p. 14 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 36. (9/3/1902)

LESSON 11.—SEPTEMBER 14.—LOVING AND OBEYING GOD.

Lesson Scripture, Deut. 30:11-20, R.V.

11 “For this commandment which I command thee this day it is not too hard for thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it? But the Word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.” 15 “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; in that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply, and that the Lord thy God may bless thee in the land whither thou goest in to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, and thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish; ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go in to possess it. I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore choose life, that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed; to love the Lord thy God, to obey His voice, and to cleave unto Him; for He is thy life, and the length of thy days; that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Golden Text. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” 1 John 5:3.

Special Helps.—“Patriarchs and Prophets,” Ch. 42, pages 462–468.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) Where were the children of Israel when the exhortation in this lesson was given? Of what had the Lord just given them a repetition? What is said of the “commandment,” or law of God? Verse 11. Note 1. (2) How is this expression further illustrated? Verse 12. (3) How is its nearness shown by earthly distances? Verse 13. (4) How very accessible is the Word of God to those who desire to obey it? Verse 14. Note 2. (5) What has been plainly set before His creatures? Verse 15. Note 3. (6) What is the command, obedience to which will give life? Verse 16. Note 4. (7) What does one virtually do whose heart is turned away from the commandments of God? Verse 17. (8) And what is the inevitable consequence? Verse 18. (9) What witnesses does the Lord summon to testify to His righteous dealing with sinners? Verse 19. Note 5. (10) What is a further result of choosing life? In whom have we life and “length of days”? Verse 20. Note 6.

NOTES.

1. On the borders of the promised land, as the wilderness probation of Israel was about to close, and they were about to enter into their temporary reward, the Lord repeated to them the promises and conditions of His covenant. Compare verses 8 and 9, just preceding the lesson scripture, with Ex. 19:5, 6. The commandments of God are not “too hard,” as many suppose. The apostle John adds his testimony that they “are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3.

2. “The Word is nigh thee.” (See also Rom. 10:5-11.) We do not have to send a messenger to some distant point on earth, or up to heaven, to learn the will of God. His Messenger has brought it to us. If we will accept it, if we will open the heart to receive it, and the mouth to speak it, and then take hold to do it, it is at hand. “What nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for?” Deut. 4:7. “Ask, and it shall be given you.” Matt. 7:7.

3. Life and death are set before each individual, and he is at liberty to make a free choice. The Lord desires him to choose life. He gave His Son, and the Son gave Himself, in order that man could have eternal life for the choosing. To Israel God said, “Choose ye this day, whom ye will serve.” It is just as important that our choice be made to-day; and the invitation is abroad,—“whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.” The acceptance of life in Jesus Christ includes all other good. Rom. 8:32.

4. The principle of love and obedience is made very clear in verse 16. To love the Lord and to keep His commandments are made conditions of life. Thus spake the Spirit through Moses, and when the Prophet like unto Moses came (of whom we learned in last week's lesson), He uttered the same doctrine: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,” and “if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matt. 22:37; 19:17. And the apostle John so thoroughly blends the ideas of love and obedience that he makes keeping the commandments the definition of love. See memory verse.

5. The continual pleading of the Lord for sinners to turn unto Him and be saved is beyond human comprehension. And He has made the matter so plain that there is no excuse. All heaven and earth are witnesses that all has been done that divine wisdom can devise or divine power accomplish. The appeals set forth in the Word could spring only from the very Fountain of love and mercy. Note a few of them. Isa. 1:16-19; 5:1-4; Matt. 11:28-30; 23:37-39; John 3:16. Also the prayer of Jesus, John 17, and His appeal in behalf of His persecutors as they were nailing Him to the cross.—“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

6. The result of choosing life is a clinging to the Lord in loving obedience, recognizing that He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” He has backed His promise with His oath, giving assurance by these “two immutable things” (Heb. 6:15-20) that there shall be no failure in the great plan of salvation. He Himself, the eternal One, is the “life” and “length of days” (immortality) to all who will “cleave unto Him.” “In Him we live, and move, and have our being.” Acts 17:28. And He “hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.” 2 Tim. 1:10.

LESSON 12.—SEPTEMBER 20.—JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH THE BASIS OF THE CONTINUANCE OF THE KINGDOM.

