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Signs of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 29.

The Sinner’s Plea—Our Plea
Earlier text: I DON'T HAVE TO

Religious Liberty Literature

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International S. S. Lessons.

"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." —Neh. 8:8

LESSON X.—SUNDAY, JUNE 3.

THE PASSOVER INSTITUTED.

[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.]

Lesson Scripture, Ex. 12: 1-14.

1. And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
2. This month shall be unto you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.
3. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for an household.
4. And if the household be too little for a lamb, then shall he and his neighbor next unto his house take one according to the number of the souls; according to every man's eating ye shall make your count for the lamb.
5. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year; ye shall take it from the sheep, or from the goats;
6. And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at even.
7. And they shall take of the blood, and put it on the two side posts and on the lintel, upon the houses wherein they shall eat it.
8. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
9. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; its head with its legs and with the inwards thereof.
10. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; but that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
11. And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste; it is the Lord's passover.
12. For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments, I am the Lord.
13. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
14. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.
Golden Text: "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." 1 Cor. 5:7.

QUESTIONS.

1. Note the events leading up to this lesson. Note 1.
2. After the Lord had given instruction concerning the destruction of the firstborn, what did he say to Moses? Verses 1, 2.
3. What were the children of Israel to do on the tenth day of this month? Verse 3.
4. If their household was too small to eat the lamb, what were they to do? Verse 4.
5. What was to be the character of the lamb? Verse 5. Note 2.
6. How long should the feast be kept up? Verse 6.
7. What should they do with the blood of the lamb? Verse 7.
8. What was to be done with the flesh? Verse 8.
9. How must it be cooked? Verse 9.
10. How much of it was to be used? Verse 10.
11. How were they to eat it? Verse 11.
12. While they were thus prepared for their journey what would God do? Verse 12.
13. What would the blood upon their houses be to the angel as he destroyed their firstborn? Verse 13.
14. What did the Lord say that the feast of the passover should be to them? Verse 14.
15. How was it carried out?
16. "And it came to pass at midnight, that the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle, And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead." Verses 29, 30.
17. What would have been the case if the children of Israel had refused to follow the instruction of the Lord with the blood?
18. Who is our Passover? Golden text.
19. What will be the case if we refuse to accept of the salvation which is offered by his blood? "For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?". Heb. 2:2, 3.

NOTES.

1. Our last lesson had for its Scripture text a part of the third chapter. After that the Lord sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh with various signs which showed God's wondrous power. All these Pharaoh rejected, blinded by his magicians. Then came the plagues, all of which showed the worthlessness of the gods of Egypt. The river was turned to blood, the sacred frogs became a plague, the dust became lice, grievous swarms of flies followed them, their holy beasts were smitten with murrain, the ashes of the furnace of their sacred temple caused boils and blains, the heavens gave forth hail, the locusts devoured the vegetation, the plague of darkness brought terror to all hearts, and Pharaoh's heart, despite all these things, was hardened. Finally the Lord tells him that the firstborn shall die, and that the Egyptians will not only be willing that Israel shall go, but shall send them out with great spoil, but God would pass over his people and would save them. From this comes the word "passover," of which our lesson tells.
2. The lamb without blemish and the unleavened bread typified the perfect offering of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

BIBLE OBJECT LESSONS

AND SONGS FOR LITTLE ONES. FOR THE HOME AND SCHOOL. With Illustrations and Special Instruction for MOTHERS AND TEACHERS.
BY LILLIE E. AFFOLTER AND F. E. BELDEN.

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THE LIFE AND WORDS OF CHRIST
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Tokens of God's Hand in the Movement, and Brief Sketch of the Advent Cause from 1831 to 1844.

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LESSON XI.—SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 1894.

PASSAGE OF THE RED SEA.

