The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1913-09-18

GOLDEN TExTH"MyS iiittia sV dSi,dr.,
guard yourself from idols."-I John.6.sI.
1t Is incredible that these Israelites
should turn aside after gods made
with mans hands in the very midst
,of such a demonstration OF the hout
ness. majesty and glory of Jehovah>l
1et IN life 1t Is always but o step from
glory to degradation, and one of the,
easiest moments in which to trip ups
the saint Is at the time Of his great
esq OBSTACLES. The human heart is
absolutely unreliable, unstable, nay,
IL Is wicked and Is desperately do.
ceitful. Jer. 1870. Following the Civ
ing OF the d%ecalogue God gave Moses
a series Of laws and ordinances which
are an application Of that fundamentals
law and which form "the book Of,
the covenant" Then the elders OF
Israel are called up into the mountain.
given o vision Of God, and given to
eat and drink~fn his presence. symbol
lzins communion (Ex. 24). After this
Moses and his servant Joshua leave
Aaron and Hur In charge OF the peo-
PIE n go up again into the mountain.
On Inc seventh day Moses entered the
cloud and remained for q period OF 40
days during which time he received
the pattern Of the tabernacle and the
order of worship. 1t was during this
period Of time that the people sinned.
d first part Of this chapter tells
us the fact Of the casting of the calf.
w. 16. Gods righteous anger and
Moses prayer Of intercession, Wv. 7:zA.
lsraeps boast. 1873, 24:3. 7, is now re-
vealed as being but utter weakness
n illustrates the w~orthiessness and
u~nreliability Of human nature. The
drunkard's promised sobriety, the un-
clean mans promised purity, alike
melt In the fierce heat OF temptation.
Their sin was a direct, positive vio-
lation Of the first commandment. and
In 1t they also broke the second. They
dld not want to substitute but rather
sought a similitude Of God. Aaron
here appears in a poor light; he did
not Xix their proposition wv. Z, g.,
but did not have strength Of character
sufficient to stand against it. Aaron
ts like those in the church and out OF
1t who prefer to control q movement
which is bad rather than to combat
the movement In its entirety.
Human Ficklenese.
Notice .Aaron's attempt to link old
Ideas with this ~new-fangled religion,
this modern expression" tomorrow
Is tho feast of jehovah v. S. Men
and women are today attempting to
gloss evil teaching and open sin by
associattng with 1t the name Of Christ.
To III such IN association scientific
Is a travesty. The fact, however, that
Aaron gave the Israelites what they
asked for. shows hat he had some
idea at least Of Gods attitude towards
his people. We have here presented
also tho ackleness Of human gratitude.
Moses Is with God on their behalf
-(Heb. 1925, yet they forget him and
God who had performed such mighty
signs on their behalf, and demand new
new leadership ". 1 and Ps. 108: 21).
Art has a place in religious life. but
"a spiritual worship alone is acceptable
Co God. John 1924.
It was a sacrifice (vv. 2, 81 Of gold
TO make possible this calf which was
doubtless q representation Of the
Egyptian god Apis and may or may
not have been life-size, and may have
been solid or only veneer, but Meth
er such earnestness nor sacrifice
saved them.
Code Word lmmutabIe.
Moses prayer Of intercession, w.
lila. is wonderful. 1t centers about
the fdea that Israel is "Thy people
". I'D, and that Gods word ia I'M
mutable. Remember" etc. ". 13).
Moses was moved with pity and had q
passion for the honor of Gods name.
AS Moses and Joshua approached the
camp they heard music, v. II. What
a commentary upon the debasing use
OF one Of Gods noblest gifts to man.
the gift Of music. Reaching the camp.
they beheld the fullness Of iniquity
and d~epravity which was the develop
ment Of this disobedience, v. 25. See
also Rom. 1:21-26. Rom. 6:23. Jas. 1:15.
Moses' passion also manifested itself
against their Sin by breaking the ia
bfes. grinding the calf to powder and
compelled them to drink the water
into which 1t was flung.
In order to complete. this story we
should call attention wv. 3O-35) how
Moses returned into Gods presence,
made q confession for the people, truly
taking the place Of intercesston when
he desired to be blotted out rather
than have their sin go u~nforgiven. go
on into the next chapter, W.. 49,. IA.
and read his great heart cry and Gods
answer of grace.
Tho Teaching. We have here a story
Of the frailty Of human nature and
the feebleness Of human resolutions.
We sec in Aaron the weakness Of q
religious leader who attempts to com
promise or to yield to- the clamor of
a mistaken people. There Is also pres
emit in this lesson the possibility OF
'pr%ostituting right things. The Israel.
ties made a proper request In their Do.
sire to go forward. They lacked pa
tience, and made the mistake Of de-
string something that appealed to
their senses. We thus see the diSas-
ter of disobedience, even though tho
nnd 1ooirod hc "A end nrn