Middletown transcript., 1899-11-18
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON WI, FOURTH QUARTER, IN
TERNATloNAL SERIES, NOV 10.

Text OF the Lesson. Eeh. viii, 1-12.
Efemcfy Verses, 1-3- Golden Text,
Nch- wifi. documentary Frcl,nred
by the Ecv. Q. ii. stenrns.
copyright. 1899. by D. IL. Stearns.1
1. al the people as one man spake un-
TO Ezra, tic scribe. to bring the book Of
the law Of Moses, which the Lord had
commanded to Israel. When the wall
was built and watches appointed, Nehe-
nliah gathered mobiles, rulers and people,
that he might ascertain by the register of
the genealcgy who were truly of Israel
tchaptcr vii, 1-ta. and some who professed
to be what they were not had to be put
away wi, G4). 1t was after that they
gathered as one man to hear the Word.
2. And E.rp, the priest, brought the
law before the congregation upon the
Elst day of the seventh month. Ezra
was q ready scribe in tine law Of Moses
and had prepared his heart to seek the
law Of the Lord and to do it and to teach
it in Israel, and tie hand of the Lord his
(!cd was upon him Ezra vii, 6, 10). The
seventh month was in some respects the
greatest month in the year to Israel, as
pets, on the tenth day the annual atone
nlent, and on the fifteenth day began the
feast Of tabelnacles Uev. xiii, "a, q,
34). The trumpets, whether made of sill
rer or rams horns, suggested atonement,
@ld there are no names written in heav-
cn, nor is there any real love for His
Word, without atonement.
8. They had long sessions, for from
morning until midday he read therein be-
fore all who could understand, and they
were all attention. Then day by day,
from the first day unto the last day Of
the feast of tabernacles. he read to the
people from the book of the law of God
(yerse 18). l am rot surprised at their
interest, for / see hundreds CT people
come together at all haurs Of tie day, 10,
1890. 11:30, 2. 2:30. $50. $50 and 1870,
and sit unwearied II listen to simple
Bible readings lastin., al hour or an hour
aad a half, and nothing IN the form of
solo, duet, quartet or special music Of
any kind to enteIta::. .i.a.a The sama
interest manifested by rich and poor il
our great cities of New York. Phil2del
phia. Baltimore aH,l Washington as IL
smaller and less busy CITIES, for the W0Tl
CT God reaches and S;;tis..irs the heart
4. There were 13 rar beside him us lie
stood before the people. six on his right
hand and seven on has left hand, Il double
perfect number in ali, bearing perfect
testimony to perfect word. hut TIE nest
important person in all the gathering
was He who said, = c.tIiniy | will be
with thee" (Ex. iii, ~: 10. h::;i i. 3; Judg
vi, 16), and long afterward He said that
r1-bn nr in
His name He would be In the midst
(AIath. xviii, 20).
3. As he opened the book all the people
stood up and In that way manifested
their reverence. for Him whose voice they
We're about to hear through the mouth of
Ezra. Thus also did the congregation
When Solomon blessed them Il Kings,
viii. ~
s. With heartfelt responses, uplifted
hands and bowed heads the people wor-
SHIPPED the Lord. He looks for those who
VIII vuiShip Him in spirit and In truth
tJoku IN. 23. 24), and all else is vain. He
spe:lks of those who draw nigh with their
mouth and honor with their lips, while
thci:' Lcait is fur from Him and their fear
toward Him taught by precept of men
Isa xxx. f3), but all such are abomina-
tio2 to Isip1. A life t.at is a continual
"tAis-c;i" 20 God is life of true worship
AM Il vay Christlikc Math. ii, &c.
7. S. Ea:e are again IL names of men
G-...o vi !! tie Levites caused the people
to u.dci, tand the Law. Believers should
rtre; manifest any superstitious fear Of
this hoaaable number, 1t was as Israel
cc!n::a.: J the walls of Jericho the thir-
.eeE;ll ti..p tnat the walls fell. 1t sug-
gests ":t:x'ngth mad" perfect in weak
ness, IL seven is Gal's strength or per-
fccti,a and six is mans weakness lisa. !
Il. -; II Cor. XII, 81. The word of God |
is ptaii..!.;; written Q1eut. xvii, s; Hab. |
il, q. th2t any one who believes it |
nay IL l., Gods WHY'S, and the way to |
;iniic:;i. q ii is Simply to believe it and |
RECEIVE il. with meekness Heb. xi, 3; |
Jamt i. III. Lear MIR. Wilkinson says, |
IF t..c E.aiii. obvious sense makes coed
sense, seek no other sense" and another
bar said. The Bible WIS not made for
wise Lien. but for fools" and if we are
simple enough to believe it all just as we
read It we viii certainly be counted fool
LII Is the wise of this world. Let it be
SO. G:id let MS be glad to be fools for
christs sake. know no better rule for
coed reading than this eighth verse.
0. This day is holy unto the Lord
your God: mourn not nor weep" As
they heard the words of the law they
wept. for the Spirit wrought, convincing
them Of their sin before God, and where
here ii true repentance there Is comfort
from Jehovah. for there is forgiveness
with Him and plenteoGs redemption. His
,wn words are "Comfort ye. comfort ye,
ny people; cry unto her that her iniquity
S pardoned" lisa. xl. l. ~. See also lisa.
Iliii, %.
10. "The joy OF the Lord is your
strength" Not cnly are we to rejoice in
he Lord lisa. Xxi. 10: Hab. iii, IS; Phil.
ii, 81, but we are TO have the joy of the
Lord (John xv. II; xvi, 81; xvii, 13). This
vas not joy in circumstances or feel
ngs, but in God Himself, even as when
lie said, 81 delight to do Thy will. D my
1od," and Even so, Father, for SO it
eemed good in Thy sight" FPS. xl, 8;
1ath. xi, 25, 26). He delighted to give
y the sacrifice of Himself the grace Of
sod to all who would receive Him.
IL. Hold your peace, for the day is
oly; neither be re grieved." Not hold
our peace from giving good testimony,
ut from mourning and weeping when
1
hanks. He chcse us in Christ before the
oundation Of the world that we should
e holy and without blame before Him
! love and hath blessed us with all spir-
.ual blessings in Christ that we should
e to the praise of His glory Eph. 1, 8.
12l.
IL "Great mirth, because they had
the words that were declared =
nto them" Months are filed with laugh ,
II and tongaes with singing when we
0nsidcr how great things the Lord hath
one for us FPS. cxxvb 2. 81. There Is no
~ and peace like that which comes by 4
elieving rom. xv, 13). a letter receiT-
only today from member Of one of
le Bible classes contains this testimony: :
Sometimes It seemed must shout aloud
y Joy over the verses ron gave us, and
fter left the class time and time again al
felt as though had been on the up So
nds and breathing the very air frSn
aaven." In