The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-09-03
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER Z.

zviii., e-2s-ooidsa Text. john VI. IL
Memory Verses, l7-to-cemmsatsrs
on the Days Lesson.
Q. "Not learn to do" In verses l.8 the
rights Of the priests and the Levites have
been mentioned. After the abomina'
tions." Practices connected with idol wor
ship are often called abominations in the
Old Testament. In the earlier days Of the
| sacred history there was no enemy 80 sub.
tie. 50 insidious, 20 difficult to meet ~
magic and soothsaying. 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 auffef
a witch to live" tx. %: II. At this hour
the witch doctor. with his cruelties and
frauds, Is the incubus that rests upon all
the semi-civilized or wholly uncivilized peo-
pie of Africa. ''Of those nations" The
legislator prohibits the various supcrsti.
naan had sought to explore the future and
to test the will Of the Deity.
10. Pass through the fire." The sacri.
6cing of children to Moloch I.ev. IS: 2ll
is again forbidden. Moloch was the idol of
the Ammonites. His statue was OF brass
and rested on 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 q: 81 several kinds OF
divination are mentioned. Il il the pre-
tended forecast OF future events, or discov-
natural aid. Observer Of times" Sec r.
V. One who draws omens from the clouds,
or divides days into lucky or unlucky.
"Enchanter." Serpent charmer. Divina.
tion by serpents was common among the
heather. witch" Probably those who
by 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.
II. "Charmer." Hebrew "spellbinder."
One who binds by incantations; pretends
to subduc some dreadful enemy. Consul
ter" etc. One who consults q sorcerer, or
witch. Not only are the soreerers 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
cromancy and sorcery, enchantmcrt, etc.
The 6rst is an effort to gain information
from the dead or from demons; the others
relate to the creation OF evil through spir.
itual influences.
IL. These things" AL these are only
species Of the same genus. They are false
prophets. They pretend to possess super
natural mowers, to foresee the future, TO
protect from evil, to have. communion with
ieity. IAN abomiaation" The things
mentioned and those who do them are
alike detcstablc 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 eorrnp. and degrading.
@ Thou lou shalt ! BE- perfect Sc sssps,SatIsia pSaIis
devoted to God. Gods people are to be Q
distinct people and not like the nations
around them. So to-day the requirements
| Of the gospel are nothing short OF perfect
heart and blameless life.
Is. will raise up" Will send into the
world in due time. While the people are
forbidden to use heathen methods to learn
the will Of their deities. Moses assures
Israel that God will provide them pro-
phet or prophets, whereby the viii Of Je-
hovah will be clearly revealed. "A pro.
| phet." Various opinions have been ex.
pressed regarding this passage. Some hold
that the passage refers exclusively to the
Messiah. Others think it has reference to
still others believe that it contemplates
both Christ and the "order of true pro-
phets whom God commissioned to instruct,
direct and warn His people" Like unto
Me-" It is evident that this refers to
Christ. for in many respects He alone was
like unto Moses. Chap. "a: 10. !. In his
mediatorial character Moses is expressly
called q mediator in Gal. 3: 10. 2. Christ
was like Moses in the peculiar excellency
| Of His ministry. 8. In the signs and won
ders-the miracles which BE wrought. Com
pare Deut. "a: 10. II and John Is: q. T..
In his communion with God Moses spoke
with the Lord mouth to mouth Mum. u:
5-sl and knew Him face to face. Compare
Of q new dispcnsation. God never commis-
stoned any human beings to give laws to
mankind but Moses and Christ.
10. According" etc. See this request
10 Ex. %: 10. The thought OF the verse IL,
| Let not Jehovah speak any more directly
to US: let Us have prophet to announce
to Us His commands; let this awful spien.
dor of the manifestation .! God cease; we
cannot bear it; we shall die.
II. Well spoken" The Lord approved
o; their request and spake no moro directly
with them. but Dut His, woods in the
mouth Of His prophet.
Is. will raise them up." This promise
was fulfilled 1900 years afterward. and both
Peter and Stephen expressly apply it to
Jesus Christ. Acts 8: %. q: 7!37.
| 10. will not harken.' Mn is deaf and
blind in the things OF God. To his need
and 10 the remedy he is alike insensble.
His ear is open to worldly advice, but to
the gospel he is a perfect statue without
life. II will require it." That is. God win
! visit the disobedient with severc punish.
ment. Acts 3: O. The direfui 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 Rust in some
respects at least apply to the Hebrew pro:
die" Such prophet must he regarded as
a blasphemer and be pu. to death,
q. How shall we know" II is often
difficult to discern between the true and
the false. but facts and tulflmcnt are the
test" The prediction which does no. 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 contradiction
sometimes between science and the Bible
is because OF our lack of knowledge.
q. "Presumptuoasly." Impudently as
scribing his own vain and lying fancies to
God. "Not be afraid" That is. Of bis PEE
dic,ions or threatenings.
slinistsr Killed . Woman.