The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-01-03
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JANUARY >.
Lesson Text: "The Forerunner of
Christ" Luke l., 5-,S-GoIden
Text: Luke T.. .6-Com-
mcntary.

mcntary.
5. There was in the days Of Hcrod the
kiits, oi JudTa Il cHrCain uricSt named Zach
artaS. We arc now 10 have six months i'm
tn" gospel by Luke. ln1ing one lesson in
each chapter. This "hapt"r may he sum-
married. under tn" ntrAiuctior. Gahriel's
visit TO Iacharias an u':crwari t" Mary.
Mary'S visi. TO Elizahsth and thn birth OF
John. The obier, OF the gospel is to declare
;no tninys which We're 'most surely be-
hevcd' (verSe II concerning Jesus. The
king AMI prizes, mrntnnaI in this first verse
;urn our thoughts 10 Him vino is tho great
Priest-king after tho order Of Melchizedek
Gen. xiv. Is; Ps. en-. y. What contrast
to Rerod. hut the crSat antetyDe Of all true
priests. For ourselves Sen Rev. ". 10.
6. And they were both righteous before
God. walking in all the commandments and
ordinances Of the Lord. hlameless" They
were united in the Lord (Num. xx1vi. 6.7;
Cor. vii. 80; [ Cor. vi, lD As to their
righteous on the urncipl" OF Abrahams
Righteousness (Gep. Nv. 6: Rom. iv. 3O All
who are truly in Christ are righteous in Him,
and this perfect standing before God Is un-
changeable (Rom. ", 4; III Cor. v, 81 Isa.
lxi. !O).
Z. "And they had no child. because that
Elizabeth was barren. and thev brth were
now well stricken in wears" When nature
fails. then the hand Of the Lord is mad,
nlpl' UltutttS.. ~ IN lllp case OF Sarah
Rachel. Hannah AMI Manoahs wife Il is
written OF Abraham that ne considered not
his own body. no. SarahS hOiv but ONLY
the promise OF Cod. being ruliv persuadei
shat what He had promised He was able also
TO nerfOrm" (EoT. w.. 1920. When ulI nos
siblity as far rs huplan ov.S can see is taken
away. then ther" is opportunity for the
Lord to magnify His name that He may be
gloraed.
s. "He executed the pr'rsis' Office before
Ina ,is ,f.r
about everything that cor.corns us In
Christ we ar" righteous Ac,orc God. and as
to our daily life we might take the word to
Abraham. walk before mo and be thou per-
feet or sincere or upright" (Gpn. xviii, ~.
The priests offic" is fully stated in II Chron
xxx. Il. "The Lord hath chosen YOU to
stand before Him TO serve Him. and that ys
should minister unto Him ant burn in
cense." Christ became our High Priest by
the things He suffered: we are now in train
ing Tor future priesthood.
?. His lot was to burn incense" In Ps
cXli.. .. we road: "Let my PRAYER ba set
forth before Tnee as incense, and the lifting
mp OF INV hands rs the evening sacrifice"
And ia Rev. vii. 3. 4, we read o. incense Of
Tered with the PRAYERS OF saints. Taa incense
is suggestive OF the merits of Jesus Christ bv
which alone anythin" We do can br accepted
before God hut by which tho feebcst SER
vice in His Name is accepted.
10. And the whole multitude OF tho
people were nraying wit"out ut the tino OF
incense" The time OF incense wnrn the
people were PRAYING without while they
waited for the priest to return 10 them jS
suggestive OF this whole age during which
our High Priest hns gone into the presence
OF God for us and We continue il prayNr
awaiting His return. Hn over livrth 10
make intercession for Us and says to us.
because 1 live, ye shai! live also" (John
xiv. l9I.
IL. and there appeared unto him an
angel OF the Lord. Standin" on the right
side Of the altar of incense" The angels
name was Gabriel. which means God is
mighty He is twice mentioned in Daniel
AS Gods messenger 20 him (Dan. viii. 16;
tx. 2D. Hc afterwari came To Nazareth
with Il message for Mary Oversees PC. 27)
II. And when Ircha:ias saw him. he
was troubled and fell upon him" Wo
might conclude from judges xiii. %, that
there was a superstition that the appear
ancc OF an angel meant death or perhaps
in the case OF IachariaS it was tho ordinary
fear OF the supernatural, as when the dis
cipie5 were afraid in the boar. or the women
ut the scpulchcr (Marf vi., 40. 50I s..
Mary does not seem to har, b zen Nr.nbed
by mis- visit. hut rather Dy what he at first
said (vrrS" 90.
-. 'But the angel said unto him. Fsar
not Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard In
verse 30 it is Fear not. Mary" and from
Gen. Xv., /, to Rev. T.. II. it might almost bo
said to be II pro!oncen Fear not" All God's
thoughts to His people are thoughts of peace
oI.,. 80 , a, .,, ~ -, Ii'ni WIN
.; @ -. " ~ ,.'',, 80: M. ~. 'ohn
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Tr,, nrd - so, ,,p'n,,I"I. 'o'Ihn'
tiyat IA 'I,' ;, ts 80 ,,' p1t r"c,
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Ji,,h, - sn'rm r th !!DIt ~ "a, ",o p'ltn'
~, i, - ia' 80. ,'',m'I"'N I anu SttH-
W. va ;"i ,,. ." ,., .,i 80, -, NT%,i..'
iirht on,i .,,,i,,n.s:nd imt. md hop,n" ,T. ','
~ i'c'' Ic > ,"u Joy m"' h"hor tf-o'.
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