The evening times., 1902-07-12
E5stnricaI Rackaraund.

Time-Probably 3 c. 1871 Fifty days
after crossing the Red Sea, and TWEEN
tv davs after the giving Of mama
The occasion may be called the Pente-
cost Of the Old Testament In the mean
time Israel had reached ReDhidim
where Moses had, after the people had
nurmured for lack of water. smitten
the rock at the command OF Cod with
his miracIe-working rod and water
gushed forth TO refresh Israel AT Rep
hidim also battle had been fought
successfully against the attacking forces
of the AmaIekites- Joshua had come
into prominence here Here also the
people had been thoroughly organized
and OffiCeTed-
PIace-The scene CT today's lesson
was in the HOreb mountains at a par
tieuIar peak called Sinai which was
over : 900 feet above the sea level and
1900 feet above the surrounding plain.
At Mount Sinai is preciDitous cliff and
before IL IS a valley nearly fat. two
miles long and a half mile wide, form
ing with the sI0ping mountain sides q
sort OF natural amphitheater. which can
easily accommodate 2.00e 600 people.
Here II is thought = where the Lord Of
heaven and earth proclaimed The moral
law TO the Israelites-
Facts of the Lesson.
Central Theme-The rules Of Gods
covenant with Israel
The Ten Commandments of the Old
Testament given 10 the IsraeIites by
their divine King and Saviour. CORE
spond TO the 'beattitudes" OF the New
Testament given by the Goldman. the
King and Saviour Of ali mankind who
receive him by faith, as the principles
OF his kingdom The word Testament
means covenant and the Ten Com
nandnents" are the ten words OF
Gods ancient covenant with his Dso-
PIE. The word @decalogue expresses
the idea exactly As preliminary TO the
proclamation OF the DecaIogue Jeho-
yah reminded his chosen people Of his
goodness 10 them and said Vow there
fore. if We viii obey my voice indeed
and keep my covenant. then ye shall be
a peculiar treasure unto me above all
people: for all the earth Is mine. and
ye shall be unto me a kingdom Of
priests, and a holy nation. From the
jagged crags Of MoJnt Sinai IN the sight
of the assembled people Jehovah an
n0unced the law OF his covenant while
the mountain quaEed. surrounded with
smoke and fire, and while the thunder
rolled the lightning flashed. and a voice
was heard like the sound Of a trumpet
He said: I am Jehovah, thy Cod
J. Thou shalt have no other gods be-
fore me
2 Thou shalt not make unto thee q
craven image.
3 Thou shalt not take the name Of
Jehovah, thy Cod. IN vain
J. Six days shalt thou labor. and do
all thy work
The true God is by virtue Of his very
character and existence q covenant
keeping Cod As q Creator and Ruler the
living God is always faithful IN the ex-
ercise Of all His attributes toward all
Of His creatures. Man is BY virtue of
his creation and dependence upon Cod
under the necessity Of keeping covenant
with Him II he violates his covenant
relationships with God he thereby for
feits all his rights to his Creators care.
protection, and blessings for him. A
covenant may be exercised or under
stood The living GOd-snd that is what
the name Jehovah signifies. the living
and self-existiug God-did enter into a
covenant, both historical and expressed
with Abraham and his descendants