. Is. Fancy a visit to the camp of Israe
and an Introduction to Moses, the grea
, leader of the Lords hosts. We ask him, how
, long do you propose remaining at thi
encampmentf With eyes turning towar,
! the pillar of cloud he replies, | know not
. Which way will YOU journey when you d
! leave herei With eyes still fixed upon tn
> cloud come the same reply, | know moi
. Where will your next camping ground be
and again the same meek reply, | know moi
And yet you. Moses. are leader of this grea
hosti No, not /, but Jehovah. who dwellet
I among US in the Tabernacle, and whose glor
Q you see in the cloud He redeemed this pee
4 pie, He careth for them, He will lead us t
? the promised Inheritance, and we have onl
. to trust and obey Him.
Rather too tame a life for the busy man {
today; but what will you. o busy and Sc
:. confident one, do with this comman
= Acknowledge Him in all thy ways,
. lean not unto thine own understanding
Prov. iii, 5, d