The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-12-06
THE SUNDAY school
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENT
FOR DECEMBER 10.

I. Studying Gods word Tvs. 1-Sl
The people were gathered in this grea,
meeting from the surrounding countr1
from 10000 to $4,000 in number. |
was the time of the feast Of Trumpet
Trumpets were blown everywher{
They proclaimed a day Of rejoicing
The people called for Ezra, the scribe
to bring out the book Of the law AMI
read to them. Here is the first men
ton Of Ezra's name in the book: of Nd
hemiah. 1t Is thought that he hal
been absent during the past .thirteel
years, perhaps working as q scribe u
copying and studying. and perhaps put
ting in shape the book Of the law. H|
seems to have returned at the oppol
tune moment. This great companj
had gathered on, purpose to hear th|
words of the book he had copied anI
probably edited"
s. 80 they read" Ezra and thi1
teen representative men from Jerhsd
lem, standing upon an elevated plat
form, read the Scriptures, in turn, ID
six hours or more In the book
Books in those days were wide strip
of parchment rolled upon sticks, one q
either end, so that one side was role
up as the other was unrolled TO read
The writing was in parallel column
across the strip and read from right q
left. Distinctly" So that every worl
could be distinctly heard. This wa
the first way in which they caused IN
people to understand. "Gave tn
sense" The Israelites having bee|
lately brought out Of Babylonish car
tivity, III which they had continue
seventy years, were not only corrupI
but they had In general lost the know
edge of the ancient Hebrew to snch
degree that when the book Of the Lay
was read they did not understand !
Therefore the Levites translated 1t Ing
the ChaheahSdiaIectl Caused stheA
to understand" They gave bQthYt
translation Of the Hebrew words int
the Chaldee tand.a n exposition ofl&h
things contained in them, and of til
duty incumbent upon them.
II. A day Of rejoicing proclaime|
Tvs. 9-12).
8. Nehemiah = the TirshathaI
Hitherto Nehemiah has called htmseI
pechah-the ordinary word for "go1
ernor." Now he is called TirshathaS
more honorable and reverentfal d
tie for governor. The new title /
among the indications that this poi
ton of the book is written by az
other. "This day is holy" Mournin|
was unsuitable for a day Of high rel
tivity, the opening day OF the CIV
year and of the sabbatical month,
self a sabbath or day Of rest, and ON
to be kept by blowing of trumpet
Lev. 1924, 25; Mum. 29:1-8). It. al
pears that the people were not onlytt
norant. of their ancient Language, bt
also of the rites and ceremonies Of the
religion, not being permitted to obserY
them in Babylon. AL the speopS
wept." They realized how difepeII
their lives had been from the lives con
manded by God! They had failed
personal duty. They had fatled5int f
public worship Of God. They haI
failed as a nation.
TO- "Eat and drink" Observe Cod
appointment. They should TESTIFY tl
genuineness Of their repentance by tf
f%aithfulness with which they kept th
feast. Send portions" It was an q
dfnance of God that in these feasts tf
DOOR should be specially and liberal
provided for (Deut. 15:7-11; 16:ll.lol
Neither be We sorry" We must N
be merry when God calls US TO mour
Ing. We must not aflict ourseiya
when God has given US occasion u: Z
joice. Even our sorrow for. sinnef
must not hinder our joy in Gods sci
/ vice. Joy; Of the Lord" A conseieu
ness of Gods favor, mercy and Ion
suffering. II. "Levites stlled all u
people" flushed their loud lament
ton. Emotion needs control when
Is in danger Of running into mereypn}
steal excitement.
12. Because they understood
They now knew Gods will and the
own duty, which they resolved to pra
tice. This gave them ground OF h0E.
and trust in Gods mercy, and Their
fore gave them great JOY.
III. Directions concerning the fea
of the tabernacles Tvs. 1873. Durh
the reading Of the law the people gal
how they had neglected to keep III
feasts as they ought and they tmned
ately proceeded to observe the feast
the tabernacles.
IA. Found written" See Lev. y
33-44. "Nooths." The people we
commanded to leave their houses az
dwell in tents or booths made OF
branches of chick trees" severn
month" The month Tishri or EtA
MIN. This was the seventh month";
the sacred or ecclesiastical year az
the first month in the civil year.
Is. Should publish" The meani1
here is that they found it written tn
they should do the things menh0n
in this verse. 1.-The. mount" ~
mount Of Olives which was near
where were many olive trees n pro
ably the other trees here mentione
16. "The roof" The roofs Of
houses were fat and easy of accea
an their courts" etc. There we
booths everywhere; the city was MI
with them. II. Sat under I
booths" They were to dwell in boot
seven. days, from the 18th to the 4
of the month. Their dwelling IN Doot
commemorated their forty years
iourn in the wilderness when they M
No fixed habitations. "Since the days.
etc. The meaning cannot be that III
feast had not been observed since
time of Joshua, for it was kept at th9
return from Babylon ezra $40, b
since Joshua's time the joy had peY1
been so great rs now. IS. "Sole1
assembly," The first and last days
he feast were kept as SabbathS.