The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-07-12
SUNDAY-SCHOOL
LESSON FOR JULY l3
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
DUTIES TO GOD.
Elk. xx:1-11.
BY REV. J. r. GILBERT. D. D.

4
three months after leaving Egypt (Ex-
odus, xix, ~, Israel reached the plain OF
| Sinai. where an encampment was made
| for nearly n year. That time was all oc-
| cupicd with arrangements necessary to
| the setting UP of a system OF government
and religion. Up to that time the family
| had been the unit, and that had gradual
| ly expanded until the tribal system pre-
vailed. For the further and fuller pur-
pose of God the twelve tribes. bearing
| the names of Jacobs sons. must be COM
| pactly Joined together. not losing their
old spirit, but gaining In more perfect
| form the idea of unity, that they might
stand together for the one great thought
which had led Abram from Jr of the
| Chaldces into the promised land These
| people had much to learn. Having been
long in bondage they were ignorant of
many Of the leading, and, indeed. essen
| tial features of advanced civilization In
| struction must be given on many points
which are now well understood
! DECALOGUE.-I is worthy of special
note that the beginning was laid in Il
series of commandments, what is ordin-
arily termed the decalogue, or the ten
| words This was virtually the consttu-
tion, the foundation on which everything
vested, a kind of charter. the first in
| the language of men. Considering the
time when it was promulgated and the
| fact that it has never been abrogated,
although thirty-three centuries have
passed away; it is one Of the most re-
markable documents in political history,
| even now admired by theologians. states
men and philosophers. The decalogue
was delivered by God to Moses. who
| called him up into Mount Sinai alone to
receive 1t. This method invested it with
peculiar sanctity, causing the people to
| hold it with utmost reverence, as worthy
| of their constant care. The decalOgue is
| in two tables. or parts-one covering du-
| ties to God, the other duties to men. We
| shall study the first part today.
POLYTHE1SM.-"rho shalt have no
other gods before me- In the attempt
| to explain natural phenomena and human
| history, the ancients multiplied deities,
and introduced various rites to placate
| them. This habit resulted in innumerable
evils, which could not be corrected until
the cause was removed CRomans, i, 2S)
! In setting apart people for himself the
Almighty therefore began His covenant
| by claiming the sole and absolute loyalty
| and service of Israel, enforcing it by the
consdera ton that He had liberated them
and brought them forth. (Verse % He
| thus gave to this people the high mission
| of holding and propagating the doctrine
of the divine unity until the whole human
| family should receive it, Qsaiah, ri, 81
How unfathful they were to this mono
thestic idea their history shows. QI
| Kings, xvii. -
| IDOLATRY.-"Thou shalt not make
| any craven image" to worship. 1t is the
| natural tendency of an undeveloped mind
to locate the deity and give Him form,
| thereby hoping to come INTO more init
| lDt vol. prt lie
degrading and corruptlng influence upon
| the devotee Romans, /. 25). as appears
| in the condition of the whole heather
world. Man becomes like that he wor-
ships God is a spirit (John. iv, 2D, un-
created invisible, immortal. He has
| neither body nor parts. lie is omniscient
and omnpresent. This exalted view of
Him is a prime condition of acceptable
and profitable approach. One who comes
to such being is drawn upward out of
the material and sensuous into the realm
whore the dominant forces play. TO for
bid idols was therefore, necessary in
training Israel, and in training the race
toward that new manhood destined TO be
realized in Jesus Christ Romans, viii, s.,
who is the way and the pattern.
PROFANITY.-"rh shalt not take
the name of thy God in vain" Reverence
for God is as necessary as conviction of
His spirituality. 1t is indeed the begin
ming of wisdom psalm. cXi, 1O) and of
every virtue. To cXalt Him in ones
thought promotes humility and trust. and
these minister constantly to the higher
elements of character. tProverbs, XIV, 33)
The very name applied to the Deity, AL
mighty. Jehovah. God. whatever it may
be, educa tes, because it CONVEYS certain
ideas to the mind and produces appropri-
ate emotions. Hence also, the manner
In which the name is pronounced is n
matter of great importance. 1t is said
that one name of God was held so sacred
by the Jews that they never spoke it, In
their reading they passed it in silence. TO
enforce this third command. blasphemy
was punished with death U.eviticus xiv
10, and the whole congregation by ston-
ing the criminal, expressed their abhor-
renee of his sin.
1NDCSTRY.-After three negative or
prohibitory commands there came one
positive and mandatory in two parts, re-
ferring to the use of time. Sx-sevenths
of ones days should be devoted to work
In secular affairs Verse H. This was
needful at that time among people who
had been slaves and who might desire to
escape work. who were fed with mama
from heaven and had less reason on that
account for work. 1t was also necessary
for all time, At the beginning man in
his innocence had tasks. Genesis, ii, 19)
In setting mp nation and preparing 1t
for its future, the Almighty deemed IL
essential to enjoin industry, to make tho
week day work duty and an honor
Not by idleness which is always disgrace
ful and dangerous Proverbs, vi, 81. but
by honest toll may fortunes be builded
characters developed, wealth acquired
and coveted good secured Labor is the
price to be paid in all lands and ages
for every personal and national blessing
This Is Gods word on the subject.
SABBATH.-There might be correct
notions of God and yet little religion.
NeBations might prevent bad actions
there Is needed something positive to pro-
mote and support holy life, If part
of time was allotted for secular things
1t was as well to have another part for
sacred things A holy day was there
fore appointed, one In every week. follow
ing all the work days. Six days of work
and one day of rest. (yerse ls) The
language in which this command Is Civ
en- indicates that ii is not new enact
ment, but an old law re-enacted. Re
member signifies something that has en-
isted and is to be carried forward. The
argument for a primitive Sabbath, OBJ
served in the time of Noah and in the
wilderness Hsxodus. KY. 81. has been fire.
auently made and. Is regarded by some