The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-07-11
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JULY 1S.
Lesson Text: 'sVisit Of the Wise
Men, Math. H., 1-12-Golden
Text: Math. H., IL
Commentary.

hem of JudDa, IN the days Of Herod the
king, behold, there came wise men from the
east TO jerusalem" Matthew gave US what
Is specially known as the gospel of the king
dom. Here only do we flhd the expression
"kingdom Of heaven" At His birth Jesus is
called king of the Jews" and at the begin.
ming and end Of this gospel other rulers are
troubled because of Him. See Herod and
plate. 1t is suggestive OF the time when He
shall come in glory, and the nations shall be
angry, and all kindreds OF the earth wall
(Rev. xi.. IS; j.. y. He was called Jesus
before He was born (Math. j.. 2D. At least
five others are mentioned by name before
their. birth. Ishmael, Isaac. Joshua, Cyrus
and John the Baptist. Note the lesson in
lisa: xlvi, $40; ; Eph. IL, and apply it believ-
ingly to yourself.
2. "Saying. Where Is He that is born King
Of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the
east and are come TO worship Him." We
shall have TO wait until 'the morning" to
know all We would like to know about these
wise men, who they were, how many they
we're, what they knew about the King OF the
Jews, and how, what land they came from,
what was the effect Of their tidings upon
their countrymen when they returned. etc.
But they make US think of Ps. lxxii., TO- II
Isa., L., l-3; Zech. XIV. 16; Jer. ILL.,. II,
when all nations shall have their representa-
tives in Jerusalem to worship the King.
8. "When Herod, the king had heard these
things, he was troubled and all Jerusalem
with him." It is not strange that the enc
mics of God should be troubled by the pres
ence OF Him against whom they are in rebel
lion. Some day they shall be 80 troubled
that they will want rocks and mountains to
fall upon them and hide them from His face
Grew. vi, 1910.
4. "And when he had gathered all the chief
priests and scrbes of the people together he
demanded of them where Christ should be
born" Literally it is "the Christ = the wise
men asked for the King Of the Jews. but
Herod asks for the Christ, which in Hebrew
would be the Messiah. and in English the
Anointed. See how on the cross the chief
priests mocked Him with the title ''Christ,
the King of Israel" (Mark xv., 32). 1t looks
as il Heroi had heard some talk OF coming
king Of Israel, just as to-day many hear of
the possible return in an an unexpected hour
of this same Jesus.
S. "And they said unto him. In Bethlehem
of Judea, for thus it is written by the proph-
et." They do not seem to have asked
time to look it up, as many teachers would
need to do now If asked concerning the re-
turn of Christ. They seem 10 have been
familiar with this prophecy and TO have an
swered promptly, and yet they were not per-
sonally Interested; their knowledge did not
draw them to Him.
6. "And thou. Bethlehem, in the land OF
Juda, are not the least among the princes OF
Juda, for o1t otthee shall come governor
that shall rule my people Israel" This is
quoted from Mic. ". 2, the last clause OF
which says that His goings forth have been
from the days of eternity (margin). The
ruler OF Israel WAS to be "a son born, child
given" but He was also "the Mighty God"
(Isa ix., 6, y. AS truly as He has fulfilled
part Of the prophecy, He will fulfill the rest
and sit on David's throne at His second COM
ing.
"Then Herod, when he had priviIy called
the wise men, inquired OF them diligently
what time the star appeared" He is getting
interested in the child. but it Is the interest
of satan to destroy. not the interest OF the
wise men who came to worship.
8. "And he sent them to Bethlehem and
said. Go and search diligently for the young
child, and when ye have found Him bring me
word again, that I may come and worship
Him Also" We may rejoice, the wise men
might have said, for we have gained con-
vert. but God was reading Herod's heart,
and perhaps the wise men could read him
too. Ever since sin made Adam and Eve
foolish enough to try to hide from God be-
hind the trees, in the garden (Gen. ILL.,. 81,
man has been plotting and planning and act
ing asif God could not see nor read the heart,
not knowing that oil is open to Him (Heb.
iv., 1S).
8. "When they had heard the king, they
departed. And, 10, the star which they saw
in the east went before them till 1t came and
stood over where the young child was" Is
It possible that they lost the star when they
turned aside to see Herod and might have
been guided by the star only without any
help from Herod or the chief priests? It
looks that way, for as soon rs they left
Herod then so, the star" once more guides
them. When We trust God alone to guide
US. It will be wei, but turning aside to man
brings trouble.
10. when they saw the star, they rejoiced
with exceeding great JOY" 1t is only rest
tul and joyful to be led by God only. They
had been evidently i'll at ease in the presence
OF the king and during the probable long
delay of his gathering the priests to get their
answer, but now. they are once more dealing
with God only, and they doubtless felt like
saying, God, my exceeding joy Cps. kill,
A. Many Christian workers are much hin
dered by the wisdom of seemingly good
men, but to step out and follow Jesus
only" is Joy indeed.
II. "And when they were come into the
house they saw the young child with Mary,
His mother, and fell down and worshlped
Him, and when they had opened their treas
ures they presented unto Him gifts, gold
and frankincense and myrrh." The star had
guided them to the very house where the
child was (verse 81, for God leaves nothing
half done, and now they are face to face
with Him whom they have journeyed 80 far
10 see. According to the custom OF our day,
they should have made each other present
about this time, but all is given to the child
Jesus. 1t will be good day for churches
and Sunday-schools when the Christmas
time sees pastors and people, teachers and
scholars, wing with each other in loving
gifts to Jesus to hasten the time OF His king
dom.
12. "And being warne1 of God in dream
that they should not return to Herod they
departed into their own country another
way" God knew what Herod's worship
meant, and He knoweth how to deliver. He
can guide US by His word and spirit, or bya
dream, or a star. or an angel, and in some
way He will surely guide US If we will nly
let Him. His word Is generally sufficient,
but If ought else is needed 1t shall be given,
vet never in conflict with His word, which IS
supreme, for His word Is Himself. 1t Is al
ways safe to disobey Herod in order to OBEY
God.-Lesson Helper.