The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-08-02
LESSON FOR AUGUST 2
THE PLAQUES OF seypr

The PLAQUES OF EGYPT.
LESSON TEMPS. 1os "a.
| 7.S-ll:l0l 'ef Ell
GOLDEN Whosoyar sh.,,
himself shall b" humbled. and wha eAaa
shaI! hGmoIo himself shall be exaI,SsWs
! r.. V. Matt. g?I. sAai'ed"
While this Psalm is a succinct CO..
| ment OF all that is contained j.
dus. chapters : to IL, still no teacha'
can judge himself as having ny
proper preparation who has No, .,~s
led carefully the earlier record ~
ginning with those of discomfort n.
plaques become more and mora
we're until the last and the crow,;s
one. the death of the first born cov..s
the Egyptians 10 thrust out the Iur.ss
lies with haste and gladness lad.
with an abundance of spoil" Pharaos
trusted in the superior greatness :,
the Egyptian gods. he also had gro,,
pride in his absolute power and hatss
to lose the profitable service ~ N.
Hebrew slaves. Over against this w,,
Gods right TO demand the wa,
ship of his chosen people, Gods M,
fuse warnings TO the proud Egyptian
and the inevitable outcome OF IN,
man, tribe. or nation who sets I'm Nm.
man will in opposition to the plans q,
an Omnipotent God. True thanksgi,
Ing and praise are based upon IN,
marvellous works" ". r. VI
Israel Made Strong.
L. The Induction of Israel In,,
Egypt, w. 1925. By Israel" in vera
% the Psalmist does not refer To tbs
nation but rather to the supplapte,
who became Israel, a prince" His
Induction into Egypt was in accord.
ance with Gods purposes and plan
yes, his specific command. Gen. 1921
Acts 1915. God increased the DE-.
scendants Of Israel greatly in the land
of Egypt. see V. "a. At the same tina
sod made those same descendants
stronger than their anniversaries" on
account Of the fact that Jehovah
fought on their side, see Rom. S:3l
u. The Exodus Of Israel From
Egypt, w. 26-36. Now the Psalmist |,
referring TO the nation. In EYodw
there are recorded ten plaques, here
there are mentioned but eight. The
plague Of the murrain OF beasts and
the plague of boils, the fifth and the
sixth. are here left out for some rea.
son best known to the Psalmjst.
God saw the Affections of Israel but
sends relief through human agenta
Moses was Gods servant" ". 16)
and Aaron His chosen" q Sam. 1870
30 also is every true believer. Their
work has to "shew" ". I'D Gods won.
ders In the land of Egypt HAM.
They were to shew His" wondera,
signs, the Words of His signs" R.
V. marg.), and none Of their own. In
'ther words they were to be the viz
BILE embodiment Of Gods character
md power. The Psalmist In his catap
ogue mentions ". 2s) the ninth
plague first. This was directed against
he sun god and while darkness was
'ver Egypt, it was light for Israel b
Goshen. The Psalmist calls attentioa
o the reformation Tread Elk. 9:2+ist
which was only transitory, and stem
n methods were necessary on j.
lovah's part. II men reject him who
s the light they must of necessity ~
'eive the punishment Of darkness b.
.ause Of their rebellion.
Worshiped the Nile.
The Psalmist then turns to the first
" the historic plaques. The EUr
ians were so dependent upon the Nile
hat they personifled 1t and worshiped
I. They had shed the blood of tho
sraelites and were given blood to
rink, see Rev. 1876, 6 and Gal. 6:7.
he third plague vas directed against
he goddess "Hel t." queen OF two
worlds, and who was represented By
frog-like figure. see Elk. 8:S. It was
fter this calamity that Pharaoh tenn
orized. The third and fourth plaques
re grouped together in verse 81. God
ften uses very little things to humble
ne great ones of earth. Life Ii made
p Of trifles, but life is no trifie. Phs
aoh had proudly boosted Of his agnos-
cism lex. $50 but when he sought
try conclusions with God and said.
Neither will l let Israel go" God let
I'm wrestie with frogs, lice and flies.
We thus see a man setting himself
gainst God who Is not able to over
ONE these smallest of pests. AS vs
ave mentioned. the fifth and sixth
Iagues are omitted from this record.
ence the plague mentioned in " 80
In reality the seventh lex. 81. II
as a rebuke to the God of the air.
nd from Rev. 81 and 1921 we learn
lat 1t is to be repeated in the end Oh
me.
Though Israel was free from the
ghth. the plague of locusts ". 80 5
ley did suffer from a like experience
| later days. Joel Ell These small
ests can turn a fruitful land into .
arren waste.
But the eliminating plague ". sc
as the shifting of the first born. Even
irael could not escape this calamity
scept by the previous shedding OF
God. Ex. 12:3-1s. God gave Pharaoh
nple warning, Eek. 4:23. Refusing 70
ED under the lesser judgments. GOD
rought this supreme penalty. shifting
I the first born. "the beginning OF
l their strength" (R " marg. v. 36).
DDS word gives US ample warning OF