The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1902-09-04
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER 7.
Subject: The Prophet Like Moses, Deut.
xviii, 9-22s-GoIden Text, John vi, II
Memory Verses, 17-19-Commentary
on the Days Lesson.

--memory verses, H. t9-Comuentary
on the Days Lesson.
9. "Not learn to do" In verses Is 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 SUBJ
tie, so insidious, so difficult to meet as
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, "Theu 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-civilized or wholly uncivilized peo-
pie of Africa. ''Of those nations" The
legislator prohibits the various supersti-
lions 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 sacri-
fcing of children to Moloch Qev Is: 2l)
is again forbidden. Moloch was the idol of
the Ammonites. 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: q several kinds of
divination are mentioned. 1t is the pre-
tended forecast of future events, or dscov-
cry Of what is lost or hidden, as by super
natural aid. observer of times" See K.
v. One who draws omens from the clouds,
or divides days into lucky or unlucky.
"Enchanter." Serpent charmer. Divina-
ton by serpents was common among the
heather. witch" Probably those who
by means OF drugs, herbs, perfumes, etc.,
pretended to bring certain celestial infu-
ences to their aid. The term witch is usu-,
ally applied to women.
IL. "Charmer.". Hebrew "spellbinder"
One who binds by incantations; pretends
to subdue some dreadful enemy. consul
ter" etc. One who consults sorcerer, or
witch. Not only are the sorcerers them
selves condemned, but those who patronize
them, OF. have dealings with them. "Wiz-
ard." A knowing one. A male witch.
inquiries of the dead, such as the witch of
Endor. There is a distinction between ne
cromancy and sorcery, enchantment, etc.
The first is an effort to gain information
from the dead or from demons; the others
relate to the creation of evil through spir-
itual influences.
u. ''1hese things" All these are only
species OF the ne same genus; They are false
natural powers. to foresee the future, to
protect from evil, to have communion with
deity: can abornination." The things
mentioned and those who do them are
alike detestable 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 coIrlIpt and degrading
-. Thou shalt be perfect" Separated
from sin and worldly customs and wholly
devoted to God. Gods people are to be a
distinct neople and rot like the nations
around them. So to-day the requirements
of the gospel are nothing short Of perfect
heart end a blameless life.
10; viii raise up VIII send into the
world in due time. While the neople are
FORBIDDEN i, to use heather methods to learn
the will of their deities, Moses assures
Israel that God will provide them a pro-
pnet 'or prophets, whereby the viii OF Je-
hovah will be clearly revealed. GA 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
the entire body of Hebrew prophets, while
still others believe that it CONCENTRATES
both Christ and the 'sorder of true 'I nro.
phets whom God commissioned to instruct.
direct and warn His people" 'Iike unto
Ne. 1t ls evident that this refers to
Christ, for in many respects He alone was
like unto Moses. Chap. S4: 10. l. In his
nediatorial character. Moses is expressly
called mediator In Ga. 8: 10. 2. Christ
was s.. like Moses in the peculiar excellency
OF his ministry. 3. In the signs and won
ders-the miracles which He wrought. Com
pare Deut. 81: 10, IL and John Is: q. 4.
In nus, communion with God Moses spoke
with the Lord mouth to mouth Mum. y:
%! and knew Him face to face. Compare
John /: IL. 5. 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 TX. ~; IL. The thought of the verse is,
Let not jehovah speak any more directly
to us; let us have prophet to announce
TO us His commands; let this awful splen-
Cor OF the manifestation of God cease. we
cannot bear it; we shall die.
~. well spoken" The Lord apnroved
or their request and spake no more directlv
with them, but put His words in the
mouth Of His prophet.
L, SMill raise them np." This promise
Peter and Stephen expressly applv # to
49,. will not harken." Man is deaf and
blind in the things of God. To his need
ard arc to the remedy he is alike irsensible
e ear is open to worldly advice. but to
the gospel he is a perfect statue without
life. Il will require it." That is Cod viii
visit the disobedient with severe nnn;sh.
ment. Acts 8: %. The direfnl consa.
quences of unbelief in Christ and disrerard
OF His mission, the Jewish peonle have
been experiencing for more than lsfO wears
20. But the prophet" etc. This warn.
ing given to false prophets shows that What
has been said in verses 1919 must in SONS
respects at least apply to the Hebrew nro.
p3ne,s that were to succeed Moses ssShaIl
DIE; Such prophet must be regarded as
blasphemer and be put to death
z. How shall we know r. ;s ofter
difficult to discern between the trna and
the false; but facts and fulilment are the
test" The prediction which does not ac.
cord with the facts is not from God Cod
is truth whether He reveals Himself IN ~, M.
ture, science, history, or His written word
ana lie cannot contradict Himself. Tbs
reason there seems to be Contradiction
sometimes between science and the R;his
Is because of our lack of knowledge.
". "Presumptuously. Impudentlv as.
scrlbing his own vain and living fanc;es ia
God. ssVot bo afy-a; III - Th.L w