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Teachers to Uphold God’s Law, May 31
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.
Psalm 19:7
.
Wherever Ezra labored, there sprang up a revival in the study of the Holy
Scriptures. Teachers were appointed to instruct the people; the law of the Lord
was exalted and made honorable. The books of the prophets were searched and the
passages foretelling the coming of the Messiah brought hope and comfort to many a
sad and weary heart.
More than 2,000 years have passed since Ezra “prepared his heart to seek the
law of the Lord, and to do it” (
Ezra 7:10
), yet the lapse of time has not lessened
the influence of his pious example. Through the centuries the record of his life of
consecration has inspired many with the determination “to seek the law of the Lord,
and to do it.”
Ezra’s motives were high and holy; in all that he did he was actuated by a deep
love for souls. The compassion and tenderness that he revealed toward those who
had sinned, either willfully or through ignorance, should be an object lesson to
all who seek to bring about reforms. The servants of God are to be as firm as
a rock where right principles are involved; and yet, withal, they are to manifest
sympathy and forbearance. Like Ezra, they are to teach transgressors the way of life
by inculcating principles that are the foundation of all rightdoing.
In this age of the world, when Satan is seeking, through manifold agencies, to
blind the eyes of men and women to the binding claims of the law of God, there is
need of men who can cause many to “tremble at the commandment of our God”
(
Ezra 10:3
). There is need of true reformers, who will point transgressors to the
great Lawgiver and teach them that “the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the
soul” (
Psalm 19:7
). There is need of men mighty in the Scriptures, men whose
every word and act exalts the statutes of Jehovah, men who seek to strengthen faith.
Teachers are needed, oh, so much, who will inspire hearts with reverence and love
for the Scriptures.
The widespread iniquity prevalent today may in a great degree be attributed to a
failure to study and obey the Scriptures, for when the Word of God is set aside, its
power to restrain the evil passions of the natural heart is rejected....
In the last days of this earth’s history the voice that spoke from Sinai is still
declaring, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (
Exodus 20:3
). Man has set his
will against the will of God, but he cannot silence the word of command. The human
mind cannot evade its obligation to a higher power. Theories and speculations may
abound; men may try to set science in opposition to revelation, and thus do away
with God’s law; but stronger and still stronger comes the command, “Thou shalt
worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve” (
Matthew 4:10
) (
Prophets
and Kings, 623-625
).
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