The Sabbath-School Lessons for 1913 by G. B. THOMPSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 19, 1912

The Sabbath-School Lessons for 1913

By G. B. THOMPSON

For the past three years, beginning with the lessons on the life of Christ, we have had uniform lesson topics in all divisions in our Sabbath-schools. The subjects studied have been of special interest, and all have enjoyed the plan of having the same lessons in all divisions.

For various reasons we can not well follow this plan all the time. We have a regular four-year course for the children and young people, consisting of two years in Old Testament history, one year on the life of Christ, six months on the book of Acts, and six months on doctrinal, or topical, questions. As the children and young people pass from one division to another, we can go over and over the same ground in a regular course, such as mentioned above; but all can see that we can not take the senior division over and over the same four years’ course. So for a time we shall have to revert to the plan of having special lessons for the senior division.

Beginning with the first quarter of the year, the intermediate and primary divisions will begin again the regular course. The lessons will begin in Genesis. A most excellent series of lessons has been provided, and we hope these studies will prove a great blessing to all in these divisions.

The senior division will begin a six months’ study on the mediation of Christ, covering his work as priest in the heavenly sanctuary. These lessons, we feel sure, will be of special interest, and will prove very helpful at this particular time. Other good lessons are to follow.

We urge a study of the lessons in the senior division especially, for we feel that there is a serious lack of real Bible study in our Sabbath-schools. Looking over the lesson for a short time is not studying the lesson. Many persons come up to the recitation of the lesson on the Sabbath having studied it very little. This is very sad indeed. Mental gymnastics are not a pleasing task to many. Some are intellectually lazy, and mental sloth is as wicked as any other kind of laziness.

The cry is sometimes raised, “These lessons are too hard; why don’t you give us something easy? Make them simple so we can understand them.” This may be all right; but when something easy is called for in order to avoid the necessity of doing some hard studying, the request is very unfortunate. Complaint sometimes comes to the Sabbath School Department that the lessons are too difficult, when the real difficulty is not with the lessons, but with the persons who have failed to study hard and long, and do not want to do so.

All our Sabbath-school lessons are Bible lessons. Questions are asked, and the exact Bible texts designated where the answers are to be found. Of course there are deep things in the Bible in the unfolding of the mystery of godliness. We do not have much sympathy with the idea that we are to study only the easy, simple, surface truths of the Bible. All Scripture is for our instruction; and there are times when we should plunge out into the deep and let down the net; when some of the things which Peter says are “hard to be understood” should be considered. God put these things in the Bible for our instruction. But it will require study to unravel some of the things which “the angels desire to look into.” The subject and manner of presenting it may be new, and some of the ideas different from the way we have looked at them. But do not argue, nor get discouraged, but study. The Bible is a mine of truth in which we must dig for the ore. The most valuable diamonds are not found with ease, lying on the surface, but after hard digging, deep down in the earth.

The department endeavors to secure the most capable lesson writers, and to simplify the form of the lessons, and make the manner of their preparation as simple as possible. But it can not simplify the Word. That is with the Lord. All subjects are not equally simple. There is a great difference between the pastoral psalms of David, some simple narrative, a description of the new earth in its Edenic beauty, and some sublime and majestic utterances of Ezekiel by the river Chebar, when wrapped in visions of glory; of Daniel at Shushan, who, when he had a vision of the future, “none understood it;” or of Paul when he was caught up to the third heaven and heard “words, which it is not possible for a man to utter.” 2 Cor. 12:4, margin. But should we not study these deep, sublime things?—Most assuredly. It is in the seemingly inscrutable utterances, given to unfold the mystery of God, that some of the most precious jewels of truth are found. But it will require study to find them. So instead of mourning over the profundity of these subjects of infinite depth concerning the plan and purposes of God and man’s destiny, and wishing for something more easily understood, we should dig in the mine, put our mental machinery to work to the limit, being assured that no mine of truth will fail to yield a rich treasure in return for our toil. Notice the following instruction:—

“The entrance of sin into the world, the incarnation of Christ, regeneration, the resurrection, and many other subjects presented in the Bible, are mysteries too deep for the human mind to explain, or even to fully comprehend. But God has given us in the Scriptures sufficient evidence of their divine character, and we are not to doubt his word because we can not understand all the mysteries of his providence.

“The portions of Holy Writ presenting these great themes are not to be passed by as of no use to man. All that God has seen fit to make known, we are to accept upon the authority of his word. Only a bare statement of facts may be given, with no explanation as to why or how; but though we can not comprehend it, we should rest content that it is true, because God has said it. All the difficulty lies in the weakness and narrowness of the human mind.”

“We shall advance in true spiritual knowledge, only as we realize our own littleness, and our entire dependence upon God; but all who come to the Bible with a teachable and prayerful spirit, to study its utterances as the word of God, will receive divine enlightenment. There are many things apparently difficult or obscure, which God will make plain and simple to those who thus seek an understanding of them. . . .

“There are mines of truth yet to be discovered by the earnest seeker. Christ represented the truth as treasure hid in a field. It does not lie right upon the surface; we must dig for it. But our success in finding it does not depend so much on our intellectual ability as on our humility of heart, and the faith which will lay hold upon divine aid.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. V, pages 609, 700, 704.

The lessons for the senior division, which begin with the first of the year, will perhaps not be so easy as some we have studied. But every lesson is found in the Bible, and deals with a theme vital for this time. We must put

the mind to the stretch. We must train ourselves to think. No one is qualified to pronounce a lesson difficult until he has put in hours of faithful, taxing study upon it.

We feel to urge with all the heart a diligent, prayerful study of the lessons prepared and sent out to be studied in all divisions. We are facing trying times, and we shall need a clear understanding of the Word, in order to stand the trials before us. In the Sabbath-school lessons is found an excellent field for study, and the gaining of an understanding of the Bible. We hope the opportunity afforded will be improved to the utmost.

G. B. THOMPSON, Sec. Sabbath School Dept.