The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-12-21
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.
A Scholarly Exposition of the Lesson
Thoughts Worthy OF Calm Reflection
Half an Hours Study of the Scriptures
Time Well Spent.
Lesson for December %.


government and peace there shall be no
end."-Isa. 8: Z.
THE Prince of Peace" the title of this
lesson, is an appropriate theme for Christ
mas study. Surely thoughts of fraternity
and kindness must become the day which
memOrialiZes Savior's advent. "OI
earth peace" was the angel note. 1t has
been long time finding its way into the
heart of humanity, and it has not yet
gained full ascendency but verify it must
| yet prevail. Peace end good will are the
right attendants of the Christ, the angel
that sometime will come TO stay. The
| war now in progress ut the China Sea IL
properly concomitant of heather, not
OF n Christian civilization.
The lesson is found i'm Isaiah O.: 81. 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
rendered strangely opaque in our King
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 il ont of darkness,
and makes il 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 ZcDulon and the
land of Naphtali, but in the latter time
hath he made it glorious by the way of
the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilec of the
Gentiles." The two verbs, brought into
contempt and made glorious are opposite.
in the Hebrew, one meaning light weight
or despiscd. 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 touchcd; and at the
last the way of the sea beyond the Jordan
Of the Galee 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 straghta way to the
heart of the lesson: ~ 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. "Iow far that
little candle throws its beams; so shines Il
good deed in a naughty world" SO
cleaned Isaiah's torch in the midst of the
heather wickedncss brought in by AhaZ.
So shned 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 II description of the
Dew day visible to the prophets inspired
eye. The revision is probably right in
adopting the reading of the Hebrew mar
gin. (N. b. The two words in the He
brew have similar form and precisely
the same sound-lo, signifyirg not or to
him-hence 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 consistency 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. v
The Douay luminously 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 well be kept in memory
just as they stand and they need little ex-
PLANTATION. The progress of Christianity
itself, the coming of the kingdom is their
best exploitation. 1t is worth observing,
however, in passing that the marvellous
! no Of in h, ,ba t,tn IL
Ing, the son of strange name and strange
sad portents is met and matched by this
more wonderful" although glorious
! child. That 'son" meant Garkness, dc atl;
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
terrblencss 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. it is as when g: 22) 'They shall
look unto TIE 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 n great
: light. They that dwell in the land of the
shadow Of death, upon them hath the
: light shined." where sin abounds, grace
did much more abound:
, ''Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Jesus, / come, Jesus. / come,
Into thy freedom, gladness and light,
, Jesus. | come to thee"
Glorify the light ~ walking in it. "The
: people that walk in darkness have seel
great light" Now let them walk in the
| light. Their walk and conversation, rs
! it were, reflects the light. Jules Breton
has y picture Untitled, '"rhe Song of the
Lark" 1t is just the bright, upturned
: face of peasant girl" Have you heard
> the angel song? Have you seen the light
Show it in your face, your life.
NEXT Lesson-Review.