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The Sabbath-School

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 22, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 16.

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The Sabbath-School.

Old Testament History.

UNSANCTIFIED SERVICE, AND THE RESULT.

(Lesson 18, May 4, 1889.)
1. WHAT article of furniture was just before the vail of the most holy place in the sanctuary?
"And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail; and he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the Lord commanded Moses." Ex. 40: 26, 27.
2. How often was incense to be offered on it?
"And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning; when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations." Ex. 30: 7, 8.
3. What else was done at the same time? Ex. 29: 38, 39, 42.
4. What reference does David make to this custom?
"Lord, I cry unto thee; make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." Ps. 141: 1, 2.
5. While the sacrifice and incense were being offered, what did the people do? Luke 1: 8-10.
6. What was signified by the incense?
"And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of saints." Rev. 5: 8, margin.
7. What commandment did the Lord make concerning the offering of incense upon the altar?
"Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat-offering; neither shall ye pour drink-offering thereon." Ex. 30: 9.
8. Who violated this commandment?
"And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not." Lev. 10: 1.
9. How were they punished?
"And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord." Verse 2.
10. What special instruction did the Lord then give Aaron? Verses 8, 9.
11. From this what must we conclude was the cause of the error of Nadab and Abihu?—That they had been drinking wine, and did not fully realize what they were about.
12. Why was it that their perceptions should not be clouded by strong drink?
"And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean." Verse 10.
13. Can an intemperate man properly serve the Lord? 2 Pet. 1: 5, 6; 1 Cor. 9: 25.
14. What other instance can you name where God showed, in a special manner, the difference between holy and common things?
"And when they came to Nachon's threshing-floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God." 2 Sam. 6: 6, 7.
15. If God could make one portion of fire and one article of furniture holy, could he not also make one day holy above all others?
16. What day has God made holy? Ex. 20: 8-11.
17. Did the fact that Nadab and Abihu used the strange fire in the service of the Lord, make that fire holy?
18. Then can men by devoting a certain day to religious uses make it holy if God has not hallowed it?
"Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?" Lam. 3: 37.
19. What curse has God pronounced upon those who put no difference between common and holy things? Isa. 5: 20-24.