The reality of the kingdom of God is found in spiritual principles rather than in material things. Rom. 14:17. The kingdom is to be established within. Luke 17:20, 21. Its scepter is a scepter of righteousness. Heb. 1:8. On this basis shall the rule be established. Isa. 32:1. This righteousness is everlasting. Ps. 119:142. This righteousness is brought to man in the gift of Jesus the Messiah (Dan. 9:24, 25), who is Himself righteousness (Jer. 23:6). His coming is the coming of the kingdom. Mark 1:14, 15. In His continuance as the seed is bound up the continuance of the kingdom. Ps. 89:3, 4, 29, 35, 36. In Him as the seed, the kingdom and the house of David would be established forever. 2 Sam. 7:12, 13, 16, 26. The same righteousness which is the scepter of the kingdom is revealed in the Gospel as its power. Rom. 1:16, 17. This righteousness is a gift. Rom. 5:17. It is received through faith in Christ. Rom. 3:21, 22. And this is the faith through which we are justified. Gal. 2:16. Thus it is evident that the stability of the kingdom rests upon the stability of character (Ps. 111:3); that on God’s part this stability of righteousness has been provided for us in the gift of Christ to the flesh (1 Cor. 1:30); that on our part we avail ourselves of this provision, and so become righteous (justified) in His sight through faith in Christ (Rom. 3:24–26). The testimony to the genuineness of this experience is found in the law (Rom. 3:21), which is established by our faith (verse 31). Thus the whole basis for the stability, the enduring character, the continuance of the kingdom of God is found in the experience of justification by faith. This is the Gospel of the kingdom which “shall stand forever.”

QUESTIONS.

What constitutes the reality of the kingdom of God?
Where is the kingdom to be found?
What is the scepter of the kingdom?
How is the King to rule?
How permanent is this righteousness?
How is this righteousness brought to humanity?
What connection is there between the coming of the Messiah and the coming of the kingdom?
What connection is there between the continuance of the Messiah in the flesh and the continuance of the kingdom?
How are the kingdom and the house of David to be established?
Where and how is the everlasting righteousness of the kingdom revealed?
On what terms is this righteousness offered to us?
How is this righteousness received by us?
What experience does this bring to us?
What, therefore, determines the stability of the kingdom?
In what way has this stability of righteousness been provided for us?
How do we avail ourselves of this provision?
What bears witness to the genuineness of this experience?
What experience on our part involves and settles the whole question of the continuance of the kingdom of God?
What relation does this experience sustain to the prophecy concerning the kingdom which should stand forever?

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BAPTISM: Its Significance, Its Nature, and the Necessity for It.

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Outlines of Modern Christianity and Modern Science

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A Cowardly Plea.

A prominent daily truly says that “heredity does more harm as a doctrine than as a fact,” and continues:—

Heredity is so easy a way of accounting for crime that it appeals irresistibly to both criminals and a certain class of “scientific experts.” And lots of people who are not criminals, but just morally lazy, plead in defense of their sins that they are “the sum of their ancestors.” Thus they derive the comfortable but character-rotting conclusion that they are not responsible for their evil deeds.

To burden our ancestors with all our moral defects while we make no effort to overcome them, is moral suicide. The article above quoted from further says:—

So far from heredity, when this side of insanity, exempting one from moral responsibility, it really increases that responsibility. The knowledge that you have a weak spot, is a command to guard yourself there—a command that a self-respecting man will obey. Encouraging the belief that, because you are tempted by feeble nerves or tainted blood, you have a sort of right to fall, is but the Satanic voice of self-indulgence, a voice which is pleasant to the ear of every man, no matter who or what his ancestors were.

Cowards plead heredity for their sins; brave men give battle to the devil that is in them, whether that devil be a family guest of ancient standing or an agreeable new-comer introducing himself with the alluring proposal that you join him in a “good time.”

He who will choose God’s will, the way of right, has all the moral forces of the universe on his side.

This Week’s Topics and Notices

By Editor

We call especial attention to the notices relative to camp-meeting and schools on page 13.

Read our Literary Notices on page 11, where a new translation of the all-important Book is noticed, and the outline of another important work is given.

Read the article on “The Vatican and the United States,” and see how European powers and the Vatican regard the bargaining going on between this country and the Papacy.

Next week closes the series of articles on the “Coming of the Lord.” Then will begin a series on the “Prophecy of Zechariah.” The SIGNS OF THE TIMES from now on has very important matter to present for the whole world. Of course, it is all given in the Bible, and re-written in the history of the past and in the current events of to-day, but men do not see it. We point the way.

