NOTES ON THE INTERNATIONAL LESSON.
By W. N. Glenn
"THE heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handy work." Verse 1. The highest conception of a deity entertained by any idol-worshippers has only comprehended the heavenly bodies. The extent, then, of the natural mind is limited to the things that are seen, or otherwise brought within the scope of the natural senses. All knowledge beyond this must be received of the Spirit, and is spiritually discerned. But these heavenly bodies, notwithstanding their magnificence, are revealed to us by inspiration as merely the handiwork of the true God. The infidel scientist, so-called, will study and admire the planets and their wonderful movements, but he fails to see in them the evidence of that which they so loudly declare, namely, the glory of God. REGARDING the majesty of the Creator, a more beautifully scientific utterance could hardly be imagined than the first six verses of this psalm. The planets and stars furnish evidence, speaking to the senses of man wherever their light is seen; and the evidence is continual—"day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge." An expressive incident is told of a heathen monarch who haughtily said to a Jew, "Where is your God? show him to me." The Jew replied, "I cannot show you my God, but come and I will show you one of his messengers;" and pointing to the sun, added, "look at him." The monarch answered, "I cannot, it pains my eyes." "Then," said the Jew, "how could you look upon the sun's Creator, at whose rebuke the pillars of heaven tremble?" NATURALLY, the seventh verse and onward contemplate the law of the Creator whose glory and power are so emphatically attested in the preceding verses. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Six thousand years of practical test have demonstrated the perfection of his law governing the movements of the planets, and we would naturally expect an equal degree of wisdom in framing a moral law. The expression, "converting the soul," shows that the moral law is referred to, as such an effect could hardly be expected of any other law—not even a "constitutional amendment." True, a law of the senate of pagan Rome did once declare the empire to be "Christian," but the sequel failed to show that there was any conversion of soul about the transaction. Nor have any subsequent bulls or edicts to a like end evinced any soul-converting influence upon the world. According to Paul's experience, it was the law that showed him his sin, and he identifies it by referring to the command, "Thou shalt not covet." Rom. 7:7. And in verse 12, he adds his testimony to that of David, "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." "THE testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." Spurgeon remarks upon this: "What a blessing that in a world of uncertainties we have something sure to rest upon. We hasten from the quicksands of human speculation to the terra firma of divine revelation." The testimony of the Lord is given to us through his prophets, and he has said that he "will do nothing but he revealeth his secret to his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7. Most people, even Christian ministers, claim that the prophets are obscure and uncertain of interpretation. It is nowhere promised that they shall be understood without study and prayer. Daniel searched and prayed earnestly to understand the prophecy regarding the return of captive Israel to Jerusalem. Jesus enjoined the Jews to search the Scriptures for eternal life—not merely to read them casually; and furthermore, it was necessary for them to do his will in order to know of his doctrine. According to Peter's testimony, the word of prophecy is "more sure" than actual human sight, and is a "light that shineth in a dark place." But every attainment in the Christian life costs an effort, and it is only through earnest labor and faith that light and help may be secured in the narrow and difficult way of salvation. But "the testimony of the Lord is sure," his arm is strong, and he is willing to "save to the uttermost" all who come unto him through Christ. "THE statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart." What heart can it be that is rejoiced by God's statutes? It must be the converted heart, for the unconverted, or carnal, heart "is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. 8:7. Then what estimate can we place upon that "Christianity" that says, "We have nothing to do with the law," and persists in its violation. "MORE to be desired are they [the statutes and judgments of God] than gold, yea than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb." This does not sound as though they were very burdensome, as some religious teachers would have us believe. We are told by modern expounders that Peter refers to the moral law in Acts 15:10, "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear." We can hardly credit David with desiring a yoke that he could not bear, much less with calling it "sweeter than honey." Furthermore, Christ enjoined the keeping of the commandments (Matt. 19:17), yet declared that his yoke was easy (chap. 11:30). "MOREOVER by them is thy servant warned; and in keeping of them is great reward." Verse 11. To this add Solomon's testimony: "For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light; and the reproofs of instruction are the way of life." Also that of James: "Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." Not in his belief; not in his feeling; but "in his deed" [margin, "or doing"]. And with these Paul agrees: "By the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:20. Now how can we dispense with so important an element as this, or dare to change a perfect God-given guide. It serves as a warning, and brings great reward to the obedient. It is a light, and the reproofs of its instruction are the way of life. It is a "law of liberty," and not a yoke of bondage; and he who continueth therein shall be blessed in doing it. It is a glass, before which we may see all character blemishes. By it we have the knowledge of sin, and are driven to Christ as the only remedy. Rom. 7:24, 25; Acts 4:12. "KEEP back thy servant from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me." Verse 13. What are presumptuous sins? They are sins against light and knowledge. "The soul that doeth aught presumptuously, whether he be born in the land or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord, and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him." Num. 15:30, 31. Pharaoh, Korah, Saul, Jeroboam, and Ahab are notable examples of presumption, stubbornly persisting in opposing the known will of God. All will agree in condemning these; but what about the professed Christian who will persist in violating the plain law of God as it is published in every one of the millions of Bibles, in nearly every known language on the earth; and will uphold an acknowledged man-made change in the only commandment that points out the true God of the universe? Surely "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and "to obey is better than sacrifice."