The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-01-24
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LEsSoN FOR
JANUARY 20.

. JANUARY 20.
lesson Text: "Joy over tho Child
Jc.usrIukeii ii. $50 C oIden Text.
Luke, H., 14-Comm' 'ntary on
the Lesson
a ,uAnd tiereSSyas in the came country
| shepherds ding iu the field, keeping watch
oYef their locks by night" God, @Rt99 ", qsatadt qSad
caused Joseph and Mary to come to Bethle.
hem' 1t was trying to the flesh to take sttcli
a Journey at such time, but it was all of
200. Moyements OF Empires are overrulcd
70 iulhil His word, and NIL things are ordered
,or the good of those who love Him. Mary's
nome was in Nazareth, about seventy miles
north OF Jerusalem. God had said by His
servant Micah that Isracrs ruler should be
porn IN Bethielem tsonic six miles south Of
vtner4Ssaleml, tnT and now that the time had come
tne roman Emperor is unconsciously made
Sods instrument TO ful6ll His word Fred
erIck Whitfield says: $50 Gods hand moves
silently and surely. The Roman Emperor ex-
orClSed his almost boundless sway over the
whole world, and issued his decress with SOW
oreign authority. A rushing tide went forth
cach to his place to obey his commands No
thought disturbs the mighty throng from on
hlgh. And yet in the obscure village Of Bethle-
@ uen' u. Ine oack ot an inn, and lying in man.
PIE carpenters wife: and in His helplessness.
ies entolded that which is to turn the tide of
an lhings In this world and in that which is
10 come and before which the mightiest
into inSigniticance." These shenhards Nv aiI.l,.-
rs of other shepherds to whom God came as
they watched their focks such ns Moses.
David and Amos. They also remind us of
many other shepherds, watching over the
souls under their care in this night of the
worlds history, and daily expecting call
from the skies to summon them TO the mar
rlage of Him who was once tho babe in
Bethlehem.
o. And an angel of tho Lord stood by
them. and the glory of the Lord shone round
about them, and they were sore afraid (R.
W. Even though these shepherds were,
like Simeon and Anna, waiting for tho coll
ISOLATION of Israeli and looking for redemp-
tion in Jerusalem this unusual sight and
strange visitor was enough to make them
afraid. Put yourself in their place. Fancy
heavenly visitor suddenly appearing TO
you and something of heavens glory shining
about you. Would you be perfectly quiet in
such presence or is there possibility that
you might be somewhat afraid? We need TO
remember that now, as then, angels are min-
istering spirits sent forth TO do service for
the sake Of them that shall inherit salvation
Heb l., IA, r. W, and although invisible
they are over with us, serving unseen and
unthanked. is@
10 Fear NOT; for, behold bring you good
Oh IKCedG,JOyswnCh snail Oe 10 Ill peO-
pie" This is tho third fear nos' which we
hear from angels to mortals in this Gospel
and what good tidings there are in just those
two words. Fear and forebodings are the
constant companions Of so many Christians,
instead of the peace and joy which should
characterize those who have become children
of God by faith in Jesus Christ, and who, il
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
Tnt nn11 (nnN viii -. pc W.
II: Jer. XXX ID.
H. unto you is born this day, in the city
Of David, n Saviour who is Christ the
Lord Truly has one said that, Though
born, if Hes not born in thee. thy soul is
still forlorn.' This day is also the time
when lie will enter thy soul if you have not
yet let Him in and are willing now.
II. "Se shall find the Babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes lying in a manger." How
great the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that
led Him TO become so poor for us that we
through Ills poverty might be rich III Cor.
viii, - His cradle maIiger, His home one
q tas N Ssss u Ms %a!rS
ass, keeps the passover in borro wed room;
He is Lord of all and yet lives here us 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 hero
while we wait for the coming of the King.
dom?
13. And suddenly there vas with the ali
gel multitude OF the heavenly host praisinG
God" Jacob on his way home from Labai
is met by the angels of God and he said:
This is Gods host" When Joshua is about
TO take Jericho he is met by one who says:
"As captain OF tho host Of the Lord am |
now come When Elisha's servant w,5
afraid because of the Syrian army, Elisha
prayed and the Lord opened tho young mans
eyes, and he saw the mountain full of horses
and chariots of fire round about Elisha
Thus the heavenly hosts delightto do Gods
will praising Him in song and in service, as
they minister unto His servants.
IA. "Glory to God in the highest, and OF
pleased" Or. w. Tho aim OF all angelic
service aie,tp # bring la Glory to God-the com:
zailla sn G'a unto tn ssss,ssasa ssssIIsss@
which the Lord hath made known unto Us
| The shepherds had heard and seen that whic
| they could never forget; their cars must
have been somewhat dulled to earth's music
| and their eyes dimmed to earth's glories after
| these sounds and sights. So il must have
been with Paul after he was caught up into
| Paradise. Oh, for such sight by faith OF
Jesus and His glory rs would forever wean us
| from all the sinful sights and sounds Of this
present evil world.
| Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in n
manger." They found the angels message
| true, found the Saviour of Israel and Of the
world, helpless babe lying in a manger
and as they looked they believed that this
was indeed He of whom the prophets had
| spoken, tho Son of David Son of Abraham
II. when they had seen they made
known abroad the saying which was told
them concerning this child" Joy filled their
own hearts and joyfully they spre I'D the
tdings and tell simply what they have seen
| and heard.
ls And oil they that heard it wondered
at those things which were told them by the
tidngs had upon them, they might wonder
| TO all eternity and he none the better for II; ;
it is not wonder, but faith, that brings the
| blessing.
10. "But Mary kept all these tidings and
| pondered them in her heart" Like Daniel,
who though he could not understand yet
| kept the matter i'll his heart Dan. vii, 2S)
20. "The shepherds returned, glorifyne
and praising God for all the things that they
had heard and seen, as it was told unto them
You could not shut them up any more than
you could stop n volcano 1t was in them
| and like Jeremiah they could not keep still
about it der. Xxx, 81. They had caught tn,
| spirit Of the angels and praise God they must