Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-01-24
JOY FOR THE CHILD JESUS.
LESSON ", FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, JAN. PC.
Text Of the Lesson, Luke ii, s-2o-Com-
NIT Verses 1O-14-G olden Text,
Luke Ii, 14-Com N, entary by the
Rev ID, NJ. Stearns.

Rev. ID. NJ. Stearns.
compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per
mission of Ii. S. Hoffman, publisher, Phadel-
phia.
8. "And there were in the same country
shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch
over their flock by night God, who doeth
according to His will in the army of Heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth, had,
through the decree of the Roman emperor,
caused Joseph and Mary to come to Bethle-
hem. 1t was trying to the flesh to take such
q journey at such time, but 1t was all of
God. Movements of empires are overruled
to fulfill His word, and all things are ordered
for the good of those who love Him Mary's
home was in Nazareth, about seventy miles
north of Jerusalem. God lad said by His
servant Micah that lsraels ruler should be
born in Bethlehem Some six miles south of Je-
rusalem), and now that the time had come,
the Roman emperor is unconsciously made
Gods instrument to fulfill His word.
O. "And an angel of the Lord stood by
them, and the glory of the Lord shone round
about them, and they were sore afraid"
Or. w Even though these shepherds were,
like Simeon and Anna, waiting for the con-
ISOLATION of Israeli and Cooking for redemp-
ton in jerusalem this unusual light and
strange visitor was enough to male them
afraid.
TO- Fear not; for, behold I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to
all people" This is the third fear notH
which we hear from angels to mortals in
this Gospel; and what good tidings there are
in just those two words. Fear and foiebod
ings are the constant companions of so many
Christians, instead of the peace sad JOY
which should characterize those who have be-
come children of God by faith i'll Christ Jesus,
and who, if they believed God, would be sure
that He who spared not His own Son would
with Him freely give all things, and make all
things work for good from viii, p, 32 Is.
lxxxiv, II; Jer. xxx, ID The good tidings
Of great joy were first for the shepherds and
then for all the people. 81 bring you good
tidings' is still the Spirits message to ali who
read or hear His word, and our first business
is to receive it for ourselves, and be filled
with joy in believing.
II. Unto you is born this day, in the city
of David, Saviour, who is Christ the Lord"
Truly has one said that, Though Christ
thousand times in Bethlehem be born, if He's
not born in thee, thy soul is still forlorn.n
This day is also the time when He will enter
thy soul if you have not yet let him in, and
are willing now. There was no room for Him
in the inn Is the same still true of your
heart and lifel This WAS He of whom Isaiah
had said: Unto us a child is born, unto Us a
son is given, and the government shall be
upon His shoulder lisa. tx, q. He also said
III the next sentence that this government
had reference to the throne OF David, the
same of which Gabriel spoke to Mary; there
fore, while our first business is to receive Him
into our hearts as Jesus Christ our Lord, our
attitude should be that Of constant eypecta
ton to see Him come to sit on David's throne.
II "Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in
swaddllng clothes, lying in Il manger." How
great the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that
led Him to become so poor for Us that we
through His poverty might be rich III Cor
viii, -. lis cradle manager His home one
of the poorest III Nazareth: in His ministry
He Uses borrowed boat, rides ON borrowed
ass keeps the passover in II borrowed room:
when He dies He sleeps in a borrowed tomb
He is Lord of all and yet lives here as having
nothing of this worlds possessions. When
shall we learn that this worlds goods are
only of value We can use them for Him,
and that anything should satisfy us here
while we wait for the coming of the King
dom.
Is. And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host prais-
/
Laban is met by the angels Of God, and he
said, This is Gods host When Joshua is
| about to take Jericho he is me, by one who
says, AS captain of the host of the Lord am
! | now come.' When Elisha's servant was
afraid because of the Syrian army, Elisha
! prayed and the Lord opened the young man S
| eyes, and he saw the mountain full OF horses
| and chariots of fire round about Elisha Gen.
xxi, l, 2; JOS V, n ii HI. vi, ~. Thus
the heavenly hosts delight to do Gods will,
! praisng him in song and in service, as they
minister unto H servants. Let us remem-
Der that we are to praise God in deeds as
well as words. (See Heb. xiii, l5 49,
IA. GLORY to God IN the highest, and on
earth peace among men in whom he is well
pleased (R. W. The aim of all angelic SER
vice is to bring Glory to God-the command
to US is, "Glorify God in your body"
whether therefore ye eat or drink, or what
soever ye do, do all to the glory of God" Il
Cor. vi, 20; x, 81. The great hindrance to
clarifying God is self and self-pleasing; Jesus
only of all men could truly say i'll reference
to His whole life: Il have gloritied Thee on
the earth, Il came down from Heaven, not
to do mine own will, but the will of Him that
sent me, - Il seek not mine own glory" John
xvii, A. vi, IS; viii, so. Only as He by His
! DpIll NOI ho III anu luIouSh US call we III '
sense glorify God AS to peace among men,
that it can only be among those in whom He
is well pleased, that is, those who truly re-
ceive Him, and submit cheerfully to Him,
GSee Matt. (, 34 Lu. xii, ~.
10. Let us now go even unto Bethlehem,
and see this thing which is come to pass,
which the Lord hath made known unto us =
The shepherds had heard and seen that which
they could never forget; their ears must
have been somewhat dulled to earth's music
and their eyes dimmed to earths glories
after these sounds and sights So it must
have been with Paul after he was caught up
into Paradise. Oh, for such a sight by faith
of Jesus and His glory as would forever
wean us from all the sinful sights and sounds
of this present evil world The angels having
delivered their message return quickly to
heaven, no doubt continuing to praise God
and ready for the next service. The shep-
herds, like Mary, believed what they had
heard and went to see that great sight, the
Holy Child Jesus, God manifest in the flesh,
the Consolation and Glory Of Israel, Light