The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-12-14
INTERNATIONAL
SUNlNSC[lOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR DECEMBER II
EZRA TEACHES THE LAW.
LESSON TExT-Nehemiah 8.

TIME-one week after the completion
OF the walls in our last lesson. The first
day OF the 7th month"; Il. c. 4A. The be-
ginning OF the civil new year ushered in
by the feast Of Trumpets. The seventh
month includes parts Of Scptember and
October. The LIST day OF this month was
October 4, In 1910.
The seven days feast OF VS.. l5-ls was
the Feast of Tabernacles beginning on tina
18th day OF the seventh month, in Octo-
Der, B. c. 4ii, and continuing or S days.
Leviticus %.
PLACE-Jerusalem
ACKNOWLEDGMENT the governor OF
Judea.
Ezra, the Scribe, chief priest
ArtaNerxes king Of Persia, including
Palestine.
Herodotus is writing his histories In
Greek about this time, 450-43O B. c.
In spite OF all opposition the walla 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 tnat 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 Op-
portunity. They did not constitute a
great city, nor true kingdom, nor n
holy nation, nor outward prosperity,
nor a 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 a
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 tho
world.
The first means was the instruc.
ton of the whole people In the Word
of God. After q weeks rest from the
severe labors of building the wall, tho
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 IL
"a n
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
and everybody in the
whole community in both And no
church, and no body of churches, IN
any town should be satisfied with
ess. There should be a frequent and
accurate census by federation OF |
he churches, tor this end.
Ezra the Scribe and Teacher sud.
lenly appears at this time. Where he
lad been during the l3 years between
lis reforms and the coming OF Ne,
lemiah to rebuild the wall is un.
.nown. 1t seems most probable that
e returned to Babylon. and continued
is studies OF the Law of Noses, and
'hen he learned Of Nehemiah's great
york he also returned to Jerusalem.
nd was prepared to forward the re-
gious training OF the people, as soon
S Nehemiah's work for their material
afety was completed
1t was the people themselves that
cquested Ezra to read the law TO
hem, the law of Moses. This testi.
es to general knowledge OF tha
yistence of book the contents Of
'hich, so far as they are known,
greed substantially with our Penta,
auch. Ezra did not originate this
Nv. The books of the law, and the
istory of Israel had been scattered in
eparate books in various places dur
lg the distracted times of lsrael's
lter history. Ezra codiiied, edited.
rought together, the law of Moses,
nd its unfolding during their history
cry much as centuries later the scat
cred writings OF the apostles were
nited into our New Testament But
was the law OF Moses, which the
ord had commanded to Israel, real
ord of God.
This was the beginning of new era
Bible study. Very few of the peo-
lie could have Bibles, for they were
ire and expensive, Few could read
ven II they had books. The reading
nd the teaching were chiefly by the
RESTS. Now came the time of the
eople. Synagogues began to be es-
lblished for teaching the law in every
,wn and village. The people must
ear for themselves, and all of them
e taught and trained in the Scrip
Tres.
The greatest need Of our times is
ore and deeper religious life. Re-
elon is, after all, the principal thing;
lat mere readjustment of ethical
,rmularies is not enough; that
eeper note than this must be struck
we hope to restore the lost har-
Iony to the human soul and the So
ai order. There must be something
, worship, something that kindles
lr purest love and marshals our
ighest loyalties. Nothing less than
iis will meet the social need of the
me, which is call for radical
hange in ruling ideas, for a mighty
construction of ideals.
Sentimental Christians.