The Brinkley argus., 1913-09-05
1ll.AlA1lONAL SUNDNSCnOOL
 LESSON (By E. O. SELLERS. Director or Evenins Denartment. The Moody Bible Institute, Chtcago)
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER '
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

LESSON TExT-Ex. D:1-u. ~
 Lord inv God with all thy heart, anc
 with all thy soul. and with all ls .ns
 strsngth, and with all thy mind. Luxe
 10:H
 The decalogue divides itself into
 two parts; the first has to do wleh
 man and his relations to God, the sec ond deals with man and his relations
 with men. We consider today the first part. From Deut. 5:22, 23 we learn that the words of these eternal principles were spoken to the whole assembly from the midst of the burn ing mountain and that they stand apart from the Mosaic law It was God himself who spake (v. l) to this redeemed people (v. 9. Afterwards he wrote them with his own finger on tahlet of stone, Deut. 5:22. This law was done away with in Christ (Col. 2:l4, Is, IT; 2 Cor. 3:7. ID but never theless each one of these commands, excepting the fourth is reiterated In the New Testament, emphasizing the eternal fxedness of their principles. The principle of day Of rest one day in seven has not, however, been set aside. as we shall see hereafter. The purpose of the law is to bring to men the knowledge of sin and thereby 10 lead them to Christ, Rom. 20, Eh 13: Gal. 3:10, 24 John the beloved, tells us "that his commandments are not grievous" Men who understand the spirit of the decalogue know that every commandment tends to make better citizens. better parents, better children, in fact to enable one to live satisfactorily with himself and his neighbors and his God.
 Pinnacies of Thought.
 |. The First Commandment, w. Is. Instinctively one thinks of two other pinnacles of religious thought, Tn the beginning God" Gen. Il, and the first two words of the disciples pray or, Our Father" Matt. 6:9. Eternity alone can furnish us measurement suflciently great to enable us fully to comprehend the fitness of this thought. God the creator, law giver, father. In the beginning. at this mountain and in his son, teaching us of his character.
 Up to this time everything had been done for the Jsraelites Hereafter they rust keec the law in order to obtain Iifo, nOb. 10:5: Gal. SIP. In this Gospol dispensation we obtain life as an enabling agent whereby to perform or to keep the law, Eph. 2:1, s-1o, The Christians higher law Is Christ him. eelf, inasmuch as the righteousness of tha law Is fulfilled in the Christian who walks after the spirit. Rom. s:4 The foundation of all of this is to ~have no other gods before tor be- side) me-" Matt. 4:10
 N II. The Second Commandment, w. 4-6- This Is negative in that we shall not attempt any visible representation or likeness of God, and positive in that VIC shall not bow down In wor- ship nor serve any such likeness. The wisdom of this Is only too evident when we carefully study the degener- acy of all forms of heather religions The creation of mans hands Is wor- shiped in lieu of the creature sup posed to be represented God did sanction images, Ex. 37:7, l7-20; Kings 7:25. The service of art in the matter of religion is freely acknowl- edged but nevertheless 1t is attended by grave danger as Is evidenced by Roman Catholic observances in many parts of the world. True worship must g- ~{t ha xyh hn Ia r. 1t. John 4:24; Phil. 3:3 K. V. He must be supreme in our hearts and our af- fections The perpetuity of either blessing or curse for the observance or violation of this edict may at nrst seem to be rather harsh. Yet we must consider that posterity is the continua- ton of ones self. We do what our fathers did. Heb. 7:9, 10. God has hovsvsr made merciful provision whereby we may turn the misery or ain into blessing. Ez 1872. 19. 20 and Rom. 8:33. Let us rather emphasize the converse of this law of heredity, wis, that the blessing Is likewise per poknased. ito . thousand generations, Dsut. 7:s; Ps. 105:S Rom. 11:28, SEQ.
 Mu0t DO Si0CcTc.
 lji. The Third Commandment, v. '. Hero is demanded absolute sincerity by all in the use of the divine name and thus forbids all forms of bias phsmy. This covers much more than ordinary vulgar profanity. The flip pant and sacrilegious use of divine terms and phrases; the use, whether in prayer or praise of divine names and expressions which are not part of our life experience Is form of blasphemy. Vain. empty. false usage of Gods name is blasphemous. A proper reverence towards God is fun damental to any true love for God
 w. Tho Fourth Commandment, w. eli. Attention has been called to the fact that nowhere does it say the neyenth day of the week. though that is what the Israelites observed. This is the Sabbath of Jehovah While this was specially designated for the Jew. (Dsut 5:1. 12. 15). and not literally binding upon the Christian (Col 2:16. l7). yet 1t has underneath it great, wise and heneficent principle, mans need for rest one day in seven. Phys ieally and nervousiy he needs rest and quiet; spiritually he needs the rost and refreshment thus provided. Jt vAs . merciful provision for man