The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-08-07
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
AUGUST II.
Lesson Text: "The BraZen Ser
pent," Mum. xxi, 49-Golden
Text: John ILL.,, IA
Commentary.

4. "And they journeyed from Mount Hor
by the way Of the Red Sea. u compass the
land OF Edom, and the soul Of the people
was much discouraged because of the way"
Edom was Esau, Jacobs brother. So the
Edomites were near kinsmen of Israel,
according to the flesh. Yet they refused to
allow Israel to pass through their land, al
though Israel offered to pay for the water
they might use while passing through Xxx.
1S-2I. In the previous chapter we have
also an account OF the death OF Miriam
in the first month. ana the death OF Aaron
in the fifth month OF the fortieth year.
See chapter xxxiil., SO. We find Israel In
this lesson about where we saw them in the
last lesson, but It is thirty-eight years later
In the story. Hundreds Of thousands have
died in the wilderness, and o new genera
tion has grown up. yet OF those thity-eight
years Of wanderings because Of their un-
belief We know scarcely anything. They
were out Of fellowship, and 1t was lost time.
Abrams life of which we know nothing
(Gen. xvi, 16; xviii, 1) and Of the lost time
ofthe Nazarite (Num. W., 12). When We are
out of FELLOWSHIP with God through unbe-
lief or worldliness, the time Is lost. We are
reminded that the journey Of life Is often a
weary one to the flesh. but il We are In Christ.
who Is ''the way" (John xiv, g., and will
continually "consider Him" and "look unto
Him" (Heb. xiii, 2, 81, we will be greatly
helped and strengthened and will not be dis
couraged, even through our own relations
turn against us. Think Of the brother of
Abel. the brethren of Joseph and Of David,
and even the brethren Of Jesus did not at
one time believe In Him (John viii, 81.
S. "And the people spake against God and
against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought US
up out OF Egypt to die In the wilderness2 for
there Is no bread, neither Is there any water.
and our soul loatheth this light bread" Ps.
xviii. tells the story OF their sin from be-
ginning to end. In Deut. tx. "a. Moses says,
'Ye have been rebellious against the Lord
from the day that I knew you" In Mum.
d., /. It Is written that "when the people
complained, it dtspleased the Lord" And in
years long was grieved with this genera
tion." What relief to turn to Him OF whom
i is said by the Father. ''This Is My Beloved
Son, in whom I am we'll pleased" and to
hear the Son Himself say, 'I do always
those things that please Him (Math. xviii, S;
John viii.. 29). The Word for us is, "Do ali
things without murmurings or disputings."
"Be content with such things as ye have"
(Phil. H.. IA; Heb. Kill. 8; see also I Cor.
T.. 6-13).
6. "And the Lord sent fiery serpents
among the people, and they bit the people
and much people of Israel died" In James
evil full of deadly poison, and Of sinners it
Is said In Rom. ill.,, 13, "The poison of asps
is under their lips" The people had been
slandering God with the poison OF their
tongues and now they are reaping as they
sowed. They sowed the wind and they are
reaping the whirlwind (Gal. VI, 7; Hos. viii,
y. Sometimes q swift reckoning overtakes
the sinner. rs In the case Of Korah and his
companion, Achan also, and Ananias and
Sapphira, but 1t is always preceded by much
long suffering and patient forbearance, rs in
the days OF Noah. .:He that being often re-
proved, hardeneth his neck. shall suddenly
be destroyed and that without remedy
prov. xix, y. Because there Is wrath,
lest He take thee away with His stroke; then
great ransom cannot deliver thee"
Cob. xxxvi., 49,
7. Therefore the people came to Moses
and said. We have sinned, for we have
spoken against the Lord and against thee
Pray unto the Lord that He take away the
serpents from us. And Moses prayed for
the people," In Ps. evil. we read again and
again that they cried unto the Lord in their
trouble, and He heard and delivered them.
He Is full Of compassion and forgiveness,
and for US 1t is written that "if we confess
our sins and to cleanse us from all unright-
eousness" q John l., 9). There is a better
way to live, however, than that of constant
SHINING and repenting. We may walk in the
light as He Is In the light, have fellowship
with Him and rejoice In the blood that
cleanseth from all sin q John l., y. We
shall never on this side, OF the glory cease to
need that cleansing blood. but we may have
wonderful victory over sin and fellowship
with God.
y. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make
thee fiery serpent and set 1t upon pole, and
It shall come to pass that every one that Is
bitten when he looketh upon it shall live"
How strange the remedy, q likeness Of that
which slew them! How suggestive of the
Lord Jesus, who took upon Him our like
ness, the likeness of sinful flesh and was
made sin for us (Rom. viii, 8. II Cor. ", 21).
The serpent brought death, and the likeness
of the serpent brought life. BY Adam came
sin and death and the curse. BY the Son Of
God, In the likeness OF Adam made curse
for US, come life and health and peace (Rom.
", r.. IT; Gal ill.,, 13). How simple the way
Of life! Though all but dead from the SER
pent's bite, If but the glazing eye could see
the brazen serpent there was life.
9. And Moses made a serpent Of brass and
put 1t upon pole, and 1t came to pass that
II a serpent had bitten any man, when he
beheld the serpent Of brass, he lived" In
John Ill.,. II, IS, see the Savour's applica-
ton Of this to Himself. Write your own
name in full in John ill.,, 16, instead of the
words "the world" and "whosoever," and
believe that God means you, and the believ-
ing look upon Him who died for you, in the
light Of John l., u, will surely bring you
life. II C. q. S purgeon, now resting from
his labors, passed from death to life by d
l.. 70 Ido xr1yy
do the same If you will. The atonement has
been made: the work Of providing redemp-
iton has been finished. Christ died for our
sins, according to the Scriptures; He was de-
livered for our offenses and raised again for
our justification, and now the penitent sinner
who honestly receives Him is instantly justi-
fed from all things and made accepted in
the Beloved q Cor. xv., 3; Rom, iv.. 35;
Eph. l., 6, Z; Acts xiii, 80, 39J.-LeSsou
Helper.