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Friday
The First
Lesson
Nehemiah 13:15-22
15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on
the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also
wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they
brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against
them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish,
and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children
of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them,
What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?
18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this
evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon
Israel by profaning the sabbath.
19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began
to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should
be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after
the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that
there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.
20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without
Jerusalem once or twice.
21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge
ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you.
From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.
22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves,
and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the
sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and
spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.
1st Lesson Questions -
What is it for a Christian to keep the Sabbath holy? RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Acts 15:13-21
13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying,
Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles,
to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After
this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David,
which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof,
and I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all
the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who
doeth all these things.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the
world.
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which
from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions
of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and
from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach
him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Compare verses 16-18 with Amos 9:11-12, Jeremiah 12:15, and Isaiah 45:21. RESOLVE.