The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-30
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOH
AUGUST 8.
Lesson Text: "Thc Prodigal SOM
Luke xv., 11-24-Goldcn Tcxt:
Luke xv., 1S-Commentary.


helpless, and erring humanity; and the SYM
pathy of the angels with God in His joy
over the salvation of the lost. The lost sheep :
suggests our inclination, because of sin. to go
astray from God (Ps. lviii., 3; cxiy, 1I6; lsa. {
liii., 6; Pet. H., 25); the lost piece OF money
indicates our helplessness, our inability to re-
store ourselves, and our deadness to q sense
of our condition rom. ", 9; Eph. H., 4, 81;
while the sons of this lesson illustrate the
selfishness ingratitude and rebellion OF sinful
man, and clso the self Righteousness and lack
Of sympathy with God of many who profess
to be His. The deficiency in each case draws
out and makes manifest the wondrous love OF
God. -
70. "And the younger Of them said to his
father, Father, give me tho portion OF goods
that falleth to me. And he divided unto
them his living" The sin is seen in the sons
desire for the things of his father rather than
for the father and his love- The desire also
for independence of tho father an separa-
ton from him indicates tho ingratitude OF
his heart and his insensibility to the fathers
love and care.
10. "And not many days after, the
younger son gathered all together, and took
his journey into far country, and thara
wasted his substance with riotous living"
The first illustration Of this robellious nature
in man is seen in Cain, who would not sub. {
NIT to the kind requirements of loving
God; but preferring his own way went out 2
from the presence Of the Lord' (Gen. iv., 16)
to do as he pleased. It is seen in Esau, who
preferred mess of pottage to his God-giYen
birthright (Gen. XIV, &-3N. 1t IS sean in
Israel preferring Egypt and its ground fruits
to the God-giyen mama and the pr0miseds
land Mum. XII, 40. 1t is seen IN all who
prefer the things of the present world, GodsS
good gifts to be enjoyed with grateful hearta
to God Himself and His Kingdom and Glory.
H. "And when he had spent all, there
arose mighty famine in that land; and ne /
began to be in want" When we turn away
from God, who is the fountain of living wa
ters, and seek to satisfy ourselves with aught.
else, even with the gifts of God, we are hew-
ing out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can
hold no water Jer. H., 13, and sooner or
later we shall surely come to want
15. "And he went and joined himself to o {
citizen of that country; and he sent him into
his fields to feed swine" The far country
into which he went from his own father's-
house and plenty is all about US. 1t Is thus
present evil world which lieth in tho wicked.
one Gal l., 4; John v, 1g, and which al
lures US away from God.
16. 'And he would fain have filled his {
belly with the husks that the swine did eat;
and no man gave unto him" First want,
then worldly helps, and now beastly ap-s
petite. He has selfshly spent oil on HIM
self; he has no friends, for the kind of
friends which abound while money lasts and
treats are free are very scarce when the
money is gone; and ho finds himself in the
clean beasts, willing to eat the food
which satisfied their beastly natures.
The husks were probably caro5 pods,
fleshy pods like those Of tho honey
locust tree, from six to ten inches long and
are broad, sweet, and not unpleasant when
ripe Smiths Dictionary.
II. "And when he came to himself, he
said, How many hired servants of my faith
er's have bread enough and to spare, and !
perish with hunger" He had been so full
of self and self seeking that the Fathers .
house had not been much in his thoughts ex- 4
cept perhaps Us the recollection of restraint
which he could not submit to. But by hay--:
ing his desires granted he has been led to SEQ
somewhat Of the leanneSs Of his soul (fs.
cvi., 15).
1S. "I will arise and go to my father, and
say unto him, Father, have sinned against
heaven and before thee" In the story ct
the lost sheep and lost piece Of money wesawV
the seeking shepherd and the woman with
the light. The shesp and the money did
nothing, the shepherd and the woman did
all. But here is q responsible human being
who has gone astray like lost Sheep and
has been as insensible to his fathers love as
piece of metal. In the Providence Of God
the Spirit Of God has been working with him,
and now convinced Of his sin he sees that
there is something for him to do, and ne
seems ready to doit.
10. "And am no more worthy to be called
thy son; make me as one of thy hired SER
wants" He was unworthy to be called tho
son of such father when he had plenty and
was living riotously, or even when he left,
that fathers home, OF when he demanded MS
share of the goods But he did not know it,
and could not, under those circumstances, be-
made to see it. The only way to humble
him and bring him to his senses was the way
he was allowed to take. Now he sees his
sinfulness and unworthiness as he could not
otherwise have been made to sec it.
90 "And he arose and came to his father"
All his conviction, and sense of unwortht-
ness, and good resolutions, would have gone
for nothing had he failed to take this step.
He might have rem aimed in the far country
and died there full of conviction and good
resolutions. But here is the saving polnt:
"He arose and canie.' And now we shall see
the result.
But when he was yet q great way or, nus
father saw him, and hal compassion, ann
ran and fell on his neck, and kissed NM.
Here Her is the Love of Col which said to one
poor sinner. Thy sins are forgiven; my
faith hath saved thee: SO i'll peace" ana 70
another: Neither do l condemn thee: go and
sin no more" and which says to all: him {
that comcth unto Me will in no wise cast
out Luke vii, As, so; John viii, III VI, 81;
q. ,"And the son said unto him, Fatner
have sinned against heaven, ana III Sny
sight, and am 10 more worthy 10 oe cale9
thy SON." This was not all he had heepoeo
to say (see verse 1N, but it seems to nave Deem
as far as he got. 4 John j., o.
%. s'Dut the father said to his serVantsA
Bring forth the best robe and put # on hsa
and nut ring OIL his hand. end shoes on his
roct-h Think of Adam and Eve having lost
their fellowship with God and hiding from
Him because of their sin, and see God cloth
ing them with coats of skins wnicn he nad
made (Gcn. ill.,, 2D. Sec the robe OF right
eousncss, and garments OF saiHauon 9l isa.
oIly, and authority Of Gen. xii, 42. The
Shoes and precious promise OF Deut. XxXlii.,
% And consider what Il welcome IS here
described as being ready for every returning
o3. "And bring hithcr the fatted cali, and
kill il: and let us eat and be merry III, m
the previous verse, we have forgiveness VI
sins and Righteousness and full restoration
to position and inheritance ana autnority,
Sere we have true fellowship and great
ioy. The foretaste is enjoyed here when ne
comes in to sup with US and We with Him
iRev. i'll, 20l: but the full joy will be when
wo eat and drink with Him ut His table In
His kingdom duke xxi, 30);
"a. 'sFor this my son was dead, and is alive
arnin: he was lost, and is found. And they
beran to be merry For the third time In
the parable He tells us of the joy over the
lost when found, And again in verse 81.
Surely that which gives such Joy 10 the
Father Son and Holy Spirit should give
Sot TO he feared that the spirit of the elder
brother might lie still manifest if we should
moke mucI ado over the conversion OF some
,,l,I;oon or horlots Let lis pray to be