Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-07-26
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments for
July II.
Subject: Worshiping the Golden Calf, Ex.
xxxii. l.35-Goldsn Text, Ex. Xxx, j.
Memory 'ernes. 80 IL Commentary
on the Days Lesson.

seditious manner, insisting on having an
objec. of religious worship made for them,
as they intended under is direction to re-
tourn to Egypt. See Acts I: 80. 40"
Unto Aaron" The brother OF Moses and
! the principal one IN charge during Moses 5
| absence. Make Us gods" They required,
like children. to have something TO strike
their senses. and as the Shechnah. the
glory of God OF which they had hitherto
enjoyed the sight was now yelled, they
wished for some visible. material objects
as the symbol OF the divine presence
of fire had done We wot not I'VE
know not. HON contemptuously they
spoke of Moses Thus ungrateful are they.
While God delights To honor him. they de-
light l. condemn him, and this to the face
81 Aaron. his brother and substitute. 1t
is likely they might nave supposed that
Moses had persisted in the fire. which they
saw had invested the top OF the mountain
into which he went
y Break off" Implying that the act
involved an effort and sacrifice on their
par5 The prevailing view has been that
Aaron. anxious 10 dissuade the people from
their purpose. proposed this great sacrifice
hoping they would Withdraw their demand.
THIS is not IN improbable view. but the
facts show that he was morally weak. and
lacked the sterling qualities oil greas spir-
itual leader.
: Brought them" The Egyptian rings,
rs seen on the monuments, We're round,
| massy plates OF metals. and a. it was rings
Of this sort that the Israeites wore, their
size and number must. in the general col
lection. nave produced a large store OF the
precious material.
J. And made it 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 he thy gods" Possibly
Aaron only intended To make them some
>ymbo.ical representation OF. the divine
power and energy. that might be as evident
TO them as the pillar OF cloud and fire had
been. and To which God might attach an
always present energy and influence.
). Feast to the Lord. Aaron does
not appear to have designed worship that
should Supersede the worship OF the Most
High 1t is evident he intended that the
true God should be the object of their wor-
snip though he permitted and even encour-
aged them TO offer this worship through
an idolatrous medium. the molten calf
.. Early" 1T was to be day OF fes
tivity and JOY and they were anxious to be-
gin it," Offerings" The burnt offerings
the peace offerings were only partly con-
sumed and the remainder eaten by the
priests and the worshipers.
I. Corrupted themselves Moses
must break off his communion with God to
70 AMI do MS duty a a magistrate among
the people: They had not only; taken on
spirit OF iaclatry. but they had become
ahom:nabie 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.
$. Turned aside The actions of the
people We're all open before God, and He
tells Moses what thev have done.
II
to control.
10. Let ne alone" Moses had not vet
opened his mouth but God foresaw the
holy violence with which his importantly
would besiege His throne. My wrath"
The wrath OF God is His righteous indigna-
ton against sin. 1t will consume the un.
repentant.. but He also keepth mercy for
seemed ready TO DESTROY the nation. and
! raise up great nation through Moses.
lib. Moses besough..' The noblcness
of Moses shonc forth in complete sel:-;or-
getfulness in his love Of God and OF the
| people. while he pleaded Tor their forgive
| ness.
H. The Lord repented." This is spo.
ken merely after the manner OF men who.
having formed purpose. permit them.
| selves TO be diverted from il By strong and
| forcible reasons. Moses prayer influenced
| Jehovah.
Is. The tables They were evidently
not very large or heavy, As Moses appears
to have easily carried them both.
Is. Work of God" Such a law could
proceed from none bnt God.
l7-lS. Noise OF war Joshua at first
thought that the people must be warning
with some OF the neighboring tribes.
10. Moses anger waved hot Moses
now feels the llindling Of wrath akin 10
| that which moved Jehovah. Fiery indig-
y ~ - = 2 ~
| worthy OF God Or man as love for truth
and Righteousness. Moses anger was not
; the stirring OF an unholy passion. Break
! them.' \ visible sign. shown that Israel
| had broken the law written thereon.
| % Took The cali" etc. The act was a
nothing and the peple were made to swai-
| low their own sin.
~ That thou hast brought" This
| was a severe rebuke. Moses charged the
sin directly upon Aaron, BECAUSE he had
| permitted it.
weak. and is really confession OF his own
p. Naked" This means that they
were broken loose from all restraint. un-
ruly. l:centious.
1928 "Slay every man." The Levites
came at Moses call. and then the work of
retributin began. The 5000 slain were
TT ,se who were guilty of this breach of
the covenant were liable 10 the penalty of
| capital crime compare " 33l, and hence
the order for this fearful slaughter
20 "Consecrate yourselves Literally,
| fill your hands to the Lord "Their hands
were TO be filled with the duties and obi
| cations of their sacred calling"
30. On the morrow" After Moses had
| executed justice on the principal offenders.
''Ye have snncd." Though they had es-
capped death they were not to suppose they
were innocent. or to look upon the sin as
trining thing An atonement." He
thought that ne might be made an instru-
lnenr OF reconciliation.
Mount Sinai. "A great sim" He makes a
! humble confession.
A Bohemian Experiment.
form Esgleston, Postmaster and
| one of the waalthiesl merchants in
/ Millcrton. \. Y. has made a special
! study of the tramp question for ears
In company with his wife anu J. Fl.
Whitaker and wife of Maiden, Mass.
he viii! take his vacation in gyps.
fashion this season. They will travei
through the country. the men selling
; and trading horses. while the women
tell fortunes and sell lace and other
gypsy wares. In an interview Mr. Egg
gleston. who contemplate5 starting on
the trip about July |. when his term
as postmaster will have expired. said
he had decided that the easiest life