The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-09-12
THE DEATH
OF MOSES
Sunday School Lesson Tor SepL22.l9O7
Specially Prepared for This Paper
Specially Prepared for ms Payer

TIME.-Moses died in the first week Of
the twelfth month CFebruary--Marcm OF
the fortieth year since the exodus. II. c.
1891 according to the common chro-
nology).
PLACE.-Moses died on Mt Nebo. the
eliminating peak OF the Pisgah range OF
the mountains OF Moab. II Is 81 miles
east OF the northern end OF the Dead Sea
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES on
MOSES.-Iios. Y; -. Jer. Is; /. Psalm ~;
(utle); Pisa io6: q; Matt. n; ,. Z. Acts Z;
20-fi. Luke %; 81. Heb. 3; 2, 8; IL; Az
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.
Ills public sin before all the people
must be punished to show that God
was impartial. that no matter what
ones privileges OF Attachments he
cannot be immune in sin. But for
Moses. as always with his people, God
mingled love with justice, and showed
Moses that punishment was neces-
stiy. but Gods heart overlooked with
loving Kindness and tender mercies
toward his child and prophet.
Visions OF Heaven. God gives us
Pisgah views Of the promised land 10
which we are tarvellng through this
wilderness world. G) We have them
in Scriptures. where glimpses OF heay-
en- are given to us. both by descrip-
ton and by the ideals OF holy life
set before us But one must have
something OF the character OF Moses
before he can see the vision In its
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 (D
to present before US the true ideal OF
life. II Is not a vain thing 20 think
often Of a perfect and holy heaven,
for q shows us how we ought 10 live
on earth. CO To be a motive and
inspiration to higher living. CD To
be a comfort I'm hours OF darkness and
encouragement.
Character Sketch Of Moses.-Vs. 10
r. Moses stands among the few
greatest men in all history In every
direction he was great and good.
l. AS a Prophet-A prophet Is one
who speaks and acts under the dire
ton Of God. the medium through
F l.. a. AL 20.
10. And there arose not prophet
o.. like unto Moses" No other was
Ike him TIN we come 10 Jesus. the
prophet whom God had promised
should be raised up like unto Moses
CDeut. 1919. the organizer Of a new
kingdom speaking the truth directly
from Cod Whom the Lord knew
face to face" God revealed himself
and his will directly " Moses without
the intervention OF any angel or hu-
man being Gods spirit acted upon
the spirit Of Moses.
II. In all the signs and the won
ders. greater than any wrought TN
Jesus Christ came. They proved TO
the Israelites that Moses was Gods
messenger TO them, his commands
were Gods commands. his leading
where God would have them led
r. 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 lsraelites were so safe
IN the wilderness.
2 As Saint-Moses' goodness
shines as brightly as his greatness
lie was unselfsh 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 10 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.
3. His Imperfection. Two OF 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 its weeds and
not by its fruits
4. Moses as a Statesman.-'Inspira-
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. III treatment nor
rebellion could quench. or even cool;
a commanding and persuasive elo-
quence: a hearty love OF truth; an
incorruptible virtue
s. AS a general Moses delivered his
people from the most powerful nation
on earth maintained them amid the
perils of the desert for 4 years, and
led them in confidence against coun-
try settled by fierce tribes. which they
conquered
G. AS a LawgIver-However much