Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-08-29
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments FOR
August 81.
Subjects: The Brazen Serpent, Mum. xxi, l'9-
Golden Text John ILL.,, IA, l5-MemOry
Verses, 6.S-Commentary on the
DAYS Lesson.

Days Lesson.
Notwithstanding the years spent IN
the wilderness it became necessary tor Je'
hovah to repeatedly chastise His people
because of their idolatries, their rebellions
and their murmurings. The remarkable
means provided for the healing of the
Israelites when the fiery serpents were de-
stroying them is referred to by Jesus Him
self John g. ii, l5) to show the manner
in which He should give His life to the
Christ is the great Antitype lifted up on
the cross, and that whatsoever looketh to
Him for salvation shall live.
/. "King Arad." Arad was the name OF
a country, not a king "Took-prisoners."
"a slight repulse is often beneficial in its
effects. This taught Israel to look to Je.
hovah for help, as we find in the next
verse"
2. utterly destroy" Before this time
there had been no command to destroy the
Canaanites with the sword. But in the
promise to Abraham (Gen. Is: l6) we have
an intimation of the judgments that would
fall upon the Amorites when their iniquity
should be full That time had now ar.
rived; their wickedness was so great that
they were to be utterly destroyed. There
is certain pitch of iniquity to which ma
lions may arrive before they are destroyed,
and beyond which God will not permit
them to pass"
8. Destroyed them" But this could
not have Deer till later. DR.. Clarke thinks
this verse was inserted later by copyist.
A. Mount Hor." Mount Hor was on
the border of Edom, and was the mount.
ain on which Aaron died. 1t is the highest
peak in the sandstone ridge of Mount SER,
which extends along the eastern side of
the Arabah, from near the Dead Sea to
Sea-" The Israelites were now ready to
enter the land of promise. But from
Mount Hor the march into southern Ca.
man was impracticabe on account of the
mountains. The Edomites would not per-
nit them to cross their mountains, SO
they were obliged to take long tour to
the south and march around Mount SER
to Elath, the northern point of the east
ern gulf of the Red Sea, and from there
Much discouraged" '"rhey had expected
to enter Canaan at once and their disap-
pointment vexed them"
5. "Spake against God" This was the
new Israel raised up in the wilderness.
Their disobedient fathers have persisted
during the last thirty-eight years. But
the new Israel is strikingly like the old,
faltering, murmuring, blaming their lead
ers and distrusting God.
6. Sent fiery serpents." 1t is not prob
able that the serpentS were created for
of the people the Lord permitted the rep.
tiles to gather in the camp and aflict the
Israelites. THAT part of the desert is
greatly infested with venomous reptiles or
different kinds, particularly lizards, which
raise themselves in the air and swing them
selves from branches, and scorpions which
being in the habit of lying among long
grass are very dangerous to the bareiegged,
sandalled people of the East "These ser.
penis are called fiery either from their
color, their rage or the effects of their bit
ings infaming the body, putting it imlne.
diately into high fever, scorching it with
unsatisfed thirst. They had unjustly com.
planned for want of water, TO chastise
thirst which no water would quench. They
had concluded they must die in the wilder.
ness, and God took them at their word,
so that many did die" God had wonder
fully preserved His people from these SER
penis until they murmured. This was a
just punishment for their unthankfulness.
7. Game to Moses" The severe judy
ment from God had made them aware OF
their sins; their consciences were aroused
eve have sinned." They are ready to
make confession. 1t was o. thorough, (2)
personal, 81 clearly stated. Their sins
were defined; their convictions were clear.
"And against Thee" ut is easier to con-
TESS our sins against God than it is to
make acknowledgment of wrong to man"
Moses prayed" His prayer was an
swered, but not as he expected. God has
His own way of doing things The people
must, be taught lesson in faith. ''For the
people" There is scarcely any record of
Moses praying for HIMSELF his prayers are
generally for others. He was the mediator
OF the old covenant as Jesus is of the new.
Gal 8: 49,
s. "A fiery serpent" Moses no doubt
expected the serpents to disappear as the
plaques had in Egypt but instead of this
he Is directed to provide an antidote for
those who were bitten, and thus the Lord
uses Moses as an instrument in the relief
of the people. ''When he looketh-shall
live" The bitten Israelte had simply to
look at Gods remedy-not to Himself, or
his wounds, or those around him, but he
must fix his gaze on the brazen serpent
If he refused or neglected to do that there
was nothing for him but death; he was
shut up to the brazen serpent, which was
called to look to Christ. God was testing
their faith, submission and obedience
Then, too, each individual was obliged to
act for himself 1t required personal look
9. Moses made a serpent" He
showed his perfect confidence in Gods
plan. "And it came to pass" The plan
of God never fails. He had made it posi-
bic for every afflicted person to be healed
No distance from the serpent could cause
failure. A look of faith toward the ex-
tended serpent brought relief. Their de-
sire for life was determined by their own
actions. This forms a very perfect type
OF our salvation by Jesus Christ. l. That
which cured was in the likeness of that
which wounded. so Christ "was made in
the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin con-
demned sin the flesh" Christ took upon
Him the form of sinful men, yet without
sin. 2. Like the serpent He was lifted up
from the earth, spectacle to the world.
3. In order to be saved the Israelites
must a., feel their need, (2) repent their
SINS, ~ have faith in the remedy provided,
"a personally look at the brazen serpent.
The sinner must take the same steps in
coming to Christ "A literal rendering of
this verse justifes the conclusion that the
sexpents were not taken away, but that
they continued to annoy the people and
to kill those who despised the remedy
How long the brazen serpent continued to
be lifted up in the camp we know not, but
probably during the remainder of the
march TO Canaan, and that it had a con.
spicuous position near the tabernacle after
it was set up in the land of promise We
find it existing 825 years afterward q
Kings Is: d as an object of idolatrous
worship when Hezekiah broke it to pieces