The Green Forest tribune., 1917-12-07

GOLDEN TEXT-Thy word is lamI unto my feet, and light unto my path Ps. 119:106.
 The first day of the seventh month (S:2) was about October 444 B. C. Seven days feast (vv. 15-1S) was the feast of the Tabernacles beginning the 18th of the seventh month (Octo, ber) and continuing for seven or eight days Uev. 23). Nehemiah was the governor Ezra the scribe, chief priest; and Artaxerxes, king of Per sia, ruler over Palestine. It would be interesting to look up the sudden in- terjection of Ezra's name into this discourse; also the special reasons for teaching the Bible. There Is In this chapter record of full week and of the daily events of that week.
 l. The Preparation. Go back to verse 70 of the preceding chapter, and you will find that the temple had just been receiving some large gifts. The task of finishing the wall was also completed, all of which gives point to verse one, where 1t says that the peo- pie gathered themselves together as one man. This was an ancient open air meeting, one we do well to study. The people requested Ezra to bring the book" It needed no catch-penny operations to draw the crowd togeth- CT. The writer of Nehemiah calls the book "the law which the Lord hath commanded unto Moses" (See V. cf. V. 14.) This, of course. would in- clude Leviticus, Numbers, sxd Deuter- onomy, an indication as to the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch, which Is in line with the statement that Jesus Christ made that it was God who had written 1t as he had commanded Moses. It was not a mob there was organization and equipment. (See V. 8 and A. The Bible was also read so that the people could understand 1t (v. 9; certainly something that is in demand in our present day. Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he stood on an elevation above them (v. 5 and read dis tinctly."
 II. The Reading of the Word. They read the book, not from some com- mentary or quarterly, though these have value in their place. The read ing began with reverence. Reverence for but not worship of the book. The Bible Is not fetish or charm against sickness or accident. The verse "caused the people to under stand the law" (v. , probably means that Is was translated into the ver- nacular, the language of the common people. While Gods word Is plain book and easy to read, nevertheless men of spiritual understanding are needed to rightly divide" it unto the people (v. D. However, the great in terpreter of the Bible given by the Fa- ther Is the Holy Spirit himself (John 1e:12-15; I John 2:2O-2D. This method of beginning the study of the word and its continuance as presented In these verses Is good suggestion for modern Sunday school workers. There is blessing ln being a teacher and joy in being 0 nearer.
 III. The Hearing of the Word. (vv. 9-1O. As Ezra and Nehemiah and their associates and Levites taught the people, there was five-fold result. First: There was conviction and mourning. The word of God always convtcts of sin, but the people were told not to mourn over the past, nor were they to weep. for all the people wept (v. 9). When men hear the words of the law there will be con- viction of sin. (See Eph. G:T; Heb. 4:120 Weeping may not however, be conviction e Cor. 7:10). Weeping weakens, but that was not designed, rather the exhilarauon of joy, More over, they were to seek the refresh ment of food and drink. Indeed, the joy of the Lord was to be their strength fv. 10). And there was very great giadness" (v. 17). In verse II we are told that the Lev.tes exhorted the people to hold their peace, that the day wes holy and that they should be grieyed. To this the people re- sponded (v. 12l, and made great mirth, because they had understood the dec laration of the word of the Lord. No- tice that joy and gladness came after obedience, also that Nehemiah, the governor. had part In the teaching. It Is great thing for any people when their civil rulers arc genuine, intclli- gent, and spiritual leaders. The peo- pie were instructed to show their grati- tude as well as their piety by remem- bering those for whom nothing had been prepared" tv. 10). The fourth result was peace tv. 11)-the peace of right relation with God (Rom. g.: 1; Phil. AID. Mourning can be con- tinued too long. and. therefore. 1t was necessary to employ the emotion of mirth and the exercise of work that the people might enter into this peace. The fifth result. therefore, was serv- Ice (v. 12). Notice that their thanks giving portions and their service were based upon an intelligent knowledge of Gods word. If <here Is anything that present-dey social service needs. 1t Is the illumination which comes from knowledge Of Gods word. Last of all. worship tvv. 13-1S). Worship Is a compound of worth" md ship" What is God worth to mel Worship is the answer. At its best 1t is the spontaneous exercis} of the joy of the Lord fin redeemed soul. It is not spectacular, but auiet, reverent nnd strong. It nscends to Gcd; he alone Is the object, however expressed. There is power iN life built around such center.
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