The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-11-18


!. The Old Leader, w. 1-S. We have
now come to the last Of our lessons
which have to do with Moses. Fol-
lowing his lamented failure a. the
time of the second arrival at Kadesh-
Barnea, Miriam dies; at Mt. Hor,
Aaron departed and his Office is be-
slowed upon his son, Eleazar. Then
quickly followed the plague Of ser
penis, the defeat OF the king of the
Amorites, Balkans folly, the apostasy
of Israel which was cleansed by blood
through the zeal of Phinehas, and final
| ly the arrival upon the plains Of
Moab.
Law Confirmed.
Hero moses repeats and Confirms
| the law to this new generation Of
Israel, delivers his last charge, sings
his last song, ascends Mt. Nebo to
view Canaan, and is forever with
the Lord" In the passage marked out
for this lesson we have the account of
the passing of this wonderful servant
Of God. Returning to Oh. Bills and
32:44-52 we see this journey In pros
pect, after that we read Moses parting
blessing and in this section We read
Of the fulflment Of that prospect
Noses anticipated his departure by a
quiet dignity, absolutely divorced from
haste or fret, that was characteristic
or his life of submission and was the
essence Of his life Of faith.
Before departure Moses solemnly
charged this newer generation to OBJ
serve the law, declaring that it is not
a vain nor an empty thing. but in deed
and in truth to them the way Of life.
Then comes the simple dignified &C
count of this last act Of obedience, sim.
pie, yet sublime. Yonder we see him,
viewed by the hosts Of Israel, as he
ascends the mountain alone-yet not
alone-prepared to spend his last
hours upon earth with Jehovah, who
doubtless appeared as the angel
Jehovah and pointed out to him the
land he SO much longed to enter, but
could not because he failed to sanctify
God in the sight OF the people at a
critical moment. Taking the glory to
himself on that occasion demanded an
act Of punishment as warning to
the people, hence, 'it went i'll with
Moses for their sakes," Ps. LOG: 3d..
There upon the mount Gods covenant
with Abraham is confirmed and with
undimmed eye and undiminished vigor
". y, Moses was shown the fulfil
ment Of that promise, his body was
laid at rest by God himself, in an I'M
known and unmarked sepulchre, lover
against Beth-Peor," v. 6.
II. The New Leader, v. 8. God never
leaves his people without q leader
and hence Joshua is exalted to COM
pensate Israel for the loss of Moses.
| 1.-THE king is dead-long live the
king" The worker dies, the work
goes on and many times the victories
Of the new leader are fully as great
and far reaching as any won by the
former leader. Joshua was not Moses,
he was Joshua and as such called to
face new problems.
III. A Great Character, w. 1912. The
description Of Moses is of one who saw
Jehovah face to face, a peculiar dig
nifty, and the secret Of his greatness.
When Aaron and Miriam murmured
from all other prophets in that, with
him will I speak mouth to mouth, even
manifestly, and not In dark speeches,
and the form of Jehovah shall he be.
hold" Mum. 1868 Moses himself
declared to Israel that when God
spoke to them out OF the midst Of the
fire, Il stood between the Lord and
you," Deut. ga, s. The supreme
teaching of this lesson is the fact that
great as Moses was, he was never.
theless excluded from the promised
land as warning to Israel
On the other hand this story is a
wonderful illustration Of the tender
compassion and watchful care OF Jeho
yah even to the end. Even the discip
line of Jehovah is accompanied by
gentleness. If he mast needs be ex
cluded yet he is not excluded from
communion with Jehovah.
Thus this saint who was separated
to the viii Of God passes out of life
In the hour OF the contamination OF
bis life work his spirit passes into
yet closer fellowship with God The
Psalmist in the words of the COLDER
text most beautifully suggests thai
such an hour is q delight to God, and
suggests the welcome which must be-
awaiting his saints Do not forget ths
last glorious appearing of Moses after
the lapse of the centuries when:
ION the hills he never trod
Spoke OF the strige that won our life
With the 1ncarnate Son of God"
l.
Death and judgment were q con
slant source OF fear to me until real
lied that neither shall have any holt
on the child of God" d. l.. Moody;
Do not put death out OF consideration
but welcome it as Moses welcomed
It. When we stand on Pisgah, car
we say we did our fun duty3 In tina,
hour the plaudits of men viii b
stilled.
Moses was great hero, prophet
priest law-giver. poet and general
yet Israel could erect no monumen
over his grave to do him honor. /
was greater honor to follow hl
hdmoniticns and obey the Law.