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Subject: Worshipinx the Golden Calf. Ex
xxxii., I-38-Golden Text. Ex. xx.. ;
Memory Verses, $685.. Commentar,
on the Day's Lesson.


Memory Verses, 30-3s.commentary
on the Days Lesson.
l. Moses delayed" He was in the
mount forty days. Gathered them.
selves" They came in a tumul ltuous and
seditious manner. insisting on having an
object Of religious worship made tor them,
as they intended under its direction to re.
tourn to Egypt. See Acts !: 80. ~.
the principal one in charge during Moses
absence. Make Us gods" They required,
like children, to have something to strike
their senses, and as the Shechinah, the
glory of Cod" OF which they had hitherto
enjoyed the sight, was now veiled., they
wished for some visible, material objects
as the symbol OF the divine presence
which should 90 before them as the pillar
OF fire had done. I'VE wot not" I'VE
know not HON contemptuously. they
spoke of Moses. Thus unyratefui are they.
While God delights to honor him, they de-
light to condemn him, and this TO the face
OF Aaron, his brother and substitute. 1t
is likely they might have supposed that
Moses had perished in the FIRE, which they
saw had invested the top of the mountain
into which he went"
2. Break off," Implying that the act
involved an effort and sacrifice on their
part. The prevailing view has been that
Aaron, anxious TO dissuade the people from
their purpose, proposed this great sacrifice
hoping they would withdraw their demand.
This Is not an improbable view, but the
facts show that he was morally weak, and
lacked the sterling qualities OF great spir.
irual leader.
5. Brought them" The Egyptian rings,
as seen on the monuments, were round,
u,assy plates of metals. and as it was rings
of this sort that the Israelites wore, their
size and number must, in the general COL
lection, have produced large store Of the
precious material.
1. "And made it a molten calf" This
idol seems to have been the god Apis, the
chief diety OF the Egyptians, worshiped at
Memphis under the form OF live OK, three
years old. These be thy gods Possibly
Aaron only intended tn make them some
symboiical representation OF the divine
power and energy, that might be as evident
to them as the pillar Of cloud and ire had
been, and to which God might attach an
5. Feast to the Lord" Aaron does
no. appear to have designed Worship that
should supersede the worship Of the Most
High. It is evident he intended that the
true God should be the object OF their wor.
ship though he permitted and even encour.
aged them to offer this worship through
an idolatrous medium. the molten cali
6. Early" 1T was to be day OF fes.
tivisy and Joy and they were anxious to be.
were wholly consumed on the altar, but
the peace offerings were only partly con-
sumed and the remainder eaten BY the
priests and the worshipers.
7. Corrupted themselves" Moses
must break of his communion with God to
20 and do his duty as magistrate among
the people. They had not only taken on
spirit OF idolatry. but they had become
abominable in their conduct. They were
no longer entitled to his protection and
love. They had broken their covenant with
God, and had sinned against great light.
8. Turned aside" The actions OF the
people were all open before God, and He
tells Noses what they have done. =,
Q. "Stitfnecked." Unmanaseabie. Hard
to control.
10. Let me alone" Moses had not yet
opened his mouth, but God foresaw tile
holy violence with which his importantly
would besiege His throne. My wrath. ;"
The wrath OF God is His righteous indigna.
ton against sin. II will consume" the un.
thusands." "a: !. "oi thee" God
seemed ready to destroy the nation. and
raise up a great nation through Moses.
ll.l3. Moses besought" The nob!eness
Of Moses snone forth in complete self-for.
getfulness in his love OF God and OF the
people, while he pleaded for their forgive.
ness.
II. The Lord repented." This IS spo.
ken merely after the manner OF men who,
having formed a purpose. permit them:
selves to be diverted from it by strong and
forcible reasons. Moses prayer influenced
Jehovah.
Is. ""The tables They we're evidently
not very large or heavy, as Moses appears
to have easily carried them both.
Is. Work OF Cod" Such a law could
proceed :rom none but God.
1918. Noise OF war" Joshua at first
thought that the people must be warning
with some of the neighboring tribes.
10. Moses anger waxed hot" Moses
now feels the kindling OF a wrath akin to
TINT which moved Jehovah. Fiery indie:
nation against sin is passion rs pure and
worthy OF God or man as love for truth
and Righteousness. Moses' anger was not
the stirring OF an unhoiy passion: Break
them" 4 visible sign. shown that Israel
had broken the law written thereon.
90. Took the calf" etc. The act was
synbo,icai one: the lido! was brought to
nothing and the peple were made to swal-
low their own SIN.
q. That thou hast brought" This
was 4 severe re5uke. Moses charged the
sin directly upon Aaron, because he had
permitted it.
2a.ei. Aaron spid." His reply is very
weak. and is really confession OF his own
shortcomings.
%. Naked" This means tha: they
were broken loose from all restraint, un'
ruly. liccnt:ous.
2G-2S. "Slay every man" The Levites
came at Moses call. and then the work OF
retributin began The 1000 slain were
probably the leaders in the transgresson.
''Those who were guilty of this breach OF
the covenant were liable to the penalty OF
a capital crime compare y. U). and hence
the order for this fearful slaughter
%. ''Consecrate yourselves. Literally.
fill your hands to the Lord. Their hands
were to be filed with the duties and obi
cations OF their sacred calling
80. "On the morrow" After Moses had
executed justice on the principal offenders.
"Ye have sinned" Though they had es.
capped death they were not to suppose they
wee innocent. or to look upon the sin as
a triniug thing. An atonement." He
thought that he might be made an instru.
mcnt Of reconciliation.
81. Returned" He again went up on
Mount Sinai. "A great sin He makes .
humble confession.