The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-06-07
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JUNE II.
Lesson. Text: ssThe Creator ReFem-
bered," Eccles. xiii, II, 3, IL
Golden Text: Eccles. Kill, l.
Commentary.

1. "Remember now thy Creator In the days
of thy youth. while the evil days come not,
nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt
say, I have no pleasure in them" In the
last two verses Of the previous chapter the
Young man is warned that there Is judg-
ment to come, in the light Of which all pres
ent things should be tested, and now he Is
entreated to think of his Creator In the days
OF his youth and strength and to consider
Him who Is the giver Of every good and per-
feet gift. Let Samuel, David, Joash and
Josiah be studied as examples.
2 'While the sun, or the Light, or the
moon, or the stars be not darkened, nor the
clouds return after the rain" This Is sug-
gestive Of days Of Judgment. as In Isa. Kill,
10: Math. xiv. 20; Rev. viii, u; Jer. Kill.
16, for those who persistently refuse the
mercy Of God. But the content seems rather
to- indicate the time OF old Cge, when the
senses become dull, and with no light from
heaven in the soul the condition Of such
one is dark and gloomy indeed. Listen to
old Barzillai when invited by King David to
make his home with the king In Jerusalem
81 am this day four score years old, and can
I discern between good and evil? Can thy
servant taste what I eat or what I drink?
Can hear any more the voice OF singing
men and singing women? Wherefore, then,
should thy servant be yet q burden unto my
lord the king" QI Sam. xix, 35)? Barz1llat
was doubtless good man, yet he simply de-
scribes the ordinary failures Of the body In
old age.
8. HIn the day when the keepers Of the
house shall tremble, and the strong men shall
bow themselves, and the grinders cease be-
cause they are few, and those that look out
of the windows be darkened." This is sug-
gestive of the failure of hands and arms, feet
and legs, teeth and eyes. The earthly house
begins to decay, failure Is evident In every
part, and II there is no light shining from
above the sun it is a dreary picture But
Joshua, each Of whom wholly followed the
Lord ''Lo am this day four score and five
years old. As yet am as strong this day as
was in the day that Moses sent me. AS my
strength was then, even 80 Is my strength
now for war, both to 60 out and to como in
(Josh. xiv, 10, III.
4. "And the doors shall be shut in the streets
when the sound Of the grinding is low, and
he shall rise up OF the voice of the bird. and
all the daughters Of music shall be brought
low" Suggestive Of lips closing In upon
toothless gums. inability to sleep and failure
of the voice. Comment seems unnecessary;
rather consider the possibilities OF an old age
in the fear OF God. Think Of Moses, OF whom
it Is written that at the age OF 120 his eye was
not dim nor his natural force abated. At that
age he walked up the mountain alone and
went out to be with God, and 140O years later
we find him alive and well (Deut. xxziv, Z;
Math. xvii, 81. - -. -
S. "Also when they shall be afraid Of that
which is high, and fears shall be in the way,
and the almond tree shall flourish, and the
grasshopper shall be burden, and desire
shall fail, because man goeth to. his long
home and the mourners 60 about tho streets.
This is probably suggestive Of the easily terri
fed old personto whom everything Is bur-
den and nothing Is satisfying. The almond tree
may suggest the white head OF old age, and
the grave is spoken OF as the long home.
"Under the sun is still the key, for rejoicing
believer anticipates no long home In the
grave, but with Christ In paradise, lab.
sent from tn. body, present with the Lord.
(Luke xiii .o3 II Cor W, 81.
8. cor eyer the silver cord be l9osed, or
the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be
broken Of .he fountain, or the wheel broken
at the cistern." Possibly the reference here
may be to the spinal cord and whole nervous
sysrem,. the brain, the heart, with its veins
and arteries. However much or little the
writer may have known about these things,
the holy Spirit who wrote through him was
perfect In knowledge" (Job xxxvi., A.
z. ''Then shall the dust return to the earth
lL.aH6
God who gave IT," GodS said to Adam.
Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou re-
turn" And the psalmist wrote concerning
vain man, "His breath goeth forth he re-
turneth to his earth; In that very day his
thoughts perish" (Gen. Ill, 10; Ps. cxlvi., y.
Through Jesus, tho last Adam, the second
man, we learn OF victory over death and Of
the fact that many shall never die. "We
shall not all sleep. but we shall ell be changed
in moment. in the twinkling OF an eye, at
tho last trump, for the trumpet shall sound,
and we shall be changed" q Cor. XIV, As, AZ,
81. 52). See also Thess. w., 1918. And In
contrast to this whole dreary picture Of fral
old age, with no light from heaven, listen to
this contrast, Though our outward man
perish, yet the inward man isrenewed dayby
day." BY receiving Him who became man
and a sin offering for us We may be surc Of
an endless life and eternal youth.
13. "Let US hear the conclusion of the
whole matter. Fear God and keep His COM
msndments, for this is the whole duty Of
man." But inasmuch as no mere man since
Adam fell, over kept the commandments Of
God there is little comfort here. ;'Whososver
shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in
one point, he is guilty of all' (Jas. IL, 10,.
And it Is written that the law was given to
condemn man and prove to man his helpless
ness, that he might be led to receive Him
who is the fulfllment of the law and the end
OF the law for righteousness to every one
that believeth (Rom. Ill, 10, 20; X, 4 Gal.
IL. 81: ILL, 81, 22). The Lord Jesus Christ is
the only man who has ever done tho whole
duty OF man. He was mado sin for US that
We might be made the Righteousness OF God
in Him QI Cor. ", 21). Receiving Him, He
becomes our life and righteousness (John l.,
70; John v, 12 Col. ILL.,, 4; Cor. j., 30),
and His love constraining us VIC live hence
forth unto Him, rejoicing in hope OF tho
glory Of God (II Cor. ", II, Is; Rom. ", l,
p.
IA. For God snail bring every work into
Judgment with every secret thing, whether
1t be good or whether 1t be evil" II We are
In Christ. we can rojoice that the judgment
for our sins is past, and they shall be remen- !
bered no more John ", "a Rom. Will, /;
lisa xiii, 25). Every believer will, however
appear before tho judgment seat OF Christ
that all his works as Christian may be tried
(u Cor. ", 10; Rom. XIV, 10; Cor. ill.,, H.
Is; Luke xix, 11-26), and position in tho
kingdom will depend Upon his fairhfulness. |
So In due time and in due ordor tho secrets Of |
nll hearts shall be made manifest, ant only |
those who ere in Christ and the works which |
He has wrought through them shall stani.
Al else shall perish. Helper
Cyclone Stories.