The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-08-16
THE SEVEN DAYS FEAST.
international Sunday-School Les
= son for August 10, 1899.
The Lord Appoints . Day for the Feast Of
Tabcrnacies-A Time Of Rejoicing and
Thanksgiving-An Expression Of
Truo Gratitude.


GoIpEN Trxr-The voice of rejoicing and
salvation is in the tabernacles OF the right
oous.--Ps. l1s;15.
CENTRAL TRUTH - We should observe
sacred times of thanksgiving and ioy.
TfME-April, MAY, b. c, 1890.
.P1AcE-Valley of Rahah, before Mount
Sinai.
Tur THREE t,RrA = rFrsrrvAIs-Tberc xvere
three great festivals each wear, held at the
religious serter of the nation; and to these
every man was expected TO 10. u.) The
Passover, held on the 18th of tho first
month Of the sacred year, about April 1,
and continuing seven days. (2) The Feast
of Pentecost, held lust fifty days later, the
last of May, called the feast Of the first
fruits. 10y The Feast Of Tabernacles.
VALUE OF THESE FEsrIyALs-1. Po,tttca,tw
They bound the people torether. by the
bands of religion, around one center. 2.
'Soctallw They promoted intercourse and ac-
quaintance, scattered news, made known
improvements in arts, science and litera-
ture. s. Reli0touslu Preserved the religion
pure, increased devotion and the spirit Of
worship, promoted religious knowledge L.
Personally: These festivals were vacation
times; they broadeued the soul, inspired
the heart, enlarged the being, kept tho peo-
pie from ruts and narrowness.
The FEAST OF TABERNAcLEs-This was
the Jewish Thanksgiving Day, at tho
close Of the ingathering Of oil the harvests
and fruits. It was 30 called because the
people dwelt in tents or booths. 1t was cell
ebrated for seven days, beginning with the
18th Of Tisri (about the first of October).
The burnt offerings (of conservation were
very numeroua The whole feast was one
of great rejoicing.
HELPS OVER HARD PLAcEs-34. Fifteenth
dav the full of the moon, as their sacred
months always began with the new moon.
Seventh month. of their sacred year. It was
called Tisri (September-O OctObcr). Taber-
nacles. not tents, but booths or huts, covered
with boughs. 85. Hotv conpocation. the as
sembly of people for worship. 37 These are
he fcasts: the several feasts described in
the chapter 3S. Besides the Sabbdths. t. C.,
those offerings should be in addition to the
Sabbath offerings, and o;Saer sacrifices. 40
Goodlv trees: citron and ornamental trees.
AZ. Dwel IN booths: in Jerusalem these
booths were built in the courtyards Of tho
houses, or on the roofs, or In the streets. 43.
The remembrance was not Of their troubles,
but Of Gods mercies in carrying them safe
ly through the wilderness.
THANKSGIVING oDAYs--Thanksgiving Days,
we see, are no modern innovation, but as
old as the visible Kingdom of God. Every
Nation needs them. But they should be
filled with religious fervor. They should be
days of religion as we'll as of festivity.
Sometimes ministers help to degrade the
day, and keep people from public worship
by preaching " secular" sermons, not tend
ing to increase the grateful spirit Blessed
are those who have social and family fes-
tive days filed with u religious spirit Thus,
too, every Christian should take special
pains TO attend some OF the great religious
gatherings OF the church every year. There
Will DO lack in the spiritual life Of every
person who rails TO experience the social
blessing, the enthusiasm, the Heavenly ex-
perience OF such assemblies.
CoMMENTs-Of all the feasts Of the jew
ish year, undoubtedly the Feast Of Tabor
nacles was the most popular among the
children; for 1t was kind OF prolonged re-
ligious picnic. Imagine how they must have
looked forward to it through the whole
year. For at that time the whole nation
gathered at the holy city, and there made
for themselves booths, in which they lived
for whole week. The very making Of
these booths must have been "nuts" for
the little ones. II our children rejoice as
they do over one evening with the Christ
'.-'e ~-~SSe Si-~ SAAAASA SAA
have thought of week spent in dwelling in
leafy bowers, visiting each other, compar-i
ing tho relative merits OF their handwork,
ana rejoicing IN the cessation OF labor which
that ieast gave them! Jerusalem never
looked 30 Wen Us IL did during That week,
Ior tne streets' squares, house-tops' We're
al niied WIN tnese powers, ana the town
gave itseii over toreJoicihg without stint
What was the real significance OF the Feast
OF Tabernacles' 1t was O feast OF thanks
giving. Israel was to rejoice before the
Lord during that whole week. Something
like our National Thanksgiving 1t was, only
with Tar more interesting surroundings.
During that week the lsraelites were to.
recall the goodness Of God to them, and to-
praise Him for all the benefits they had
received. In this way they would be helped
to keep alive the sense OF gratitude they
owed to God, and the fact that from Him
they received all that they enjoyed. ut
Is good thing to give thanks unto the
Lord" II we fail in this duty, we are very
apt to forget that 1t Is from Him that all
our blessings come. On this account the
Psalmist warns US to bless the Lord, and
Iorget not al his Denents." II the Jew
h,ass;nns nnS " W. IN. ;UI;u,a,, ~ % ,,.. maal ns
;nvsd bn ,uas oura 80 raoa;ua q 'Is h,ass;nr Tu
|y |;wst. w maS - e. s,rs ro'e,vTa e', esSs Msn
the least a tbanl.fnI beart that taste. tho.e
yifts WITH low ;,
Let the teacher .a,, for thu variou. cau.e.
Of gratitude that the alass wi,, Give him IN
the spot. AS thev come in. write them
down. When ali have given what occurs to
them, begin to talk about them, with view
Of letting the scholars sec how they range,