The National tribune., 1895-07-04

9. Joshua. He accom- panied Moses in the as
cent up to the point way between the foot
and the summit Moses passing on to the
greater elevation 10: 20) where God met him.
Joshua awaited his return. At length Moses
came back. Then he and Joshua returned to
the people.
3. Aaron. He was appointed jointly with
Hur by Moses to act in the place Of Moses dur
ing his absence of 40 days. "a: IL. Aaron
was weak and unstable, not fulfilling the du-
tics of his responsible office He bad been
highly privileged. With all the people he had
heard the Commandments delivered OF God
and was . listener when Moses read the book
of the Covenant But. further, he had been
allowed TO witness sundry grand. special mani
festations OF Coils glory aud power. He
was one of the 30 granted feast before
the Lord 2l:1.1 Then. he had been
selected to act for Moses when absent. Never
theless he weakly and wickedly spostatized.
Different explanations have been offered to ac-
count for Aaron's want Of frmness in dealing
with tho demands of the people. ]. He may
havo feared to oppose their wishes, lest he might
suffer from their wrath. lie thought his dan
ger justification of his course. 9. He may
have imagined he could Offset their eagerness
by drawing on their greed. and 80 have decided
to put to the test their demand by requiring
them to give up their jewels and ornaments.
3. Perhaps he adopted the plan expedient
to take up time and keep the people quiet until
the return Of Moses. However we look at
it, Deu., 9 30, seems decisive that there mast
have been guilt in the heart of Aaron. We see
he incurred tho displeasure of God.
q. The people. The concern of the Israelites
caused them great fear. They were on peril
Gus journey. Their leader had disappeared.
He may have been a decoiver, he may
have persisted in tho mountain. They felt
the need of divine help. Many OF them had
witnessed the idol worship of Egypt. They
were not familiar with tho grand conception of
God as omnipresent though unseen. They
carved some material representation of Deity.
Their earnestness and sincerity are shown by
their willing sacrifice of jewelry and oIna-
ments of gold, given by them to DO converted
into object of worship.
Definitions.
]. Gods. v. ]. Idoatry is polytheistic. There
must be great variety of gods.
9. Wot. VI Wot is an obsolete verb from
the Auglo-Saxon witan, to know.
j. Break off earrings. w. We are not to
suppose the break ing was harmful violent.
The earrings were taken from the ears and
broken up melted up into common mass.
1t IS supposed Aaron imagined his demand
would be too severe test of the an xiety of the
people for god. Jewelry, all personal orna-
ments. greatly appreciated. and that spec-
ally by females. But kRtz says: "Aaron had
face of the human heart; the depths of its
natural disposition were beyond his reach. All
the people cheerfuly broke off the golden Orna-
mcnts from their ears. for they were about to
accomplish an act Of pure self will and, in that
case, there is sacrifice which the human
heart will not make. He now found he was
caught in the trap which his own sagacity had
laid"
Rev. DR.. Harms. Episcopal Baltimore, Sept.
%, 1879, asked for contributions in church
of gold, silver and jewelry, for the manufac-
ture of q new communion set. The result was
q half bushel measure Of silver ware and jewels.
diamond ring valued at 81 600 was one article
contributed.
d. Craving tool. V. A. carving instrument.
1t is supposed a mold of wood frst made,
and then covered over with gold plating, Sc
cured by melting the iewelry. The account is
brief, and we cannot get all the particulars Of
the operation.
5. Eat, drink, play VIC. These were meth
DDS of worshipng idols. The orgies became
the occasion. Much such service was indecent.
The eating and drinking were 4 sort Of idol
atrous communion, and the playing kind of
worship debauching and lasciyious.
Suggestions.
!. Remember what st. John says: Little
CHI ildron keep yourselves from idols" / John,
D: 81.
The dearest idol have known,
Whateer that iso be,
Help TO tear il from thy throne,
Aud worship only thee.
So shall my walk be close with God
Calm aud serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me 10 the Lamb.
9 Have faith which does not demand the
seen, tangible material. That is. indeed, fee
bio faith which will not be satisfied III the alb
sencc uf demonstration. The unseen God is
more truly our Deity than can be anything made
of gold. What difference there is between
pure faith and that sort, so called, which de-
mands substantiation
3. We find. in V. q that sons and daughters
contributed toward the gold for the idol calf
We have a suggestion: Children should do
their share in advancing Christianity. Read
Jer. Z: Is. and see how the children helped in
y wrong worship. Surely they can join with
us in the true worship and do their part to-
ward building up the Church. Sad is it so many
children are being trained in evil. Blessed
children who have pious fathers and mothers
aud teachers.