The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1888-07-13
GODS GREAT PROMISE.
LESSON III, THIRD QUARTER, INTER.
NATIONAL SERIES. JULY is.

The Text Of tho Lesson IL to BE Found
In M. xxxiii. i2-s3-Golden Text. Matt.
xxiil. a0-Commentsry by Rev. u. NJ.
stearns.
CONDENSED from Lesson Helper Quarterly, by
perlnisson Of H. g. Hoffman, Philadelphia, pub
lishsr.
Moses is now for the sixth time in the
mount with God After the Levites had
slalh about three thousand because Of
the ain concerning the golden calf Moses
said: I'VE have sinned a great sin, and
now will 60 up unto the Lord Per-
adventure shall make an atonement for
your SIM" Ex. xxxii, 3d. How glorious
to see Jesus Christ, the prophet like unto
Moses, ascending up to God, having made
atonement for the sins Of the whole world
Il John ii, q, sufficient atonement for all,
but efficient only for those who truly receive
Him. In verse II it is written, "Tbe Lord
spake unto Moses face to face as man speak
eth unto his friend, +" not that Moses saw God,
for mo man hath seen God at any time
John /, 49,, and verse 20 Of our lesson today,
"There shall no man see Me and i've" but
the intercourse of Moses with God was as a
man with his friend. Since Jesus has died
and risen again, and is at the Fathers right
hand for US who believe In Him, our inter.
course with God through Christ ought surely
to be as with FRIEND but how few seem to
know Him thus intimately; even His own re-
deemed seem more interested in decking these
mortal bodies and in becoming intimate with
sinners like themselves.
~. Bring up this people," When God
sent Moses unto Pharaoh, and Moses said
"Who am | that should go unto Pharaoh
and that should bring forth the children of
Israel out of Egyptw God said unto him,
"Certainly will be with thee" (Ex. iii,
lO-12); but because of their sin God had now
said that He could not go up in the midst of
them, lest He consume them ". 81, and it is for
this reason that Moses now pleads for guide
and deliverer. He pleads what God has said:
II know thee by name, and thou hast also
found grace in my sight" This is safe plead
ing, and sure of success. In Isa xii, 6
marginal reading), we are called ''the Lords
promises; and again, in Isa. xiii, &c. He
says: "Put me in remembrance; let us plead
together" The promises of God are bank
checks which we are to indorse and present
for payment, sure that they will be honored,
for ''all the promises of God in Jesus Christ
are yea, and in Him Amen unto the glory of
God by u.s." III Cor. 1, 2O)
49, "Shew me now thy way, that may
know thee" It seems strange to hear one
with whom God spoke face to face, praying
to know Him; it seems strange to hear Paul
praying shat may know Him phil. iii, 1O);
but there is more in knowing God" than
appears at first sight, and it is only those who
know Him best, as we think, who feel in their
hearts that they know Him so little. Jesus
said: 'This is life eternal, to know thee,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ
whom thou hast sent" John xvii, 81
Not to know about Him, but to know
Him personally, intimately, as our own
God and Father, and Jesus as our own
Saviour and Brother.
IA. my presence shall go with thee, and
will give thee rest" 1.-THE angel Of His
presence saved them; in His love and in His
pity He redeemed them" Gsa. xiii, 81 am
fully persuaded that il the promise contained
In .s,a Golden Text for today was more
fully understood and appreciated. be-
levers would be filled with power to
serve Christ and would prove true fellow
laborers with God His presence means full
ness of joy and perfect peace and rest.
Why, then, have we not this power and joy
and resta Simply because Israels sin is our
sin; ''they tempted God, they spake against
God, they believed not in God and trusted
not in His salvation" Ps. xviii, 10, 49,
22)
l6. 81 and thy people" Twice in this
verse we have this expression showing how
Moses identified himself with the nation. The
Son of God identified Himself with us by be-
coming man. partaker Of flesh and blood,
and in all points tempted like as we are, call,
ing us His brethren. Heb. ii, 10-1S).
II. "Thou hast found grace in my sight,
and l know thee by name" This is the fifth
time in this lesson for the first part of this
and the second time for the last
part. The name, in Scripture, seems to in
dictate character, what the person is, and
that implies conduct, or what the person
does. The name of the Lord in xxxiv,
6, Z, confirms this view; also Gen. xxi,
q, %, where Jacob tsupplanter becomes
Israel IA prince of God), and many other
might be referred to.
49, "Gracious to whom / will be gracious"
"He doeth according to His will in the army
of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the
earth; and none can stay His hand, or say
uuUO w uOtSU UuOuf NDdIl. Nv, OIL
1t is not for the clay to find fault with the
potter but oh, how we should rejoice that
He is not willing that any should perish
III Pet. iii, o., and has said: Him that
cometh unto Ne will in no wise cast out"
John vi, 81 "Whosoever will, let him take
the water of life freely" Rev. xxi, ~
know of nothing to prevent any one receiv-
ing His grace now and His glory by and by
but their own -unwillingness.
20 Thou canst not see My face; for there
shall no man see Me and live:" Dwelling
in light unapproachable, whom no man hath
seen or can see." Il Tim. vi, 16, R. W
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall
see God" ''They saw God and did eat and
drink" Matt. v, 8; Elk. xiv, Ill There
are some apparent contradictions in the book,
but no real ones; some things hard to be un-
ierstood, which many wrest to their own
destruction There is milk for babes and
meat for those of full age, and abundance Of
light for all. Now we see in a mirror,
iarkly; but then face to face; now know
in part; but then shall know fully, even as
also / have been known fully" Let us yield
our bodies living q Cor. xiii, IL, r. W.
sacrifice, not conformed to this world, sepa-
rated unto Christ and His service, having
clean hands and pure heart and an eye to
His glory in everything; thus shall our whole