The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1913-09-05
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 7
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

i0:N.
The decalogue divides itself into
two parts; the first has to do with
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. 6:22, % 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. 1t was
God himself who spake ". u to this
redeemed people ". y, Afterwards
he wrote them with his own finger on
tablet of stone, Deut. 5:22. This law
was done away with In Christ (CoL.
2:14, 16, II; Cor. 3:7, III but never
| theless each one of these commands,
excepting the fourth is reiterated in
the New Testament, emphasizing the
eternal fixedness 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 to
lead them to Christ, Rom. $40, 7:I
10; Gal. $40, "a. 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.
Pinnacles Of Thought.
I. The First Commandment, wv. 1-3.
Instinctively one thinks of two other
| pinnacles of religious thought, In the
beginning God" Gen. IL, and the
first two words of the disciples pray
or, Our Father" Matt. SO. Eternity
alone can furnish US a measurement
sufficiently great to enable us fully to
comprehend the fulness 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 Israelites. Hereafter they
must keep the law in order to obtain
life, Rob. 1875; Gal. 1912. In this
| Gospel dispensation we obtain life as
an enabling agent whereby to perform
or to keep the law, Eph. 81, $40. The
Christians higher law is Christ him
self, inasmuch as the righteousness of
the law is fulfilled in the Christian
who walks after the spirit, Rom. 8:4.
The foundation of all of this Is to
have no other gods before Tor be-
side) me-" Matt. 4:10.
u. The Second Commandment, w.
46. This is negative in that we shall
not attempt any visible representation
or likeness Of God, and positive in
that we 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-
shipped in lieu of the creature sup
posed to be represented. God did
sanction images, Elk. 37:7, 1920; l
Kings 1925. 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
worship in spirit the God who is spir-
1t, John 4:24; Phil 3:3 R. 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 first
seem to be rather harsh. Yet we must
consider that posterity Is the continue
ton Of ones self. We do what our
fathers did, Heb. 7:9. 10. God has
however made a merciful provision
whereby we may turn the misery OF
sin into blessing, Ez. 1872. 10, 20 and
Rom. 8:2S. Let us rather emphasize
the converse of this law of heredity,
viz, that the blessing Is likewise per
petuated, Ito thousand generations"
Deut. 7:9; Ps. 1858, Rom. 11:2S, $40.
Must Be Sincere.
III. The Third Commandment, v. z.
Here is demanded absolute sincerity
by all in the use of the divine name
and thus forbids all forms of bias
phemy. 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.
~. The Fourth Commandment, w.
a-11. Attention has been called to the
fact that nowhere does it say the
seventh 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,
(Deut. 81, -, 15), and not literally
binding upon the Christian (Col. PIG,
~, yet 1t has underneath it a great,
wise and beneficent principle, mans
need for rest one day in seven. Phys