The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-07-04
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JULY 8.
Lesson Text: Luke H., 25-3S -
Golden Text: Luke H., 80
commentary.

usalem whose name was Simeon. and the
same man was just and derout, waiting for
the consolation of Israel. Aud the Holy
Ghost was upon him" Even in the darkest
days God has always His faithful ones, even
though they be few, such as Abel. Enoch and
Noah before the deluge: in later days a
Caleb and Joshua, a Gideon, and Samuel,
and an Elijah in the time OF our lesson, His
Simeons and Apnas. See in Simeon, whose
name signifies "hearing" or "obedient," an
illustration of our threefold salvation. He
was just, or righteous, as to his standing
devout as to his life, and waiting or looking
for the hope OF Israel. Compare Titus H.,
lib Rom. ", !, 2
26. "And it was revealed unto him by the
Holy Ghost that he should not see death be-
fore he had seen the Lords Christ" The
holy Spirit Is the great and only teacher,
and He Is given unto US that we may know
the things that are freely given to us of God
q Cor. H.. II, 12l Jesus,said.that He would
guide US into all truth and show US things to
come (John xvi. 13).
q. "And he came by the Spirit into the
temple. And when the parents brought in
the child Jesus. to do for Him after the Gus
tom Of the law" In these three successive
verses we see Simeon, with the Spirit upon
him, taught by the Spirit, and led BY the
Spirit. and the child OF God can desire moth
ing greater than to be always filled and con-
troled by the Holy Spirit. Thus we would
always speak right, act right and be in the
right place 1T the right time. The child Jesus
would now oe about six weeks old, and the
special law they were fulfilling at this time
is found in Lev. xii.
2S "Thcn TOOK he Him up in his arms and
blessed God and said" He believed the
Scriptures that God would raise up prophet
like unto Moses that the prophet would be
h1s &c nd n pa ha hor
in Bethlehem (Deut. xviii. IS, 18; Isa. VII.
IA; Mic. ", p. Being taught by the Spirit.
be would also be familiar with Gabriel's word
to Daniel concerning the time Of Messiah's
coming (Dan. tx, 25) and was doubtless
thinking he might possibly see It, when the
Spirit told him that he surely would, and
now he actually holds in his arms the seed OF
the woman, the Deliverer promised 1000 years
before.
29. 'tLord, now lettest Thou Thy servant
depart in peace, according 10 Thy word"
Only waiting to be called. ready at any time
10 60, glad to wait to welcome tho Saviour,
and now longing to be at rest. No fear nor
doubt concerning the future. for he knew
whom he believed (II Tim. j., 12), and he
knew that "absent from the body" meant
"present with the Lord (I[ Cor. ", 81, and
that "to die would be gain (Phil. L., 21).
&c. "For mine eyes have seen Thy saliva
tion." Jesus Himself is that salvation. even
as the Spirit, through Isaiah, said "Behold,
God is my salvation lisa. xii. q. ''Salva-
lion is of the Lord" (Jonah H., 81, for He
alone is its author. God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son. '!Sal-
vation is OF the Jews" (John w., 22), for Of
them came Jesus rs the seed Of David, and
as nation they are destined under Jesus,
their King, to fill the earth with His glory.
b,-t tLaC C,ir hou cd f0r
Thy salvation. 0 Lord" (Gen. Xix. lo). but
he still waits to see it.
81. (which Thoc hast prepared before the
face OF all people." Wien there was none
to help and none to uphold, His own arm
brought salvation lisa. lziii., s.. He says,
ST. even I, am the Lori, and besides Me
there is no Saviour Isa xiii, 11). JUST as
in the garden OF Eden. He, without any help
from Adam or Eve, prepared the coats OF
skins which clothed them and taught them
the way Of redemption (Gen. ILL.,, 21), SO in
all things, from first to last, he Is the author
and nnisher.
80. "A light to Tighten the gentiles, and
the glory of Thy people Israeli" First as
the glory OF Israel, for He says, II vii! place
salvation in Zion Ior Israel, My glory Isa.
xlrl.. 13). Then tho gentiIes shall come to
her light, and kings to the brightness OF her
rising Elsa. lx.. 81. Thus He shall in due
time prove to be for a covenant Of the peo-
pie. and for o light Of rhe Sentlles.
49, 'And Joseph and his mother marveled
at those things which were spoken Of Him"
In verse 19 We are told that Mary kept the
words OF the shepherds and pondered them
In her heart. See also (verse 51) as to His
own words, at the age two. We may we'll
marvel at the wonderful things said Of US
VINO believe in Film. but let US firmly be-
lieve them and ponucr them daily in our
hearts. For example, eat and mediate upon
John XII. 25, 26. xv., 9, xvii, 1S. 22-24.
81. "Behold this child Is set for the fall
and rising again OF many in Israel, and for
q sign which shall be spoken against. Thus
spake Simeon to Mary as he blessed her and
Joseph. He was only repeating by the Spirit
the words of Isa. viii, IA, Is; xviii, 1t,
both OF which passages Peler quote In Pet.
it,, 6-S. Those who reject Him stumble over
Him, while those WHO accept Him build upon
Him as their sure foundation.
IS. "Yea, q sword shall pierce through thy
own soul also, that the thoughts of many
hearts may to revealed" The last clause
taken with the previous verse makes Him the
revealer OF hearts, for He is indeed the word
OF God, discerning the thoughts and lntents
OF the bearts (Heb. w., 12).
So. And there was one Anna, prophet
6SS. lQluh u AAO DObSkoo
Huldah and Philips daughters, and the
promise yet to be fulfilled (E1 xv.. 20 Judg.
w., 4; II Chron. xxxiv., %: Acts XXI, 9;
Joel H., 2S). A prophet Is one who speaks
for Gcd, the Lords spokesman. Compare
Ex. VIII, |, and iv., Is, 1G.
81. "She departed not from the temple,
but served God with fastings and prayers
night and day." Like Eli and Samuel, she
made the house Of God her dwelling place.
We cannot all do that, but we can all make
God Himself our dwelling place (Ps. 1c.. y.
SO. "And she, coming in that instant, gave
thanks likewise unto the Lord and spake OF
Him to all them that looked for Redemption
in Israel" Here is another spirit controlled
person who finds herself in the right place
at the right time. She enters into His gates
with thanksgiving and into His courts with
praise Cps. c.. 4). We see that Others were
looking for Him besides Simeon and Anna,
and they loved. when they met, to speak Oh
Him. It would be we'll II in the places OF
public worships to-day all the speakers
would speak only Of Him. Helper.
TEMPERANCE NEWS AND NOTES.
A drop OF gin is q drop too much.
A drunkard's throat has no bottom to it.
Beware OF sun-strokes aud beer-strokes.