The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1890-01-02
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JANUARY y.
Lesson Text: "The EorerIinncr An
nounccd," Luke L., 5-tT-Goldcn
Text: Nal. iii, Com
mentary.

code our leSSon tell us lnat many were WITH
ing down in order record of the sayings and
doings of Jesus of Nazareth. as they received
them from those who had been eve witnesses
OF all things: and this man. Luke having
accurate knowledge Of all things from the
beginning, writes his record for his friend
Theophilus, Of all that Jesus began both to
do and teach. He afterward wrote for the
same friend record Of the things which
Jesus continued To do and teach 10y His
Spirit through His apostles. From Pauls
epistles we learn that Luke was n physician,
dear To him, and that he Travelled much with
him Col. iv., IA; ii Tim. iv., II; Phm. ~.
His name, according 10 Young, signifies
light giving.
3. "A certain priest named Iacharias'
Five persons are mentioned 10y name in our
lesson and In the verses Immediately follow
ing, but the two with whom we have special
ly to do are the priest Zacharias aud the am
gel Gabriel lt will be helpful 10 remember
that this lesson is in the time of the iron
Kingdom of Dan. H., 80, and the fourth hcnst
OF Dan. vii, I, -; tlat Rome now ruled tIc
world; that Palesinc was divided not into
twelve divisions as in the lessons just closed.
but into thrce-Galiec, Samaria aud Judpd
and that Herod was the Roman ruler W
the southern province Of JudUa, in which
Hacharias and Elizabeth lived H. will br
seen IN | Chron. xiv, lu, that Abba or
Abiiah was the eighth of the tWcnty-iour
courses or orders into which David divided
the priests. Elizabeth being also ~ the
priesty tribe of Aaron or Levi shows that
they were obc1ient to- the .aw which required
them only to marry in their own tribe (Num.
NxXvi., 80. Iacharias signifies Jah is 10
nowned or remembered, and Elizabeth the
cath of God; let the diligcnt eat the meat
u. They were both righteous before God"
They were in fellowship with the rightcous
Lord who loveth righteousness us Ni, q;
and were therefore like Noah, righteous be-
fore Him Gen. vii. u, because like Abram
they believed God Gen. Xv., ii; Rom. iv., 81.
by nature There is none righteous, no. not
ene;n and by the deeds of the law no one can
become righteous; but tho righteous Lord
has provided II righteousness for all who will
accept II, even His own even Himself for
Christ is the end of the law for righteous
ness To every one that bclicyeth" Rom Ill,
10, 1922: T., A..
Z. They had no child" IL was with Eliza.
beth rs with Rachel and Hannah and Ma.
nooh's wife: but She, like they looked unto
God, and surely Joseph and Samuel and Sam.
son and John the Baptist arc among the
greatest Of men, and all Sons of women who
had been barren. When in days 10 come we
see the significance of Isn. liv., l. we shall
then readily recognize these shadows.
:. He executcl the priests Office before
God in the order Of his course What "A
glorious motto for every day are those two
words, before God, ~ reminding us that Wa
ought to live as in His sight, doing all things
for His glory.
.. His lot was to burn incense This in.
cense was made according to Gods express
command for the service of the sanctuary
aud IL was forbidden 10 mako any like II for
any other purpose, upon pain of death. The
priest was TO burn il every morning and even
ing when he dressed and lit the lamps Tx.
XXX, Z, s. 8-:Si. DIR. Brown quotes from
Lightfoot as follows: "The part assigned 10
each priest in his week of service was decided
by lot. There were employcdat the Offering
of incense-to remove the ashes OF the former
service. 10 bring in and place ON the golden
altar the pan filled with hot burning coal
taken from the altar of burnt Offering, and
while the SMOKE of II ascended 20 make inter
cession for the people, This was the most
distinguished part of the servic, REV viii,
-, and this was what fell TO the LOT of Zach
srias at this time.
10. The whole multitude Of the people
were praying without at tlo time of in.
cenSc.' The connection of prayer aud in
Gems" is seen in rs. cNli.. .; Rev viii, 3, I
and the incense is significant of the merits
of the Lord Jesus, whose least word and
smallest act was fragrant toGud, because lie
sought neither His own will nor iii, own
glory, but did always those thing, which
pleased His father. lJum VIZ 3S; VIII -,
so. IL also teaches us that, apart from the
merits Of Christ, nothing wcdO not oven our
prayers, can be- acceptable in Gods sight
but, inasmuch HS He cven liycth to make in.
terceSson for us the woal,c, NAV with bold.
ness come, and tn" fccblrst may do Him scr-
vice, since what is dono bv any redeemed
soul. as unto Him, is made acceptable 10y His
merits.
II. There appeared unto him an angel Of
the Lord, standing ON the right side of the
altar Of incense This was In ;hc Holy
Place, into which priests went every day,
were the tables Of shcwbread th" golden
candlesticks, ten of each III Chron. iv, :, s.,
and tine golden altar or altar Of incense, he-
fore the veil, and 10y the side OF which the
angel now stood.
IL. when Zacharias saw him, he was
troubled, and fear fell upon him So II
was with Mary (vss. 20, 3W, and Hagar, and
Gideon, and the women at the sepulcher. and
the disciples Gen. xxi, Il; Judg. vi - -;
NIX xvi, 3: Lu. xiv, 30; and So wc sup
pose IL would be with most of Us should "a
heavenly visitor suddenly appear to a.: hut
If Manoah's wife was not afraid. why should
any of us be Uudg. xiii, -. ~ if We arc
walking in fellowship with God, and abiding
in that love of His which casteth out all fear.
II John xxi, 49,.
49, Fear not, Zacharias" Thus God and
His angels are always seeking to comfort
those who look 10 Him. Thy prayer is
heard All true prayer for things accord
ing to His will, in the namc of jesus, is sure
ly heard, and the answer will he manifest in
due time: Let us live on "eXpectatiun cor
ner, that we may be always on the luukuut
for the answer, and recognize IL when IL
comes. Thou shalt call his name john
Among those whose names were given them
10y God before they were born note lshmncl.
Isaac, Josiah, Jesus Gen, xvi, II; xvii, 10;
HI. xiii, 2; Matt. l., III, and learn that
God is interested even in our pamos John
signifies the grace Of God, and he enjoyed
large share of IL.
II. Thou shalt have joy and glatncss,
and many shall rejoice at His BIRTH II is
Gods good pleasure to give His people Joy:
yes fullness of joy John Ky, II: xvi, -: |
John L., y and 10 make O hpgS glad through
them; but IL can Cnly be by believing HIM
and yielding fully 10 Him, and like John.
glorifying Jesus and hiding self
10. "For he shall be- great in the sight of
the Lord" This is the summit OF all great
ness, and nothing can compare with it,
"He shall be filed with the Holy Ghost
BE not drunk with wine but be filed with the
Spirit (Eph. ", Isl was eXemplihed in Him.
He was true Nazarite, n spiritual Samson
Mum. vi, Is; Judg xiii n
16. "Many of the children OF Israel shall
he turn 10 the Lgrd their Cod As to be
great in Gods sight is the highest position
man can attain TO, so 10 turn people 10 tho
Lord is the highest and grandest work man
can be engaged in.
IL. 'He shall go before Him in the spirit
and power OF Elijah According 60 his own
testimony he was not Elijah tJohu l., 2D;