Reading the Law by Dell

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 12, 1879

"Reading the Law."

By Dell

We have in this nineteenth century many talented priests and teachers, who, gifted with eloquence and power, draw to their presence crowds of eager listeners and admirers, who sit entranced and delighted with the words of truth and wisdom that fall from the lips of these truly remarkable men.

But where is the minister or teacher who can command the closest attention of a dense throng of men, women and children of to-day, from dawn until mid-day, simply by reading to them the law of God, and explaining its meaning in simple language, as did Ezra and the Levites? We are told that all the people gathered together as one man, that they stood up for prayer and remained standing from dawn till mid-day, listening attentively to the reading of God's word by Ezra and its explanation by the Levites. Our ministers and teachers now realize the necessity of a brief and hurried explanation of perhaps a single sentence or passage of God's book if they wish to retain the interest and attention of their audience, and should they exceed but a few moments their allotted time, the restlessness and lack of interest of their hearers is manifest. The multitudes who thronged the street before the water-gate, cared little for the luxuriously cushioned pews, the subdued light that falls through stained glass windows, or the general comfort and elegance that prevail in the churches of to-day, and is offered to those who will but come and hear the word.

No thought of personal weariness or discomfort came between them and the great vital truths they were hearing; filled with grief and anguish when they learned of their great and numerous transgressions and bowed down with grief and fear, until comforted by their teachers who gave them the meaning of God's wondrous promises. They became once more joyful and happy, and thanking God for his great mercies they went about doing good. Would that such a day might come to us; and while we thank God that his holy word is now within the reach of every one who will receive it, and not as in days of old, in charge of a chosen few. Let us read more diligently; strive to understand properly, and listen with eagerness and attention to those who are appointed to teach it to us.—Dell.