The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-01-02
NE SUNDAY SCHOOL


-For0ruAnef OF Chr1et-Luk0 1t6-1I
Specially Arrsased from Peioubets Notes
GOLDEN Tnxr.-Thou shalt 90 before the
face Of the Lord to prepare His ways.-
Luke I: W
THE SECTION includes the whole
chapter. Luke /: $50. but the portions re-
ferring to Mary belong rather to the next
lessons.
TIMn.-October B. c. 9 to A. d. %
PLAcE-The angel came to Zachar1as IN
the temple at Jerusalem. The birth OF
John was somewhere In the hill country of
Judea, where the hymns, the Magnificat OF
Mary and the Benedictus of Zacharias.
were uttered.
EXPLANATORY.
s. "There was in the days of Herod:"
Herod he Great, the founder of the
Herodirn family and the father of
most OF the Herods mentioned in the
New Testament after the infancy of
Jesus. "A certain priest named Zach
arias." The Greek form of the Hebrew
Zacharah. the same as Zechariah Gre
membered by JehovahO. "And his
wife was of the daughters of Aaron"
und therefore in the line of the priest
hood. The priests were the descend
ants of Aaron of the tribe of Levi. Both
Johns parents were of priestly rank.
6. "And they were both righteous
before Cod" Not in appearance only,
but in the inmost depths of their hearts,
where Gods eye alone could see. The
fountain of action was pure. "Walk-
ing" is Hebrew metaphor for ''liv-
ing" conducting oneself" in the vari
Gus relations of men to each other and
to God. Commandments" The moral
law. Ordinances" Probably the
ceremonial law, and the outward re-
ligious duties and rules of living. Thus
they were "blameless" toward God and
man.
z. "And they had no child" To the
lew, childlessness was the worst of all
bereavements. It implied-at least,
they thought so-the divine displeas-
,lre; while it effectually cut them off
from any personal share in those cher
ished Messianic hopes. To the Hebrew
heart the message: Unto you a son is
born," was the music of a lower gospel.
1t marked an epoch in their life history.
This disappointment in their lives led
them to prayer and communion with
God, as we see by verse 1,.
0. His lot was," etc. (See R. W
The meaning is that after he and his
brother priests had entered that morn
ing into the temple of the Lord, they
drew lots to determine which part of
the service each one should take, and
the lot fell to him to burn incense.
Temple" The central building, the
sanctuary, divided into the Holy Place,
and the Holy of Holes. The common
word for temple includes the courts
and buildings around the sanctuary
here mentioned.
12. "Zacharias was troubled:" ag-
itated, disturbed. "And fear fell
upon him." Not SO much alarm or
dread of danger as holy awe.
IS. "Thy prayer is heard" The
prayer he had been urging for many
years, and the wider prayer which
grew out of it, for the redemption of his
people, and the coming of the Messiah.
Both were answered in the forerunner
John. "Call his name John" ''The
grace of Jehovah" "The gracious gift
Of Jehovah" 1t is the same as Jonah"
IA. "Joy and gladness." The latter
word means exultant joy, transports of
joy Many shall rejoice" This is
the answer to the wider prayer for the
good of all the people.
is. He shall be great" No small or
weak man could do the work given
him to do. "In the sight of the
Lord" Real greatness, as distin-
guished from what men often call
greatness. He was great in good
ness, great in character, great as the
servant of God who filed his large soul
full of Divine power. "He shall drink
neither wine nor strong drink" i. e.,
he would be Nazarite (Num. 6: Is ,one
separated from others for a particular
mission; an example of holiness, of son-
secration, Of self.control, by habits
manifested to the world. "Filled with
the holy Ghost:" "Ghost" is an ancient
word for spirit" To be filled with the
| Holy Spirit is to be illuminated, sancti-
fed, and guided by it's influence. Even
from his mothers womb" Overcoming
his natural bias toward evil. The bet
ter the parents, the better the child.
From the earliest hours the Divine pow
er can be upon man.
II. HE shall go before Him." before
the Lord, to herald His advent and to
prepare the way for His coming in the
person of His son. "In the spirit and
power of Elias" Greek for Elijah. He
was not to be Elijah restored to life,
but one in Elijah's spirit, doing the
same kind of work that Elijah did, and
with similar power. Such is the prom
ise in Malachi 81; 4:4-6, explained by
Christ in Matthew 11:14; II: 7:1O-13. ITO
turn the hearts of (the) fathers to (the)
children:" The reformation was to be
felt first in the home, binding all to-
gether in love and peace. The Hebrew
adds: 1.-The children to their father"
"The dsobedient:" the great mass OF
the people who have turned away from
God. ITO the" rather in,as R.V., to walk
in the wisdom of the just:" Being
good is the only real wisdom. Disobe-
dicnce and sin are always folly. "To
make ready Continue as in r. W for
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