The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-12-06

resemblance between this period anu
tie. preceding. They were .just emerg-
ing from the ancient darkness into the
later day. God had assigned them
leaders whose work it was to lea9
them into the truth, but they were
slow to follow. =
Being nomads they appointed wor-
ship wherever they were. There was
no temple, tabernacle or ark. A rude
altar erected out of the stones OF the
ground was their temple. In jacobs
family were found teraphim or house
hold gods. -
Sacrifice still retained the social as
pect so that it meant little more than q
family gathering at which the local
deity was present. However. by this
time Jehovah was recognized as the
God of the Hebrews. Other acts OF
worship, such as prayer. vows and
dreams were observed.
There were very few If any hymns
at this time. The law had not been
fully compiled. and a limited literature.
III. This division introduces US to
the Canaanitish state. Great: changes
took place during his epoch. because
the people of Israel discontinued their
nomadic life and settled down in the
promised land among tribes OF foreign
faith. We naturally find that the "a o
sen people suffered nc little contamin'
atien. of which subsequent history is
evidence.
Sacred places increased in numbers
and the worship of Baal f1ourished.:
1t seems to be a time Of degeneration.
for the worship Of Jehovah was cor
rupted. The ark containing the two
tables Of stone was transported from
one place to another. Images were
erected to represent the deity, and the
Urim and Thummim were employer
to ascertain the will Of GOD.
Sacrifice was regarded as communion,
with the deity. The burnt Offering
seems to havebeen used more than any!
other. Prayer, VOWS. visions were
still observed, while sorcery was los
ing IFS hold.
Having discontinued their wandering
life they observed the Sabbath, the
kfeasts ,of:the moon and Of harvest. It
appears ,haweyer.' that they were NOT
freefrom corruption. = ~ &
Music and.dR1lcing habit place. and
it is>said Of David as a later time that
he danced. There were hymns, such
as the exodus song. the song OF Dc
borah and the song of Hannah. Laws
were assuming form as the outgrowth
Of custom. They were not written by.
| Moses, but compiled or formulated bya
him.
w. The prophetic stage. This Pc
| riodfis so called because Of the number
Of prophet who exercised a most
wholesome influence on the life Of tho
people. This was done by teaching a.
more enlightened conception of God.
| Samuel, David, Elijah, Elisha. Isaiah
and Jonah were among those who
raised the standard Of living. .
The high places were still used for
the worship of Baal, and at II time
| the worship of Baal and Jehovah were,
consolidated. At the time Of David the
ark of the covenant was taken to Je-
rusalem, and the temple was COM
pleted In the days Of Solomon, which,
produced a more orderly system OF;
worship. Idolatrous practices were
not, however, entirely superseded. fog
we read of golden calves at Bethes
and Gilgal.
The completion of the temple made
the most perfect organization and de-
velopment Of. the priesthood impera-
tive. To this time no distinction" was
known between church and state. but
the division Of the monarchy, in $40
produced a complete separation
The acts of worship continued aDout
the same as in the preceding period,
EXCEPT that certain restrictions were
imposed. Sacrifice was offered to es-
tablish COMMUNION with God. There.
was some human sacrifice. Praying to
God was becoming a pleasure. ana
vows were made by Nazarites. Ora
cles and dreams were regarded as chan
nels through which Jehovah commu-
tnicated His revelations. Sorcery was
l;practiced against the protests Of the
prophets. A hymn book was In pro
cess of compilation and the priests
were compiling law. !
The attitude of the prophets toward
existing conditions will help US to ap-
preciate u theme and make its ap-
plication. 49,
The prophets considered the high
places as detrimental to the religious,
life of the nation. They maintaineds
that the temple was all they required
for the worship of the true God.
The prophets insisted upon purity OF
life among the. people of God. espe-
cially the priests. 1t appears from the
records that the sacred office was not
entirely free from corruption.
They further insisted upon the true
worship Of the heart. While admit
ting the place of forms, they contend
ed that the forms must be spiritual
lied.