The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-11-17
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VIII, FOURTH QUARTER, IN
TERNATIONAL SERIES, NOV 10.

by the Rev. ID. Nj. Stenrns.
copyright, 1899. by d. M. stearns.1
/. All the people as one man spake I'M
to Ezra, the 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 genealogy who were truly of Israel
(chapter vii, 100, and some who professed
to be what they were not had to be put
away (vii, CD. 1t was after that they
gathered as one man to hear the Word.
2. And Ezra, the priest brought the
law before the congregation upon the
first day of the seventh month. Ezra
was ready scribe in the 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 the hand of the Lord his
God was upon him Ezra vii, 6, l0). The
seventh month was in some respects the
greatest month in the year to Israel, as
on the first day came the feast of trum
pets, on the tenth day the annual atone
ment, and on the fifteenth day began the
feast of tabernacles LEV. xiii, "a, 81,
84). The trumpets, whether made of sill
yer or rams horns, suggested atonement,
and there are no names written in heav-
en-, nor is there any real love for His
Word without atonement.
g. They had long sessions, for from
rnornng 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
Verse 18). | am not surprised at their
interest, for | see hundreds of people
come together at all hours of the day, 10.
1880, 80 2. 2:30 $3.50, 4:30 and 1880,
and sit unwearied to listen to simple
Bible readings lasting an hour or an hour
and half, and nothing in the form of
solo, duet, quartet or special music. of
any kind to entertain them. The same
interest manifested by rich and poor in
our great cities of New York, Philadel-
phia, Baltimore and Washington as in
smaller and less busy cities, for the Word
of God reaches and satisfies the heart.
4. There were u men beside him as he
stood before the people, six on his right
hand and seven on his left hand, double
perfect number in all, bearing perfect
testimony to a perfect word, but the most
important person in all the gathering
was He who said, "Certainly | will be
with thee" (Ex. ill., 10 Joshua i, 81 Judg.
VII 16), and long afterward tie said that
wherever two or three would gather in
His name He would be in the midst
(Math xviii, POI
5. AS he opened the book all the people
stood up and in that way manifested
their reverence for Him whose voice they
were about to hear through the mouth of
Ezra. Thus also did the congregation
when Solomon blessed them Il Kings.
viii IA
6. With heartfelt responses, uplifted
hands and bowed heads the people wor-
SHIPPED the Lord. He looks for those who
will worship Him in spirit and in truth
(John iv, %, %, and all else is vain. He
speaks of those who draw nigh with their
mouth and honor with their lips, while
their heart is far from Him and their fear
toward Him taught by precept of men
lisa. xxx, 49,, but all such are abomina-
ton to Him. A life that is continual
'Amen" to God is life of true worship
and is very Chrstlike. Math. ri, &c.
Z, 8. Here are again Is names of men
who with the Levites caused the people
to understand the law. Believers should
never manifest any superstitious fear of
TINS honorable number. IL was as lsrael
comprised the walls OF Jeflcho the thlr-
teenth time that the walls fell. 1t sug-
gests strength made perfect In weak
ness" for seven is Gods strength or per-
lection and six is mans weakness lisa.
xl, %; ii Cor xii, %. The word of God
Is plainly written Q)eut. xvii, .; Hab.
ii, y. so that any one who believes it
may run III Gods ways, and the way to
understand It IS simply to believe it and
receive it with meekness (fieb. xi, 3;
James i. 2ll. Lear Mr. Wilkinson says,
IF the plain obvious sense makes good
sense, seek no other sense and another
has said, The Bible was not inade for
wise men, but for fools and If we are
simple enough TO believe IT all just as we
read it we will certainly he counted fool
ish by the wise of this world. Let it be
so, and let us be glad to be fools for
Christ's sake. ! know no better rule for
good reading than this eighth verse.
8. "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
there is true repentance there is comfort
from Jehovah, for there is forgiveness
with Him and plenteous redemption. His
own words are "Colnfort We, comfort We,
my people; cry unto her that her iniquity
is pardoned" lisa. ri. l, y. See also lsa.
xiii, %.