Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-06-29
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Third Quarter: Lesson !. July I. 1888.
THEME; Cons COVENANT WITH ISRAEL.
Exodus "a: l-l2

shdll come near the LORD, out they snail
not come nigh; neither shall the people 90
up with him. 3. And Moses came and told
the people all the words of the Lord, and
all the judgments; and all the people an
swercd with one voice, and said, All the
words which the Lord hath said will we do
4. And Moses wrote all the words of the
Lord, and rose up early in the morning,
ana builded an altar under the hill, and
twelve pillars, according to the twelve
tribes OF Israel. ). And he sent young men
OF the children Of Israel, which offered
burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offer
ings of oxen unto the Lord. a. And Moses
took half of the blood, and put il in basins;
and half Of the blood ne sprinkled on the
altar. T. And he took the book Of the COW
enant, and read in the audience Of the peo-
pie; and they said, All that tire Lord hath
said will we do. and be obeiient 8. And
Moses took the blood, and spriukled it on
the people, and said, Behold the blood Of
the covenant which the Lord hath made
with you concerning all these words 9.
Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab,
and Abihu, and seventy OF the elders OF Is
rael: 10 And they saw the God OF Israel;
and there was under his feet as it were a
paved work of sapphire stone, and as it
were the body of heaven in his clearness.
II. And upon the mobiles of the children OF
Israel he laid not his hand also they saw
God, and did eat and drink. r. And the
Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into
the mount, and be there; and l will give
thee tables Of stone, and a law, and com
mandments which l have written; that
thou mayst teach them.
GOLDEN Tent will be to them God,
and they shall be 10 me people.
The events of the present lesson took
place soon after the giving Of the law, which
was just fifty days after the first Passoveri
according TO chronology OH the margin of
our Bibles, 1891 Is. E. Troy according TO
ancient history was founded about this date,
and Athens was less than 100 years old.
Egypt was under the rule OF the Menephtah
(son Of Rameses IL.
The place was the plain ofabout 400 acres
in front ofSinai which rises 6,S3Ofeet above
the sea and from the plain in "a preclpitous
cliff :, 800 feet.
The book is named from It's leading event
"the Exodus: . "a description of the going
out OF Israel from Egypt; company esti-
mated at 1000, 600 people Numb. 40. Mo
SEES is the acknowledged author (EX.2i4,
and Mark IL ;26, Luke 20;37). The minute
details Of the journey and the customs OF
the day prove the book TO have been written
by an eye witness
Beginning with the 22d verse OF the TWEEN
tieth chapter of Exodus and continuing
through three chapters are given series
of laws divincly delivered 10 Moses, which
being committed 10 writing were known as
the Book of the Covenant The enactments
contained in these three chapters number
sation of the essence of the law, embracing
the more important matters which Moses
put forth during the following forty years
pilgrimage. "The Book of the Covenant
was the practical application TO daily life OF
the great moral principles OF the ten com
mandments." While Israel was numer
Gus people, it was not a nation; for it had
no formulated laws Of government, until
given its code by miraculous revelation.
The lesson is naturally divided into three
parts lst, Covenant relations divinely pro
posed; ID, Covenant relations humbly
accepted; I'd, Covenant relations ratified
and enjoyed.
VIE. Andhe said unto Moses. That's
4 God said unto Moses. "slncc the people fear
lest they die, at my presence, bring unto me
chosen representatives,; Aaron who was
made the first high priest Of the nation, Ma
dab and Abihu his sons. and seventeen the
elders of Israel. " leading men of the tribes,
heads of families. Influential persons, born
chiefs. These seventy with Nadab and Abb
thu giving representation OF SIX from each
of the twelve tribes These were TO come
near, as compared with the distance Of the
masses, but they were 20 ascend the noun
tain to "a certain height only, remaining as
il were "afar off, while Moses alone was
TO approach near unto the Lord. The males
u and holiness Of God were thus most fOrci-
bly, impressed upon the people.
V. 3. And Moses came and told the PEG
pie. Having received the commands OF God
he returned and told the people of the laws,
commands and promises, of blessings If they
proved obedient; with all the judgments,
laws and statutes by which 90 decide ques-
tons of right and wrong. This was the di-
vine proposal of terms of a national covenant
TO be ratified if accepted with solemn cere-
monies. And all the people answered with
one voice, unanimously accepting the COM
pact, declaring their allegiance 10 God,
promising TO obey him and acknowledge his
supreme authority: God assuring them of
his loving care and protection upon their
fulillment of the reasonable conditions.
AS with Israel. 80 with the heirs Of the
Lord Jesus there is a covenant relation
God sent his Son as an atonement for sin,
promising 10 accept auu save those who
comply with the diviuc.y Instituted means
ofsalvation.
V. (. And Moses wrote all the words Of
the Lord that there be ~ mistake, that
they might be transmitted TO posterity
These words or characters no doubt were
those in part which Ezra re-wrote or re
vised somewhat as the King James YER
sion of the Bible was prepared from the
original MSS, substituting modern words.
for those whose meanings might be obscure
by reason of antiquity And they builded
an altar under the hill or mountain of
Sinai, as a representation Of God, the
twelve pillars representing the twelve
tribes of people. The Levitical priesthood
not having been instituted, chosen young
men were appointed 20 offer the burnt sac
rifice as ratification ceremony. The
burnt Offering was a sign Of expiation and
was fully consumed; the peace offering was
indicative of mans gratitude for mercies
received. Both were offered together TO
mark Israels thankfulness for being taken
into covenant relation with God, and was
also a sign of conservation TO his service
By this, peace was made between God and
man, for all who would bring that sacrifice
in faith and lay il on his altar The people
were thus taught the need OF sacrihce.-
Bush.
We. And Moses took half Of the blood,
and put il in basins; ami half Of the blood
he sprinkled on the altar. This was enact
ed in the presence Of the congregation as a
sign Of Gods promised faithfulness in full
filing his covenant agreement; the confer
ring of all blessings which their correspond
ing fidelity would entitle them 10 expect
And Moses read 10 them from the book of
the covenant, thus were the words twice
repeated, and twice they solcmnly vowed
10 fulfill; In other words, they took upon
themselves the oath Of allegiance TO God.
V. g. And Moses sprinkled the blood upon
the people Upon the representatives Of
the tribes probably, as their acceptance Of
cornnact aaaicd with blood Tho form Of