The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-09-12
Lesson for September Is
TEACHING THE LAW OF GOD

, I TEACHING ! HE LAW Or GOD
GOLDEN TEXT-The entrance Of thy
words giveth light
LESSON TEXT-Nehemiah S:1-1S.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Studying Gods
Word.
JUNIOR ToPIC-studying Gods
Word
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Finding Joy in Gods Word.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-The Call for Trained Teachers.
This lesson is a fine illustration of
the rightful place of Gods Word in
the life of nation. The only certain
cure for national ills is a return to
God and obedience to His Word.
|. The Word of God Being Read
(yv. 49,.
i. The eager assembly ". u.
The people gathered themselves to-
gether and requested Ezra to bring
the book Of the law.
2. A representative assembly ". p.
1t was made up of men, women and
children. The men did not leave the
spiritual affairs to the women, neither
were the children left at home The
Spirit of God can speak through Gods
Word to the whole family sitting in
the pew.
The lesson lasted for five or six
hours. from morning until midday.
II. The Peoples Attitude Toward
Gods Word wv. 49,.
1. Due reverence shown wv. 4, 81.
When Ezra opened the law, all the
people stood up out of respect for
Gods Word.
2. They joined heartily in the
prayer ". @.
AS Ezra led them in prayer, they
Joined heartily in saying, "Amen,
Amen" bowling their faces to the
ground.
III. Gods Word Being Interpreted
(vv. 7, 81.
The attitude of the people toward
Gods Word largely depends upon the
minister. Proper dignity and solem-
nifty should be manifested by the min
lister when reading the Holy Scrip
lures.
l. He stood up where the people
could see him ". 81.
2. He read distinctly ". s..
8. He caused the people to under
stand the reading ". s..
~. The Effect of Applying Gods
Word to the Life of the People wv.
9-1S).
l. Conviction of sin ". 81.
The Word of God is quick and pow
erful (Heb. 4:12). 1t brings convic-
ton of sin (Acts 2:3O. The divine
method of conyicting men of sin is
to have Gods Word applied by the
Holy Ghost
2. Weeping turned into joy wv.
1912.
When sins have been perceived and
confessed, there is forgiveness. God
desires forgiven sinners to enter into
the Joy of forgiveness. Continued
mourning will not atone for sins that
are past, units one for present tasks,
and dishonors a pardoning God. Be-
sides, joy has q sanitary effect on
ones entire being. The JOY of the
Lord is your strength" ". 10).
8. Blessings were shared with
others wv. 10-12).
True joy manifests itself in giving
to others; pure religion goes out to
minister to the poor GAS. 1:2O.
4. The people obeyed wv. 1879.
From the reading of the Scriptures,
they found that the Feast of Taber-
nacles had long been neglected. They
proceeded to keep this sacred feast
in a way that had not been observed
since the days Of Joshua (v. 10. In
the keeping of this feast they dwelt
In BOOTHS thus typifying their pill
grim character and bringing to re-
membrane the days of their wilder
ness journey.
v. Separation from the Uneodly
(Neh. IS :1-3).
A. soon rs they had heard the Word
of God, they separated themselves
from the mixed multitude.
vi. The House of Worship Was
Cleared and Order Restored (Neh.
13:4-1D.
No nation or people can be strong
which neglects the worship of the true
God.
VII. Restoration of the Sabbath
(Neh. 13:15-22).
Israel had long violated the Sab
bath. To ignore the essential law of
the Sabbath is national suicide. IN
numbered evils follow in the wake
of the desocration of Gods Holy day.
VIII. Restoration of Gods Law of
Marriage (Neh. Is :23-3D.
When those who had intermarried
with the heather were brought face
to face with their sin, they separated
themselves from their ungodly COM
panions.