The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-18
Paint Manufacture
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Nov. 10, 1S99-Nehemiah will, 1-12-
Public Reading Of Scriptures.

Upon the stone pavement in the great plaza In
jerusalem a great throng was seated in the gray
of the morning. 1t has been variously estimated
at between 10000 and 5000. Parents have
brought their children in hopes that the scene
will be caught on the sensitive plate OF memory
Over there the gate through which the
Gibeonites fetched water for use in the temple
Behind them was the temple itself-monument of
the pious zeal Of the returned exies; inclosing
all, the walls. completed only seven days before;
in the midst. rude wooden platform, such as We
sec at our modern hustings. In obedience
to the note of the silver trumpet, this uncommon
multitude had gathered at the feast Of the new
moon, at the opening OF the seventh month
crowded with its sacred festivals. And the peo-
pie OF their own accord. having premonition
that the voice of prophecy would cease, and that
they stood on the edge Of the silent centuries had
requested that they might hear the written word
Ezra, the second Moses. the second founder Of
the Jewish state, assembled the wooden pulpit, ac-
companied by thirteen of the most influential
Levtes. Just as the sun rose he held aloft the
yellow scroll. AS before the sun the darkness of
nature rolled back so the lamp of the word was
about to remove the darkness Of their minds-a
darkness intensified by the captivity and subse-
Quent neglect.
At sight OF the Book Of the Law the people rose
in token of their reverence. No doubt, Ezra
held up the hand-written volume he uttered an
exclamation of praise to God that out OF the
wreck Of the past this treasure had been pre-
served. How many have used the very language
David did on the occasion of the peoples gen.
crosby toward the temple building fund: Blessed
be thou Lord God OF Israel, our Father, forever
and ever!'' a hundred thousand hands went up
toward heaven and fifty thousand tongues raised
the response, Amen! Ameni'
Now the vast audience composed itself 10 listen
to the reading of the law. The ears OF all the
people We're attentive unto the book. There was
rapt, devout, sympathetic listening. And this
coed listening was matched by equally good read
ing. No wonder il is said Ezra read distinctly.
No one was better qualified to do so. He had
edited the whole Bible. had gathered the scat
tered books and completed the canon. He had
weighed and marked every word. He could give
each sentence it's correct infection. Then, too, 1t
with him a task OF love. He might have ex-
claimed with David: 20 how l love thy law I.
How sweet are the words unto my taste! Yea,
sweeter than honey to my MOUTH Love gave a
sweetness to his accent that carried the word to
the heart.
There are those who believe the Jews lost their
language during the captivity: that they returned
talking Chaldee. So, as Ezra read in Hebrew it
was necessary for the Leytes to translate. Others
say they only gave the synonyms Of the archaic
Hebrew words; others still, that they gave run
ming comment on what was read, and that this
is what is meant by they gave the sense and
caused them to understand the reading" We
may never know with certainty how il was, and
indeed, il is comparatively unimportaEt.
In this affecting finds the original of
the form OF worship OF the synagogue. When
a
did just what Ezra did. He took the SCROLL He
held 1t a moment. doubt while He blessed the
Father for fits gift. while the people responded
Amen and ameni" Then He read passage and
expounded IL. That is what His disciples did in
the synagogues of Palestine and Asia Minor.
Here also is the germ from which the form of
Christian worship has been evolved. The princi-
pal part in CLristian worship is the elevation OF
the word OF God in the reverence. affection and
understanding of the people; its explanation. IL
lustration and enforcement; its application TO ma
tional. domestic and individual life.
On that memorable day the Jews tested their
national character by the standard Of Gods word
As Ezra read the law aloud they applied IL faith
fully They found their minds very blank as TO
what the Lord required or them, and all through
their negligence They found they knew little or
nothing 10 the feasts and fasts prescribed
They were convicted Of their sins OF omission and
commission They went 10 their knees In honest
confession and humiliation. They mourned and
wept. That day they recognized their national
life on the basis OF the Bible. Doing that they
accomplished something more important than the
building OF the temple or the rearing OF the walls
They sought and obtained an infusion OF national
spiritual life, without which the temple would
have been an empty shell.
Analysis
!. An Historic Scene-(D Place: Plaza In JerI-
salem.
% Time: First OF seventh month. b. c. as
CD Occasion: Feast OF the new moon or trump
cts; beginning OF civil year.
IL An Historic Concourse-(I) The reading OF
the law requested.
20 Ezra's compliance.
90 Qualifications as reader: familiarity and
CD Good listening.
90 Levitical translation or exposition. which
or both?
III An Historic Type-D or synagogue wor-
ship.
CD OF Christian worship.
~. An Historic Consequence-National reor-
ganization Ga Bible basis.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
Nations should test their character and conduc,
by the standard Of the Scriptures. The Decaiogue
forms a handy epitome for the purpose. Finding
themselves at angle with the plummst- line OF