Montgomery County sentinel., 1938-10-13
IMPROVED "~
UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
CUNDAy
OcHOOL .esson
BY HAROLD L. LUNDQUIST, D. d.
Dean of The Moody Bible Institute
of Chicago.
g Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for October Is
REVERENCE FOR GOD
O1 OIIICdBUs
@ Western Newspaper Union.


LESSON TExr-Exodus 2O7: Matthew
GOLDEN TEXT-Our Father which art in
heaven. Hallowed be thy name.-Matthew
SO.
Character reveals itself through
the words and deeds of man. He
may try to conceal his real spiritual
condition and may assume an out
ward appearance of piety but he
need not say many words, nor meet
many of life's problems, before his
true condition is revealed.
Our lesson for today touches pri-
marily on the matter of the words
of men, presenting first Gods COM
mand that in speaking we are to
show reverence for His name, and
then leading up to the expression
of that reverence in abstinence
from swearing and from idle talk.
1. Reverence Commanded (Exod.
20:D.
The forbidden thing is the taking
of the name of the Lord ''in vain"
Our use of the word "vain" carries
the meaning of useless, without
purpose or meaning" This is part
of what is in mind in this command
ment, for the name of Jehovah is
sacred and is to be reverenced as
standing for the eternal God. It is
never to be used carelessly, or for
frivolous purpose. ALI too often we
tell jokes or stories which have no
real purpose or meaning except to
elicit a laugh and in them we use
the name of God. We all need to
exercise care at that point.
The Hebrew word translated
"vain" has the additional meaning
of "evil'' and "falsehood. Men are
so bold that they may even use the
name of God to support themselves
in a lie. God hears and will in no
wise hold them guiltless.
II. Swearing Forbidden (Matt. S:
$3.50.
The Sermon on the Mount (so-
called), from which this portion of
Scripture is taken, is difficult to
interpret to the satisfaction of all.
Some disregard it's evident appli-
cation to the kingdom and, attempt
ing to apply it in the midst of an
ungodly generation, fall into such
inconsistency that they abandon the
effort and regard the teaching of
the passage as impossible idealism.
Others, who rightly interpret the
passage as presenting the laws and
principles of life in the kingdom of
God when it shall be fully set up
on earth with Jesus as King, fail
to make any application of those
principles to the life of those who
are now living in this world-though
not of it-but rather have their cit
izenship in heaven. This is also an
unfortunate error.
We who follow the Lord Jesus are
not to swear by either things sacred
or things that might be called secu-
lar. Perhaps He has in mind that
our lives should be so true that men
will not need to have any kind of
an oath to be assured of our SIN
cerity and honesty. Some believe
that all oaths even in court are for
bidden, while others, with due re-
spect for the feelings of those who
hold this view, regard the taking of
oaths in official matters as not be-
ing in mind. All would agree that
the careless and almost sacrilegious
use of Gods name in administering
oaths would be taking His name in
vain.
Swearing is also entirely beyond
the pale with Christian men and
women. 1t is all too common with
both men and women. A great
church has organized "Holy Name
Society" to keep its members from
using the name of the Lord in pro-
family. What a telling comment on
the times in which we live!
iii Judgment Assured (Matt. IL:
$3.50.
Jesus had cast out a demon who
had possessed a man and made him
blind and dumb. The Pharisees
could not deny the miracle but at
tributed it to the power of Beelze-
bub, prince of the demons. Jesus
closed their mouths by pointing out
that Satan did not work against him
self, and went on to speak solemn
words regarding their and our re-
sponsibility for what we say.
A day of judgment is coming,
when we shall answer for the idle
and wicked words which we speak.
While we would not bring condem-
nation upon those who indulge in the
innocent pleasantries of life by max
ing too severe an application of
these words, neither should we de-
stroy their evident import by fail
ing to apply them to our daily con-
versation. One need but listen to the
casual small talk of men and women
in public places to realize that we
need to give attention to the mat
ter of elevating not only the CONVEX
sation of others but our own as well
to a nobler and more helpful level.
Surely Christians should speak for
I'll