The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1890-01-16
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR sUNDAY,JANuARY TO-
" The Song of zacharias," Luke L., o7.so
Golden Text: Luke L., 70
Commentary.


gave TO Elizabeth the promised son, and wher
the day came to circumcise the child, the peo-
PIE who had come together were about 10 call
MIN Iacharias, after his father. but hi,
mother said that he should be called John.
ms father being appealed 10 asked for n writ.
ing taole and wrote, saying: "His name is
John; then were the ears opened and the
tongue looscd which had been closed ~rd silent
many months because of unbelief tsee vss
~, W, and as he spake and praised God he
was was iilled with the Holy Spirit and uttered
this prophecy
6s. blessed be the Lord God of Israel -,
Thus ends the first, second and fourth books
OF fsalms xii, 10; lxNii.. Is: cvi., ~ telling
OF Gods mercies and delverances. past and
future, for His people Israel The name is
frst found in Ex. v, I, when Moses and
aaron demand OF Pharaoh that he let Gods
people go. and is always associated with
Gods special interest in that people The
prophet Jeremiah associates the two titles
Lord of Hosts and God of Israel nj least
thirty times, indicating His power to care
Tor His people and deliver them.
lie hath visited and wrought redemption
pDr His people R W, II was four hun
dred years since Malachi had said that the
Lord would come on behalf Of his people
AMI many more hundreds since GoI Ind
covenanted with David and Abraham. but
now His time had come to work REDEMPTION
Tor them and to redeem them IL they were
".
and trustfully wait the Lords time il one of
the great lessons OF Scripture cxemplhed in
patr,archs' prophets, apostles, and in our
Lord Himself
W. And hath raised up an horn Of saliva
tion Tor us In the house of His servant Da.
Nld' Tho horn Is the symbol uf strength or
power Hannah sings of her horn aud the
horn of His anointed; David sings OF tho
horn ot his salvation, which is Jehovah a
sam H., ], ~; rs. Nyiit, p and IN rs.
cNxNii., Il, Jehovah Himself says that in
Zion He will make the horn of David Ia
bud, indicating the coming OF the Messiah
frum the house Of David.
10. AS He spake by the mouth of his holy
prophets, which have been since the world
BEGAN. The same spirit now speaking
through Zacharias had spoken in times past
by the prophets, and afterward through
John and Jesus aud the apostles, and will
even today speak through those who Weld
themselves unto Him u Pct l., 81: Pet.
II; Acts ~. 81; Luke xii. ~, and the Holy
Spirit speaking is none other than God
spea sing Heb. l., l, .; John xii, 40.
II. That we should be saved from our on.
enie- and from the hand of all that hato us"
Let us remember that this lesson. although
like all Scripture. written for our instruction
lhom. xv., q refers primarily aud chiefly to
Israel and her salvation from all her enemies.
as tie prophets had foretold
12, -. TO perform the mercy promised to
our fathers, and To- remember Ills holy GOV.
enant: the oath which lie swars tn our IN
ther Abraham In Ps cv.. SO the GOV
enant Is spoken of Hs one made with Ahrn-
ham and confirmed to Isaac, Jacob and Is
rael, and one of the promises in the covenant
Is distinctly said to bc 10 give them the Land
OF Canaan. II any one will take the trouble
20 read carefully the oft repeated covenant
with Abraham in Gen. xii, xiii. xy., xvii,
xxi, they will see the full terms OF that COW
enant, and surely be persuaded that il is size
cially for Israel, and looks beyond even our
days.
~, -. delivered. serve Him.
in holiness and righteousness before
Bs.n ali the days of our lifen One glance at
Isrgcls present condition, 1900 years ont of
their land, still sifted among all nations aud
yet preserved, the rebuke still resting upon
them, clearly indicates that the words of the
Spirit through Xacharins and the prophets
have not yet been fulfilled. Aud the reason
Is not far TO seek. They rejected John aud
did as they pleased 10 him Matt xvii, ~,
they rejected Jesus, their Messiah, and cru
cliici Him, and the kingdom which was at
hand. including lsraels dcliycrancc and res.
toration, Is postponed till he shall return iu
power aud glor5 preceded by another John
the Baptist, even Elijah himself, as His fore.
runner Mai. iv, >. d. But while lsra,rs
blindness continues because of their unhplief
aud rejection of their Messiah lie is taking
out OF all nations q people for His name
and whoever is willing t6 receive Jesus aS
their own personal Saviour becomes thereby
child OF Abraham mot an Israclitcl, child
OF TOD, an h@r according to the promise
tial. Ill, . 90, 2Jl, and shall In due time iinl
what IL means 10 be- n joint hcir with Christ,
a king and priest unto God, when J"su, shall
be manifested rs King of the Jews. King Of
Kings aud Lord of Lords, whom al nations
shall serve, and before whom all kugs snail
fall down (Ps. lXxiL, ~.
Al sl II.
prophet Of the highest Xacharias now
speaks OF his son as the herald of the Messiah
and the prophet of the Most High he no
longer doubts the words ~ Gabriel
Thou shalt so before the face of the Lord
to prepare His ways" II we have the spirit
OF John we will not seek any reputation or
glory for ourselves, but be gladly consumed
as We prepare His way who is soon 10 come
again.
a. ITO give knowledge Of salvation unto
His people by the remission OF their sins"
None but the Saviour can give salvation, but
His servants can give the knowledge Of sal.
walton, and they should all be telling of His
salvation from day 30 day Ps Xxi. II, 20.
Is Through the tender mercies of our
God All salvation, whether national or in
diVidual, Is of grace, and only OF grace 81
long as we think in any way to merit IT, We
cannot have II; but when We come empty,
crying God be merCitul 10 me "A siunerr
then salvation is ours
whereby the dnyspring from on high
hath visited us The dayspring, according
10 the margin, signifies "suu rising" or
Branch, and clearly refers 10 Jesus. who
is the sun, the Morning Star, the Branch the
Light of the World, the Prince of Peace.
Tho Revised Version says shall visit in
stead of hath visited and includes. no
doubt. His coming To suffer aEd His coming
10 reign.
10. 40 give light 10 them that sit in dark
ness Darkness and the shadow OF death
are the expressions used IN !sl. tx, .. 30 de-
scribe the condition of the p ople at His first
coming. Darkness and gros, darkness are
the expressions used in lsa. *, >, b. describe
the state Of things when lie shall come again |
lnasmuch as light signifies fellowship with |
God, II is easy 10 see how all the progress OF I
this Nineteenth century may be but gross !
darkness in Gods sight for whatever is not |
light from God must be darkness from tho !
pit
ITO guide our feet in the way of peace |
He is the only one Who can do IT, and with |
out Him We shall never find peace either here |
or hereafter; but heart in which lie dwells |
has always peace, for VISIONS ways and |
paths are Dleasantness and peace.
80. "The child grew and waxed strong in |
spirit" etc. The song of Hacharias is finished, |
its first word was blessed" and its last |
"Peace"-our days and lives will thus begin