Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-08

IsESSoNS JOIN fsl).-BtlWeen last les
son and the one now to be studied there
was an interesting history. wholly omitted
! by the committee from our consideration.
On receiving his call TO deliver Israel from
bondage Moses Set out for Egypt. with the
promise of Gods direction and support. In
the way he met Aaron. his older brother.
and they conferred concerning the great
mission. and then Journeyed on together.
Their approach to Pharaoh was unsuccess-
tui, In which they asked permission to lead
the people into the Wilderness to sacrifice
A series of requests was made followed
each time by some severe ChaStisment from
GOO. Again and again the king relented
ana promised but each time he obstinatey
returned to his first attitude, and refused
10 let the people go. The reason for this
conduct was that the Israelites were slaves
they did the work of the nation and with
out them industrial interests would be par
alyzed. At length the Almighty determined
70 bring the Egyptians to terms by Staying
their first born, and He instituted in ad-
vance 1eaSt to commemorate the event.
LAMB KILLED.-verse 21) The es
sential thing in this feast was lamb and
Moses called the elders together and in
structed them concerning It. with orders
that they should instruct the people A
lamb was to be selected from the flock ac-
cording to the size of the family. The serv-
ice was to be observed in a domestic or
patriarchal way, the father the priest. as
through the history or the Olden times
Genesis xNii:SD There was at that time in
reality no other way. The imposing cere-
monial with its elaborate ritual under the
direction of priests. had not yet been estab-
llshed. The household still continued to be
as it had been for twenty-five centuries. the
unit of society. The lamb must be a male
without hlemSh. type of the faultleSS
lamb of God to be offered in the fullness of
time for the worlds sin. John. 1861 There
was a definite mode of killing the lamb
regulated by established custom. so that the
blood might be saved, and the flesh made
ready for eating.
BLOOD SPRINkLED.-Uerse 22). So
far nothing was introduced more, than had
been done in the sacrificial work of all
the centuries from Abel down. But new
feature was presented after the lamb had
been Killed. Its blood was to be sprnkled
upon the Intel and two side posts of the
dwelling. each man doing this for his own
house This sprinkling by a bunch
of hyssop. kind of branch from a bushy
herb of the mint family. There have been
various fanciful reasons assigned by those
who are given to speculations to show why
this particular bush was chosen for that
purpose. There must have been some good
reason. as the plant was frequently en-
ployed in religious rites G.ev.. xiv:4) and
Therefore evidently esteemed. Even in our
LORDS time it came into Perhaps the
suggestion Of an old English commentator
Is all that is needed. namely. that 1t was
a very. common plant, well suited to the
purpose. easily obtained, and hence within
reach OF all. It's use. however, was en-
Joined. and hence it became a necessary
part of the ceremony in conformity to the
will Of the Lord.
HOUSES PASSED-verse 23). The rea-
son for sprinkling the blood Of the lamb. as
directed. this feature of racriffcial
worship. Is now given. The blood was in
tended as a sign to mark the Hebrew
houses and to distinguish them from the
Egyptian houses. It IS evident from this
that the Israelites were not living alto
oath hy,
were built among the dwellings of the
Egyptians. The sign. moreover was in
tended to aid the destroying angel as he
should pass through the land: he would
know where to go and where not to go in
dealing with his sentence of death The
first born in the homes Of Egyptians should
be smitten. and the first born of the Israel
ties should escape. The latter should be
spared because of the sprnkling of the
blood. That was not simply because of
the blood. although it the blood of
the old covenant. and likewise the SYM
Dol OF the the blood of the new covenant
(Heb. xii:2O). but it was because It ex-
pressed the faith and obedience of Israel.
CUSTOM PERPETUATED.-(Ve
"A and % The observance thus instituted
was intended to serve purpose beyond
the right of the deStroyer'S work of death
1t protected Hebrew homes then. but it was
to be perpetual rite in all those homes in
all the coming years At the return of the
particular month and day in the calendar
lamb must be slain and it's blood sprin-
killed. upon the door posts. The men of that
generation must hand this custom to their
sons. and they to those who came after
and so on. from generation to generation
During the wandering in the Wilderness
and after the settlement IN Canaan, to
which they expected to journey under all
The changes and conditions year after year
the same rite should be observed There
are very few ordinances of religion among
any people that have been thus continued
Christians hold the Lords Supper in such
light. although one body of the followers
of Jesus contend that 1t was only Of tenn
porary appointment. destined to disappear
under the more spiritual expressions of this
dispensation. But there was no such ex-
press provision for permanence as in the
case of the Passover. OF this there could
be no doubt.
RITE EXPLAINED.-(Vers % and
30 1t was rightly expected that this
strange service in after generations would
awaken curiosity; that the time would
come when it's significance would not be
understood. This is true of all religious or
dinances. The further one is removed from
the time of an institution the less likely he
will be to comprehend the real import and
value. This is the reason that all rituals
degenerate in many cases into perfunctory