The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-06
TAXES HIS TEXT FROM DEUTERONOMY Rev. EaveS Breaches On "0be- dienCe and inspiration" SUMMARY OF THE MEANING Spiritual Message Here Finds Expres- sion in Some or the Greatest
 Language Ever Spoken.
 Addresses by Moses.
SUMMARY OF THE MEANING


 subject of d sermon by the Rev. George Eaves, pastor of the Pilgrim Congrega- tional church, last night as follows; - The text of what I have to say tonight is the fifth book of the Bible, the Book of Deuteronomy. We have been look ing through Genesis and finding it's main religious message, the two-fold message of Mans failure offset by Gods wonder ful promises. In Exodus we discovered the eternal religious message to be the fact that God comes to men to set them free and dwell among them to keep them free. Again in Leyiticus we discovered the handspring of the book to be that men who are surrendered to Gods work are given priestly functions, made spirit ual helpers of their nation and time and especially honored with a great func- tion of prayer-intercessory prayer-and intimate fellowship with God. Coming to the fourth book. the Book of Num- bers, we learned that it sets forth the fact that the soul who has heard Gods call is on a pilgrimage, a pilgrimage to the kingdom of heaven on earth and to the home in heaven until the Kingdom comes.
 All these are symbolic meanings of the dim ancient history recorded in these quaint old laws and antique Hebrew lit erature
 More Than Symbolism.
 Now we come to Deuteronomy, the fifth book, and we learn that here is something more than symbolism. Here the spiritual message finds expression in some of the greatest language ever spoken. This book, the Book of Psalms, and the Book of Isaiah are the nearest to purely spiritual messages of all the Old Testament.
 The name, Deuteronomy, means re- statement of the law Its Hebrew name is simply "The Words" a title taken from the first verse.
 Its contents are three addresses, given by Moses at the time of his farewell to the nation he had led from Egyptian slavery, through desert trials defeats, failures and successes, giving them the message of the law-led on from Sinai to Kadesh and back seaward, for 40 years-till now he had come to the Jor- dan river, the mountain of his death, and the last hours of his presence with them.
 These three addresses are: Q Chap ters IA, an address or sermon to the people, showing the Providence of God in their history, and urging them to obey Him and to be loyal to Him in the new conditions into which they were about to enter under the leadership of Joshua. This address has been carefully edited by someone who has supplied what we would call archaeological notes for use at a time when the old names of places mentioned by Moses had been forgotten, and these notes form part of the text. One such note tells us that there still survived the bedstead of iron which was the property of Og, King of Bashan, in Moses time.
 @ The second address runs through the main part of the book Chapters 5-2S) and contains long exhortations to obey the will of God and with these a new statement of the law. The work Is not the address of a lawmaker, but of preacher. The laws are not arranged in exact logical order. They are given al- most regardless of any precise order. But they are made to throb and glow with a great passion. It is made clear that obedience is a matter of life and death, and the address ends with the curses of God ratified by the people on whoever breaks these hoy laws. Israels national existence depended, according to Moses, on her frank and loyal obedience to the law of God, His statutes and judgments"
 C) The third adaress Chapters 29 to 3D is directed to warning against idol atry or other forsaking of God Israel must remember that they are in pe- culiar sense Gods chosen and beloved people.
 The remainder of the book consists of three chapters:
 dD The Song of the Rock-Moses' song of praise to the God of Israel
 @ The Song of Blessing-Moses' proph- ecy of blessing on each of the tribes of Israel.
 (3) The Epilogue-a brief closing state ment concerning the death of Moses
 Summary of Meaning.
 have ventured to summarize the mean ing of this great book as Obedience and Inspiration
 Here for the first time we find what true obedience is. It Is not a matter of the hands or feet, but a matter of the heart. And it Is not a matter of prudence but a matter of love. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God"-that is the spring of obedience, it's great handspring.
 Now that is an eternal truth That is a truth which our people all need to lay to heart. Obedience is the fruit of a spiritual passion, a spiritual enthusiasm. If we are not eager to do more than keep the law we shall never keep the law If 1t is written on our hearts, then we shall keep it. Here's a lesson to legislators. Away with paltry law-mal- ingl Make laws that are worth remem- bering? It's a lesson to sherlffs and under -sheriffs and all officers. Enforce the law in the spirit of the law and not in the spirit of a dime novel daredevil Dick Enforce the law broadly See what you can do to make the law stand for something big and high and majes- tic. Let men see that you are not dodg- ing any law, but are eager to put It | Loyalty into practice and force. | Here also for the first time we dis cover the awful necessity of obedience i to God. We learn that goodness is a matter of life and death. We can't af- l ford to disobey. A curse and a blight l No