Lesson Scripture, Ex. 14: 19-29.
  1. And the Angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud removed from before them, and stood behind them;
  2. And it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet gave it light by night; and the one came not near the other all the night.
  3. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
  4. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
  5. And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
  6. And it came to pass in the morning watch, that the Lord looked forth upon the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and discomfited the host of the Egyptians.
  7. And he took off their chariot wheels, and they drave them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
  8. And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
  9. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
  10. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh that went in after them into the sea; there remained not so much as one of them.
  11. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
Golden Text: "By faith they passed through the Red Sea." Heb. 11: 29.
IMPORTANT SCRIPTURES.—Read from Ex. 12: 29 to chap. 15: 21. See also Num. 33: 1-8; Ps. 106: 7-12; 78: 12-14; 1 Cor. 10: 1, 2.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

  1. Mention the chief incidents leading up to this lesson? See note 1.
  2. When the camp of Israel reached the Red Sea, what did the angel of the Lord do? Verse 19.
  3. Who was this angel? See note 2.
  4. For what purpose did the Lord do this? Verse 20. Note 3.
  5. What did Moses do at God's command? Verse 21. See verses 15, 16.
  6. What was the effect?
  7. What did the children of Israel do? Verse 22.
  8. What did the Egyptians do? Verse 23.
  9. What did the Lord do? Verses 24, 25.
  10. What did the Egyptians at last admit? Verse 25, last part.
  11. What command did the Lord give to Moses? Verse 26.
  12. What followed the execution of God's command? Verse 27.
  13. What became of the Egyptians? Verse 28.
  14. How fared the children of Israel? Verse 29. Note 4.
  15. By what were they enabled to do this? Golden text.
  16. What power came to them through faith? The power of God in his word, to which they submitted. See 1 Peter 1: 5.

NOTES.

1. Our last lesson closed with Ex. 12: 14, the institution of the Passover, when the angel of destruction passed over the houses upon which the blood was sprinkled, and destroyed the firstborn in those houses where there was no blood. The next morning the Egyptians urged Israel to go, and not only this, but upon Israel's request they gave (not lent) jewels of silver and gold and raiment, in response to Israel's asking (not borrowing). From Rameses they went to Succoth, taking with them the bones of Joseph, finally camping between Migdol and the Red Sea, giving Pharaoh the privilege of saying that they were helpless and in his power. Pharaoh's host pursued; the children of Israel were overwhelmed, and murmured. Moses, strong in faith, encouraged them and sought God, and the Lord said, what he ever says to his people, "Go forward." Here begins our lesson.
2. The Angel of the Lord.—This was none other than the Angel of God's presence, the one who bears Jehovah's name. See Ex. 23: 20, 21.
3. "But now, as the Egyptian host approached them, expecting to make them an easy prey, the cloudy column rose majestically into the heavens, passed over the Israelites, and descended between them and the armies of Egypt. A wall of darkness interposed between the pursued and their pursuers. The Egyptians could no longer discern the camp of the Hebrews, and were forced to halt. But as the darkness of night deepened, the wall of cloud became a great light to the Hebrews, flooding the entire encampment with the radiance of day."
4. "As morning broke, it revealed to the multitude of Israel all that remained of their mighty foes,—the mail-clad bodies cast upon the shore. From the most terrible peril, one night had brought complete deliverance. That vast, helpless throng—bondmen unused to battle, women, children, and cattle, with the sea before them, and the mighty armies of Egypt pressing behind—had seen their path opened through the waters, and their enemies overwhelmed in the moment of expected triumph. Jehovah alone had brought them deliverance, and to him their hearts were turned in gratitude and faith. Their emotion found utterance in songs of praise. The Spirit of God rested upon Moses, and he led the people in a triumphant anthem of thanksgiving, the earliest and one of the most sublime that are known to man."

LESSON XXIII.—SABBATH, JUNE 9, 1894.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN.

Lesson Scripture, Luke 10: 17-37.

