Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-09-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson X.-Third Quarter, For
Sept. 8, 1907.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text of the Lesson, Mum. xxi, 1.s.
Memory Verse, Golden Text, John
iii, ia, f5-commentary Prepared by
Rev. D. NJ. Stearns.

Rev. D. M. stearns.
Copyright 1907, by American Press Association
The fourteenth chapter ends with the
record of some who insisted on going
I'D to take the land when they found
that their unbelief was to cost them
forty years in the wilderness, so they
went in their presumption and were
slain.
The fifteenth chapter also tells of the
presumptuous sin of one who dared to
break the Sabbath by gathering sticks,
and it is plainly stated that disoDedi-
ence is presumption and despising the
word of the Lord XIV, 80, 81. This
last sin led to the frlnges In the Dor
ders of their garments with ribbon
of blue, that they might look upon II
and be holy unto the Lord who had
brought them out of Egypt XIV, Bad.
Chapter xvi Is full of the rebellion
of Korah and his companions against
Moses. their punishment, the sympathy
of the people with the guilty and the
plague from the Lord that took away
so many thousands of them. Chapter
xvii is Gods miraculous testimony to
His choice of Aaron by causing his rod
to bud and blossom and bear almonds
in one night, while the other eleven
rods remained only dry sticks. Chapter
xviii establishes the pre-eminence or
the tribe of Levi, their special separa-
ton unto the Lord and that the Lord
Himself was specially their portion
(verse 20). Chapter xix is the remark
ably typical story of the red heifer or
the provision for cleansing by the way>
Compare Heb. tx, IL; | John l, T.
Chapter XIX begins with the death or
Miriam and ends with the death OF
Aaron and contains the record of
Moses sin, which cut him off from lead
ing Israel into the promised land. He
believed not God, gave way to self and
smote the rock instead Of speaking to 1t.
In today's lesson we have first sig
nal victory Of Israel over their enc
mics and then another outbreak against
God, followed by q Christening and de-
liverance. That God should ever hear
or do anything for such a rebellious
people Is written for our encourage
ment and that we may adopt Jere-
mfah's plea, 30 Lord, though our In
iquities testify against us, do Thou 1t
for Thy names sake" DER. xiv, y. He
will specially bless all whole hearted
ness against sin or for Him, and this
seems to be the special point in the
first three verses Of our lesson. In III
Cor. vi IA, to vii, /, there is good
comment upon it, and another good
promise in connection with 1t in ii
Chron. XVI, 8. AS in the days Of Israel,
SO in our days, He is seeking those
who are willing to be wholly set apart
for Himself, who will cheerfully be
His portion and let Him be peculiarly
their portion (Ex. xix, 4-6; Ps. iv, 3;
Tit. ii, IA, r. "; Ps. cxxxv, 4; lxxiii,
26; Lam. ill, pa. Through such and ON
behalf of such He will specially reveal
Himself
The last part of our lesson is sad
record, and yet their sin and Gods
manner of deliverance is one of the
most suggestive lessons In the Bible
Gods way of redemption
for the sinner, type that our Lord
specially dwelt upon and used concern
ing Himself in John Iii, IA, 10. We
know that Aaron died in the fortleth
year after their coming out of Egypt
(chapter xxxiii, 3S), and If this event
was in that year, as it would seem to
be, we see Israel rebellious to the last
and the rising generation inherlting the
sin of their fathers. Discouraged be-
cause of the way" and speaking
against God and against Moses (Verses
A. 81, so they began and so they con-
tinued eek. xvi and xvii; Mum. XII, 40,
and 80 we continue in spite of all the
lessons, saying, what shall we eat, or
what shall we drink, or wherewithal
shall we be clothed?' Matt. vi, 81
acting as If we had no Father in heav-
en- and therefore making self our CEN
ter instead of God The same patient
Lord bears with the same sins in us,
Christening us and ever seeking to win
us wholly to Himself.
The fiery serpents causing death can
not but suggest that old serpent, the
devil, through whom came the sin that
has bitten us all Gen. iii /; Rev. xii, ~.
by one man sin entered the world and
death by sin" Rom. V, 12). When
there is q consciousness and confession
Of sin, as in verse Z of our lesson. then
there is forgiveness, for "if we confess
our sins He is faithful and just to for
give us our sins and to cleanse US from
all unrighteousness" q John i, 81. The
likeness of that which caused their
death set upon pole suggests the
death Of that which caused their death.
think the verse that covers it most
fully in connection with John Ill, II,
Is, Is ii Cor V, 81, God hath made
Him to he sin for us who knew no
sin, that we might be made the right
eousless Of God in Him"
The fact in Israels case was that If
any bitten one, however near death,
saw the brazen serpent he was at once
well. There was truly "life for
look" 1t is just so with us and with
Him who was made sin for us. When
we are convinced that we are sinners
and hOpe!essIy lost and see Jesus as
having diCl in our stead, bearing our
sins in HIS 0,;n body, and the heart OF
the guilty one says, For me; this lie
did for me- | do receive Him as my
Saviour" tllen there is life, eternal life,
the forgiveness Of sins, the free gift OF
God to the penlte sinner, as the re-
suit Of CHRIST finished work John J,
II; vi 81, A.: Eph. !, 6, 7; Ii, 49,.