_Up, make us gods._ IDOLATRY I. The very essence of idolatry is not spiritual ignorance and obtuseness, but a wilful turning away from the spiritual knowledge and worship of God. 1. This act of idolatry was in the very front of the majesty and splendour of Jehovah revealed on Sinai. 2. With the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moses besought the Lord._ THE INTERCESSION We find him in succession-- 1. Highly privileged. 2. Deeply grieved. 3. Raised to a holy frame of mind. 4. Visibly answered. 5. Abundantly strengthened. I. Many events have taken place since Moses, at the Lord’s command, drove back the waters of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_There came out this calf._ AARON’S EXCUSE I. There never was a speech more true to one disposition of our human nature than this of Aaron. We are all ready to lay the blame on the furnaces. “The fire did it,” we are all of us ready enough to say. “In better times we might have been better, broade... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who is on the Lord’s side?_ WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE I. The conflict, and which is the Lord’s side. The commands of God _versus _self-pleasing. Holiness and right, against sin and oppression. II. The Lord’s friends, and what they must do. 1. They must own their allegiance openly (Exodus 32:29)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Slay every man his brother._ IDOLATRY PUNISHED I. the actors in this idolatrous scene. 1. Their historical character. 2. The recent experiences through which they had passed. 3. In view of these facts what a revelation of human nature we have here! (1) Of its fickleness. (2) Of the difficult... [ Continue Reading ]
_Consecrate yourselves to-day to the Lord._ IMMEDIATE DEVOTEDNESS TO GOD I. The nature of this consecration. 1. We must recognize the claims of Jehovah. 2. We must concur as to the manner of our consecration. 3. We must be deeply anxious respecting this consecration. 4. We must earnestly and b... [ Continue Reading ]
_If Thou wilt forgive their sin._ MOSES INTERCEDING FOR THE PEOPLE It was a very happy thing for Israel that they had an intercessor. It is not that God needs it. God does not need the intercession of Jesus Christ--Christ told us so. “I say not that I will pray the Father for you, for the Father H... [ Continue Reading ]