The National tribune., 1886-06-03
SUNDAY MEDITATIoN.
Practical Battles Taught ~ Study OF the later
national Sunday School Lesson Appointed 70
lime n lain -.a7-5g

study on the last day, that great day of the
feast" The reference IS 20 the Feast of the
Tabernacles-one of the three grand annual
feasts of the Jews. Its object was to keep in
memory the dwelling of the Israelites in tents
while journeying through the wilderness of
Sinai It lasted seven days, beginning en- the
18th of the Jewish month Tisri, corresponding
70 parts Of our months Of September and October.
LEV. %: 33-l4.) The first day and the last
day ofthe feast were holy days, theintermediate
days being semi-holidays. The festival COM
bined two ideas: /. Revival Of Israelitish life
during the exodus out-Of-doOrs and without
settled abOdes Of residence. ,. Thanksgiving
for all the blessings Of the harvest. During
the week people abandoned their residences
and lived in tents or in booths made from
branches of palms, pines, olives, willows, syca-
mores. In memory Of Moses causing waters 20
flow from the rock at Sinai, the people carried
water from the pool of Sloan to the temple
and poured il on the altar. The occasion was
very joyous, being heightened by music, stirring
and of high order, instrumental, vocal, antiph-
onal, responsive, songs and chants To add
zest, the temple was specially illuminated and
decorated.
Our Savior uttered the words we study on
the Sth day Of the feast. The procession was
passing, carrying water sparkling from the pool
of Sloan, and singing as they went U.s., - 81
Christ stood probably in Solomon's porch, q
position whence he could see all the movements
of the crowd. The feast that year "a. ID. 29l
began Sunday, Sept. 81, and ended Sunday. the
2oth. The presentation Of salvation under the
figure of water was very likely suggested by
the pitchers Of water being borne from Sloan
to the temple, just as the water in Jacobs well
became q symbol Of redemption in Christs
talk with the Samaritan woman. Then this
figure would be very grateful in that season Of
the year in Palestine, when there were no rains
and when the sun showered down its fercest
fruf Ia Co. Il To-
while unsatIsneu. We are to long for salvation
as the weary and those exceedingly tin Fsty cry
out for water. Spiritual thirst is the distress
OF the soul conscious of sin and yet unpardoned.
IL is the wish for communion with God. It ia
eagerness for Christian ordinances and privi-
leges. A man thus thirsty can find relief in
accepting the principles Of Christianity. This
is what is meant By coming to Christ. (V. 57.)
a man who believes in Christ effectively,
savingly, obediently, shall be influential in do
ing good, a blessing to his associates, a power
for Righteousness IN society. He shall abound
in well-doing. he shall be felt for good as are
streams of crystal water, cheering the fields and
giving haryests. He shall neither be 5tagnant
nor poisonous, but active, living He shall not
be stinted, but his influence shall roll through
the community like river, wide, deep, constant.
Render v. %, "Out from his life, heart, him
self shall flow rivers of living water"-from his
lips kind words, from his hands noble deeds,
from his eyes benignant glanees, from his feet
charitable missions. The secret Of such beau
tiful life was to be a product Of the work of the
Holy Spirit who descended 10 earth on Penteeost
day more plentifully than ever before Christ's
crucihxion and ascension. There is no sueh
verse in the Bible az that referred to in v. 80,
but there are several places where the senti-
ment is involved. See Prov, Is: A; Is, A:3;
So: IL Eze., ~: liz; Joel, :15; Zee, ID: 1 (;
I4:S.)
Our Savior's wonderful words and quite
supernatural manner set the people TO discuss
ing His merits. Dou., ID; 10, speaks Of the
Prophet, and was held TO point to the Messiah
or to st. John the Baptist. Some thought this
verse realized in Christ. (Ys. 40, Al A diff
Guilty in certain minds about allowing to Jesus
such distinction was the fact he had lived
most Of his life in Galilee. Others objected,
Christ was to be born in Bethlehem, not know
ing our Savior met that requirement. Mic,
$50; Matt, 2: As; Lu-, 2:4) A goodly num-
Der, however, saw in Christ an impOsteT, and
would have been glad to arrest him, but some
apprehensions prevented. Compare vs.. 81, Az
Perhaps they feared the people, with whom
Christ was popular, or possibly Providence
checked them, (St. John, 8: 3d. or they were
awed by his presence. John, 1881
The officers referred to in V. 10 were Jewish
temple eonstables or police. (1S:3; Acts 4: l.
They went out 70 arrest Christ by direction of
prisoner, these officers were brought to account.
(Y. A. That is a memorable reply they made:
Never man spoke like this man" This Is
forced admission-an admission of enemies-an
admission of men who had spent some time
watching Christ on purpose 70 secure grounds
for his arrest. The Pharisees sarcasticly init
mate that, the reply Of the officers being so
favorable to Christ, possibly these very officers
have become infatuated by the deeeiYer. (Y.
Az man, say they, who thinks anything of
himself, who knows anything, who is sufficiently
qualified to be ruler among the Jews, would
not follow nor be led by such q pestilential fel-
low. CONTEMPORARY they imply one who is in
fuenced by Christ must be uncommonly simple.
Such ignoramuses are fit subjects for public
contempt, are a curse to society, and are cursed
of community. What tremendous thrust at
his associates, was that question raised by
Nicodemus! (Y.51.) They had just been ridi-
culing tho ignorance Of the law on the part Of
certain men. (V. 49, Now one of their own
| number proves the whole Sanhedrim acting as
though ignorant Of fundamental principle Of
law.
His associates In . contemptible manner
intimate Nicodemus must be in some way con-
nected with Galilee. They were in error as to
no Prophet coming from Galilee, since it 10
| thought Elijah II XII, 17:1), Jonah q XII,
II 25), Hosea, Nahum Q:1), and Malachi
probably were from that region. So were
Barak, the delivereri Zion, the judge; Anna,
the Prophecies.
How did Christ speak differently from other
menu (V. 49, l. Authoritatively Mt, 7 :29. J
2 Illustratively, plainly, imsginativeIy, by
| parallels. 3. Correctly. He is truth, and hence
| Interchangeable. He never was obliged to revise
his statements. 4. Permanently. MT, "a: 35)
5. Feelingly, lovingly, alphabetically. 8.
Credentially, by miracles. z. Boldly personally,
meaningly. 8. Adaptedly. g. Doctrinally. 10.
| Popularity. IL. Originally, uttering new, WON
derful things. IL. Precisely. IL. Coneretaly.
| Ii. Experimentally. 10. Goodly, of good things,
glad tidings. 16. Magnifeently, royalty, nobly,
oratorically. IL Penetratiyely, making con-
| sciences VINCE
Says Farrar, referring to the report of the
temple police:
/ As they lowered In the temple courts or stood
half sheltered behind the temple pillars not unob-
lying in wait they could not fail 70 hear some OF
/ the divine words which lowed out Of his mouth :
and hearing theun, they could not fulfill their mis-
sion. sacred spell was upon them which they wera
unable TO resist; force infinitely more powerful
than their own unnerved their strength and para
lyzed their will. To listen to him not only 70
| be disarmed, but was even to be half converted
| from bitter enemies to awe-struck disciples.
1t is principle Of oratory that the speaker
must have character. Eoquence is turgid il
the life of the proclaimer be turbid. foul
man can be only singer Of words.
DIR. Parker Of London, writes in Eccs Deus :
! We may claim for Christs sayings an originality
and living energy such as have not been rvaied by
| any speaker. The heather philosophers gave d.
rections Christ gave life. Aristotle expounded
diametrical conjunction; Christ said "As We would
hot abs ITN