17. AND the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us in thy name. 18. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven. 19. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall in anywise hurt you. 20. Howbeit in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. 21. In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes; yea, Father; for so it was well pleasing in thy sight. 22. All things have been delivered unto me of my Father; and no one knoweth who the Son is, save the Father; and who the Father is, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him. 23. And turning to the disciples, he said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see; 24. For I say unto you, that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not. 25. And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26. And he said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27. And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. 28. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live. 29. But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor? 30. Jesus made answer and said, A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among robbers, which both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31. And by chance a certain priest was going down that way; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32. And in like manner a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion, 34. And came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on them oil and wine; and he set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35. And on the morrow he took out twopence, and gave them to the host, and said, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, I, when I come back again, will repay thee. 36. Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers? 37. And he said, He that showed mercy on him. And Jesus said unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
It is not so easy to analyze a chapter that contains instruction only as it is to analyze one that consists wholly of narrative. The danger always lies in too close an analysis; that is, instead of simply noting a few general heads, allowing them to suggest to the mind all the details, the student will attempt to repeat the details. Many will, doubtless, think it easier to commit a passage to memory, so as to be able to repeat it word for word, than to get sufficient knowledge of it to be able to give a synopsis of it and an intelligent narrative of the details. But the former should not be done. You might be able to repeat an entire chapter and still really know but little about it; but it is impossible to study it as indicated and not receive much valuable knowledge. You have doubtless found that this lesson naturally divides itself as follows: The return of the seventy, thanksgiving and blessing, the lawyer's question, which led to the story of the good Samaritan.
  1. With what feelings did the seventy return?
  2. What did they say?
  3. What did Jesus reply?
  4. How much power did he say he had given them?
  5. In what were they to rejoice?
  6. For what did Jesus rejoice and thank God?
  7. Who alone knows who the Son is?
  8. How only can any man know the Father?
  9. With what did Jesus say the disciples were blessed?
  10. Do we share the same blessing?
  11. What question did a lawyer ask Jesus?
  12. Did Jesus answer the question directly?
  13. To what did he refer the lawyer for an answer?
  14. What scripture did the lawyer quote?
  15. Then what did Jesus say?
  16. What question did the lawyer then ask?
  17. Why did he ask that question?
  18. How did Jesus answer it?
  19. Relate the story of the man that was robbed, and the good Samaritan.
  20. When Jesus had finished, what question did he ask the lawyer?
  21. Who did the lawyer say was neighbor to the poor man?
  22. What did Jesus then say to him?

NOTES.

1. "Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." And where are they hid?—In Christ, for in him are "hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Col. 2: 3. Whoever, therefore, will receive Christ may know the hidden things. But it is not by human wisdom, but by faith, that Christ is to be received. "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord." Jer. 9: 23, 24. "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 18: 3. "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in nowise enter therein." Luke 18: 17. Therefore, the things of God are revealed to all who are willing to take the wisdom of God in place of their own. The Spirit of God searches all things, even "the deep things of God," and is freely given to us to make known the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 Cor. 2: 10-12. And it is given to all who ask for it. Luke 11: 13. 2. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." This, and this only, is the condition of life. But who has met the conditions?—Not one, for all one's heart, soul, strength, and mind, mean all his life, not simply a few days or years of it. If one had lived wholly for self half his life, and then it were possible to turn completely about and serve the Lord with all his mind and strength the remainder of his days, he would not have served the Lord with all his heart, soul, strength, and mind, any more than if he had half served the Lord all his days. Who, then, can be saved?—Only he who gives up his whole life, past and present, to the Lord, and takes in exchange Christ's life. The perfect life of Christ will be put in place of the sinful life that is past, and the mind of Christ in him now will be as loyal to God as it was in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. In short, the condition of eternal life is to receive it from the Lord. He who allows the life of God to manifest itself in his mortal flesh will finally have that same eternal life in his immortal flesh.
3. "WHO is my neighbor?" Read the story and see. It is everybody that is in distress, everyone with whom we come in contact, everyone for whom Christ died. "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise." Rom. 1: 14.
4. IN this lesson we have an example of the quality of mercy. The Jew had no claim upon the Samaritan. The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans (John 4: 9), and so much did they despise them that the woman at the well was astonished that Jesus would ask her for a drink of water. The worst thing that the Jews could think of to say about Christ was to call him a Samaritan, and to say that he was a Samaritan was in their minds equivalent to saying that he had a devil. John 8: 48. They regarded the Samaritans as dogs. The Jews, therefore, had done nothing to merit kindness at the hands of the Samaritans. Yet this Samaritan did great kindness to the Jew, who would doubtless have spit upon him if he had seen him in the same situation. It is said that the Samaritan had mercy upon the other. Therefore, mercy is the treatment of people better than they deserve. It is the showing of kindness toward those who have no just claim to any consideration. Now remember that God "delighteth in mercy." Micah 7: 18. He is "plenteous in mercy." Ps. 103: 8. "For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great [or powerful] is his mercy toward them that fear him." Ps. 103: 11. "God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace are ye saved); and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus." Eph. 2: 4-7. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. 4: 16.
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