Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-09-30
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON i FoURTH QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES. OCT. I.

Comments by VIM. *. Fsshsr--Studies in
the Old Testam@nt--Subiecss Joy in Gods
House, PISA. f2e, Golden Text: was
clad When They Said Unto Ate. Let Us
Tn his suggestions to teachers, Pelou.
bet says. This psalm was probably Sc
leoted by the committee as a fitting in
production of the restoration OF the
people to their country, their religious
services and their city, which work Is
the subject for our lessons for tbs
qharter.
The hymn may well have been sung
at the dedication OF the temple, which
we saw completed in our last regular
lesson.
The Book OF Psalms was the Hebrew
hymnaI-the Book of Praises 1T is
divided into five books, ending with
Psa. IL. ~, 80. 100 and 100. each OF
which closes with some form Of the
benediction-'A and Amen, Bless
ed be the Lord for evermore.'
When we remember that many of
the Psalms were composed to be ac-
companied by various musical instru-
ments. we can clearly see that the
word ..Selah" which occurs so fire.
quently and which mas caused so many
to ask. What does il meanT may
either signify a repeat or may mean.
as others think. an interlude. when the
musical Instruments were TO be played
alone
Psalm i22 is one of the fifteen t120
to 134 inclusivel each OF which Is tn.
authorized version. "A song of De
greeS," and in the revised version, "A
Song OF Accents" while others trans
late songs Of Jigoings," Pilgrim
Psalms" and tue Travellers Hymn
Book /"
NJ. Il. Vincent says: "srhese Psalms
are among the most charming portion
of the Psalter, full Of deep and tender
feeling simple and graceful in struc-
ture, so that Spanish writer has said
that this collection Ii TO the rest of the
Psalms what paradise WAS to the rest
of the world its nrst creation
1.-THE best modern scholars refer the
word degrees or ascents' to the sue
cessive stages Of the pilgrimage which
the Jews We're accustomed to make
thrice every year 10 the temple on
Mount Zion. On such journeys it would
be natural to begrlile the tedium OF the
way, by the singing of familiar bal
lards, and we may feel quite sure that
we have here brief collection of the
popular songs which Were used in this
way."-(Henry Van Dyke.)
Having. from the above, gained some
views Of the Psalms in David's day let
lis endeavor TO make some practical
''present-time'' applications of the
Psalm which we have for our lesson
1. II was glad when they said unto
me. Let us go into the house of the
Lord
Going into the house Of the Lord
should always cause gladness. The
mere going to church because we have
been trained to do so, or because we
feel 1t our duty, or for fear if we are
not in our usual place the pastor will
inquire the reason, is not the kind OF
church going that will cause gladness
to come to our hearts, nor is it pleas
ing to God He wants us TO love him
so much that we will delight in going
into the house of the Lord"
2 ..Our feet shall stand within thy
gates"
We rejoice that the time has come
when we neither in this mountain.
nor yet in Jerusalem. worship the
Father" but we also rejoice in the fact
that while we are ''the temples of the
Holy Ghost we also have churches
our spiritual observation-disclosures we
gather to mingle our voices in prayer
and praise and have broken unto us
the Bread of Life
3. Jerusalem is bulded as city
that is compact together"
Compact either in contrast with the
4
lagos" PeloubeD. or because there
are no more waste places. no more
are no more waste places.
Our Jerusalem should also be COM
pet together not like some one said of
certain congregation. They are as
one: indeed, so cold that they are froz-
en- together" With the love of God in
our hearts we should be melted To-
gether," "one in faith and doctrine,
one in charity"
4. whittier the tribes go mp. the
tribes of the Lord. into the testimony
of Israel. to give thanks unto the name
of the LORD"
1t was a part of the divine system
for them to go up to Jerusalem tas the
revised version has III for testi-
mony unto Israeli They could have
was for them 10 do this. and they did
it, We praise God always, and in
every thing give thanks. We also de-
light to meet with others and Join with
them in Christian worship. Some say
that they can live without the church.
That may he true: they can live better
with IT, We can see that she Is ham
pered in her onward march by the in
constituencies of some of her members.
but with all their faults we love her
still"
;. ''For there are set thrones of judg-
ment. the thrones of the house of
David
Jerusalem was the civil and religious
metropolis. Justice. righteousness. the
hatred oppression. all wrong of every
kind, are the characteristics of the true
city of God"
6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem;