Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-12-20
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
a osholas1y Ezposition Of The Lssson-
Thoughts worthy Of Calm Rsnscuon-
Hall IN Hours study Of the seriptrss--
Time Wen spent



Lesson for December 20.
Golden text--"Of the increase Of his
government and peace there shall be no
end."-Isa. o: z.
'sThe Prince of Peace" the title of this
lesson, IL an appropriate theme for Christ
mas study. Surely thoughts Of fraternity
and kindness must become the day which
memorializes a Savior's advent. ION
earth peace" was the angel note. 1t has
been long time finding its way into the
heart of humanity, and 1t has not yet
gained full ascendency; but verify it must
yet prevail. Peace and good will arc the
right attendants of the Christ, the angel
that sometime will come to stay. The
war now in progress at the China Sea Is
properly concomitant of heather. not
of Christian civilization. The Lord
hasten the day when wars shall cease and
nations dwell in brotherhood.
The lesson is found in Isaiah o: 2-7. 1t
is to be noted that the lesson begins with
the second. instead of the first verse, of
the chapter This is in strict accordance
with the Hebrew order which closes the
preceding chapter with this yerse-rhetor-
ically, in our common reading, the better
arrangement And yet the verse has been
James version. and "dimness of vision
and "vexation" of understanding are GER
tainly in it. The translation itself needs
eight" The more correct rendering of
the Revision brings it out of darkness,
and makes II fifty Introductory to this
beautifully radiant chapter; thus, "But
there shall be no gloom to her that was
in anguish. in the former time he brought
into contempt the land of Zebulon and the
land of Naphtali, but in the latter time
hath he made it glorious by the way of
the sea. beyond Jordan, Gallee of the
Gentiles." The two verbs, brought into
contempt and made glorious are opposites
in the Hebrew, one meaning light weight
or despised. the other meaning heavy
weight or glorifed. The occasion of the
confusion in rendering may be here
traced. The Douay translation is still
nearer to the original: AT the first time
the land of Zebulon and the land of
Naphtali was lightly touched; and at the
last the way of the sea beyond the Jordan
Of the Galilee of the Gentiles was heavily
loaded" We have gone thus at length
into this variation both because of the in
terest of passage in itself and because of
its larger bearing upon the thought OF the
lesson, which it properly introduces.
We are brought straightaway Ito the
heart of the lesson: "A great light" On
the one side, thick darkness; on the other
side, bright light: and the very blackness
of the enshrouding darkness throws the
light into great brilliancy. How far that
little candle throws its beams: so shines
good deed in n naughty world" So
cleaned Isaiah's torch in the midst of the
heather wickedness brought in by Ahaz.
So shined the lamp of promise right out
of the midst of n black night. The eighth
chapter is midnight darkness. With the
ninth chapter comes the streaking of the
dawn. Then follows a description of the
new day visible to the prophets inspired
eye. The revision is probably right in
adopting the reading of the Hebrew mar
gin. IN. b. The two words in the He
brew have similar form and precisely
the same sound-lo, signifying not or to
him-hence a mistake of the copyist
might easily be made.) Revision: Thou
hast multiplied the nation, thou hast in
creased their Ito HIM joy" This brings
the whole passage into cor sstency and
unity. The reference of verse FIVE is prob
ably to the day of universal peace, which
we are led to believe Is coming. The re-
vision rightly renders it that battle arma-
ments are ''for burning, for fuel of fire."
The Douay LUMINOSITY says, "shall be
burnt and be fuel for the fire." In other
words, as Cowles interprets, "war itself
shall die" Let it die!
The lesson closes with one of the most
characteristic passages of all the second
Record, the sixth and seventh verses.
7 he words might we'll be kept in memory
just as they stand, and they need little ex-
| -..&..
itself, the coming of the kingdom is their
best exploitation. 1t is worth observing,
however, in passing that the marvellous
babe Of verse three in the chapter preced
ing. the son of strange name and strange
sad portents is met and matched by this
more wonderful" although glorious
child. That 'son' meant darkness, death;
this "Son' means light and life forever
more.
This lesson comes out, with cheering
suddenness. as does the sun from behind
cloud. The previous chapter has, been
speaking of Gods judgments and of the
terribleness of mans deserts A gloomy
subject indeed. Then suddenly breaks in
this chapter of hope and joy. Darkness
is at once turned to light, gloom to glad
ness. So teach. Let the light stream in.
When we think of our sins and our de-
serving, il is as when Is: 22) '"They shall
look unto the EARTH and behold trouble
and darkness. dimness of anguish; and
they shall be driven to darkness" Then
we turn away and look to God. his good
ness and mercy. and 10, ''the people that
walked in darkness have seen a great
light. They that dwell in the land of the
shadow of death, upon them hath the
light shned." ''Where sin abounds, grace
did much more abound:
''Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Jesus. come, Jesus, l come,
Into thy freedom, gladness and light,
| Jesus, / come to thee"
Glorify the light by walking in it. "The
people that walk in darkness have seen
great light" Now let them walk in the
light. Their walk and conversation, as
| it were, reflects the light Jules Breton
has - picture Untitled, "The Song Of the
Lark" 1t is just the bright, upturned
face of a peasant girl" Have you heard
the angel song? Have you seen the light?
| Show II in your face. your life.
Neyt Iessou-Reyiew