The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-13
THE sUNDAY-sCHooL LESSON
Sept. IA, 1902. Deut. xxx, 11-2O-Lov-
ing and Obeying God.


It may be frankly admitted that there is some
monotony in the Pentateuch. 1t is occasioned by
the reiteration Of considerable portions. Then.
too, there is almost infinite detail in directions
for personal. prestly and tribal conduct: There
are the genealogies, the itineraries and the
divers laws, sanitary, ecclesiastical and other.
The Pentateuch may be desert of statutory
legislation and inventories of places, things and
people. It must be acknowledged, however, that
this desert is not lacking in GASES. And 1t is
well worth while to cross the barren wastes to
come upon these gardens Of God. They are I'M
surpassed IL even matched. in literature and.
without reference to inspiration. are worthy of
attention. They are great thoughts set in Ian
guage in every way worthy Of them. At the
same time 1t is only fair to say that even what
have been thought the monotonous parts OF the
Pentateuch not wanting IN suggestiveness.
For example, their very monotonous reitera-
tions Of prohibitions. penalties and atonements
are significant of the inveterateness Of human
sin.
Among the GASES Of the fvefold book, what
Moses calls ''this commandment will be recog-
nized Of the chiefest One is almost
startled to come upon 1t so early in the evolution
of divine We realize that Jesus was
rot literally issuing a new commandment when
He said: Love God. Love thy neighbor." but
was repeating, with the accent Of His own d.
yinity. this age-od injunction We are con-
sciously at the root of the whole matter Back
of all law and legislation love is the ground Of
obedience loveless obedience Is vain. IL
tends to Pharisasm and hypocrisy. Again. God
does not wish the obedience Of fear. 1t has
been we'll said that this commandment teaches
with burning conviction that God is too ethical
and spiritual in nature to accept the submission
of a slave. This fundamental principle. 50 early
enunciated which makes love to God the essence
of all true obedience Of the law, raises men at
once to the level of OF God. To such the
law can never be grevous, for to love all things
easy.
Again, in the enunciation of this command
ment something extraneous and distant Is not
appealed to. 1t is not hidden or far or" not
'in heaven or lover the sea-" II Is not at an
Inaccessible height of unattainable distance.
It is within easy reach. 1t is in mans own
conscience and consciousness the fundamental
principle Of human nature.
So after all. under this elaborate mechanism
Of ritual and ordinance a warm heart is found
pulsing with spiritual life and power. Love
tunes the heart to God and keeps II In tune.
The Berlin Bible says aptly: Love is In a
true sense Gods omnpresence," and with the
same meaning Tolstoi afirms: Where love is
there God is"
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
This paragraph alone is enough to Justify the
Old Testament forever from the charge of in
utility and effeteness. Nothing could be more
current nothing more applicable to-day. 1t is a
solvent for the labor problem and all ills. indi-
vidual and collective. Love solves, heals. estab-
fishes. All law depends. in the ultimate analysis.
upon love
One glory of the religion OF the Bible Is the
| ease with which II is epitomized Other re-
| ligions tend to the mutiplex and multiform and
resist condensation. The true religion finds am
| pie expression in a word OF four heiress-love.
The sense In which Jesus gave a COM
| mandment when He said: Thou shalt love-" is
| this: The average Hebrew had utterly for
gotten IL that its reaffirmation TO all intents
| and purposes the announcement OF original
| command. 1t was new TO him.
Utterly gone to seed in ritualism had Israel.
The letter had killed the spirit. This was Jesus
contention with His countrymen. They were so
| busy tithing mirt. anise and cummin that they
| forgot to love; hence they were wanting in the
| other essentials OF religion: Judgment. mercy
| and faith.
The 'farewells OF Moses deserve place among
the masterpieces Of patriotic and religious elo-
quence. They have undoubtedly had strong
moldIng influence upon national life and charac-
ter for twenty centuries. The analogy to them OF
Paurs farewell to the Ephesian elders has been
pointed out.
A pathetic interest attaches to the journeys of
| the wise In quest OF truth. They often thought
1t beyond the sea" and made toiisome and fu-
| tile voyages to attain It. They had not heard
| the benignant saying: The word is very nigh
| unto thee In thy mouth and In thy heart"
| No scripture more clearly enunciates the free
| dom Of the will. II have set before thee life
| and DEATH In that command thee TO love the
/ Lord. But II thine heart turn away" Freedom
| IL the sole ground Of rswardableness or punish
abiensss.
| No finer commentary on this paragraph than
] that of welihausen can be found. where he says;