Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-09-11
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
September T..
Subjects: Loving and 0beying God, Deut. XXX,
ll.2O-GoIden Text. John VI, 3-
Memory Verses, Is, 10 Com.
mentary on Days
Lesson.

Lesson.
IL. "This commandment" This refers
to what Moses had just been telling them;
The great commandment Of loving and
obeying God, which is the sum of the law.
"Is not hidden" Rather, is not too diff,
cult for thee. Jehovah has not imposed
upon His people conditions impossible OF
fulGlment, nor are His requirements difil-
cult of comprehension. The will OF God,
which is but darkly manifested to other
nations (Acts II: ~, is clearl y revealed
unto thee; thou canst not pretend lgnor-
ance. Heather oracles are shrouded in
mystery. but the commands of God are
simple and duty is clear. See lisa. As: 49,
"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
inv for Himself but asks it as q religious
duty that man should render to man what
is risht--that his will lies not in any UNI
known height, but i'll the moral sphere
which is known and understood by all.
u, ID. Not in heaven-neither beyond
the sea-" The law of loving and obeying
God was we'll known to the lsraelites. IL
was not concealed in heaven, for it had
been revealed. They were not under the
necessity of undertaking long journeys or
distant voyages as many ancient sages ana
in quest Of knowledge. The apostle Paul
(Rom. 10: G-S) has applied this passage TO
the gospel, for the law, OF Christ IS sup
stantialiy the same as that OF Moses, only
exhibited more clearly in the spiritual ma
turc and extensive application, and accom-
panied with the advantage OF gospel grace,
is practicable and easy. 1t Is needless tor
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. /. Lovingly. =: Distinctly.
8. Authoritatively. And do it,. 1t IS
practicable The word is clear and its OBJ
legations are not beyond our power to tul.
fiji. TO know is not enough; we must
checrlully do what is commanded
II, as very nigh" 1t is accessible. l.
1t is not shut up beyond our reach, but de-
Hvcred and Published i'll our bearing. =.
1t is not distant from us to be brought
from far off lands. but it is night. The
anxious follower after righteousness Is not
disappointed by an impractlcable code, nor
Knocked by all unintelligiblc revelation.
I'm thy mouth" The law is made plain,
so that he that runncth may read; thy
priests lips keep this knowledge. and when
difficulties arise it may be heard at their
mouth. Nal. :: 7. 1t is communicated to
thee in familiar language, so that 1t can
be talked of among thy children. in thy
heart" In the heart for our personal sa!,,
walton, in the mouth for Gods glory and
the salvation of others. In the heart and
not in the mouth is cowardcc; IN the
mouth and not in the heart is hypocrisy.
The gospel believed is Il fountain IN the
heart; the gospel confessed is the streams
through the mouth.
Is. set before thee The law had
been clearly and concisc'y stated. They
had the alternative of Il good and happy,
or q disobedicnt and miserable life. Life
and DEATH Obedience to Gods com
mandments leads to life. disobedicncc leads
to death Prev II: 70. 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.
lG. To lose the Lord" etc. In this
verse we have the whole of true religion.
Matt %: 81; Cor ID: As. He that has
this love in his heart has the fountain and
source Of all virtue. 1t is to the lie what
the handspring IS to watch, what foun-
tain is to "A stream, what the soul is to the
body, what the two olive trees OF Iecha-
riah'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 vcX 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, "MayeI,tt
live" etc. All temporal blessings as well
as spiritual good follow as Il reward for
right doing.
II. Turn away" Through a love of
the world Jas. 4: s; John .: Is. World
illness, pride, pleasure seeking. ease forget
fulncss of God, luxury these have drawn
away many souls and brought upon them
the curse of 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 liccntous and wicked practices which
were INDUCED in.
IS. "Surcly perish" The punishment OF
the wicked is inevitable. "'rhc wages of
sin is death" There is no respect Of per
sons with God, His laws are established
and Interchangeable. )er, Is: 40; Gal. s:
T. s; Pisa. 81: 90; Prov. 9; 33. "Not pro.
long" etc. Pisa. So: %. The excuses and
SINFUL indulgencics of the wicked bring
them to an untimely end. Sin destroys the
sinner.
10. Heaven and earth to witness (R.
W Here are two great witnesses. God
and the hosts of heaven are called upon to
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 it. There
fore choose life" |. Man is free to choose.
God has made him so. He alone is rcspon-
sihlc for deciding with regard to his ctcr-
nal welfare. 2. He is urged to choose lie.
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. 1t is either life or
death with us, heaven or hell. T. The dc
cison should be made without delay.
Choose We this day whom We will serve"
Chou and thy seed" In a very important
sense parents are responsible to God for
their children Children should be taught
to obey and honor their parents, and to
haye respect and reverence for sacred
things
90. "Cleave unto Him" Notice the
three steps: Love, obey, cleave. Without
close attachment and perseverance, tempo
rary love, however sincere and fcrvent,
temporary obedience, however disintGrest-
ed, energetic and pure, while it lasts, will
be ultimately Intellectual. He alone who
endures to the end shall be saved. "lle is
thy life" He gives life, preserves life, re-
stores life and prolongs it by His power.
lie gives physical, spiritual and eternal
life. He is the author of all life.