Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-08-30

International Lesson Comments Fer
August 81.
Subjects: The Brazeu Serpent. Mum. xxi, 10
Golden Text. John ILL.,. IA. l5-M,mOry
Verses, 6.S-Commentary on the
Days Lesson.

Days Lesson.
Observation-Disclosures the years spent in
the wilderness il became necessary Tor Je-
hovah to repeatedly chastiSe His people
because OF their idoiatrIcs. their rebellons
and their murmurings. The remarkable
means provided for the healing OF the
lsraelites when the iiery serpents were de
stroying them is referred TO by Jesus Him
self John 3: II. ~ TO show the manner
in which He should give His lie to the
world. From this we understand that
Christ is the great Anritype iii-ed up on
the cross, and that whosoever loobeth 20
Him for salvation shall live.
l. king Arad.' Arad was the name OF
country, not king. "Took-prisoners.
"A slight repu.se Is often beneficial IN its
effects. This taught Israel to look To .Je-
hovah for help, as we find in the next
verse"
.. Utterly destroy" Before this time
there had been no command TO destroy the
Canaaniies with the sword. But in the
promise TO Abraham Gen. Is: l6) we have
an intimation of the judgments that would
fall upon the Aiaorites when their iniquity
should be full. That time had now ar
rived; their wlcScdneSs was 80 great that
they were to be utterly destroyed. There
Is certain pitch o. iniquity 10 which IA
tons may arrive before they are destroyed.
and beyond which God will not permi1
them 20 pass
;. Destroyed them" Eat this could
not have oeen till !aser. DR.. Clarke thinks
this verse was inserted later by copyist.
4. Mount Hor' Mount Hor on
the border OF Edom. and was the mount
ain on which Aaron died. 1t Is the highes.
peak in the sandstone ridge of Mount SER.
which extends along tine eastern side OF
the Arabah, from near the Dead Sea TO
the Gulf OF Akabak. Way OF the Red
Sea The lsraelites were now ready to
NAae I. g
Mount Hor the march into southern Ca
man was impracticable or account of the
mountains. The Edomtes would not per
nit them to cross their mountains. so
they were obliged TO take long tour to
the south and march around Mount SER
ern gull of the Red Sea, and from there
journey through Edom to the Jordan
Much discouraged" They had expected
to enter Canaan at once and their disap-
pointment vexed them.
5. 'Spakc agains. God" This was the
Their disobedient fathers have persisted
during the last thirty-eight years. Bit
the new Israel is striiling.y like the Old.
faltering. murmurIne. blaming their lead
crs and distrusting God.
&. Sent fiery serpents." 1t is not prob
able that the serDents were created for
this purpose. but because o. the obst;nacy
OF the people the Lord permitted the rep
tiles to gather IL tae camp and afiiict the
Israelites. That part of the desert is
greatly infested with venomous reptiles OF
different kinds, particularly lizards, which
raise themselves IN the air and swing them
selves from branches, and scorpions which,
being In the habit of lying among long
grass are very dangerous to the bareiegged,
sandalled people OF the East. These SER
penis are called fiery, either from their
color, their rage or the effects OF their bit
lngs intiaming the body, putting it immc-
dlateiy INTO high fever, scorching it with
unsatished thirst. They had unjustly com.
planned for want OF water, TO chastise
them for which God sends on them this
thirst which no water would quench They
had concluded they must die in the wilder.
ness, and God took them at their word,
so that many did die God had wonder
fully preserved His people from these SER
penis until they murmured. This was a
Just punishment for their unthankiuiness
Z. Game to Moses" The severe juds-
ment from God had made them aware OF
their SINS; their consciences were aroused.
We have sinned." They are ready to
make confession. 1t was % thorough. ~
personal. 90 clearly stated. Their sins
were defined; their convictions were clear
And against Thee 1T is easier to con
TESS our. sins against God than ii is to
make make acknowledgment of wrong to man
Moses prayed. His prayer was an
swered, but not as ne expected God mas
HIS own way. OF doing things. rhe people
must be taught lesson in faith For the
people. There IS scarcely any record OF
Moses praying for himself; his prayers are
generally Tor others. He was the mediator
OF the old covenant as Jesus is of the new
Gal. 3: 10
S. A fiery serpent" Moses no doubt
expected the serpents to disappear as The
plaques had in Egypt, but instead of this
he Is directed to provide an antdote Tor
those VINO were bitten. and thus the Lord
uses Moses as an instrument in the relief
OF the people. When he looketh-shall
live" The bitten Israelite had simply 10
look at Gods remedy-not to Himself. or
his wounds, or those around him. but lie
must fix his gaze on the brazen serpent
Ii he refused or neglected to do that there
was nothing. for him but death; he was
shut. up to the brazen serpent. which was
Gods exclusive remedy. so the sinner is
called to look to Christ. God was testing
their faith, submission and obedience
linen, too, each individual was obliged TO
act tor i himself 1t required personal look.
3, Moses made a serpent" He
showed his. perfect confidence in Gods
plan. And it came to pass" The plan
OF God never fails. lie had made it posi-
BILE for every afflicted person to be healed.
No distance from the serpent could cause
tended serpent brought relief. Their de-
sire for life was determined by their own
actions. This forms a very perfect TYNE
OF our salvation by Jesus Christ. l. That
which cured was in the likeness OF that
which wounded, so Christ was made in
the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin con.
demned sin the flesh Christ took upon
Him the form of sinful men, yet without
sin. .. Like the serpent He was lifted un
from the earth, a spectacle to the world.
3. In order to be saved the Israelites
must 81. feel their need % repent their
sins, 90 have faith in the remedy provided.
% personally look at the brazen serpent.
The sinner must take the same steps in
coming TO Christ. a literal rendering o:
this verse justities the conclusion that the
sexpents were not taken away. but that
they continued to annoy the people and
to kill those who despised the remedy.
How long the brazen serpent continued to
be lifted up in the camp we know not. but
probably during the remainder of the
march TO Canaan, and that it had con
spicuous position near the tabernacle after
it was set up in the land OF promise. We
find it existing S25 years afterward y
Kings IS: y as an object OF iiolatrous
worship when Hezeliah broke it 10 pieces
and called it piece OF brass"