The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-08-28
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
international Lesson Comments For
August 81.
Subjects: The Brnzen Serpent, Mum. xxi, 10.
Golden Text, John Ill.,, IA, i5-Memory
Verses, S.S--commentary on the
Days Lesson.

ntroduction.-During the years spent in
the wilderness it became necessary for Je-
hovah to repeatedly chastise His people
because of their idoatries, their rebelions
and their murmurings. The remarkable
means provided for the healing OF the
lsraelites when the fiery serpents were de-
stroying them is referred to by Jesus Him
self (John 3: IA, l5) to show the manner
in which He should give HIS life to the
world. From this we understand that
Christ is the great Antitype lifted up on
the cross, and that whosoever looketh to
Him for salvation shall live.
l. king Arad." Arad was the name OF
a country, not a king. "Took-prisoners."
a slight repulse is often beneficial in it's
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. 10: l6) we have
an intimaton of the judgments that would
fall upon the Anorites 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
tions may arrive before they are destroyed,
and beyond which God will not permit
them to pass"
3. Destroyed them" But this could
not have been till later. DR.. Clarke thinks
this verse was inserted later by a 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 Seir,
which extends along the eastern side OF
the Araboh, from near the Dead Sea to
the Gulf of Akabak. "Way OF the Red
Sea-" The Israelites were now ready to
enter the land of promise. But from
Mount Hor the march into southern Ca
an I'M, raoNs,, 1,l, - Al
mountains. The Edomites would not per.
init them to cross their mountains, so
they were obliged to take a 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"
8. "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 strillingiy like the old,
faltering, murmuring, blaming their lead
ers and distrusting God.
D. Sent tiery serpents." 1t is not prob
able that the serpents were created for
this purpose, but because OF the obstinacy
Of the people the Lord permitted the rep
tiles to gather in the camp and afflict the
greatly infested with venomous reptiles OF
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 barelegged,
sandalled people of the East. ',fhese ser.
pents are called fiery either from their
color, their rage or the effects of their bit.
ings infiaming the body, putting it imme.
diately into high fever, scorching it with
unsatished thirst. They had unjustly com.
planned for want of water, to chastise
them for which God sends on them this
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
pents until they murmured This was
just punishment for their unthankfulness.
z. Game to Moses" The severe iudn.
ment from God had made them aware OF
their sins; their consciences were aroused.
we have sinned." They are ready TO
make confession 1t was Q) thorough. (2)
personal, (3) clearly stated. Their stls
were ,definedj their convictions were clear
And against Thee" 1T is easier to con.
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: 10.
s. "a fiery serpent" Moses no doubt
expected the serpents to disappear as the
plaques; had in Egypt, but instead of this
ne 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-shal
live" The bitten Israehte 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
Ii he refused or neglected to do that there
shut up to the brazen serpent, which was
Gods exclusive remedy. So the sinner is
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
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-.
BILE 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, vet without
sin. 2. Like the serpent He was lifted up
from the earth, a spectacle to the world.
3. In order TO be saved the Israelites
must ~ feel their need, (2) repent their
sins, (3) have faith in the remedy provided,
lA) personally look at the bra2en serpent.
The. sinner must take the same steps in
coming to Christ. "a literal rendering of
this verse justihes the conclusion that the
seEpents 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 con.
spicuous position near the tabernacle after
It was set up in the land of promise. We
find it existing S25 years afterward e
Kings IS: A as an object OF idoatrous
worship when Hezekiah broke it to pieces
Snd called 1t piece of brass"