p. 14 | SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Nov 1, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 44.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS

LESSON VIII.—SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1899. # PUBLIC READING OF THE SCRIPTURES. ## Lesson Scripture, Neh. 8:1-12, R.V. 1 "And when the seventh month was come, the children of Israel were in their cities. And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water-gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation, both men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the 3 seventh month. And he read therein before the broad place that was before the water-gate from early morning until mid-day,

in the presence of the men and the women, and of those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people); and when he opened it, all the people stood up; 6 and Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands; and they bowed their heads, and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law; and the 8 people stood in their place. And they read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, which was the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto our Lord; neither be ye 11 grieved; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the 12 day is holy; neither be ye grieved. And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them."

Golden Text: "And he read therein before the street that was before the water-gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law." Neh. 8:3.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) How large a congregation came together? and where did they meet? V. 1. Note 1. (2) What did they ask of Ezra, the scribe? V. 1. (3) At what time was this meeting held? V. 2. (4) What did Ezra bring before the congregation at this time? V. 2. Note 2. (5) How long did he continue to read from the book of the law? And how did the people receive what was read? V. 3. (6) When Ezra blessed the Lord, what did all the people say? And how did they show their reverence for the Lord and His Word? V. 6. (7) Were the people helped to understand? V. 8. (8) What did the people do when they heard the words of the law? V. 9. (9) Why were the people told to refrain from weeping? Vs. 9, 10. (10) What is the "joy of the Lord"? V. 10. (11) Why did the people make "great mirth"? Verse 12.

NOTES.

1. This lesson gives the report of a most wonderful meeting. It can not be studied too closely in every particular. Each sentence should be carefully pondered so that we may fully comprehend what God designs to teach us in this important scripture

2. The law.—The last lesson gave a full history of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. This lesson is an account of the beginning of a reformation among the people. Israel had long been in Babylon, surrounded by the grossest depths of heathenism. And when it is remembered that they were sent into the Babylonish captivity because of their departure from God, it becomes very evident that many of them were by this time in the grossest errors and vices. But Ezra, like every true priest or minister of God, brought forth the book of God's law and read from it. This book as it was read revealed their sinfulness. And so strong was the contrast between what their characters were and what the Word of God held forth as right, that the people were moved to weeping. And thus it will always be when the Word of God is really believed in and held forth by a religious teacher; it will do its appointed work of breaking the hard hearts of men and leading them to repentance and contrition. The Word of God is in and of itself both living and powerful. Heb. 4:12. It is life and power. And every reform worthy of the name has been based on the powerful Word. But every individual who is truly reformed must have the ever-living Word of God as his sure foundation. The person who has learned that God's Word has both life and power, has learned the secret of every reform, and has stepped upon the ladder by which he may mount to the very heights of the pure and holy life of God and His Christ.