The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-12-08
No. 10.
Reading and
Obeying the Law
Sunday School Lesson for Dec. 10. 1905
Specially Prepared fer This PAPER.


,a tao Word Of God and keep it"-Luk,
T HE Temple was completed about
c OF September, b. c. ~ The cedi'
500 0f the walls began about the nrst day
nc.0her.
pLACE-The water gate Jerusalem
located just south Of the temple area. The
assembly was held In the open square al
that point
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES.-Reviva
under Josiah. Kings 2:o-Z:zS Under
Hozckiah. Chron. 30.is-Sl:l0 Under Ezra
Ezra 9.8-i0.5 At Pentecost, Acts p Teach
ings concerning Bible study and It's effects
Deut s.S-i0; 6.6-g; l7:lS. 10; Slsil'lS etc.
Josh rs: Psa le. iis; Isa. $40. IL Matt
7.A-H; John 5.ss; 2O:5i; Rom. 1874; Heb
~ ". 2 Pet 1:ie. %; 80; Rev. l.S, ~.
Comment and Suggestive Thought
Y. s. They" Ezra and 13 Leyites
whom he had associated with him. II
seems Tvs. I'D that Ezra read from
the book Of the law, the people stand
ing while he read to show their reyer
ence for the book. ThSn. after por'
tlon had been read, the Levites gath
cred little companies and caused
them TO understand the reading"
V. 9. "Tirshatha:" A Persian title
meaning governor. This day is
holy" 1t was feast day (Ley'
23:2D and hence more appropriate for
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 jusi
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
Chrisrs own Joy John 15;1D.
" II. "sulled the people," The
Leyites passed among them comfort
ing and cheering them. Neither be
We grieved:" While 1t is proper FOL
us TO lament sin, when we have con
fessed and forsaken II We are TO allow
II 10 be cast behind our backs, as God
does Elsa. Ss.l7), and 90 forward 10
renewed effort, not wasting energy IN
vain regrets.
V. u. "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 10y. The book that shows our
sin. tells also Of the love and mercy
Of God.
V 19. "Chief Of the fathers:" The
secular leaders. ITO understand OF
"to give attention to-" There seems
TO have been a voluntary gathering oil
the people. this second day, and re
ouest that Ezra would read more to
them from the law OF God.
V. IA. "They found written" Prob
ably Levltlcus 23:3443 was read TO
them. "Dwelt in booths:" The Feast
OF Tabernacies was celebrated by the
people dwelling in tabernacles, OF
booths. made Of branches Of trees. II
was the great national thanksgiving
week.
V IS. publish and proclaim:"
Whenever Il was desirable to call the
people together, courtiers were sent
throughout the land telling the cause
for which they were asked to assem-
ble and inviting them 10 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
uable 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
venlent places for the erection OF thes,
booths. Others set them up In the
courts OF their houses; stili others
laymen as we'll as priests and Leyites
set them up in the courts Of the tenn
nle or omen spaces in the city. "Streei
Of the water-gate:" The broad, open
space between the temple and the cit,
walls in which the people gathered
FOR the reading Of the law on the lra
day, Is meant (See V. y.
Y II. "Come out Of captivity" II
ls quite probable that the returned ex
lies took the lead in this movement
and especially enjoyed this festival oc
caslon. "slnce the days Of Joshua. 80.
not done so:" The meaning seems te
he that. since the time Of Israels hrs
entrance into Canaan under Joshua
this feast had not been observed viii
go great rejoicing.
V. IS. "Day by day ... he read:
Ezra and his Levlte helpers continued
the Bible reading each Of the sever
days Of the feast We cannot find thai
this was required by law, and rejoic'
that Il was a token Of the deep intereS
and sincere desire Of the people to know
Gods will for them. Eighth day
solemn assembly," A closing festival
speclally mentioned in Lev. 23:36 was
held on that day. Manner" Better
Ordinance"
Practical Points.
VS. Each should read the Bible with
prayer. that lie who wrote Il will teach
him 10 understand it.-Ps. 1873.
V.fO. We can do nothing we'll without
- Joy and a good conscience.-Phil 4:4
" 12. AS We fully understand the
Word OF God. our hearts and lives viii
be filed with great rejolcing.-Jer. IS:
1s.
v Il. AS fast as we learn the will
OF God, let US do it.-Jas. l:22.
. V. IS. We are not doing our whole
duty unless we proclaim 20 others the
D Word Of God, that they, too, may do
} it-Rom- 1915.
Give Your Stomach Rest.
Nothing will cure indigestion that