The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1902-07-16
Sunday-schoo1.
wORSHIPPnNG THE GOLDEN CALF.
GOLDEN TExT.-"Thou shalt have no otb.r ao5
before me EXODUS XXX g.
july ~, 1902.

hhc LdW hdu scarcely Deen given amidst the thun-
ders OF Sinai before it was grossly violated. Deeply
impressed as the people seemed and filled with awe
and reverence little than thirty days had passed
before their impressions had gone and they
to dolary Moses was in the mount. and The neon1o
supposed he had lost his way in the darkness o,
perished IN the fire. They were still on holy ground
the cloud OF glory still wrapped the summit of Sinai
before their eyes, yet they acted if the impressive
scenes OF Sinai were wholly forgotten Against the
first and against the second commandments tl.cv
snned.
l. The Return to Idolahy Tvs. D.-Thc worship
which Jehovah required was spiritual and without
the use of images. But the thoughess and impatient
people, made fearful by the delay of Moses to return
gathered themselves together unto Aaron" came as
rabble against Aaron, crying. up make us gods
Wfch snail go before us. Like children they wanted
something they could see, some material object TO 90
before them the pillar of cloud and fire had done
1t was not that they rejected Jehovah but that dis
obeying the second commandment they demanded
an image
H. The Demand Granted Tvs. 2-4)-Thinkng
probably to delay them perhaps to require of them
sacrifice they would not be willing to make. Aaron
required the people to take off their golden earrings
and bring them unto him. Earrings were not worn
by men IN Egypt 1t was probably Israelitish Gus
ton possibly form of preserving the gold brought
out OF Egypt And this they did. The trinkets of
gold were brought to Aaron and he made of them 4
molten calf. He fashioned an image of a calf with a
CRAVING tool and making mould poured into it the
melted gold and made molten calf It is not said
that 1t was of life size that was solid It was an
imitation of the Egyptian god the bull Apis the chief
deity of the land of captivity worshipped at Memphis
IN the form of three-y ear-old living animal Manv
images of it were in the land and it is on many monu
found he he +I,,,
Israeli 1t was weak compliance with the sinful
demand OF an ignorant supersttious people How
much better 1t would have been il Aaron had calmly
demonstrated and refused to share in their sin
Ill The Sinful Worshib Tvs. 5. 6l.-Aaron was
consecrated priest of Jehovah and the people looked
to him tor guidance. Complying with their demand
he farther builded an altar before the golden calf
lie proclaimed feast for the morrow It was d
feast of the Lord showing that Aaron and the people
did not wholly renounce Jehovah but wished to wor
ship him in the form of an image an image familiar
during their stay in Egypt. On the feast day they
entered eagerly into the forbidden worship. They
offered burnt offerings and peace offerings And
then made feast for themselves with the reverv of
the heather. They sat down to eat and to drink and
rose up to play"
~ The finger of Jehovah Tvs. 3o-35).-The Lord
Moses to go down from the mount de-
' ii' "'SOi was hOl' ana lie would con-
sume the people, stifnecked and disobedient Moses
nterceded earnestly Unto the people he declared the
greatness of their sin. He would return unto the
Lord and intercede for them, and if possible. make
an aonement for their sin. His heart was deeply
affected He returned to inercede again and to offer
himself as substitute for the people. Like true
patriot and leader he willing to die for his peo-
Die The living were registered, and the dead were
'rased He willing to be botted out of the book
If the living IF not blot me. pray thee out of the
'ook which thou hast written" Christ actually died
or his people. The sin could not be forgiven without
signal display of Gods hatred and anger because
If IT. He plagued his people This early lapse into
lisobedience of the 7 aw of Cod ,yas 1o,,or ~o