The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-01-29
THE PRESENTATION.
International Sunday-school Lesson for
February ., 1890.

GOLDEN lENr-A Ight 10 ugnVen the
Gentiles, and the glory of thy people
lsrael.-Luke 1882.
TIME-Early in February, b. c. 4,
forty days after the last lesson.
PLACE - The temple at Jerusalem,
where Joseph and Mary had gone for
one day, from Bethlehem, to present the
child Jesus to the Lord John the Bap-
fist was young babe seven or eight
months old.
JEsUs-Born the last of December, b.
c. 5, was circumcised on the eighth day,
and named Jesus, the same as Joshua, i.
e., Saviour" or Jehovah the Saviour"
The family were still living at Bethle-
hem. The next event was the presenta-
ton at the temple, when Jesus was
forty days old. The visit of the wise
men from the East was probably little
later.
EXpLANAToRY-I. The Presentation to
the Lord in the Temple.-When Jesus
was forty days old the Holy Family |
went up from Bethlehem to perform
two ceremonies required by the Jewish |
law. The first was that of the ceremo- |
NAL publication of Mary, described in |
Lew 10. For this, two offerings were |
required-a lamb for burnt offering,
and turtle dove or young pigeon for a
sin offering. But any poorperson might
substitute another turtle dove or young
pigeon for the lamb as we see that Ma
ry did (Luke 2:24). This was distinctly
called ''the poor's Offering" (Talmud),
and shows the moderate circumstances
of the family. A lamb was worth sew
enty-fve cents Tor the wages of five Or
binary days work., while a turtle dove
was worth about eight cents, and some
times was as low as two cents.-Eder-
sheim. The other ceremony was the
Redemption of the First-born, common
ly in the case of Jesus called the Pre-
Sentation in the Temple, because in His
case the ceremony was performed in the
temple, though this was not necessary,
but it could be performed by any priest.
Every frst-born male child, like the first
fruits of the farm, was consecrated to
God, belonged to Him, because the first
born of the children of Israel had been
preserved from the destroyer who slew
the first-born of all the Egyptians (Ex.
1872; 1915. The Oldest sons would nat
urally become the priests and religious
teachers of the people. But God after
wards chose the whole tribe of Levi for
these services instead of the first-born
(Num. 3:12, 49,. In recognition of this,
hn ErCt- Tod tn
God, and redeemed to the family by the
payment of five shekels (S2.75) (Num. 81:
44-4S; 1870.
III. The Picture Of an Aged Saint
Vers. 1928. 25. And, behold, there aoas
man IN Jerusalem, aohOse name aoas Simeon
The same as Simon ("Listening').
Nothing is known of this aged saint, ex-
cept what is here revealed; but his pres
ent holy state must have been the rip
ened fruit of long years of true living,
and of communion with God. 2s. Then
took he Him up IN his arms Recognizing
that this was the Messiah he had been
waiting for, according to the promise.
And blessed God. Gave Him thanks and
praise.
III. His Song of Praise.-Vers. $3.50.
30. Lord. Master. Nop. At last,
after long waiting. Lettest thou Not a
prayer, but statement of fact; 'now
thou art letting" Thy serednt depart in
J peace. Be released, discharged from his
long service by death. Simeon repre-.
/ sents himself under the image of 9
sentinel whom his master has placed OF
: an elevated position and charged t.
, look for the appearance of a star, and
, then announce it to the world He sees
: this long-desired star; he proclaims it,
t rising, and asks to be relieved of the
, post he has occupied so long. Accordint
' to thy acord. The revelation mentioned
3 in verse 26.
w. The Aged Saints Benediction.-
: Vers. 1895. SO. And Joseph and Hi
mother marceled. They were wondering
5 at what he was saying, both as coming
> from stranger, and because of tn,
8 boundless extent of benefits which HI
predicted, reaching to the ends of thu
l world.-Bliss. "a. And Simeon besse.
them. Pronounced blessing upol
n them.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS
a 1. Yer. 25. A truly good man is al
a ways both just and devout. A just lif
!. without spirituality is beautiful hous,
l. without windows, body without soul
q 2. On the other hand, devoutnes
t without righteousness is but the sunse
;, light on the Clouds passing glory, no
d "a burning and shining light"
@ 8. The good man is always waitin,
d for the salvation of the world, by hol
i living, by earnest efforts, and his stron
Q faith in God feeds his hope.
$ 4. Vers 1921. The Holy Spirit is tn
Q source of good life, inspires GOO
i deeds, gives clear vision, guides tn
l. conduct.
IS 5. The good man always yields TO Tn,
guidance of the Holy Spirit, remem
Il bering that the Spirit guides by tn
U Word of God, by the reason and con
Q science, quite as much as by impress
u ing the feelings.
y 6. Yer. 20. None in our Sabbath
n schools need die without seeing tn
Q Saviour.
). Z. Yer. 81. All children should b
d given to God and His service in thei
r earliest life.
: s. Yer. 90. Christ enables all Hi
. children 'to depart in peace;" for tn,
!. evil past is washed away, and future
II a.