Free press., 1907-09-21
THE DEATH
OF MOSES
Sgnday SchOOlLessonEor Septzz.lSe7
Specially Prepared for This Paper
Specially Prepared for This Papor

GOLDEN TEXT.-s-PreciOus in the
sight Of the Lord IL the death OF his
saints s"-Psalm 116: Is
TIME.-Moses died in the first week of
the twelfth month (February-March) OF
the fortieth year since the exodus. B. C.
1491 according to the common chro-
nology).
PLACE.-Moses died on Mt Nebo. the
eliminating peak OF the Pisgah range OF
the mountains OF Moab. 1t is 911 miles
east OF the northern end of the Dead Sea
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES ON
MOSES--Hos. u: 13; Jer. Is: 1: Psalm 80:
(title); Psa. 106: q; Matt. II: 5. 4; Acts z;
2O-44: Luke 20: 81; Heb. 5: 2, 5: IL: 24-Z4'
Rev. Is: 3.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Vision from the Mount.-Vs. Ia.
Moses had completed his work. The
time had come for him to entrust
the future of his people to other
hands. On account Of his almost only
failure to come up to his standard, at
the Waters OF Meribah. he was not
permitted to enter the promised land.
His public sin before all the people
must be punished to show that God
was impartial, that no matter what
ones privileges or attainments he
cannot be immune in sin But for
Moses, as always with his people, God
Moses that punishment was a neces-
stiy. but Gods heart overfiowed with
loving kindness and tender mercies
toward his child and prophet.
Visions of Heaven. God gives US
Pisgah views of the promised land to
which we are tarveling through this
wilderness world. Cd We have them
in Scriptures, where glimpses Of heav-
en- are given to US, both by. descrip-
tion and by the ideals Of a holy life
set before us. But one must have
something of the character of Moses
before he can see the vision in it's
true glory. (2) God gives his chill
dren heavenly experiences, earnest
and foretastes Of the blessedness to
come. But these. too, come after
faithful service and devoted living.
The object OF these visions is I'd
to present before US the true ideal of
life 1t is not a vain thing to think
! often of q perfect and holy heaven,
for 1t shows us how we ought to live
on earth. CD To be a motive and
inspiration to higher living. CD To
be a comfort in hours Of darkness and
encouragement.
IL. Moses stands among the few
greatest men in all history. In every
direction he was great and good.
1. AS a Prophet--A prophet is one
who speaks and acts under the dire
tion OF God, the medium through
which God reveals his will to men.
10. And there arose not prophet
like unto Moses" No other was
like him till we come to Jesus, the
prophet whom God had promised
should be raised up like unto Moses
(Deut. 1919, the organizer OF new
kingdom speaking the truth directly
from God Whom the Lord knew
face to face" God revealed himself
and his will directly TO Moses without
the Intervention Of any angel or hui
man being. Gods spirit acted upon
the spirit of Moses.
IL In all the signs and the won
ders. greater than any wrought till
Jesus Christ came. They proved to
the Israelites that Moses was Gods 5
messenger to them, his commands
were Gods commands. his leading
where God would have them led.
II. In all that mighty hand" The
hand is the symbol OF power in action
| the instrument of power. All the
| great terror which God wrought
against Pharaoh and other enemies
which was doubtless one OF the rea-
sons why the Israelites were so safe
in the wilderness.
2 As Saint.-Moses' goodness
shines as brightly as his greatness.
! He was unself1sh He devoted him
self at every cost to the good of his
| people. He encountered every dan
! ger for their sakes. He was willing
| to die to save them. He was the
embodiment OF love to God and love
! to man. By seeing God face to face
he was becoming transformed into his
spiritual likeness
] g. His Imperfection.-Two or three
times some fault is attributed to
Moses. as every saint has failed in
some point at some time There is no
garden but has some weeds. But the
most unjust thing we can do is to
measure its value by It's weeds and
not by its fruits
f. Moses as Statesman
ton apart, Moses possessed all those
endowments and qualities which form
the consummate statesman and chief
magistrate: an intellect of the high
est order: a perfect mastery of all
the civil wisdom of the age; a pene-
| trating. comprehensive and sagacious
/ judgment; great promptness and en-
| ergy in action; patriotism which
neither ingratitude. i'll treatment nor
rebellion could quench. or even cool:
a commanding and persuasive elo-
quence; hearty love of truth; an
incorrupdble virtue
5. AS general Moses delivered his
people from the most powerful nation
on earth; maintained them amid the
perils of the desert for years, and