The Tupelo journal., 1905-12-08
Reading and
Obeying the Law
Sunday School Lesson for Dec. 10. 1905
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

LESSON TExT.-Nehemiah S:s-1s. Mem
DRY verses II, Is.
GOLDEN TExT.-"Blessed are they thai
hear the Word Of God and keep it."-Lukt
11:2S.
TIME.-Temple was completed apou'
middle of September, E. 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. The
assembly was held In the open square al
that point.
SCRIPTURE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
under Josiah, 2 Kings 22:S-23:25. Unoei
Hezekiah. 2 Chron. 30:13-31:1O. Under Ezra
Ezra 9:4-10:5. At Pentecost, Acts2 reach
ings concerning Bible study and its enects
Deut. 4:S-1O; 6:6-9; 17:1S, 10; S:11-l3. etc.
Josh is; Psa. 10. 119; lisa. 55:1O, IL; Matt
7:24-N; John 5:39; 2O:31; ROM. l5:4; Heb
AZ. 12; 2 Pet. 1:l9. 20; So; Rev. 1882 81.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. s. They" Ezra and IL Levltes
whom he had associated with him. Il
seems Tvs. I'D 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'
ton 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 a feast day (Lev
1920 and hence more appropriate fol
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
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 W joy John 15:11).
v. II. "Stilled the people," The
Levites passed among them comfort
ing and cheering them. Neither DC
We ~grieved:" While it is proper fol
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:17), and go forward to
renewed effort, not wasting energy in
vain regrets.
V. IL. 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 ouI
sin. tells also of the love and mercy
Of God.
V. 10. "Chief of the fathers:" TIL
secular leaders. "To understand. OF
ito give attention to-" There seems
to have been a voluntary gathering OF
the people, this second day, and a re
quest that Ezra would read more to
them from the law of God.
V. IA. "They found written" Prob
ably Leviticus 23:34-43 was read to
them. "Dwelt in booths:" The Feast
| Of Tabernacles 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 it was desirable to call the
people together, courtiers were SEN
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 abou1
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.: Thu
fiat 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 we'll as priests and Levites
set them up in the courts of the TEN
nile 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. IL.
". II. Come out of captivity" II
is quite probable that the returned ex:
lies took the lead in this movement
and especially enjoyed this festival &C.
s.C;-oo tho dove nf Joshua
not done so:" The meaning seems to
he that. since the time of Israels frs
entrance into Canaan under Joshua
this feast had not been observed will
so great rejoicing.
V. IS. DAY by day 800. he read
Ezra and his Levite helpers continued
| the Bible reading each of the sever
days of the feast. We cannot find thai
this was required by law, and rejoice
that it was a token Of the deep interest
and sincere desire of the people to know
| Gods will for them. Eighth day :.
solemn assembly," A closing festiva.
specially mentioned in Lev. 1886 was
held on that day. Manner" Better
ordinance"
Practical Points.
v. 8. Each should read the Bible with
prayer, that He who wrote it will teach
him to understand fps. 1888.
v. 10. We can do nothing well without
Joy and a good conscience.-Phil. IA
v. IL. AS we fully understand the
Word of God, our hearts and lives will
be filled with great rejoicing.-Jer. Is:
16.