EXPLANATIONS. third day-this was the fiftieth day from their leaving Egypt. Les. 19. thunders... lightnings. ...a thick cloud the trumpet-these were symbols of God's majesty, power, inaccessibility, (without a mediator,) and stern justice. trembled-Moses not excepted. I am, &c.-the Lord in this manner asserted his self-existence and eternity. thy God-the worship of the true God in simplicity & purity was changed for the worship of idols by nearly all mankind. which have brought, &c.-thus exonerating Moses from every imputation of reckless ambition or imprudent daring. 1st Com.-this commandment relates to the object of religious worship; the worship of creatures and things is the great offence forbidden. It is violated by the atheist and idolater, by all who hold false views of the divine character, and by those in whose affections other objects than God usurp supreme control. 2nd Com.-has reference to the manner of worship; it forbids approach to God through visible representations; formal worship, and all superstitions. 3rd Com.-the true spirit of reverence and consequently of worship, forms the third commandment. Its violations are blasphemy, perjury, rash and unlawful vows, profane swearing, and irreverence in the utterance of God's holy name. 4th Com.-the most acceptable season for public and social worship is pointed out in the fourth commandment. The only works to be performed on that day are works of necessity, charity, and piety. 3th Com.-filial piety is enjoined by this commandment, "that thy days may be long." St. Paul quotes this promise when inculcating the duty of filial obedi ence on the Ephesians. ch. vi. 1-3, 6th Com.-the inviolability of human life is here taught; angry passions, murder, suicide, prize-fighting, and all unneces sary acts of violence are prohibited. 7th Com.-adultery, which is here forbidden, is the sin in a married person of taking another's wife or husband, or an additional wife or husband; in the unmarried man of taking a married woman; in the unmarried woman of taking a married man. This commandment also condemns all immodest or impure discourse or conduct. 8th Com.-the rights of property are here asserted, and their violation by theft, extortion, fraud, or oppression is forbidden. Plunderers of kingdoms, and oppressors who are above the reach of human justice are violaters of this commandment. 9th Com.-the duty of truthful representation is here inculcated; while slander, malice,lying,equivocating, tale-bearing, backbiting, talking away our neighbour's reputation are among the common sins forbidden. 10th Com.-contentment with our own lot and station is here enjoined, while every species of unlawful desire to obtain what belongs to another is forbidden. law-the ten commandments are called, The Moral Law. two tables-the first table, comprising the laws which concern our duty to God; and the second table comprehending our duty to mankind. QUESTIONS. Relate the solemn circumstances under which the law was given. What suggestions arise from the words "I am the LORD thy God"? Does God assume all the responsibility of bringing the Israelites out of the wild erness? What doctrine is taught in the first commandment? By what classes is it violated? Enumerate instances of its violation. What promise is attached to its due observance? What offences are forbidden in the five commandments which follow? Cve examples of each kind of offence. What are the ten commandments called? PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. The delivery of the law proves the necessity of divine revelation, for man would never learn his duties by the unaided powers of his mind. God, of his own good-will, condescended to teach mankind, lest they should for ever remain ignorant of the things which make for their peace. The commands of God are "holy, and just, and good.” "O that there were such a heart in them, (says God,) that they would fear me, and keep my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with theig children for ever!" 23. The Golden Calf Worshipped. The Tabernacle erected. Exodus xxv.-xl. Lev. viii. While Moses was on the mount, the people became 'impatient; and they desired Aaron to make them gods to go before them, and to lead them. Aaron made them a golden calf, which they worshipped. God told Moses of the sin which the people had committed; and said, "It is a stiffnecked people; now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of thee a great nation." And Moses besought the Lord for the people, and spoke of his promises12 to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, that he would multiply their seed as the stars, and give them the land of Canaan5 for an inheritance. So the Lord 'repented him of the evil which he had said he would do unto them. Moses then came down from the mount with the two *tables22 of the testimony in his hand; but when he saw the people dancing and worshipping the calf, his anger waxed hot, and he threw down the two tables of stone, and broke them. He destroyed the golden calf which they had made, and reproached Aaron; and according to God's command, he appointed the Levites to punish the Israelites for this sin. Threethousand of those who had worshipped the calf were slain by the Levites. Moses again besought the Lord to pardon the sin which the people had committed; but God said, "Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of 'my book." God then sent a plague among them. The Lord also refused to go with them up to Canaan. The people mourned for their sin, and Moses again entreated the Lord to forgive them, and to go with them. The Lord then consented to lead the people. The Lord wrote again the ten commandments on two tables of stone, and gave them to Moses. God appointed two 'wise-hearted men, Bezaleel and Aholiab, to construct the tabernacle; the people brought gold, silver, and brass, and other free-offerings for the work, more than enough, and the tabernacle was made with its curtains and coverings according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses. Bezaleel