The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-07-24
Sunday School Column
Side Lights on Next Sundays Les
son for Teachers and Pupils.
By CHAs. X. MEYERS.
BY CHAs. K. MEYERS.
Sunday School Association omeers.
President w. G. Van Ness, Denison.

Sunday School Association oficers.
President, w. c. Van Ness. Denison.
Vice President j. B. Alfred. Manila.
Secretary and Treasurer Chas K. Meyers.
Denison.
Department secretaries are as follows: Home
department Mrs. Pierce, Denison. Normal de-
partInent, Prof. E. w. Fellows. Denison. House
to house. Mrs. Harper, Dow City. Primary, Mrs.
Denison. Missionary. Miss Sadie Neeley. Manila.
July % The Golden Calf. Exod.
50 :22-s. 3O35.
From the consideration of the Civ
ing of the Ten Commandments by God
to the Children of Israel and TO all
future generations, we must turn to
one of the great blots on the history
of that people. The desert wanderers
had just been uncommonly favored by
God. They had seen the mountain in
smoking because OF HIS special pres
ence: had felt afraid because of what
they saw; they knew that Moses and
Joshua had gone away to have special,
communication with the mighty
Jehovah. they knew what had been
done for them in their deliverance
from Egyptian bondage. of the rescue
at the Red Sea. Yet with all this
presumably we'll in mind. they fell
into the awful sin of idolatry in de-
handing that they have made gold
en- calf such as the Egyptians wor-
SHIPPED. Aaron was so weak that he
consented to make the calf on demand
of the people.
Without doubt many will think how
childish. foolish and ungratful the Chill
dren of Isreal were. They were how
ever just such poor human beings in
their conduct, as we are today. Not
grown up reader of these notes will
dare to say that they have not been
amazed in their own experience to
find how far they have gone from
heights of spiritual upliftment and
seeming nearness to God to do things
and say things sinful in the extreme.
Who has not been astounded on look
ing back to see the depth to which
they have fallen at time when they
might have thought themselves proof
against temptation?
Again in the excuse made for the
people by Aaron one sees common hui
man nature in evidence. The pre-
tense was made that the design was
not to disobey or dishonor God but
simply to have God visible to the
human eye to represent Jehovah in
going before the people. When the
calf was made they had the nerve to
build an alter such as used in their
worship of Jehovah and to offer burnt
and peace offerings as of yore. On
looking on the situation one calls to
mind the declaration of the Prophet
Samuel. Ito obey is better than
sacrifice and to hearken than the fat
of rams"
1t will be remembered that later on
in the history of these people King
Saul had been commanded to kill all
the animals taken from rebellious
heather tribe. how he spared some of
the cattle and when Samuel found
fault with his conduct made answer
that the cattle had been saved to sac
rifice to God. Then it was that Sam
uel spoke as just quoted The chill
dren of Isreal in their day. Saul later.
tried to excuse their willful disobedi-
ence by insisting that what they had
done was in truth to glorify God
These false wetenses were of no avail
before the all seeing eyes of God and
in both cases He visits severe. pun
ishment. How many of US when
wanting to do something which we
know is wrong set up in justification
after the wrong has been done. that
we were only intent on doing God S
service. Ones conscience at all
times accuses for the thing. and st.
Paul says that if our consciences &C
cuse how much more shall God who is
greater than our hearts condemn
The magnificent spirit of Moses when
pleading for the people at this time is
to be commended. He asks that God
would take his life that moment for
giveness would not be given the peo-
Pile.
The weakness of the people and of
Aaron. their fiimsey excuse, our like
ness to them: the exalted character of
Moses all give food for thought Be-
fore we spend much time condemning
the Jews in the desert let us think of
the great gospel light we live in and
how prone we are to fall away from
righteous living
The Doctor AWAY from Home when