Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-09-04
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments for
September Z.
Subject: The Prophet Like Moses. Deut. xviii,
9.22-Golden Text, John W., l4-Memory
Verses, l7.l0-Commentary on the
Days Lesson.

Days Lesson.
o. "Not learn to do" In verses 1-S the
rights of the priests and the Levites have
been mentioned after the. abomina'
tons" Practices connected with idol wor.
ship are often called denominations in the
Old Testament. In the earlier days OF the
sacred history there was no enemy so sub.
tie, so nsidious, so difficult to meet as
magic and soothsayng: Only by actual
prohibition, on pain OF death, could the
case be met, and under these circumstances
there is no need for us to apologize for the
Old Testament law. "Thou shalt not suffer
a witch to live" Elk. %: II. AT this hour
the witch doctor, with his cruelties and
frauds, is the incubus that rests upon all
the semi.civilzed or wholly uncivilized peo-
pie of Africa. "Of those nations The
legislator prohibits the various supersti-
tions by which the heather nations of Ca.
naan had sought to explore the future and
to test the will of the Deity.
10. pass through the fire. The sacrl.
iicing of children to Moloch LEV. Is: ~
is again forbidden. Moioch was the idol OF
the Ammontes. His statue was of brass
and rested on a pedestal of the same metal.
His arms were extended in the attitude OF
embracing those who approached him. HIS
worshipers dedicated their children to him,
and when this was to be done the statue
was heated by a fire within and the infants
were either shaken over the flames or
passed through the heated arms, to insure
the favor of the pretended deity. "Divina:
ton In Ezekiel 81: 81 several kinds OF
divnation are mentioned. 1t is the pre-
tended forecast of future events, or discov-
cry of what is lost or hidden, as by super
natural aid observer of times See X.
V. One who draws omens from the clouds,
or divides days into lucky or unlucky.
"hchantcr." Serpent charmer. Divina-
ton by scrpents was common among the
heather. "Witch' Probably those who
Ey means of drugs herbs, perfumes, etc,
pretended to bring certain celestial infiu-
ences to their aid The term witch is usu-
ally applied to women. :,
IL. "Charmer." Hebrew "spcllbnder.'
One who binds by incantations; pretends
to subdue some dreadful enemy. Consul
ter" etc. One who consults a sorcerer, or
witch Not only are the sorcerers them
selves condemned. but those who patronize
them, or have dealings with them. "Wiz-
ard A knowing one, A male. witch.
"Necromancer. One who seeks from or
inquiries Of the dead such as the witch of
Endoc. There is distinction between me-
cromahcy and sorcery, enchantment. etc.
The first is an effort to gain information
from the dead or from demons; the others
re,G % to the creation of evil through splr-
itual influences.
10. "Thcse things" All these are only
species of the same genus They are false
prophets. They pretend to possess super
natural powers. to forescc the future. to
protect from evil, to have communion with
deity "An abominatioo.' The things
mentioned and those who do them are
alike detestablc to the Lord. Because of
these" etc. The Canaanitish nations are
about to be driven out and DESTROYED be-
cause their forms of worship have become
SO corrupt and degrading
l3. Chou shalt be perfect Separated
from sin and worldly customs and wholly
devoted to God Gods people Are to he a
distinct people and not like the nations
around them So to-day the requirements
of the gospel are nothing short of perfect
heart and a b!amelcss iiic
H. will raise up Will send into the
world in due time. While the people are
forbidden to use heather methods to learn
tho will OF their deities, Moacs assures
Israel that God will provide them pro
phct or prophets whereby the will OF .Jc
hovah will be clearly revealed. "A pro-
phct.' Various ounions have been ex-
pressed regarding this passage. Some hold
that the passage refers exclusively to the
Messiah others think it has reference to
the entire body of Hebrew prophets, while
still others believe that it contemplates
both Christ and the order of true pro-
rhcts whom God commissioned to instruct,
direct and warn His people" Like unto
Me IL is evident that this refers to
Christ. for in many respects He alone was
like unto Moses. Chap. "a 10. l. In his
meliatorial character. Moses is expressly
called a mediator in Gal. 3: 10. g Christ
of His ministry g. In the signs and won
dcrs-the miracles which He wrought. Com
pare Dcut "a: 10, II and John Ia "a. 4.
In his communion with God Moses spoke
with the Lord mouth to mouth mum. y:
G-sl and knew Him face to face. Compare
john |: Is. ). In his being the founder
of new dispensation. God never commits
stoned any human beings to give laws to
mankind but Moses and Christ
10. According" etc. See this request
in Ex %: 10. The thought of the verse is,
Let not Jehovah speak any more directly
TO us: let us have a prophet to announce
to us His commands: let this awful splen-
dor of the manifestation of God cease; we
cannot bear it; we shall die
II. well spoken" The Lord approved
of their request and spake no more directly
with them but put His words in the
mouth Of His prophet.
49,. 'Will raise them up" This promise
was fulfilled 1900 years afterward. and both
Peter and Stephen expressly apply it to
Jesus Christ. Acts 3: %. %: 7! 81.
10. "Will not harken." Man is deaf and
blind in the things of God. To his need
and to the remedy he is alike insensible
His ear is open to worldly advice. but to
the gospel he is perfect statue without
HE. Il will require it, That is God will
visit the disobedient with severe punish
ment. Acts 3: 90 The direful conse-
quences of unbelief in Christ and disregard
OF His mission, the Jewish people have
been experiencing for more than 1900 years
20. But the prophet etc. This warn
ing given to false prophets shows that what
has been said in verses 1919 must in some
respects at least apply to the Hebrew pro-
phets that were to succeed Moses. "Shall
die" Such prophet must be regarded as
a blasphemcr and be put to death.
p. "How shall we know" 1t is often
difficult to discern between the true and
the false, but facts and fulfilment are tn.
test The prediction which does not ac-
cord with the facts is not from God God
Is truth whether He reveals Himself in ma
ture, science, history, or His written word,
and He cannot contradict Himself The
reason there seems to be n contradiction
sometimes between science and the Bible
is because of our lack of knowledge.
90. "Presumptuously." Impudently as
scribing his own vain and lying fancies to
Cod mot be afraid" That is, of his pre-
Hinfinnc tbroa fopinrs