also made the 'furniture and vessels for the tabernacle; 'the ark was made of shittim-wood, overlaid within and without with pure gold; the mercy-seat was of pure gold; the table of shittim-wood, overlaid with gold; and the dishes, spoons, bowls, and covers, were of pure gold. The candlestick, with six branches, the incense-altar, the altar of burnt-offering, and the 'laver, were made. Vestments were also made for the priests. After all was finished the tabernacle was erected in the Wilderness of Sinai, the coverings were put on it, and the furniture and vessels were placed within it. Moses anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and the tabernacle was consecrated to the Lord. "Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. . . . And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys; but if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up." God had appointed Aaron and his sons to be priests. They were to offer sacrifices to God and make intercession for the people. Moses consecrated them with oil, and with the blood of a bullock and two rams. EXPLANATIONS. impatient-men just rescued from a debasing slavery knew nothing of that self control which it was their duty to exercise in the absence of their recognised leader. The same unruly spirit is exhibited in our own day. calf-Egypt, the most learned of all ancient nations was also the parent of a monstrous system of polytheism and idolatry, with which the Israelites were familiar, and by which their religious education was perverted. Apis was worshipped in Egypt under the similitude of a young ox, and its worship was accompanied by indecent revelling. worshipped-by the presentation of offerings and by reverential prostrations before the dumb idol, which they had made for a representation of the true God. repented, &c.-Moses was the mediator between God and the Israelites, and his intercession was accepted on their behalf. God never repents in the sense of turning from his purposes, but he is "a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness." tables of the testimony-so called because in them God testified his will to the people. The law was a testimony to direct them in their duty, & would be a testimony against them if they transgressed. dancing-in ancient times dancing was performed as an expression of religious emotion and enthusiasm, both by idolaters, and by the worshippers of the true God. This dancing before the calf was like that of the Egyptians, a scene of indecent confusion and madness. Levites-they seem to have kept aloof from the debasing riot. Three-thousand... slain-these doubtless were the chief transgressors or ringleaders. my book-the registry of the living; idolatry being a capital offence. wise-hearted, &c.-skilful in design. The Lord endued them with the requisite skill and knowledge. tabernacle-it was made of boards, cur tains, coverings, &c., which were taken furniture-the ark, table, candlestick, inasunder when the camp moved forward. vessels-basons, spoons, and the laver; all cense-altar, and altar of burnt-offering. required for the sacrificial services. the ark-or sacred chest; the lid of the ark was called the mercy-seat; the two tables of the testimony were kept in the ark, and some other sacred things which we read of in Hebrews ix. 4. The ark is sometimes called the "ark of the testimony.", and also "the ark of the cove nant." laver-this was to hold water for the priests to wash their hands and feet. appointed Aaron-the high-priesthood was his exclusive privilege. CONTEMPORARY CHARACTERS. BEZALEEL and AHOLIAB-Bezaleel was the grandson of Hur, Les. 21, and Aholiab was a man of the tribe of Dan. Their wisdom of heart is often repeated, as if for the purpose of assuring the Israelites that they might be entrusted with the rich offerings they had made for the tabernacle, its furniture, &c. QUESTIONS. Why did they desire a calf? Were the two tables renewed? We learn here that in the absence of Moses, the Israelites "in their hearts turned back again into Egypt," and forgot the Lord who had brought them from their state of slavery there. We must learn also, that if we love anything more than God, we are worshippers of the creature instead of the Creator. The mercy of God in forgiving Israel's sin, after the leading rebels were slain, on the mediation of Moses, should remind us of His mercy to mankind through "Jesus the mediator of the new covenant," "in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." From the erection of the tabernacle we may learn that the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and priests employed in the service of God; let us be thankful for the superior ordinances and ministry of the New Testament Church-the second covenant-which are also of divine appointment. 24. Nadab and Abihu slain. The Levites Consecrated. Leviticus. Numb. i. 1,50-54; iii.-5-51; viii. 5-26. When Aaron made his first offerings to the Lord for himself, and for the people, as Moses commanded him, the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people; and there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed the burnt-offering upon the altar, which when all the people saw they shouted and fell upon their faces. Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his 'censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered 'strange fire before the Lord, which he had commanded them not to do. