The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-07-18
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JULY 22.
Lesson Text: "Flight Into Egypt"
Math. H., 13-23-Golden
Text: Ps. cxxi., g.
Commentary.

T. ''And when they were departed. be-
holu. the angel Of the Lord appearsth to
Joseph in n dream, saying. Arise and take
the young child and His mother and flee into
Egypt. and be thou there until bring thee
word, for Herod will seek the young child to
destroy Him." The four dreams Of this chap
ter oversees 12, 13, 10, 22) make US think Of
the many times mentioned in Scripture
when God revealed His will to men in
dreams, both to Jews and Gentles. As to its
being ofttimes His way, see Mum. xii. 6;
Job xxxii., IA. 10. He still cares for His
people and will surely guide them by His
word and His spirit, BY His providence, and,
If necessary. by dr,a or even an angel.
The Lord sees all the plottings OF the evil
one and will not suffer him to hurt His chill
dren Czech. H., S Ps. xci.. 9, 10.) Note how
forehand by the gold OF the wise men. Thus
God always foresees and anticipates the
need Of those who rely upon Him (lI Chron.
xvi, 81.
A. "When he arose he took the young
child and His mother by night and departed
into Egypt" Since the days OF Cain, the
devils first instrument to accomplish mur-
dar, he has worked hard at 1t and
often been permitted to have his way, but
never unless for the glory Of God and the
good of His people. An instrument whom He
wishes still to use here satan cannot lay a
finger upon. Consider Joseph and Moses
and Joash.
Is. "And was there until the death OF
Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken Of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Out of Egypt have I called Ny Son." OBJ
serve the fulfilling of prophecy in verses II
and 2a and chapter l., 22. "The Lord OF
Hosts has sworn, saying, Surely as have
thought, 80 shall it come to pass, and as I
have purposed so shall 1t stand" lisa. xiv. =,
24). Every purpose OF the Lord shall be
performed (Jer. H.. 29). and as He will do
nothing without revealing 1t to the prophets
(Amos iii, y we have only to study proph-
ecy in order to know what God will yet do.
16. "Then Herod. when he saw that he
was mocked OF the wise men. was exceed
ingly wroth and sent forth and slew all the
children that were in Bethlehem" etc.
Herod did not know Him who doeth accord
inc to His will both IN heaven and on earth,
WHO bringeth the counsel Of the nations to
naught and maketh the devices OF the peo-
pie of none effect (Dan. iv., 35; Ps. xxxiii.
10Y. These children thus sacrificed to Her
DDS rage may be said to have died for
Jesus's sake.
II. ''Then was fulfilled that which was
spoken by Jeremy, the prophet, saying"
That which has been fulfilled and the man
ner OF fulfllment Is the key to that which Is
yet unfulillei. See Gen. xv., IS, IA, with
Kings xiii, 1917, also Ps. xii, 16, 1S,
With John xix, "a; Xxx. Is, as samples Of
fulfilled prophecy and simply and heartily
believe God concerning things to come.
1S. SIN Rama was there a voice heard
lamentation and weeping and great mourn
ing-Rachel weeping for her children and
would not be comforted because they are
not" This is quoted from Jer. XXI, Is,
and the next verse gives the comfort OF re-
ward and restoration. The captive Jews
returned from Babylon, the land Of the enc
my. A greater return Is drawing near from
Russia and all lands Of the Jews enemies,
but the promise will not have complete full
f1lIment till the return from the land OF the
enemy-death. Then will even these babes
be given again to their mothers.
~. "But when Herod was dead, behold,
an angel OF the Lord appesreth in a dream
to Joseph in Egypt" We think Of another
Herod, who would not give glory to God,
and the angel OF the Lord smote him (Acts
xii, 23). Sometimes the enemies OF the
Lord are suddenly cut off. while at other
times He bears longer with them. The SER
wants of the Lord can we'll afford to leave
all things with God and quietly wait His
time, like David, who would not smite Saul,
but said. The Lord shall smite him, or his
day shall come to die, or he shall descend
iuto battle and perish" Il Sam. XVI, 10).
Let US ever give place unto the wrath OF
God (Rom. xiii, 10, R. ", margin).
90 Saying, Arise and take the young
child and His mother and 90 into the land Of
Israel for they are dead which sought the
Young child's life." Thus was fulfilled the
prophecy OF Hos. XII, l, quoted in verse 15.
but that prophecy refers to Israel called out OF
Egypt through Moses. See, then, the double
significance Of many prophecies, first refer
ring to person or nation, but fuLther on in
the course OF events to Christ and His king
dom, for all the promises OF God are yea and
amen in Him (II Cor. l.. 20). The Lord had
told them to abide till He brought them word
(verse 13) so they waited patiently, with no
plans for the morrow, but looking TOR orders
only from Hin.
81. sand be arose. and took the young
child and His mother, and came into tn:
lund of Israel" The very same Lord who
in the pillar OF cloud and of fra led Israel
out of Egypt 1900 years before Is now
helpless babe in Mary's arms, being carried
up out of that same Egypt. Great Is the
mystery Of Goodness. God manifest in the
flesh. He humblei Himself to be born OF
Mary, cradled in a manger, carried to Egypt
and back, live and grow up In the humble
home at Nazareth, remain there unknown
for thirty years, then go forth Oh His public
work to be despised, rejected and crucihed,
all for me- The Son Of God loved pe and
gave Himself for me.
%. "But when he heard that Archolaus
did reign in JudRa in ths room OF his father
Herod he was afraidto go thither Notwith-
standing. being warned of God in dream.
he turned aside into the parts OF Galiles.
The moment we turn our eyes from God
alone to look at people or circumstances
fears are sure to come winds and waves will
cause US to sink, but with eyes fixed on Jesus
we can walk on the sea. Insread OF heaing
what people say, let us hear what God the
Lord will speak, for He will speak peace TO
His people Cps. lxxxv., 81. mind stald on
Him will have perfect peace lisa. xxri., 81.
%. "And He came and dwelt in city
called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken by the propeets, He SHALL
be called a Nazarene." There seems to be
no single direct prophecy to this effect, but
the testimony Of all the prophets was that
He wo aid be- despised and held in contempt
even as they were Nazareth must have been
town of poor reputation, judging IRON
Nathanael's question in John ", 46. The
Hebrew for ';pranch" in lisa. xi.. 1, Is net
SER and may have some bearing upon the
name Nazarene. II we are truly His. We
must be willing to be despised for His sake
Lesson Helper.