Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-15
By REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.


lawgiver because through him the
Ten Commandments were given to
men. No other code approaches it in
conciseness. character and compre-
hensiveness. 1t has influenced the
legislation and life of the centuries
because in the decalogue are the
germs of all the advancement man
has since made in morals, religion
and social betterment- Moses was
familiar with the laws of Egypt and
probably also with the civil code of
Hammurabi, which the French ex
petition under the leadership of NJ.
J. de Morgan found at Susa, for it was
the law of the land of his forefathers.
While there is a striking resemblance
in some of the laws of Moses with
those found in the code of Hammur-
abb. which is correctly called THE
Oldest Code of Laws in the World"
yet there is no evidence that any
of the Ten Commandments were
taken from the older code. They
rNay have been the common or ira
ditional law of the freedmen as
sembled at Sanai. but the Mosaic
code was promulgated as the irrev-
ocable law of the Holy God.
The division into two parts is APP
parent upon the face of the lie gisla-
ton and IL has the approval of the
Lord Jesus in His commentator of
the lawyers summary of the law.
which is this weeks golden text.
Some minor differences have arisen
in the grouping of the Ten Com
mandmentS. Roman Catholics and
Lutherans divide the first group into
three and the second group into
seven. while other Christian bodies,
a xvn1l
group into four commandments and
the second into six commandme
All agree that they were spoken by
Jehovah, who gave the decalogue to
the emancipated Hebrew tribes as
the foundation of their national life
and national progress. prosperity and
power demanded a just and ordered
government founded upon law. Chang
ing conditions of civilization has
called for different applications of the
fundamental principles, yet no ques-
dence but what could be settled by
the application of the eternal prin-
clpleS of the Mosaic code, which de-
fined the true relations between man
and God
Spiritual service is but a rea sonable
response to Gods grace in providing
for men salvation just as He secured
freedom for the Hebrew tribes Grace
marked His dealings with Israel be-
fore He placed them under the law
which required "a pure religious faith
IN an age when religions were COR
r I and the superstitiens of poly
theism were almost universal Cor
rect conceptions of God is the founda-
ton of not only religion, but also of
every realm of life. The sublime
monotheism set forth in the first COM
mandment is the only one that today
would be acceptable to thinking men.
for science has demonstrated that
there Is only one God by proving "the
unity of material, of force. of physical
laws. throughout the known universe
BY forbidding worship of false gods it
makes compromise in religion impos
sible. If one tries to worship God and
mammon he may spoil his own life for
Gods rights are supreme and He will
not tolerate a man serving two mas
tiers.
The second commandment calls for
spirituality in worship, because God
is a spirit. Man married by sin finds
it difficult, because of his Materials
tic conceptions. to worship God with
out some aids, which while possibly
helpful to some persons, reveals the
human tendency to drift toward
naturalization of worship which is
not in harmony with the spiritual
character of God. If men substitute
that which promotes their. spiritual
worship, whether it be song, sermon or
service, into a form without which
they cannot worship God then they
are not offering an acceptable worship
to the Heavenly Father, who desires
spiritual worship from every soul. The
third word" prohibits profanity and
perjury in it's demand for spirit of
reverence in the use of the name of
God, which is His representative to US.
We reveal not only the limitation of
vocabulary, but the lack of the cor
rect attitude toward God when WIN
out sufficient consideration we use His
name irreverently or just lightly OF
sacred things.
The fourth is the first positive COM
mandment and is. according TO Tor
rey, the only one of the ten that Is
not specifically reiterated in the New
ber," suggests that the Sabbath was,
as history proves. an institution
which preceded the giving of the
law. 1t is the one that men are most
apt to forget. although the observ-
anoe of the day of rest. recollection
and religion is a physical, mental,
moral and spiritual necessity While
the Lords day is not the same as the
Hebrew Sabbath it should be OBJ
served as hallowed day of worship.
SO that ones spiritual life might be
ouickened. Unless in the mad rush for
gain Americans stop to rest from
labor one day in seven they will fail
to continue as the leaders of the
worlds progress.
The sociologist has his safest guide
for social service in the Mosaic code
that finds in welfare work the best
evidence OF ones spiritual faith. 1t is
fitting that the duties to the home
should be placed first by the COM
mandment to honor ones parents The
strength of society depends upon the
10 Gov fn- h n
the charmed circle of the home every
soul lays the foundation of their sue
cess in spiritual, social and secular
service. The future of civilization,
Christianity and our country depends
upon perpetuating the love for ones
life. If one loves father and mother
they will respect, listen, obey and
support them in the hours of trial.
Christ covered all the laws in refer
ence to social service by a single
statute that called for one ito love
sought in His ethical teachings to
deal with the sources of conduct.
while the last five commandments
are precepts to regulate outward
actions. Some have construed the
command against killing as being
of war, which is wrong
when the war is conducted in self
defense. for the welfare of humanity
and the preservation of freedom. One
may violate this law without the use
of a weapon or poison, for anger and
hatred are contrary to this command
of foods, bad water.
crowded rooms or street cars, child
labor in factories or any form of
mans inhumanity to man" is against |
this command, which seeks TO empha- |
sis the value of human life.
Humanity has no more subtle sin to |
fight than the social evil. The |
paraIyzing power of the |
social vices has appeared in the !