The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-02-03
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
FEBRUARY =.
Lesson Text: "The Gracious Call n
Isaiah, lv., 1-12-Golden Text.
Isaiah, w., documentary.

l.. "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come We
10 the waters; yea, come, buy wine and
milk without money and without price," In
verses l3 and IA Of the last chapter we have
summary Of the blessedness that shall
come to Israel as nation because of the suf-
ferings Of her Messiah. Then shall waters
OF blessing flow forth from them for all ma
tions (Ezes. Xvii, Lie; zech. xiv, 81, and
this Is the ultimate reach OF this chapter and
its primary application. Many, however,
Will see here only present and personal sal
vatlon for Individual believers.
2. "Hearken diligently unto Me. and eat
ye that which is good, and let your soul
delight itself in fatness." All our own
efforts to obtain Righteousness aud soul
satisfaction are like spending time, strength
and money for naught. But when we turn
to Him who is the fountain of life and re-
celve Him. then we have Righteousness.
s. Incline your ear and come unto Me,
hear and your soul shall live" Thus the
prophets were ever pleading with Israel.
gee the application to us in John ". "a.
But the everlasting covenant and sure
lnercles OF David ara specially Jewish Ier.
XXX, 9; xxi, 81, Luxe j., 81, 33J. In the
days of the fultlilment Of that covenant. we
who are nov true believers in Christ shall be
manifested with Him in glory as His s.body,
joint rulers with Him tCol. lii, 4.:! Rev.
Ill, 21L.
4. Behold. have given Him for a wit
ness to the people, leader aud commander
to the people," Who can He be but the true
David Beloved, David's greater son tEzsk.
x0iv., %. "a; 1xxvii., "a, PSI, the faithful
and true witness tRev. j., s., the King of Is,
rael John l.. 40; xviii, 81. He is also the
captain of our salvation. and the captain of
the Hosts OF the Lord, God Himself our cap
tain (aeb. H., 10; Josh. ", Il; II Chron.
xiii, ID. May our hearts say MY Lord
and my God"
S. "Behold, thou shalt call a nation that
thou knowest not, and nations that knew
not thee shall run unto thee because Of the
Lord thy God" A nation, and nations
drawn to God through Israel What can
the first be but that nation referred to by
Jesus and Peter (Math. xxi, 43; Pet. it,,
81, even the church now being gathered out
Of all nations And the nations must be the
all nations" Of millennial days who shall
how TO Israel after the glory Of God Is re-
stored to her lisa. X. 1-3; xii, !, 2. Jer.
Ill, ~.
q. ''Seek ye the Lord while He may be
found, call ye upon Him while He is near"
The prophet now turns from the future
urging an immediate turning to God with
the whole heart that so they might, indi-
vidually at least, make sure of the glory of
the kingdom.
z. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and
the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let
him return unto the Lord" The encourage
ment to do so was the mercy and abundant
pardon awaiting any who would return. 30
1t Is to-day.
8. For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,
saith the Lord" How worse than foolish,
then, to follow our own ways or indulge in
our own thoughts; rather let US be filed
with Gods thoughts as given US in His word,
and 50 our thoughts shall be crowded out
lJer xix, II; Ps. Xix, IL: Mic. iv l2; II
Cor. 81. See the folly Of our thoughts in
the case Of Abram, and Of Naamnu (Gen.
X, IL; II Kings, ", H..
9. For as the heavens are higher than
the earth, so are My ways higher than your
ways and My thoughts than your thoughts"
The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man that
they are vanity, for the wisdom of this world
is foolishness with God FPS. xciv., ILL Cor.
iii, l9, 20). Bur the thoughts Of the Lord
they shall come to pass, and His purposes
shall stand dsa. viz. "A. The thoughts of
the church Of to-day are that by the preach
ings Of the Gospel she is to convert the
world; but Gods thoughts are that the
church being gathered out, Israel shall be
as nation converted and they shall fill the
earth with the knowledge Of the Lord rom.
xi, II, IS. 25, 26).
10. "For as tue rain cometh down, and
the snow, from heaven, and returneth not
thither." In Eccl. l., Z, we learn that the
rain having descended and filed the rivers
which run into the sea, does ascend again
and SO continues to do, but the teaching
here is that nothing God does IS done in
vain.
IL. $50 shall My word he; it shall not re-
turn unto Me void; but it shall accomplish
that which please" His word is as the
rain Oeut. xxi. 2) 1t will always ac-
complish His pleasure.
12. ''For ye shall 20 out with joy and be
led forth with peace, and all the trees OF the
field shall clap their hands" The preacher
who now goes forth is to expect the hatred
and opposition Of the world John w., 10;
xvi, y and that only portion Of the seed
sown will bear fruit duke viii. 1l.l5D and
side by side until the harves.; many foSow-
ers Of the devil will be found in the so called
church, and preachers will prsach every.
thing but the Gospel (Math. xiii, 3033.l But
In tho time Of IsraeI's great mission things
1hall be very different for Gods spirit shall
be poured out upon all flesh Joel H., ~, 80.
1S. "And it shall be to the Lord for a
name, for an everlasting sign that shall not
be cut off," The Messiah shall then have
come no mote to die. Israel shall be estab-
lished in her own land, no more to be plucked
up, nor thrown down. The curse shall be
removed from the earth and God everywhere
g1oriied Ger. xxi, 40: Amos X. IS; Eek.
Ixxvii., A-2S; Rev. xii, 1-5). Thorns and
thistles were to be the visible token OF the
curse upon the earth (Gen. ill.,, II, 18l.
When our Saviour wore the crown OF thorns
he suffered for the whole creation which was
made subject to vanity, not willingly, but
by reason of Him who hath subjected the
same in hope, and the fact that He wore the
crown Of thorns is the pledge and assurance
that the creation itself shall be delivered
from the bondage Of corruption into the
glorious liberty Of the children Of God tRom.
viii. 90, 2n.
While waiting for those glorious resurrec-
ton days we who have the first fruits Of the
Spirit. and are supposed to rejoice in hope Of
the glory Of God from. ", q; viii. 2S)
would be more of name to the Lord II we
would let HimGn fgurative sense) take the
thorns and thistles out Of our lives, those
sharp words and looks and actions that sting
o,and let Him put into as the fragrance and
lowliness Of FIR and myrtle. Yield fully to
Him for His glory and He will surely see to
it and do it. See Gal. H., 20; II Cor. iv.,
II and let them possess you.-Lesson Helper.
TEMPERANCE NEWS AND NOTES.