Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-09-03
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 7
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

two parts; the hrst 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. 5:22, 20 we
learn that the words Of these eternal
principles we're 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 ". u to this
redeemed people w. p. 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 flxedness 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. $50, 7:1
13; 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 hif
neighbors and his God.
PlnnaeIes Of Thought.
I. The First Commandment, w. 1-S.
Instinctively one thinks of two other
pinnacles of religious thought, I'm the
beginning God" Gen. IL, and the
first two words Of the disciples pray
or, Our Father" Matt. $50. Eternity
alone can furnish us 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 uf
Of his character.
Up to this time everything had been
done for the Israelites. Hereafter they
must keep the law In order to obtair
life, Rob- 1876; Gal. 3:12. In thiI
Gospel dispensation we obtain life al
an enabling agent whereby to perform
or to keep the law, Eph. 2:1, $40. Th'
Christians higher law Is Christ him
self, inasmuch as the righteousness o
, the law is fulfilled in the Christian
/, who walks after the spirit, Rom. S:4
> The foundation of all of this is Il
have no other gods before Tor be
slde) me-" Matt. 4:10.
\ II. The Second Commandment, w
4-6. This is negative in that we shal
not attempt any visible representation
or likeness of God, and positive II
that we shall not bow down in VOL
)hip nor serve any such likeness. Tn
wisdom Of this is only too evlden
when we carefully study the degenel
acy Of all forms Of heather religions
: The creation of mans hands is VOL
shipped in lieu of the creature SUI
5 posed to be represented. God di
sanction images, Elk. 37:7, 1920;
: Kings 7:25. The service of art in tn
: matter of religion is freely acknow
edged but nevertheless it is attende
. by grave danger as Is evidenced b
Roman Catholic observances in man
u parts of the world. True worship muI
worship in spirit the God who is spi
. 1t, John 4:24; Phil. 3:3R. V. He muI
. be supreme in our hearts and our a
u fections. The perpetuity of eithC
blessing or curse for the observanC
70 or violation of this edict may at fir
i seem to be rather harsh. Yet we mu
= consider that posterity is the continu
9, ton of ones self We do what OF
~ fathers did, Heb. TO, 10. God hi
however made a merciful provisiC
- whereby we may turn the misery
< sin into blessing, Ez. 1872, 10, 20 al
Rom. 1928.
G. Must Be Sincere.
III. The Third Commandment, v.
Here is demanded absolute sinceri
by all in the use of the divine nan
e. and thus forbids all forms Of bic
n phemy. This covers much more thu
Us ordinary vulgar profanity. The fl
70 pant and sacrilegious use of dlvil
10 terms and phrases; the use, wheth
or in prayer or praise Of divine nam
ne and expressions which are not pa
I'D Of our life experience is a form
I'd blasphemy. Vain, empty false usa
IN Of Gods name is blasphemous.
or proper reverence towards God is fl
M damental to any true love for God.
IT, ~. Tho Fourth Commandment, \
IN eli. Attention has been called to t
M fact that nowhere does 1t say t
seventh day of the week, though th
is what the Israelites observed. TT
is the Sabbath of Jehovah. While Il
oh was specially designated for the Je
thy (Deut. 81, ~, 15), and not litera
Tor binding upon the Christian (Col. q:
M I'D, yet 1t has underneath it a gre
ful wise and benefcent principle, ma
need for rest one day in seven. Phi
ically and nervously he needs r
and quiet; spiritually he needs
M rest and refreshment thus provid
to It was a merciful provision for nj
lst not that man was made for the S
ar bath. Read carefully Matt. 1888,
lus Mark 2:24-27; Luke 1915, Is; see a
John 5:16, II R. V. Though primar
given to the Jew and still unknown
heathenism, yet 1t was Gods gift
yp grace for all mankind, Mark 1927. I
did intelligent, obedient Christian will
ess worship the seventh day but will kt
go the resurrection day, the first day
aid the week, Rom. ia; John 20:1,
.Cst ! oe. Acts 0O.7. Tor 1g.0. Pav