Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-07
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER 10.

Subject: Reading and ObeyIng the Law.
Neh. viii, S-1S-Golden Text, Luke
XII, 2S-Memory Verses, ~, 1S-Com-
mentary on the Days Lesson.
l. Studying Gods word Tvs. 1-S).
The people We're gathered in this great
meeting from the surrounding country
from 10000 to 10000 in number. 1t
was the time of the feast of Trumpets.
Trumpets We're blown everywhere.
They proclaimed day of rejoicing.
The people called for Ezra. the scribe.
to bring out the book of the law and
read to them. Here is the first men-
ton of EZra's name in the book of Ne
hemiah. 1t is thought that he had
been absent during the past thirteen
years, perhaps working as a scribe In
copying and studying, and perhaps put
ting in shape the book of the law. He
seems to have returned at the OppOr-
tune moment. This great company
had gathered on purpose to hear the
words of the book he had copied and
probably edited"
g. 80 they read" Ezra and thir-
teen representative men from Jerusa-
lem. standing upon an elevated plat
form, read the Scriptures, in turn, for
six hours or more. I'm the book
Books in those days were wide strips
of parchment rolled upon sticks, one at
either end, so that one side was rolled
up as the other was unrolled to read.
The writing was in parallel columns
across the strip and read from right to
left. "Distinctly.' So that every word
~ I, Il l;s4t,, ,tI hnp nd
the first way in which they caused the
people to understand. Gave the
sense" The Israeites having been
lately brought out of Babylonish cap
tivity. in which they had continued
seventy years. were not only corrupt,
but they had in general lost the knowl-
edge of the ancient Hebrew to such
degree that when the book Of the law
was read they did not understand 1T.
Therefore the LeviteS translated it into
the Chaldcan dialect. Caused them
to understand They gave both
translation # the Hebrew words into
the Chadep and an exposition of the
things contained in them. ard OF the
duty incumbent upon them.
II. \ day Of rejoicing proclaimed
Tvs. 0-12,.
q. nehemiah - the Tirshatha.'
Hitherto Nehemiah has called himself
pachah-the ordinary word for "gov-
cruor." Now he is called Trshatha,
more honorable and reverentiai IL
tie for governor. The new title is
among tho indications that this nor-
ton of the book is written by an
other. This day is holy" Mourning
was unsuitable for a Gay of high fes-
tivity. the opening Gay Of the civil
wear ana OF the snbbatica month, it
self a sabbath G.! day of rest, and one
TO lie kept by blowing OF trumpets
I.cv. 29:24, %; Mum. .9:l6,. 1t APP
pears that the people were not only ls-
norant of their ancient language, blt
also OF the rites and ceremonies or their
religion not being permitted to observe
them in Babylon. "All the people
went" They realized how different
their lives had been from The lives com
manded by God. They had failed in
personal duty. They had failed in the
public worship OF God. They had
failed as a nation.
10 Eat and drink" Observe Gods
appontment. They should testify the
yrnuineneSs of their repentance by the
faithfulness with which they kept the
feast, send portions" 1t was an or
| diuance of God that in these feasts the
Door should be specially and llberaiIy
nrovided for (Deut. 15:I-11; l6:ll-lo,.
"Ncither be ye sorry" We must not
| be merry when God calls us TO mourn
| inc. We must not attilct ourselves
when God has given us occasion TO re-
| ioica. Even our sorrow for sinners
must not hinder our JOY in GODS ser
! vice "Joy of the Lord" conscious
| ness of Gods favor, mercy ana long
suffering. II. "Levites stilled all the
upople." flushed their loud lamenta-
zion. Emotion needs control when 1t
is in danger of running into mere phy-
Steal excitement. -,
10 because they - understood
They now knew Gods will ana their
own duty, which they resolved to prac-
tice. This gave them ground or nope
and trust in Gods mercy, ana there
fore gave them great JOY
III. Directions concerning the feast
of the tabernacles Tvs. 1919. During
the reading of the law the people saw
how they had neglected to Keep tne
feasts as they ought and they immedi.
otely proceeded to observe the feast or
the tabernacles.
IA, "Found written.' See Lev. %:
aa.44 Booths" The people were
commanded to leave their houses ana
dwell in tents or booths made or the
branches of "thick trees seventh
month" The month Tishri or Ltha-
nim This was the seventh month IN
tho sacred or ecclesiastical year ana
| tba first month in the civil year.
IA "Should publish" The meaning
bara is that they found it written that
they should do the things mentioneu @
i'm this verse. "Ihe mount Ane
mount of Olives which was near pg
where were many olive trees ana prop
ably the other trees here mentioned.
1G "rhe roof" The roofs OF the
bouses were fiat and easy OF access.
"In their courts" etc. There were
booths everywhere; the city was hlled
with them. II. "Sat under the
booths" They were to dwell i'll booths
seven days, from the 10th to the lzu
of the month Their dwelling in booths
commemorated their forty years so.
iourn in the wilderness when they hau
no fixed habitations. "Since the DAYS.
etc. The meaning cannot be tnat tnls
feast had not been observed since the
time of Joshua, for it was kept at theli
rntnrn from Babylon ezra 3:N, but
since Joshua's time the JOY had never
been so great as now. 10. Soleni
assembly," The first and last days o.
the feast were kept as sabbaths.