Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-14
The SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson xl.-Third Quarter, For
Sept. IS, 1907.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Toxt of tho Lesson, Deut. vi. LIS.
Memory Verses, 81 Golden Text,
Oeut. vi, 12-commcntary Prepared
by Row. D. M. Stcarns.

by Rcv. D. M. stcarns.
i'opyright. 1907. by American Press Association.
1t was IN the eleventh month of the
ioriicth year after they left Egypt
Q-3 that Moses rchcarsed to Israel
nll the Lords dealings with them
ana urged them 10 Whole hearted
obedience that the Lord might bless
chem to the full and so magnify Him.
SER In them before all nations that
they, too. might learn TO know Him
ana he blessed by Him. All through
their history they were continually re-
minded that God Ind never dcnlt SO
win amy nation Oent ", Z, 8; III Sam.
VII, ~, 2l; Ps. cxlvli. 20; lisa. kill, IL
I'D, but 1t was to so reveal Himself In
una through them that others might
be blessed. The word to Abrnm In
Gen. XII 2. stands ull through their
story and ours, 81 will bless thee,
ana thou shalt be blessing"
Anything like selfish or self cen
tered life is wholly contrary to Gods
plan. "lIe died for all that they who
live should not henceforth live unto
themselves, but unto Him who died for
them and rose again" III Cor. V, 15J.
linen there Is this great fact so often
ovcrlooked-God always does for us
before He asks us to do aught for
Him. No commands were given to
Israel until lie brought them out of
Egypt; then all commands were based
upon that QIx. Xxx. .; Dcut V, g; ps.
INXXi, l0. God Justliles us freely by
Ills grncc, assures us OF mo condcmna-
ton In Christ" and then asks that we
walk not after the flesh. but after the
Spirit, fulfilling tho righteousness of
the law ORom. III. "a; viii. i, ~.
Notice In connection with .todny's les
son the difference between the uncon-
uitionnl covenant with Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob. in which God assured them
of things He would do for His own
nnme's sake, and the covenant Mt IIo-
rob. which depended upon their faith
fulness (Deut. v, l-3). In redemption
God does NIL for jesus sake by reason
or His great sacrifice QIph. !. @, Z: II
John IL, 12) and then asks for our
obedience from. XII. !. 2; Eph. Nv. u
that lie may reveal Himself vet more
fully TO us.
God brought Israel ont OF Egypt that
de might bring them Into the promised
land. ana 1t was IN the land that lie
expected from them this obedience
wi, l, .. 21-25), assuring them that thus
their days would be "ns the dnys OF
heaven upon the earth" Deut. XII. ~.
I'D. the only place where nave found
this expression. suppose that the
saying Heaven to go to heaven in Is
founded upon this. II we may learn
something OF the nature of heaven
from the angels, II Ia doing His com
mhnhmcnts, hearkening unto the voice
OF His word" (ps. ell. 2O). Hear. oh.
Eerve, do seem to he the three prom.
inent words ", 80; vi, 3, 90. remind.
Ing of Isn. ". 3. Hear. and your soul
shnll live and verse ., "IIearkcn dlli
gently unto me, and eat We that which
Is good, and let your soul delight IT.
self In fatncss." Compare John V, 81.
Our blessed Lord summed up the
whole law as loving God with all
our hcnrt and soul and mind and our
neighbor as ourselves" Matt. xxi. ~
30; Luke x. 2O-2S), and the Spirit
through Paul says that "love Is the
fulfllling of the law" (iiom. Kill, o. 1O).
Tut we must remember that two love
because lie first loved us" q John
~. 1M
In verses 6-S of our lesson we learn
TINT His words must first be In our
hearts, for only as they arc there will
we use them MS these verses teach us.
We are to ''lot the word of Christ
dwell In us richly" (Coi. Ill, 1G) hide
Il In our hearts Ops. cxix, IL; Eek. I'll,
l0). receive 1t with all mcekness. hold
1t fast and hold 1t forth GAS. 1, 81;
Tit !. 0; Phil. ii, 1W. that God may he
glorliled IN us. for. like Israel, we are
holy people unto the Lord our God,
special people unto Himself above
all people Dcut. VII. @; Tit II. II, II. ";
I Pet ii. .. 81.
AS In the case of Israel, the good
land into which the Lord brought them
was one they had no claim TO but by
Ills grace. Cities they builded not, full
houses which they filled not; wells
they digged not. vineyards and olive
yards they planted not oversees 10, III,
so all the fuilness of God which is ours
In Christ (Col. /. 10: ii. 8. l0) is ours
wholly and only because of Ills great
sacrifice. We are good deal like the
ten spies. acknowledging the truth
or IT nll. yet refusing to enter in. and
the little we seem to enjoy we are I'M
grateful for like nine of the ten lepers
who were healed.
beware. lest thou forget the Lord,
verse 12) Is an appropriate word for
ns always, for the majority OF present
day believers rs we'll as Israel of long
ago too often give occasion to have 1t
said of them, They forget His works
and His wonders that He had showed
Them ops. xviii. III. If ever trou-
Died by fcnrs or nennlc 1vn nnnd To