Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-12-15
INTERNATIONAL,
SUNlGYSCllQ0L
LESSON
LESSON FOR DECEMBER II
EZRA TEACHES THE LAW.
LESSON TExT-Nehemiah 8.

day of the 18th month, Il. G. 444. The be-
ginning of the civil new year ushered in
by the feast of Trumpets. The seventh
month includes parts of September and
October. The LIST day of this month was
October T. in 1910.
The seven days feast of vs.. 1918 was
the Feast of Tabernacles beginning on the
18th day of the seventh month, in Octo-
Der, B. C. IA, and continuing or days
Leviticus %. u
PLACE-Jerusalem.
PERSONS Nehemiah the governor OF
Judea.
Ezra, the Scribe, chief priest.
Artaxerxes king of Persia, including
Palestine.
Herodotus is writing his histories in
Greek about this time, 45O-430 B. c.
In spite Of all opposition the walls OF
Jerusalem had been completed. The
city was safe from her enemies. The
character and conduct OF the citizens
had been restored, and was equipped
for service. These complete an act in
a great drama of providence, in which
the courage that stands to duty in
face of all danger and the faith that
looks to God in prayer had been vindi-
Gated.
But these things merely meant OPP
portunity. They did not constitute a
great city, nor true kingdom, nor a
holy nation, nor outward prosperity,
nor people of God. They only rem
dered these things possible. The
great question now was how to re-
store the nation to it's place in the
kingdom OF God, how to build up
pure, righteous, noble people, who
should be repositories of the true re-
ligion, who should proclaim it by
their lives and tongues, who should
hold up the True Light before the
world.
The first means was the instruc
ton of the whole people in the Word
of God. After a weeks rest from the
severe labors of building the wall, the
civil New Years day was ushered in
by the blowing of trumpets, and horns
with mouth-pieces OF gold; and this
memorial blowing" continued all day
from morning till evening, proclaim
ing day OF rejoicing. like our Christ
mas bells. 1t was to proclaim Gods
covenant, to sound victory over Satan,
to sound call to repentance, as 1t
were blast to wake men from their
sleep of sin.
The people gathered themselves to-
gether as one man, including men and
women, and all the children old
enough to hear with understanding
This is the true ideal of the church:
all the congregation in the Bible
school; all the Bible school in the
congregation; and everybody in the
whole community in both. And no
church, and no body of churches, in
any town should be satisfied with
less. There should be frequent and
accurate census by a federation OF
the churches, for this end.
Ezra the Scribe and Teacher sud-
denly appears at this time. Where he
had been during the 10 years between
his reforms and the coming OF Ne
hemiah to rebuild the wall is un-
known. 1t seems most probable that
he returned to Babylon, and continued
his studies of the Law of Moses, and
when he learned of Nehemiah's great
work he also returned to Jerusalem,
and was prepared to forward the re-
ligious training Of the people, as soon
as Nehemiah's work for their material
safety was completed.
It was the people themselves that
requested Ezra to read the law to
them, the law of Moses. This testi-
fies to a general knowledge OF the
existence of book the contents OF
which, SO far as they are known,
agreed substantially with our Penta-
touch. Ezra did not originate this
law. The books of the law, and the
history of Israel had been scattered in
separate books in various places dur
ing the distracted times of Israel's
later history Ezra coditied, edited,
brought together, the law OF Moses,
and its unfolding during their history
very much as centuries later the scat
tered writings OF the apostles were
united into our New Testament But
it was the law of Moses, which the
Lord had commanded to Israel, real
word OF God.
This was the beginning Of a new era
of Bible study. Very few OF the peo-
pie could have Bibles, for they were
rare and expensive. Few could read
even If they had books. The reading
and the teaching were chiefly by the
priests. Now came the time OF the
people. Synagogues began to be es-
tablished for teaching the law in every
town and village. The people must
hear for themselves, and all OF them
be taught and trained in the Scrip
tureA
The greatest need OF our times is
more anc deeper religious life. Re
ugion Is, after all, the principal thing
that nero readjustment of ethical
formularies is not enough; that a
deeper Eote than this must be struck
II we hope TO restore the lost har
mony to the human soul and the SO
ciA order. There must be something
to worship. something that kindIes
our pnrcst love and marshals ouI