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. The people took the bodies of Nadab and Abihu, and buried them outside the camp. God then commanded that the priests should 'not drink wine nor strong drink when they went into the tabernacle, 23 lest they should die. God gave Moses many laws for the Israelites. Some of them are called the ceremonial law; they relate to sacrifices and offerings in general, to religious feasts and fasts, to cleansings of various kinds, to forbidden food and forbidden pleasures. The principal offerings were the burnt-offering, the meat-offering, the drink-offering, the peaceoffering, the 'sin-offering, and the 'trespass-offering. Another class of laws was for the guidance of the judges and rulers in the government of the nation; these laws are called the 'civil code. All these ordinances and laws the Israelites were commanded strictly to observe. Two men strove together in the camp, and one of them 'blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed. He was put into prison. Moses inquired of the Lord how he was to be punished. God said he was to die. The people took him outside the camp, and stoned him till he died. His mother was Shelomith, an Israelitish woman, but his father was an Egyptian. The descendants of Levi were called Levites. When the children of Israel journeyed in the Wilderness of Sinai,21 God said the Levites were to serve him in the tabernacle. He accepted them instead of the firstborn of the Israelites. Moses consecrated them. Their business was to instruct the people, to wait on the priests, and to take care of all things belonging to the tabernacle. The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; their descendants constituted the three orders of Levites; the Gershonites had charge of all the coverings, hangings, and curtains of the tabernacle; they were to encamp on the western side of the tabernacle. The Kohathites were appointed to carry the ark23, the table, the candlestick, the altars and the sacred vessels; they were to encamp on the southern side of the tabernacle. The Merarites had the care of the boards, bars, pillars and sockets of the tabernacle, and of the court round about they were to encamp on the northern side of the tabernacle. EXPLANATIONS. When Aaron, &c.-this took place eight days after his consecration. offerings he offered sin-offerings, burntofferings, peace-offerings, and meatofferings. a fire... consumed, &c.-thus was the sacrifice accepted. The Lord commanded that the fire thus kindled should be continually kept up. shouted-to express joy in the assurance now given that they had God near them. fell, &c.-after the manner of Orientals, who express their feelings of adoration by frequent prostrations. censer-incense-pan. incense-it was composed of" sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum ; with pure frankincense"; it was burnt on the incense-altar twice a day. strange, &c.-forbidden, common fire; they did not light their censers from the perpetual fire which was kept burning before the Lord. had commanded, &c.-when Moses received directions about the making of the incense altar the Lord said, "Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon." not drink, &c.-the reason for this injunction was that the priests when they drew near to serve the Holy God might retain the full use of their reason, and be free from improper excitement. ceremonial law-it consisted in external rites. burnt-offering-or the ascending offering; because it was wholly consumed, and rose to God as it were in smoke and va pour. It was an animal sacrifice. meat-offering-flour prepared with oil and frankincense, forming an accompaniment to the burnt-offering, peace-offer ing, and the offerings of the leper. drink-offering-water or wine poured out at the conclusion of a treaty or covenant. This offering, as well as the meat-offering, followed the sacrifices of animals. peace-offering-including a thank-offering and a free-will offering; this was a sac rificial offering, and was accompanied by a proper meat-offering. sin-offering-or that made for sins committed through ignorance; it was also a purification for sin or uncleanness. trespass-offering-made when a party had committed any trespass unwillingly, which caused some injury to a neighbour; rams or he-lambs were used in trespass-offerings, but never in sinofferings. civil code-laws for the administration of justice in society. blasphemed, &c.-he contemned God's law by violating the third commandment, "Thou shalt not take," &c., Les. 22. serve, &c.-thus the tribe of Levi, which had distinguished itself in the matter of the golden calf, (Les. 23) was honoured above the other tribes. That they might devote themselves to the service of God, and not engage in secular affairs, God afterwards commanded that for their. support they should receive a tenth of the corn, after entering Canaan, of the fruit, and of the cattle of the other eleven tribes, and on entering Canaan cities were to be assigned to them. Les. 29. instead, &c.-See he also, &c.' Les. 16. QUESTIONS. What were the offerings which Aaron first presented? Did God accept the sacrifice, and how? What effect had this on the people? What awful catastrophe occurred in the tabernacle soon after? What was the command which God then gave concerning the priests? What may we infer from this command? To what observances does the ceremonial law relate? Enumerate the principal offerings. Describe them more particularly. What was another class of laws called, and why? Narrate the circumstances connected with a quarrel in the camp. What transfer of a religious privilege was made about this time? What were the duties of the Levites? PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. We are taught in this lesson that they only who serve in the sanctuary of the Lord, according to the institutions he has appointed may expect to be honoured and blessed in the discharge of their sacred duties. It is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to God's written Word.' Learn the consequences of the awful sin of presumption," the soul that doeth aught presumptuously,... shall be cut off." Had Nadab and Abihu sinned through ignorance, a trespass-offering would have been accepted; but it appears they drank, and forgot the law. We learn also that strife is a sin; "the servant of the Lord must not strive." The excitement of strife causes the tongue to utter profane language. We are here warned of the sin of blasphemy, and indirectly of the bad effects of improper marriages. Finally, we see that God did not leave the concerns of his church and ministry to be regulated by the wisdom of man. |