Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-03-03
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOE
FEBRUARY 20.
Lesson Texs: Reading the Law,
Neh. wiz, 1-12-Golden Texa
Psalm cxix., 1S-Com-
ment2ry.

to bring the book OF the Law of Mos
which the Lord had commanded 70 Israel.
The temple had been finished, and also tn,
building of the wall, and though the city
was large and houses and people few. We
they would without further delay seek d
worship the God Of Israel according TO His
law. The water gate was toward the east
Cii., 26), and therefore near the temple. 70,
the temple was at the east Of the city. facins
the Mount of Olives. Ezra was a raadv
scribe In the Law of Moses, for he had ORE,
pared his heart to sesk and to do and to
teach the Law Of the Lord in Israel ZEE. vii
6, 10.
2. "And Ezra, the priest brought the
law before the congregation upon the first
day of the seventh month" This was the
regular day for the feast Of Srumpets Lev.
xiii, a., to be followed on the tenth dav
by the great atonement and on the fifteanth
day by the feast of tabernacles LEV. xiii.
"a, 34. The priest was the MESSENGER of
the Lord Of Hosts, keeping knowledge that
the people might seek the Law at his mouth
tMal. IL, =, and Ezra was by his applica-
ton to the study of the Law qualified to
teach the people,
3. And he read therein from the morn
ing until midday, and the ears of all the
people were attentive unto the book OF the
Law" l wonder how many of an audiences
he would have in our day at the end OF the
second or third hour. a political speech or
a concert or something Of that sort is all
rignt, even If it is two hours long. but a
sermon or Bible reading must be within
the limits of propriety, for too much Of re.
hglon las they say is uncomfortable. One
can read novel a whole day, but a chap
ter in the Bible is often more than enough.
4. And Ezra, the SCRIBE stood upon q
pulpit of wood, which they had made for
the purpose" Elevated above the people
that all might see, as well as hear. he is sup
ported by thirteen Of his brethren, six on his
right and seven on his left hand but have
no doubt that the Unseen One who said to
Moses, "Certainly will be- with thee" said
to Joshua. "As was with Moses, so I will
be with thee. and to Gideon, Surely will
be with thee" Eek ill.,, II; Josh. l.. 5: Judg.
vi, To-, was far more to Ezra than the breth-
rem who were by his SIDE.
D. And Ezra opened the book in the sight
or all the people (for he was above all the
people,, and when he opened it all the peo-
pie stood up" With great reverence he un-
rolled the scroll of the Law. and with rever-
ence the people stood up to hear what the
Lord, their God, would say to them. We
90 not worship the Bible, but we worship
Him who is therein revealed to us as our
God and Saviour, and when we open our
Bibles to read the words of the living God
we should do so with great humility.
b. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great
God, and they bowed their heads and wor
SHIPPED the Lord with their faces to the
ground" IT they all meant it in their
hearts, then it was true worship; but if any
bowed the body only without bowling the
heart before God. then He did not regard
II, for, though His eyes run to and fro
throughout the whole earth to show Himself
strong on behalf of those whose hearts are
perfect toward Him III Chron. xvi, 81, He
loOketh on the heart and not on the out
ward appearance & Sam. XIV, y.
Z. And the Levites caused the people to
understand the law" Another thirteen are
here mentioned who with the Levites caused
the people to understand. To read is good:
to understand is better. After one Of His
one ooes not understand the word the
wicked one catcneth it away, He asked the
disciples, "Have ye understood all these
thlngs? (Math. xiii, -, 51.) When Philip
drew near to the chariot OF the Ethiopian
eunuch his first question was, ''Under-
standest thou what thou readest% (Acts
Will, 3O.) If one should ask, Glow can I
understand? L should reply, Through faith
we understand" deb. XII, 9; iv, p. Re
celve 1t unquestioningly, and thus under
stand.
s. so they read the book in the Law of
God. distinctly, and gave the sense, and
caused them to understand the reading"
Inns is the best rule for good reading that I
nave ever seen. Legible writing and dis
tinct reading are two very helpful things.
Moses and habakkuk were told to write very
plainly Oeut. xvii, 8; Hab. H., q, and /
believe the whole Bible to be a plain book
for plain people who are willing to let the
Holy Spirit be their teacher
9. This day IS holy unto the Lord, your
God; mourn not nor wesp." The law.
which is holy and just and good, convinces
us of sin AMI gives occasion to weep. but
Jesus who is the end of the law for right.
eousness to every one that believeth, teaches
US when we receive Him not to weep. as
we'll we might, because Of our sin, but to re-
joice in HIM who became curse for us and
Is righteous IaI
Cor. ", 81; Rom. K, d. The section OF
this chapter hich follows our lesson brings
before us the feast of tabernacles. and as
atonenent came between trumpets and tab
ernacles we seem face to face here with
atOnement and its result.
IL. The joy of the Lord is your strength"
How passing wonderful is the grace of God,
which not Only takes away our sins. but
gives us His Joy to be our strength He be
comes our salvation, our strength and our
song lisa XII, p, so that it becomes US tc
say, II will greatly rejoice in the Lord
Ny soul shall be joyful in my God, for HI
hath clothed me with the garments of sal
walton, He hath covered me with the robe
of Righteousness" lisa. Xxi, 1O.
II. SO the Levites stilled all the people
saying, Hold your peace for the day is holy
neither be ye grieved." Stiffness, peace
holiness joy, all because of. the love Of God tc
US in the gift of His dear Son Whether it be
passover or pentecest or atonement, what
ever the feast or the sacrifice each and al
speak of Him. Apart from Him all is death
but in Him all is life and peace Il John v.
u; Eph. ii. ~.
II. Great nirth because they had under
stood the words that were declared unto
them" And they understood because they
received them. 1t made Jesus SO glad be-
cause His disciples received His words that
he mentioned it to HIS Father in His great
prayer, saying, az have given unto them the
words which Thou gavest Me, and they have
T1d1 @,