The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-03-22
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
MARCH 20.
Lesson Text: Quarterly Review-Isa.
xI., iv., 9-20-Commentary.


xI., iv, 9-2O-Commentary.
LESSON I.-Home from Babylon (Ez. l.,
ILL. Golden text Deut. Xxx, 81, THE
Lord thy God will turn thy captivity. and
and have compassion upon thee." The gifts
and calling of God are without repentance
(Rom. Il, CO.,; whatsoever he purposes shall
in due time beaccomplished, and everything
shall come to pass exactly as He says lisa.
xiv, "a: Ps. x1xiii., 11I. He doeth accord
finds willing servants, both among men and
angels dan. iv.. 25J. The rebuilding Of the
temple is suggestive OF the temple now
being built, the church Of God (Eph. H.,
1929.
LESSON 1.-THE Temple Begun (Ez. iii,
lib. Golden text (Ez. ii, III, "They
praised the Lord, because the foundation
of the house of the Lord was laid" Remem-
Der the key to the book Of Ezra is The
house of the Lord" phrase used fifty times
in the book. The thoughts Of this lesson
cluster around the work, and the workmen,
and the offerings, and the willing hearts.
Jesus delighting to do the Fathers will and
always about His Fathers business (Ps. xl..
8; John viii, 29 is our pattern in all our
daily life.
LESSON III.-Encouragements (Hag. il,
1-9). Golden text (Ps. cxxvii., H., Except
the Lord build the house they labor in vain
that build it, Read the four books Of
Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra and Nehemiah.
Those who are used Of God must be strong
and Of good dcourage-strong to do-and this
will come only by a knowledge of God
Josh j., Z, 9; Dan. N., 32. Israel, ike the
ten spies saw the discouragements, but we
must be like Caleb and Joshua and see only
God and make His business the first concern
Of our lives. When we put our affairs first,
all will come to naught.
LESSON 1V.-Joshua, the High Priest
tZech. iii, 1-1N. Golden text tHeb. iv., 14,.
1--WE have a great High Priest that is
passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son OF
God." One of satan's ways Of discouraging
people Is to point them to their sinfulness
and tell them that God cannot use such un-
worthy opes as they are. 1t Is all too true
that we are sinful and unworthy, but Jesus.
Dur High Priest Is our righteousness Q[
Cor. ", 21) and our comeliness (Ezek. xvi,
49, and having accepted Him he stands for
such as we are as vessels through which He
win accomplish His pleasure phil H., 13;
Heb. xiii, 20. 2D.
LESSON V.-The Spirit Of the Lord tZech.
w., 1-l0). Golden text tZech. iv., 81 "Nor
by might, nor by power, but by Ny Spirit,
Spirit, saith the Lord Of Hosts" Lo work
Of God can be done by human wisdom.
Moses had no say whatever in the design OF
the tabernacle, nor had David or Solomon
in the temple: the former was to be made
according to the pattern shown him in the
by the Spirit Of the Lord lex. XIV, 40;
Chron. xviii, 19).
LESSON VI.-Dedicating the Temple (Ez.
w., 14-22). Golden text FPS. cxxii., y, II
was glad when they said unto me, Let us 60
into the hedse of tho Lord" Haggai and
Zecharian, the Lords messengers, being
strengthened themselves by the words and
visions Of the Lord, so encouraged the peo.
pie that the building was finished. end with
great joy dedicated unto the LORD.
LESSON VIL-Nehemiah's Prayer tNeh.
/, Lii. Golden text FPS. XIX 10, Lord,
be Thou my helper" Nehemiah, in the
lation of the Holy City, the wall broken
down and the people in great afaiction and
reproach, and he is so affected that he weeps
and mourns and fasts and prays for several
days. Identifying himself with his people.
he confesses their sins and reminds Jehovah
Of His promises. The result was that the
Lord inclined the king to let Nehemiah go
to jerusalem with authority to rebuild the
walls Of the city.
LESSON VIll-Rebuiiding the Wall (Neh.
iv., 9-21). Golden text (Neh. iv., 81, 1--WE
made our prayer unto our God and sec a
watch against tnem." Both men and wo.
men Of ali occupations were ready and
ioined Nehemiah in the work OF building
the wall, for the people had mind to work
(Neh. iv., o.. But when anything Is really
being done in theAord.s name the adversary
becomes very active, and che opposition at
this time was something tremendous, oota
as to wiles and persistence. Lat US consider
we'll Nehemiah's strength and be strong In
the Lord. :.
l-12 Golden text (Ps. cxix., lSl. "Open
Thou mine eyes, that I may behold won
and the walls may be bnilt, but they may be
thrown down again. There is just one thing
on earth that can never pass away. "ihe
Word Of our God shall stand forever lisa.
xl., g.. We are to read it, and believe II,
and thus understand it, and then do 1t, 1or
HE that doeth the will Of God abideth for
ever" Il John H., 11::' '!r ~.
LESSON X.-Keeping the Sabbath (Neh
xiii, 1929. Golden text tEI. *. -, re
member the Sabbath day to keep 1t noly ;.
One-seventh Of our time and one'tentn ol
our money should be cheerfully glve1
wholly up to God for His service as the very
least we can offer on those two linee. II We
are redeemed, then we are all His. all time
money, talents, everything; but it is best Y
make Him sure of the seventh and rentn u
begin with. Let us as individuals see TIA
we conscientiously keep the LORDS day q
he lines OF lsa. lviii., 13 IA, and pray fol
our rulers that they may have grace to %
as Nehemiah did.
LESSON Xi-Esther Before the KIM
Est. iv.. 10-l7; ", %. Golden text tprov
~;..l,k MI
cause of the poor and needy" From this
hook we learn that God is on the field wher
most invisible; that He is able to deliver
when deliverance seems impossible; that
those who dig pits for the righteous vii
fall into them themselves; that the ,gooa
deeds OF the righteous ara recorded and VIII
ia due time bs rewarded, and: many otaer
such practical lessons.
LESSON XII.-rhe Vanity of Craven lima
ges Usa., XIV, 900. Golden text tlsa.,
xiv, s., II am the Lord, and there Is none
else: there is no God besides Me-" Wnen
people turn from tho truth, they lay them
more to us than God becomes an idol. VI
ten il is some work OF our own hands.
we have learned to know the true God 1t Il
not merely for our own benefit, but that we
NAV make Him known to others. The Sa
vior,s great command to preach the Gospe
to every creature is binding upon every ont
of us, and il we are willing to be used oy
Him, His '.all power" and His "Lo, an
with you," are ours for His service. OuI
daily prayer and constant aim should Do q
know Him.-Lesson Helper.
AS A matter OF economy tn
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus ant
St. Louis railroad employed a barber tt
tend its switches at the Alton Jun>
tion. His income from the railroad
was assured, while that from his ton