The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-08-23
TIE WONDERFUL PILLAR.
LESSON TX, THIRD QUARTER IN
TERNATiONAL SERIES, AUG. 2e.

Text of the Lesson, Mum. ix. 15-23-Com-
NIT Verses is, 16-Golden Text. Ps.
Kilt. 3-Commentary by Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns.
fCondcnsed from Lesson Helper Quarterly, by
permission of IL S- Hoffman, Philadelphia
publisher
This fourth book in the Bible, called the
Book of Numbers, tells s in the first chapter
of the numbering of tbs 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
Cos, $50 men of war d, 46l at the second NUN
bering there were GO1 730 men of war txxvi
Oh; but in the Last numbering there was not
man of them whom Moses aud Aaron had
numbered at the first, except Caleb and
Joshua txxyi, ca, G5: all the COS, ,54S had died
in the wilderness because ef their sin in mur
murin9 against God txiv, 2G-3D.
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 filled
the tabernacle Ex. XII, 1881 So also,
when the temple was completed, the cloud ef
glory filed the house. I'll Chron v, Is, a., 1t
was visible manifestation of the presence
of God
1.-The tent of the testimony" because In it
was the ark of the covenant containing the
two tables of testimony; the law testifying
TO the Righteousness which God demands, and
the blood upon the mercy seat testifying to
the salvation from the consequences of a
broken law and to the Righteousness which
God provides
Fire, until the morning." To give them
light (1x. xiii, 2n. He spread cloud for
covering, and frs to give them light in the
night dPs. CIV, 39). Thus they had continual
light, the sun by day and the pillar of fire
by night Jesus said: "I am the light of the
world; he that followeth Me shall not walk
In darkness, but shall have the light of life"
"Unti1 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 IN
godly, and when the Joy shall come that ends
all weeping, because the morning star has
arisen QI Sam. xiii, 4; Ps Xix, Ia; xxx, 5
lev. xxi, 16,. Are you In sympathy, dear
reader9 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 y
Ps. cxxx, s, g.
16 $50 it was Away" 'Loi am with
you alway." 'He hath said: will never
leave the6nor forsake thee, for He
Ia Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to
day and forever
II. ''Israel jourpeyed. Israel
pitched their tents" Nothing had Moses OF
Aron to say in this matter, the cloud de
cided oil The soul that now waits upon God
sincerely desiring His guidance and His will
in all things viii surely be guided by His
word and His providence as plainly as Israe
was by the cloudj only be sincere and be just
ms willing to stay as to go, or TO 60 as to stay
Be warned by Per xiii, xiii; be comfortec
and established by Ps- xxxii. 8, only dissem
BILE not in your heart.
49, 'At the commandment of the Lord.
Twice in this verse, twice In verse 90, anG
three times in verse "a, DO we find this. ex
pressfnn in our esson just seven times, sig
nifying perfect obedience The same is no
ticeable in Ex. Il, 1912, In connection witt
the erection of the Tabernacle. "If ye love
me- keep my commandments" eff ye keef
my commandments, ye shall abide il
nv love;n 'this issmy commandment, that
ye love one another" John xiv, Is; XIV, 10
~: see some of tho words Of Him who wa
in all things the perfectly obedient one. Il
we would know the Joy and comfort of the
spirit dwelling in US, we must be cheerfully
willing and obedient; as Jesus said that HI
came not to do His own will, nor seek Hi
own glory John vi, SS; viii, so, we must b.
able in some measure TO say the same if w,
have His spirit dwelling in us.
10 "When the cloud tarried long" II i
was 4 very pleasant place, an Elm and not
Marah Q1x. XIV, 22-20, we may suppose they
would be content to tarry as long as Coo
pleaeed; but if the surroundings were no
agreeable, how trying it must have been t.
tarry long in such place. We often thinl
we are content with the will of God and evel
take delight in it, but He who reads tn
heart proves to US, by some change of cir
cumstances or by asking US to tarry long il
unpleasant surroundings, that self is still un
slbdued in u.s.
20, 81, %. when the cloud was fey
days, from evening unto the morn
ing, two days or a month or
year" How uncertain of the future, no,
dependent upon God, how impossible to max
plans for the morrowl And yet are not "
taught that we can only go here or there
and do this or that "if the Lord willF ia:
iv, IS Fancy visit to the camp Of Israt
and an introduction to Moses, the grea
leader of the Lords hosts. We ask him, ho'
long do you propose remaining at tn
encampment2 With eyes turning towar
the pillar of cloud he replies, know no
Which way will you journey when you
leave herel With eyes still fixed upon tt
cloud come the same reply, know no
Where will your next camping ground b
and again the same meek reply, know no
And yet you, Moses, are leader of this gre'
hostl No, not |, but Jehovah, who dwellet
among us in the Tabernacle, and whose glor
you see in the cloud. He redeemed this pc
ple, He careth for them, He will lead us
the promised inheritance, and we have on
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, @.