The Coolidge examiner., 1935-12-13
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Improved O SUNDAY
Uniform C)-~)r
-:-LESSON = =
Ry REV P. B. FITZWATER, D. D..
Member of Faculty, Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago.
g Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for December Is
EZRA TEACHING THE LAW OF
GOD

GOLDEN IEAI-Iny WOru nave L
hid in my heart, that I might not
sin against thee. Psalm 119:11.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Giving Thanks
for Gods Book.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Giving Thanks
for Gods Book.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
TOPIC-Studying the Bible Together.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
| ITOPIC-The Bible in National Life.
This lesson is a fine illustration
of the rightful place of Gods Word
in the life of a nation. The only
cure for national ills is return to
God and obedience to his Word.
|. The Teachers Spiritual Condi-
tion ezra 7:10)
He prepared his heart to seek the
law of the Lord, to do it, and to
teach Israel the statutes and judg
mentS.
II. The Word of God Read (Neh.
S:1-3).
1. The eager assembly ". y. The
people gathered together and re-
quested Ezra to bring the book of
the law. God had touched their
hearts, creating within them a
yearning for his Word.
2. A representative assembly ".
l. p. Gods Word should be taught to
all claSseS-men, women, and chill
dren. The Spirit of God can speak
through his Word to the whole fam
lily sitting in the same pew.
3. An appreciative assembly ".
-. SO eager were they to know
Gods Word that they did not get
tired, although the lesson lasted
for five or six hours. When people
realize that God is speaking through
his Word they will give attention.
III. The Peoples Attitude Toward
Gods Word wv. 4-6).
l. 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 prayer
(v. g.. AS Ezra led them in prayer
they united in saying, Amen,
Amen" bowling their faces to the
ground.
w. Gods Word Being Interpreted
wv. Z, 81.
The attitude of the people toward
Gods Word largely depends upon
the minister. Proper dignity and
sOlemnity should be manifested by
the minister when reading the Holy
Scriptures.
l. He stood up where the people
could see him ". 81.
=. He read distinctly ". 81. The
manner in which many read the
Scriptures is greatly to their dis
credit, as well as that of the reader.
3. He caused the people to under
stand ". 81. The supreme business
CT the minister and teacher is to
make the Word of God so plain
that old and young can understand.
The explanation should be clear,
simple, and definite
V. The Effect of Applying Gods
Word TO the Life of the People
wv. 9-1S).
l. Conviction of sin ". 81. The
divine method of cOnvicting men of
their sin is to have Gods Word ap-
piled by the Holy Spirit. The Word
of God is quick and powerful (Heb.
4:12).
2. Weeping turned into JOY (vv.
10-12). When sins have been per-
ceived and confessed there is for
giveneSs. Continued mourning will
not atone for past sins. Further
more, it dishOnors a pardOning God
and even units the one for present
tasks. Joy has salutary effect
upon ones entire being. 1.-THE joy
of the Lord is your strength"
3. Blessings were shared with 9th
ers wv. 10-12). True joy manifests
itself in giving to others. Pure re-
ligion goes out to minister to the
poor (James :2O. Godliness Is
not content with having a good time
alone.
4. The people obeyed. From the
reading of the Scriptures they found
that the feast Of the tabernacles
had long been neglected. They kept
this sacred feast in way that had
not been since the days of Joshua.
5. They separated themselves from
the ungodly (13:13). AS soon as
they had heard the Word of God
they separated themselves from the
mixed multitude.
6. The house of worship was
cleared and order restored (13:4-
14). No nation or people can be
strong which neglectS the worship
of the true God.
! Z. The Sabbath was restored
(13 1922. Israel had long violated
the Sabbath. To ignore the essen
tial law of the Sabbath is national
suicide. Unnumbered evils followed
in the wake of the desecration of
Gods holy day.
s. Gods law of marriage re-
stored (13 :23-3D. Some of those
who had intermarried with the
heather were brought face to face
with their sin. They separated
themselves from their ungodly com
paniOns. Gods favor cannot be en-