Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-09-13
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lessen Comments Fer
September
Su:icct:: Loving and 0b:y.ng God. Dsl:. XXX,
ll-20-Goiden Tex. Jch1 ". 3
Memory Verses. Is. I0'Com.
msn.ary on Days
Lesson.


H. This commandment" This refer:
to what Moses had just been telling them.
The great commandment OF loving anc
obeying God, which is the sum OF the law.
is not hidden" Rather, is rot too diff.
cult for thee. Jehovah has not imposed
upon His people conditions impossible OF
fuifilment, nor are His requirements diff.
cult of comprehension. the will of God,
which is but darkly manifested to other
nations (Acts Il: 27), is clearly revealed
unto thee; thou cansr rot pretend iSno:-
ance. Heather orac!es are shrouded IN
mystery. but the commands of God are
simple and duty is Gear. See lisa. -: ~.
Neither is it far off" Nowhere does the
fundamental religious thought of prophecy
find clearer expression than IN Deuterono.
my-the thought that Jehovah asks moth
ing FOR Himself but asks it as 4 religious
duty that man should render to man what
is right-that his will lies not in any UNI
known height, but in the moral sphere
which is known and understood by all.
II, Is. NO: in heaveE-neither beyond
the sea-" The law of loving and oheying
God was well known to the Israeites 1t
was not concealed in heaven, for it had
been revealed. Ihey were not under the
necessity of undertaking long journeys or
distant voyages. Is maIy ancient sages did
in quest of knowledge. The apostle Paul
from. 10: c-S) has applied this passage to
the gospel, for the law OF Christ is sub
stantially the same as that or Moses, only
exhibited more clearly in the spiritual ma
ture and extensive application. and accom-
panied with the advantage OF gospel grace,
is practicable and easy. II is needless for
man to search for what is made known.
We need not climb the sky nor cross the
sea. May hear it." God speaks to His
people through the prophets and through
the gospel. /: LoTing!y., >; Distinctly.
practicable The word is clear and its OBJ
legations are not beyond our power to full
fiji. To know is not enough; we must
cheerfuliy do what Is commanded.
II. rs very nigh" l. is accessible. l.
1t is not shut up beyond oar reach, but de-
livered and published in oar hearing. ,.
1t is not distant from Us to be brought
from far of lands, but it is night. The
anxious follower after righteousness is not
disappointed by an imp-actica5,e code nor
Knocked by an unintelGsib.e revelation.
In thy mouth The law is made plain,
so that ne that runneth may read; thy
priests lips keep this knowledge. and when
difficulties arise it may be heard az their
mouth. Nal. ,: 7. II is communicated TO
thee in a familiar language, 80 that ii can
be talked of among thy children. In thy
walton, in the mouth for Gods glory and
the salvation Of others. IN the heart and
not in the mouth is cowardice: in the
mouth and not in the heart Is hypocrisy.
The gospel believed is fountain in the
heart; the gospel confessed is the streams
through the mouth.
Is. Set before thee The law had
been clearly and concise,y stated. They
had the alternative of good and happy,
or a disobedient and miserable life. Lie
and death" Obedience TO Gods COM
mandments leads to life. disobedience leads
to death. Prov. IL: 10. True life consists
in union with Christ the source OF all
life; it implies all present and future good.
Death is a separation and Punishment from
God and implies present and future misery.
10. TO love the Lord etc. In this
verse we have the whole of true religion.
Matt. %: 81; Cor. Is: IS. He that hiss
this love in his heart has the fountain and
source of all virtue. 1t is to the life what
the handspring Is to a watch, what . foun-
tain is TO stream, what the soul is to the
body, what the two olive trees of Zecha-
rian's vision were to the lamps they fed.
1t is the work of Christianity first OF all to
implant this principle of love in the heart.
and when this is done all the great practi-
cal questions which vex the world will be
settled, the difficulties will be removed.
and the wrongs destroyed. walk in His
ways" Gods ways are safe. pleasant and
attractive. Our duty is laid down; we
must walk" This will require repeated
and constant effort on our part. "Mayest
live" etc. All temporal blessings as well
as spiritual good follow as reward for
right doing.
IL Turn away" Through love OF
the world. Jas. /: S; John ,: Is. World
illness, pride, pleasure seeking, ease. forget
fulness OF God, luxury-these have drawn
away" many souls and brought upon them
the curse o; God. Not hear" Not heed.
or pay attention to the commandments Of
God. 'Other gods" The gods OF the
heather. Serve them" BY entering into
the Ecentious and wicked practices which
were INDUCED in.
IS. Surrey perish The punishment OF
sons with God. His laws are established
and Interchangeable. Jer. Is: 10: Gal. 6:
Z, S; Psa. 81: 20; Prov g: 3S Not pro-
long etc. Psa. 50: %. The excuses ana
sinful indulgencies of the wicked bring
them to an untimely end. Sin destroys the
sinner.
10. Heaven and earth to witness" fR.
VI Here are two great witnesses. God
and the hosts of heaven are called upon II
testify that every provision has been made
for mans salvation. and life is freely Of
fered. Earth is also called upon TO wit
ness to Gods love and mercy in faithfully
providing salvation, and then warning man
OF his danger in not accepting il. There
fore choose life" l. Man is free to choose
God has made him So He alone is respon.
sible for deciding with regard t. his eter-
nal welfare. .. He is urged to choose life
God commends His love, claims our love.
commands us to love, and only by loving
Him can we live. 3. Our decision admits
of but one alternative. II is either life or
death with US, heaven or hell l. The de-
cision should be made without DELAY.
Choose We this day whom we will serve"
Thou and thy seed In very important
sense parents are responsible to Cod Tor
their children. Children should be taught
to obey and honor their parents. and 10
haye respect and reverence for sacred
things.
90. "Cleave unto Hin" Notice the
three steps: Love, obey, cleavc. Without
close attachment and perseverance, tempo
rary love, however sincere and fcrvent.
temporary obedience, however disintereSt-
ed, energetic and pure, while it lasts, will
be ultimately Intellectual. He alone who
endures 20 the end shall he saved. He IS
thy life" He gives life, preserves life re-
stores life and prolongs it by His power.
He gives physical. spiritual and eternal
life. He is the author OF all life