Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-13

OF acceptable and profitable approach. One
who comes to SUCH a being is drawn
upward out OF the material and sensuous
mo the realm where the dominant forces
play. 10 forbid idols was therefore neces-
sary In training Israel. and In training
the race toward that new manhood destined
to be realized in Jesus Christ (Romans.
vi1i:6). who Is the way and the pattern.
REORGANIZATION shalt not take
the name Of thy God In vain" Reverence
for God is necessary conviction of
His spirituality. 1t is. indeed. the begin
ming of wisdom psalm. cxi:1W and of
thought promotes humility and trust and
these minister constantly to the higher
elements of character prov. xv:33). The
very name applied to the Deity, Almighty,
Jehovah, God. whatever it may be. edu-
Gates because 1t conveys certain ideas to
the mind and produces appropriate emo
tons. Hence, also, the manner in which
the name is pronounced is matter of
great Importance. 1t is said that one
name of God was held sacred by the
Jews that they never spoke 1t. In their
reading they passed it in silence. To en-
force the third commandment. blasphemy
was punished by death Uev.. xxiv:16), and
the whole congregation by stoning the
criminal expressed their adherence Of his
sin.
CREATION-As an incentive to the
labor of the six days and the rest OF the
seventh day God presented His own act
of creation. During six periods of time
of uncertain length Crhe Hebrew word
Yom-transated day-has no equivalent In
our language) the Almighty had worked
in the physical and on the seventh period
He had retired into the contemp.ations and
movements of the spiritual Gen. i:1-:)
This reference is immensely important II
gives sanction to the account OF the crea-
ton, which soma have regarded legend,
but which is here treated as history. More
over, the conduct of men in the use OF
time Is to be regulated by the very con-
stitution Of things. The material univ arse
is constructed the septenary pan. He
who caused all things has impress d upon
all things His own law. and that manif sts
it's wisdom by its adoption to human
needs. 1t amounts, therefore. to this that
Gods law of time is simply declaration
of the nature and fitness of things.
REFLECTIONS. These four laws
fhe one on time being in two parts) rested
upon authority which deserved to be re-
spected by Israel. God claimed the right
.liverer from bondage (verse p. H might
have rested his commands upon his sov-
ereignty. but that would not have been
easily understood. Every man knew
in the freedom. The appeal to the sense
Of gratitude for mercy would be more eff
fective. 2. Piaty, right relation to God.
lies at the basis Of good character. and
ance to one God. an Infinite spirit who can
not be represented in material form. and
reverence for His name is the beginning
of wisdom and virtue prov. ix:1O). the
germ of lofty thought and holy desire All
the great nations Of the world have b en-
monotheistic. 3. The proper use of time
as the first gift of God. as the most valu-
able of our possessions In this Nc. Is an
element of piety We must divide our
reference to this world. the other to the
unseen world, all leading to Just copcep-
lions of Gods plan of living.