The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-12-08
Reading and
Obeying the Law
Sunday School Lesson Tor Dec. 10, 1905
Specially Prepared for This Paper.


middle OF September b. c. 444. The dedi
cation of the walls began about the first day
OF October.
PLACE.-The water gate Jerusalem
located just south OF the temple area. Tn,
assembly was held in the open square al
/ that point.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES.-Rev
under Josiah, Kings 22:s-23:25. Under
Hezekiah, Chron. 3O:13-Sl:10. Under Ezra
Ezra 9:4-l05. At Pentecost, Acts2. Teach
ings concerning Bible study and its effects
Deut. 4:S-10; o:6-9; 17:1S, 10; 3l:l1-l3. etc.
Josh LIS; Psa. 10, 49, Isa. $40 IL; Matt
7:A-27; John 5:S9; 20:3l; Rom. 1854; Heb
Az II; Pet. l:l9, 20; S:2; Rev. 1:3; 2:7
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. s. They" Ezra and 13 Levites
whom he had associated with him. 1t
seems Tvs. ID that Ezra read from
the book of the law, the people stand
ing while he read to show their rever-
ence for the book Then. after a por-
tion had been read, the Levites gath
cred little companies and caused
them to understand the reading"
V. 8. "Tirshatha: A Persian title
meaning governor. This day is
holy" 1t was a feast day (Lev.
]
expressions of JOY than those of grief.
"Wept . words of the law" Doubt
less some passage portraying Gods in.
dignation against sin, and the bitter
fruits of unrighteousness, had just
been read
V. 10. Eat the fat" ETC.. A pro-
verbal expression, meaning, Let the
day be one of rejoicing and feasting.
Send portions" Make the poor par
takers of your joy. joy g.
strength" True joy is a great source
of strength. Joy of the Lord" means
not only the joy of sins forgiven, and
reconciliation with God, but also
Christ's own joy John 15:1I.
V. II. "Stilled the people," The
Levites passed among them comfort
ing and cheering them Neither be
We grieved" While it is proper for
us to lament sin, when we have con
fessed and forsaken it we are to allow
it to be cast behind our backs, as God
does elsa. 3S:17l, and go forward to
renewed effort, not wasting energy in
vain regrets.
" II Went their way" The as
sembly now broke up for the day.
"Mirth:" Great rejoicing. Because
they had understood" The same
book of the law had turned their sor-
row to joy The book that shows our
sin. tells also of the love and mercy
Of God.
V. IS. Chief of the fathers" The
secular leaders "To understand or
Ito give attention to-" There seems
to have been a voluntary gathering Of
the people, this second day and re
quest that Ezra would read more to
them from the law of God.
Y. IA. They found written: Prob
ably Leyiticus 23:34-43 was read to
them. "Dwelt in booths fhe Feast
of Tabernacles was celeorated by the
people dwelling in tabernacles, or
booths. made of branches of trees. 1t
was the great national thanksgiving
week
V. 70. publish and proclaim"
Whenever it was desirable to call the
people together, courtiers were sent
throughout the land telling the cause
for which they were asked to assem-
BILE and inviting them to come. The
mount" The hill region round about
Jerusalem pine branches" Better
in Revision. Branches Of wild olive"
Olive trees were noted for their thick
foliage. hence would be especially val
liable for erecting the booths in which
the people lived during the festival.
V. 16. Upon the roof. etc: The
fat roofs Of the houses afforded con-
venient places for the erection of these
booths. Others set them up in the
courts Of their houses still others,
laymen as well as priests and Levites,
set them up in the courts of the tenn
pie or open spaces in the city. Street
of the water gate" The broad open
space between the temple and the city
walls. in which the people gathered
for the reading Of the law on the first
day, is meant See V. -.
V. Il. Come out Of captivity" 1t
is quite probable that the returned ex-
lies took the lead in this movement,
and especially enjoyed this festival oc-
casion. "Since the days of Joshua -.
not done so: The meaning seems TO
be that, since the time of Israel's first
entrance into Canaan under Joshua.
this feast had not been observed with
so great rejoicing.
V. IS. DAY by day he read"
Ezra and his Levite helpers continued /
the Bible reading each of the seven /
days of the feast We cannot find that |
this was required by law. and rejoice |
that It was token of the deep interest I
and sincere desire of the people to know I
Gods will for them. Eighth day
solemn assembly," A closing festival I
specially mentioned in Lev 1886 was /
held on that day Manner" Better. I
Ordinance.
Practical Points.
V. g. Each should read the Bible with /
prayer, that He who wrote it will teach .
him to understand it.-Ps. 1898.
V. 10. We can do nothing we'll without
Joy and a good conscience.-Phil.4 "A.
V. y. As we fully understand the
Word of God, our hearts and lives will