The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-12-28
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER 81.

Review Of the Last Quarter. Psalm cxxii.
--uolden Texts Biess the Lord, o My
Soul, ana Forget Not All Ills benefits,
Psa. ciii., .-Commcntary.
INTRODUCTION Tho lessons OF this quar-.
ter form quite connected history, aud
cover not n great period of time The
main thought through tho quarter is tho
history OF judah after tho dedication OF
the second temple. Their Oft fnlliug into
sin shows how far short legal religion
comes In Keeping men steadfast; hence tho
need OF Redeemer. Our quarter beautl-
fully closes with Isaiah's vision OF the days
OF the Messiah. This hope was what up
held tho people, and rs they cherished 1t
they gave heed to Gods law.
LESSON l. "Jov In Gods house" Though
written by David, d. q. 1916, this Psalm
appears 70 bo among those collected by
Ezra and Nehemiah after the captivity OF
.udah, and used by the people then, b. G.
536. II this Psalm was calculated to stir
the hearts of the people to cherish Jerusa-
lem as the Holy City, whore God would
manifest Hts presence to them, the ark be-
ing placed there; then surely It was suited
to the returned csptives who had been
separated from the city for seventy years.
II we conclude this to be the Psalm Of the
Jews upon their hearing the edct OF Cyrus
granting their return to Jerusalem, 1t Will
show how faithfully they returned to tho
customs OF their religion.
LESSON III. "Hamans plot against the
jews" TIE history contained in the book
OF Esther belongs In tho time between tho
dedication OF the second temple and tho
coming of Ezra to Judea. "When the
temple was finished there came n pause OF
nearly sixty years la the history OF the
Jews. During this time tue Medo-P Persian
empire became larger than any previous
kingdom In the world, so that its ruler wns
surrounded with splondor and wealth nl-
npI fpan aNf Tka
was to conquer Greece and extend it's
sway over the known world.
LESSON III. ESTHER pleading for her
people" When Haman had fairly com
pleted his plan and was waiting to execute
it, God turned the balance and caused his
plot to be fulfilled upon himself. He was
disappointed, humbled, exposed and put to
death. His position, honor, wealth and
power were given to Mordecai. The peo-
pie rejolced mt the promotion OF good
man, but mourned not for the fallen tyrant.
Isthers courage aud loyalty are to be ad-
mired and initiated.
LESSON ". "Ezra's journey to Jerus-
alem." In this less on wo have Ezra = ac-
count OF his mission to Jerusalem. He was
thorough student OF the Bible. 'peclally
OF tho law OF Moses (chnpter z C-l0), and
God had lled his heart with deslre to
teach tho law to the people.
LESSON V. Psalms OF deliverance." In
Psalm eighty-ilve we have n prayer that
the people might reulize the full blessings
OF restoration. A portion OF this Psalm i'm
| piles that tho people were in Il state OF
great distress and weakness, such as IL de-
scribed in E2ra and Nehemiah Psnlm one
hundred and twenty-six is Il thanksgiving
for return from captivity.
LESSON VI. "Nehemiah's prayer" "Thir-
teen years OF silence pass between E2rns
work and the beginning OF Nehemiahs
| history. He was II noble example OF Chris
| tinn patriotism. He was man OF profound
| piety, connecting everything. great and
! small, with the will OF God. He found his
| way to success through prevailing prayer.
| LESSON VII. "Rebuilding the walls Of
/ Jerusalem. To-day wo soc the answer 20
Nehemiah's prayer. At the end OF four
! months he returned to his duties as cum
bearer. Tho king observed that Iris coun-
| tenance was sad and inquired OF hls trouble.
| Then Nehemiah made known his request to
! the king. tho queen also being present.
! Then letters OF authority wero given to
/ Nehemiah, and ho went on his mission to
Jerusalem to rebuild its walls.
LESSON VIII. "Public rcarinc az tho
Scriptures" The time OF this esson was
! the first day OF the seventh moth, Tishri
one week after the walls OF Jerusnlom were
/ finished. In this month three great festi-
walls were held: (D The Feast ;of Trump.
/ cts, usherlng in the new year and the new
moon. (2) the great DayIof Atonement
! tho 10th of the month; and (3) Tho Feast
the jewish Thanksgiving. In addition to
these, Nehemiah held another solemn
meetingof confession and renewag the
covenant. At this time, under Ezra, be-
gan n new era of Bible study.
LESSON TX. "Woes OF intemperance."
Solomon, the author OF tho Proverbs. was
endued with an unusual degree OF wisdom
That we might behold the value OF true
wisdom God has preserved somo OF the
wise sayings OF His servant for our study.
This lesson is called the drunkard's look
! ing glass, set before those whose faces arc
toward the drunkurds habits, 50 that they
may SEQ what they be IL they go on.
LESSON Y. Keeping the Sabbath" Az
ter Ezra's death, and during Nehemlah's
absence from Jerusalem, the opposing ene-
mics who had been silenced by nehemiah
took courage and opened the hoodgates OF
evil, so that a deluge of sin rushed In upon
the nation like an overwhelming torrent,
carrying away the barriers OF law and re.
| llgion, and covenants and promises. The
high priest, Elashib. himself desecrated
the temple. The tithes for the support of
the priests and OF the temple worship were
withheld. AS natural consequence
crimes and sins Increased rapldly-sorcery
adultery, false swearing, oppression, cheat
ing the widow and tatherless; but, espe-
claily was was there n return to the custom
/ OF mixed marriages.
LESSON XI. lessons in Giving" Mala-
Chi appears to have been raised up to re-
/ prove the sins of the people; he prophesed
the rejection OF tho Jews and the calling OF
the Gentiles. He prophesied OF the coming
OF Christ. Malachi opens his prophecies
by reminding the people OF Gods great
and distinguished loye toward them and
their fathers; here he closes with u prom
ise OF the mission OF Elijah the prophet.
LESSON XII. ''Frults OF Right and Wrong
ID ding" In this lesson Malachi tells of he
reward of tho faithful and the punishment
OF the wicked
LESSON XIII. "Christ's Coming Fore.
told" When Judah seemed to be on the
verge OF utter ruin God gave Isaiah u vision
OF the days OF the Messiah. Sin In its de-
structve influence had bllghted the ma
tlon. Records had been piled one upon am
other showing how depraved and unstable
the Jews were Even when Isaiah prophe-
sled unto Judah he beheld them as those
who walked in darkness. dwelling in the
land OF the shadow OF death. They were
diminished in numbers. losing in power,
and disheartoned for their future.