Railway Slaughter

In the first three months of this year, on the railways of the United States, 813 persons were killed, fifty-three of whom were passengers, the remainder employees. There were 9,958 wounded in collisions and other accidents. The number of collisions were 1,220, and derailments 838. If the year continues its work at the same rate, it will mean 3,252 killed and 39,832 wounded. The Thrice-a-Week World points out that this is more than were killed in both the war with Great Britain 1812 to 1815, and the war with Mexico 1846 to 1848, and five times as many wounded as in both of those wars. In 1900 there were 7,855 killed and 50,320 wounded. Surely this indicates criminal carelessness or recklessness somewhere. It is stated that among the fifteen hundred million passengers carried in Great Britain last year, not one was killed.

Knowing the Shepherd’s Voice

Jesus Christ is the Great Shepherd of the sheep. We need not worry over His part. The great questions with us, reader, are, Am I one of His sheep? Do I know His voice so well that I do not follow the voice of strangers?

The Language of the Bible

Our common version, usually called Authorized Version, was published in 1611. Its language at that time was far superior to that of the literature of that day, superior in clearness, in force, in beauty. Take, for instance, the “The Church History of Britain,” by Thomas Fuller, an eloquent and learned clergyman, finished about 1660. He uses “acception” for acceptation, “advoutry” for adultery, “afearde” for afraid, “ceased on” for seized on, “clint” for clinch, “commune” for common, “scited” for situated, “sithence” for since, “sprongen” for sprung, “decoring” for adorning, “shive” for a slice. Many of these and similar words do not appear in later editions. Surely the language of our Bible was better than that of the age which saw it put in English. But the American Standard Revision is better. See notice on page 11.

The Greatest of All

(1 Corinthians 13, American Standard Revised Version)

*If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of Prophecy, And know all Mysteries and all Knowledge; And if I have all Faith, so as to remove Mountains, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE, I am nothing. And if I bestow all my Goods to feed the poor, And if I give my Body to be Burned, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE, It profiteth me nothing. LOVE suffereth long, and is kind; LOVE envieth not: LOVE vaunteth not itself, Is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, Seeketh not its own, Is not provoked, Taketh not account of evil: Rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, But rejoiceth with the Truth; Beareth all things, Believeth all things, Hopeth all things, Endureth all things. LOVE NEVER FAILETH: But whether there be Prophecies, they shall be done away; Whether there be Tongues, they shall cease; Whether there be Knowledge, it shall be done away. For we know in part, And we prophesy in part; But when that which is Perfect is come, That which is in Part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: Now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror darkly; But then face to face: Now I know in part; But then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. But now abideth FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, These three; And the greatest of these is LOVE.*

Which Is the Greater Delusion?—From the Christian Work we clip this item:—

“The Saints,” a sect of belated but still hopeful Millerites, waited at Binghamton for four days and nights for the end of the world. Then they adjourned for a season. They still nurse the unconquerable belief that this oblate spheroid is a bad risk, and the last scene of the last act of this tragi-comedy is getting mighty near. There have been such dreamers for ages, and they die without the sight they long for, as millions of others will, too.

We have no defense for the deluded people who persist in setting times for the Lord to come, altho there is plenty of evidence that we are living in the last days, and the soon coming of the Lord is no delusion. 2 Tim. 3:1-7. It is a serious question whether it is not even a greater delusion to scoff at those who have proof that the time is near, and therefore assume to set the time. Christian Work should be aware that “there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” 2 Peter 3:3, 4. This is much the tone of Christian Work’s criticism, and is the language of those of whom the inspired Word says, “they willingly are ignorant.”

A Tobacco Generation

“A Tobacco Generation.”—A local city paper truly calls this “a tobacco generation,” and remarks:—

Never since Sir Walter Raleigh enjoyed his first pipe has the warfare of anti-tobacco crusaders been less effective than it is now. To the man about town the problem of the continued existence of so many cigar shops becomes more perplexing every year. In almost every hotel, large or small; in almost every barroom and drug store cigars are sold. Nevertheless, in the cities, and towns, and villages, from Alaska to Patagonia, in every zone and every clime, every shop in which nothing but tobacco in one form or another is sold, seems to eke out an existence. How can such hosts of shops get a sufficient number of patrons to keep them going?

In this city amazing rentals for quarters on frequented corners are paid by the dealers who cater to the tastes of devotees of tobacco. The ranks of the chewers and the takers of snuff have been extensively reduced in this generation, but the innumerable host of men and boys who seek solace in cigars, cigarettes, and pipes, and spend a great deal of money in the worship of the nicotine goddess every year, grows even more rapidly than the percentage of the advance in population.

And what an awfully sad thing it is that it is so. Tobacco is a recruiting agent of whisky. Surely opposition to the curse is needed to save the boys.

Continue reading: Not Wanted