The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-05-07
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
May II.
Lesson Text: "Feeding the Multi
tude," Luke ix., 10-17-Golden
Text: John vi. So
Commentary.

answer their own prayers. Wnen we pray
let us remember that God expects us to be
willing to be used by Him in answering our
prayers. e.
10. "And the apostles, when. they were re-,
turned, told Him all that they had DONE"
Mark says that they told Him all things.
both what they had done aud what they had
taught. He had sent them forth to preach
that the k ingdom was at hand and to heal
the sick. He had sent them only to Israel,
forbidding them to 20 either to Gentiles or
Samaritans Matt. T., 5-S; so that tue king
dom they preached must have bean the king
dom promised to David and spoken Of by all
the prophets. which would make restored
Israel with Jehovah dwelling in their midst,
a center of blessing to all the world. The
miracles of healing which accompanied their
preaching were proofs that the Messiah Of
the prophets had actually come lisa. x1xy.,
"And He took them, and went aside pri-
yately.n There were so many coming and
going that they had no leisure even to eat,
and He took them aside to rest awhile Mark
vi, 21). While we continue in these mortal
bodies we cannot work increasingly, but the
time will come when we shall be able to servo
unweariedly REV. vii, 15).
II. And the people, when they knew it, fol-
lowed Him." John says that jesus crossed
the Sea Of Galilee, and the people followed
because they saw His miracles. Matthew and
Mark say that Jesus went by ship, and that
the people followed on foot and outwent
Him. In the boat He would be on hour or
two alone with His disciples and they would
have little rest; but what busy life He
lived.
'sAnd He received them" Matthew and
Mark both say that He was moved with COM
passion toward them. No pity for Himself,
but full Of pity for these sheep without
shepherd, even though He knew their mo.
tives in following Him.
'.And spake unto them Of the kingdom OF
God, and healed them that had need OF heal
ingn Both body and soul He attended to,
for He is Saviour for both, and the time
will come when every saved soul shall have q
redeemed body in which to dwell. =.
10. ''Send the multitude away" So said
the twelve as the day began to wear away,
and as they, weary and hungry, saw no
prospect of rest, and not much prospect OF
even bite for themselves from their few
loaves and fishes, IL that hungry crowd re-
mained Not all the glorious things OF the
kingdom, of which Jesus had been speaking,
could make even the twelve forget that they
were hungry men. They had seen Him still!
the storm and raise the edead, but they seemed
not to consider that the same power could
was to let them scatter where they might
and find food and shelter as they were able
in the towns and country round about. The
old question still lived, "Can God furnish
table in the Wilderness Ps. xviii, 1ol
13. "But He said unto them, Give ye them
to eat" He had asked Philip, "Whencs shan
we buy bread that these may eatw and Philip
had replied that they would need about two
hundred pennyworth to give every one ht-
tle And now when He says "Give ye them
to eat;;" they reply: "Shall we buy two
hundred pennyworth" John VII, 81; Marx
vi, 81. Moses had said that the coming
Messiah would be a prophet like Unto him
Deut. xviii, Is, 1S), and had they reInsn-
bered that, they might also have reme11.
bered the food from heaven, which fed mill
ions Of people daily for nearly forty years.
1--WE have no more but fivc foaves and two
fishes" When He asked Philip He did It to
prove him, for He Himself knew what he
would do John vi, @, just as He so often
lets us get into strait place to prove Us,
while all the time He knows the way out and
Just what he will do.
IA, Is. "And He said to His disciples: Make
them sit down by fifties in company. And
they did so, and made them all sit down-"
Mark says: Upon the green grass John
says: "There was much grass in the place
saws there were 5000 men besides women and
children Matt. xiv, 2n; so rIere may have
been 100 companies of fifty each, or ten com.
panies to each of the twelve d sciples But
observe the order, and remember the pre-
cept: LET all things be done decently and
in order" for God Is not the author OF con-
fusion (I Cor. xiv, 80, 4U. A disorderiy
home or room or wardrobe or bureau drawer
or office or store is no credit to q Christian.
Confusion, disorder, tumult unquietness are
none of the things of the Holy Spirit.
49, "Then He took the five loaves and the
two fishes, and looking up to Heaven, De
blessed them, and brake, and gave to the ofis-
ciples to set before the multitude" He took
just what they had and used 1t. lie took the
rod that was in Moses'5 hand and wrought
wonders With it. He took the widows pot OF
oil and multiplied it. He does not ask US to
waste time in vain regrets about what we
have not, OF in wishing that we had this or
that. He simply says what have youl
Bring it to Me-" And anything placed unre.
servelly in His hanls can be made to do
wonders, for he has all power. Thousands
of eyes arc upon Him as Ho takes in His
hands the loaves and fishes, AMI lifting
His face to heaven, acknowledges before
them all that thence comes thu power aud
the blessing. He never sought His own glory,
but in all things gloraei Gol.
II. And they did eat, and were all filed
Philip thought that two hundred penny
worth might be enough to give every one
invitation is: Eat o friends; drink, yes,
Sr'9 '2affesSy Ipf sTs s ss0{S po5 a. f
sheep BE DELIGHTS to fill. As the disciples
Ssss Sac around from company to company
pressing more food uo5l them the answer
comes from all directions: Satisfied, abun-
dainty satisfied. ,-s-'~,
"Aud there was taken up OF fragments
that remained to them twelve baskets" ln-
stead of a little for eaca disciple, which
would have been all that twelve men could
obtain from five loaves AMI two fishes, here
is a basketful for each. Had thay selfishly
kept what they hal for themselves, how lit
tie they would have had, but by giving it
away what abuu1auc. becomes theirs
Afraid to give to God lest We have not
when we cheerfully give Him that which is
all His own any way, then He makes
US to enjoy His fullness, AMI our
cup runneti over. The blessing Of the
Lord, it maketh rich; ami he a1deth no sor.
row with it" prov. x, 22,. Hs gavs Him
,elf to be broken and poured forth for us;
why should we hesitate to plac, ourselves in
His hands most unreservedly, that we may
bs broken and passed rounl by His hands
for the life of others? 1t may not be pleas
mt to the fash, but it will be wonderfully
nrofitabIe !:..e..t n!:.e...t a c9rn Of wneat fall in.
to the ground and die, it abiueU. :. @4oa'; 1us
il it die, it bringeth forth much fruit" lJIur
xii, 2p Who is willing to be passed round
for the good Of Others, not loving his life here,
so that he may keep it unto life eternal'-
Lesson Helper. -'s.. -i-l.ss -
A SCOTCH printer invented the post.
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IL ... .o4.o5,oo5 into Tho Trnitnd