The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-10-25
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER 29.


Subject: Psalms OF Deliverance. Psa
lxxxv. and cxxvi.-Golden Text: Psa.
cxxvI., 5-Commentary on the Day's
Lesson.
1. "Thou hast been favorable" Thou
hast dealt graciously. 1t was by the favor
of God that Israel got and kept possession
of Canaan, and II He had not continued
very favorable to them they would have
been ruined many times. The bringing.
back of their captivity was then an In
stance OF Gods favor to them, when 1t was
accompanied with the pardon OF their in.
lquity. "The captivity Of Jacob" This is
naturally applied to the return from Baby.
lon; but 1t suits recovery from any calam.
2. covered oil their SINS As Thou
hast freely forgiven sin, Its o1ensiveness
and abominable nature no longer appear.
The whole Is put out Of sight; and as we
are restored from our captivity the conse.
uuences no longer appear.
8. l"Taken away all Thy wrath" Thou
hast collected all Thy wrath and carried It
away with all our iniquities. "Flerceness
of Thine anger" The captives might we'll
rejoice that the wrath OF God had been
limited, and so they had not been wholly
destroyed.
&. luOu udSL LuEuou Jul
captivity, now convert our souls. The Is
raelites were not restored from their cap
tivlty all at once; $4,000 returned under
the leadership OF Zerubbabel, B. @. $50;
others, numbering about 1000, went with
Ezra, BIC. 1853; others with Nehemiah, B.
@. AS; but great number still remained
In Babylonia, Media, Assyria, Egypt and
other parts. The request OF the Psalmist
Is to have complete restoration Of all the
oil Y,la ~ 6fQnar.
sion.
IS. "Wllt Thou be angry with US forever"
Continuously Delivered from Babylon
the exlles hoped for rest, but, instead,
found increasing distress and anxiety,
which to them indicated Gods continued
anger. Generation after generation had
,inned and therefore suffered the punish
ment OF GOD. The Psalmist seems to ques-
tlon whether God will find It necessary to
thus continue, or can It be that each sue
:eeding generation will not profit by the
examples OF others and so bring upon
themselves severe judgments? What hope
was there of better times until Israel be-
came sincerely and thoroughly penitent?
6. "Wilt Thou not revive US again2" We
have long had the sentence OF death In our.
selves, and have feared an utter extinction.
Shull not our nation yet live before Thee2
Shall we not become once more numerous,
Give US life, that we may have Joy in Thee;
30 Thou wilt have the glory of It. II God
be the fountain Of all our mercies He must
be the centre Of all our joys.
7. "Shew US Thy mercy" The cry for
mercy always recognizes that judgment is
deserved.
s. IT will hear. Wait and listen with
expectancy. The Psalmist goes as prophet
to consult the Lord, and having made his
~ off Qnirtt
prophecy. By declaring what hewould do
the Psalmist teaches all Israel that they
ought,to attentively hearken to the voice
Of God and to receive His gracious declara.
tions>and promises in faith and expecta.
tion, and His holy precepts and dispensa-
tlons In obedience and submission, and
especially that they should wait to know
what answer God would return to their
pra yers.
9. "salvation ia Nigh" Ready to be
granted as soon as there Is readiness to re.
ceive. That complete salvation and deliv-
erance, even the redemption OF Israel by
the Messiah. 1t was the comfort OF the
Old Testament saints that though they
lived not to see that redemption In Jerusa.
lem for which they waited, yer they werc
sure 1t was nigh and would be welcome to
Az that fear God. "That glory may dwell
In our land" That we may once again
our ancient glory, the tokens OF Gods pres
ence with US, the most eminent OF which
we have now utterly lost. God gives grace
and glory. Israel when fully pardoned On.
loved peace with God; for where He dwells
he manifests His sRlorfous power.
10. "Mercy and truth are met tegether."
And therefore appear as united and coop.
Grating harmoniousy in consequence OF
Gods glory or majesty again dwelling In
the land when the people should become
converted to His fear.
II. "Truth." Responsive to Gods great
mercy, there shall be mans fruits Of good
works. "Righteousness shall look down."
When O people return and adhere to God
In duty He will return to and abide With
them In mercy.
12. "The Lord shall give.r When the
glory OF the Gospel dwells in our land then
It shall yield its increase; for soul-pros.
perity will either bring outward prosperity
with 1t, or sweeten the want OF 1t. See
Psa. 676.
IS. "Riehteousness shall 60 before Him.
Christ, the Sun OF Righteousness, shall
bring US to God and put US In the way
that leads to Him. Righteousness Is surs
guide, both in meeting God and in follow.
/. "The Lord turned again the captivity
Of Zion.", The writer here recalls the re.
Ioicing which filed the hearts and mouths
Of tho rsraelites on their return from cap.
tivity, in the midst Of the acknowledge.
ment by Gentles and Jews that this de.
liyerance was a wonderful and mighty
deed Of Jehovah.
2. "Filled with laughter" A laughter OF
loy In God, not scorn OF their enemies. The
heather had observed their calamity and
mad triumphed in 1t. Jer. 22:S, g. Psa.
1877. Now they could tnot but observe
their deliverance and admire that.
8. "We are glad" The heathen were but
spectators, but the people OF God spake Oh
It as shares in what God wrought.
i. "As the streams in the SOUTH" tThe
torrents and the brooks In the southern
deserts run Off and dry up In the summer
months; but after the periodical rains they
return again, and the channels are filled
for the refreshment Of the thirsty traveller.
5. "They that SOW in tears" Israel was
In captivity for the punishment OF theiI
degeneracy. God sent them into captivity
just as gold is put into the fire to be re.
tined. The captives in Babylon were long
sowing in tears, but nt length were brought
forth with Joy, and then they reared the
benefit OF their suffering, and brought
their sheaves with them to their own land,
in their experiences OF the,goodness OF Goo
to them. They that SOW In tears OF godly
sorrow shall reap in the JOY OF sealed
pardon and o settled peace.
G. "Goeth forth and weepeth, bearing
precious seed." There are tears which are
themselves the seed that we must sow
tears OF sorrow for sin-our own and others:
tears OF sympathy and tenderness. The
number OF returned captives was but the
remnant OF Israel. They were returned
to promote the true religion in Canaan.
Through their prayers and tears their
brethren In Babylon must be reached and
Induced to return to God and ths'r OVID
land