Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-08-28
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
international Lesson Comments For
August 81.
Subjects: The Brazen Serpent, Mum. XXI. ~
Golden Text, John ILL.,, "A, l5-Memory
Verses, 6.8-Commentary on The
Days Lesson.

DAYS Lesson.
Introduction During the years spent in
the wilderness it became necessary for 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 serpcnts were de-
stroying them is referred to by Jesus Him
self John g.: ID, 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 whatsoever looketh to
Him for salvation shall live.
l: "King Arad' Arad was the name OF
country, not 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"
.. Utterly destroy" Before this time
there had been no command to destroy the
Canaantes with the sword. But in, the
promise to Abraham (Gen. Is: l6) we have
an intimation of the judgments that would
fall upon the Amortes when their lnlquty
should be full. That time had now ar
rived; their wickedness was so great that
they were to be utterly destroyed. There
is a certain pitch OF iniquity to which ma
tons may arrive before they are destroyed,
and beyond which God will not permit
them to pass.
g. destroyed them But this could
not have oeen till later. DIR. 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 SER,
which extends along the eastern side OF
the Arabah from near the Dead Sea to
the Gulf of Akabak. 'Way Of the Red
Sea- The Isracltes were now ready to
enter the land of promise. But from
Mount Hor the march into southern Ca
naan was impractcable on account OF the
mountains. The Edomites would not PEI.
nit 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
journey through Edom to the Jordan.
"Much discouraged" They had expected
to enter Canaan at once and their disap.
pointment veAcd them"
5. "Spakc against Cod This was the
new Israel raised up in the wilderness.
Their dsobcdient fathers have persisted
during the last thirty-eight years. But
the new Israel is strikingy like the Old,
faltering. mulmuring, blaming their lead
crs and distressing God.
g. Sent fiery serpents.' 1t is not prob
able that the serpents were created Tor
this purpose but because OF the ohstnacy
OF the people the Lord permitted the rep.
tiles to gather in the camp and atfict the
lsraehtes. That part Of the desert Is
greatly infested with vcnomouS 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 harcieSgcd.
sandalled people of the, East. These scr
penis are called fiery either from their
color, their rage or the effects OF their bit.
inGs intlaming the body, putting 1t immc
diately into a high fever, scorchug 1t with
unsatlsfied thirst. They had unlustlN com.
planned for want of water, to chaStiae
them for which God sends on them this
thirst which no water would qucnch. They
had concluded they must die in tn. 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 murmurcd. his was a
just punishment for their unthaukjulucSs.
!. Game to Moses The severe judg.
mcnt from God had made them aware OF
their sins; their COnsClenCes were aroused.
1--WE have sinned" They are ready to
make confession. 1t was Q) thorough t2)
personal. t3) clearly stated. Their SINS
were defined; their convictions were Gear.
And against Thee" ut is easier to con.
fess 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 pcop,c
must he 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. 3: 10
s. a fiery serpent" Moses no doubt
expected the serpents to disappear as the
plaques had in Egypt. but instead of this
he - directed to provide an antidotc for
those who were bitten, and thus the Lord
uses Moses Us an instrument in the relief
OF the people. when he looketh--shall
live The bitten lsraelte had simply to
look at Gods rcmedy-not to Himself or
his wounds, or those around him, but he
must fix his gaze on the bra2en 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
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.
Q. Moses made serpent lie
showed his perfect confidence in Gods
pan. "And it came to pass" The pan
Of God never fails. He had made it posi-.
be for every afflicted person to be healed.
No distance from the serpent could cause
failure. \ 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. .. Like the serpent He was lifted up
from the earth. a spectacle to the world
5. In order to be saved the Israeltes
must 81 feel their need, (2) repent their
sins, 81 nave faith in the remedy provided
az personally look at the brazen serpent
The sinner must take the same steps in
coming to Christ. "A literal rendering of
this verse lustifes the conclusion that the
seIpents were not taken away but that
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 1916 years afterward e.
Kings IS: ~ as an object of idolatrous,
worship when Hezekiah broke it to pieces
and called it piece of brass"