Iron County register., 1890-01-23
International Sabbath School Lesson
January 26, 1890.
HELPS FOR STUDY.

| HELPS FOR STUDY.
| TIME-B. c. Actual time.
| TITLE-Joy over the child Jesus.i
| TEXT-Lukh, III, $40.
PLACE Bethlehem, miles south of Jeru-
salem.
HIsTORT-When st. Luke speaks of the
"same country" he refers to the fields in
which Ruth CLEANED, and David watched
his fathers flocks. The little plain lays
about mile from Bethlehem.
| The Jews expected mighty coTquering
Messiah that should put all the world in
subjection to him. Rome shared this idea,
though secretly and and in suspense. In
deed the idea had gone through all the earth
| to all the nations and result,public at
| tentou was universally directed to Jerusa-
| lem.
The annuneiatioe Of The ar gek wasssnade
to the humble shepherds, but we are told
that the wise men, "Magi" came from the
East to Jerusalem seeking to lay their de0o-
| tions at the feet OF the new born Prince of
Peace. Originally this term applied TO the
| pretended oriental a>trolagers and sOothsay-
ers. Bnt their attitude toward the infant
| Savior prove these to be not of their class
| but God fearing men. The visits Of the
| "wise men"-a-tronomers, were frequ ntto
| the west. Wise observers admit that catas
| tropics, and unusual phenomena in nature
| are closely followed in remarkable manner
by great events in human history. Astron-
omy teaches that there was a conjunction of
Jupiter and Saturn, about the time of the
birth of Christ. Such would at once be TAX
en- as indicating the approach of great
event, and sufficient to start the Magi on
| their journey to Jerusalem. The manifesto
tion of the star going before them, however,
is left to the Evangelists alone which is suf-
ticient. Tradition gives the names of the
| three men as Melchior, Caspar, and Bal
thasar, representing the three sons of Moab,
Shem, Ham and Japheth respectively. The
gold in the triple gift was from the race of
Shem; the myrrh from the race of Ham;
and the incense from that of Japheth.
The tradition mentioned in ben Hur" is
probably founded, on Isaiah LIZ, 3, "And
the Gentiles shall come to thy light and
kings to the brightness of thy rising"
Herod, the tyrant over an unwilling people,
"a descendent of the desplsed Ishmael and
Esau, had usurped the throne of Israel
that historic throne, was now residing III
his new palace on Zion the Holy Hill. He
knew how worthless were his prcntions,
and the visit of the Magi threw him into a
tit of alarm; and ,ungodly as he was. he sum-
moned the Sanhedrim who Joined in his
anxiety, through Hile, demanding of them
"where Christ, should be born" Ready
and confident came the answer back, "ln
Bethlehem" Trying to conceal his MUIR
derous intention, Herod dispatched the
the wise men to see the new King with in
struction to bring back word to him that he
might go and do obelsanLe to him.
But being warned of God in a dream,
''they turned aside into their country anoth
er way"
TEACHING-1. The message of salvation
was first given to the world through the
humble shepherds and not through king or
potentate.. First, fear at the appearance of
the unusual heavenly company then a..read-
iness to act after the first shock and ac-
cept it; and glorifyng God they spread the
message. The humble shepherds, in hum
BILE way, in a humble pase, see Jesus. In
her song Mary found no source ofioy in her.
| self, but ascribed all the praise to God her
Savior. Rejoiced that she was blessed
"among" women-not dsoUe women. Re-
jolcing in a Savior, Mary acknowledged
herself sinner in common with humanity,
and needed salvation. Nfver once claiming
divine honors, how can itpe forced" upon
her. We should not loose sight of the fact,
however, that she stood aSone in the disttnc-
tion of giving birth to the humanity OF
Christ. And in this she Is blessed. in being
worthy to perform this tfgh sffiee. 1t must
have reioiced her heart II have sthers COM
ing, as the shepherds afd Nag, to rejoice
in her Savior. 1t is difficulst hing to keep
from exalting the humanity Gta'rhe divni
ty, but il is ess-a.MaEksess to doit.
.. The shepherds and wise men did not
worship the childhood of Christ. but the di-
| vine Messiahship.
l 3. Jews and Geuties came 70 rejoice in