“So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”—Neh. 8:8.
Lesson III.—Sabbath, October 19, 1895.
THE GENUINE PRINCIPLE OF LIBERTY.
1. For what kind of rights and liberty may even selfish men plead? Ans.—Their own rights and their own liberty.
2. What kind of liberty did the Lord command the children of Israel to proclaim at the year of jubilee? Ans.—Universal liberty.
“And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof; it shall be a jubilee unto you: and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.” Lev. 25:10. See note .
3. How did he rebuke them for not heeding this instruction?
“Therefore thus saith the Lord: Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbor; behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.” Jer. 34:17.
4. For whom had they not proclaimed liberty? Same verse. See note .
5. What judgments were pronounced upon them because of this failure on their part? Same text.
6. What does this show? Ans.—God’s displeasure at men’s disregard for the rights of others, and that his judgments come on account of these things.
7. In what language did Job show his regard for the rights of his servants?
“If I did despise the cause of my manservant, or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; what then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?” Job 31:13–15.
8. Instead of serving ourselves all the while, what does the Bible tell us to do?
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Phil. 2:4.
9. How are we to serve one another?
“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Gal. 5:13.
10. Are our love and good will to be confined simply to those who reciprocate them?
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matt. 5:43, 44.
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Gal. 6:10.
11. If all men would love their enemies as well as their friends, how long could enemies, enmity, and persecution exist?
12. What is the only principle which will lead men to treat their neighbors as themselves?
“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord.” Lev. 19:18.
“Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
14. What is love declared to be?
“Owe no man anything, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Verses 8–10.
15. What result does the keeping of the law bring to the individual himself?
“So shall I keep thy law continually forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty; for I seek thy precepts.” Ps. 119:44, 45. See note .
16. Since the keeping of the law of God insures liberty both to the individual himself and also to his neighbor, what is this law most fittingly called?
“So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” James 2:12. See note .
17. But as this law can be fulfilled only by love, what is the fundamental principle of true liberty for all men?
