The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-12-21
cHRIsTs COMING FoREToLD.
international 8. 8. Lesson for Decem-
ber "a, 1SOib-Text, Isaiah S'x-7
ME mOry vs.. ST..

Especially Arranged from Peloubet's Notes. ]
GOLDEN TEXT--Unto you is born this
day, in the city of David. a Saviour, which
is Christ the Lord.-Luke 2: II.
READ Isaiah Ii: l-lO
TIME. = Probably written during the
reign of Ahaz In judah, during the Syro-
Ephraimitish war, B. c. 735-734"-Driver
PLACE--1 was delivered in Jerusalem,
the prophets home, to Judah, the prophets
people. Jerusalem was about 100 miles
from Egypt, 45 from Samaria, 160 from Da-
mascus. and 800 from the Euphrates. the
border of Assyria. a.-George Adams Smith.
l. An Outlook Upon the People Walk
ing in Darkness.--V. 2. The prophecy
of which this lesson is part begins
with chap. III. Israel and Judah were
nearing a great political crisis. The
final destruction of Israel was only IA
or Is years in the future, and the forces
which wrought that terrible disaster
were actively at work, like the breaking
of a dam high up among the mountains,
whence the waters were rolling down in
swift disaster. v. 2. "The people that
walked in darkness:" The people of
Judah at this time were under the two
fold darkness described above. "The
land of the shadow of DEATH" Deadly
shade, properly title of the Hebrew
Hades; night like that of Hades."-
Cheyne.
II. A Vision of Dawning Light.-Vs.
2-5. "Have seen great light:" There
came to Judah in Abaz's time the light
of great promises. V. 3. Thou hast
multiplied the nation:" So he saw 1t as
he looked upon it in later days. "And
not:" Most interpreters think, with
the II. ", that the mot" should be "to
It," the Hebrew letters being very near
ly the same, and some transcriber made
a mistake. In this case the whole sem
tence is prophecy of the good times
referred in v. 2. "They joy before
thee:" the giver of the joy. According
to the joy in harvest" when men see
the fruits of their labors and promise
of plenty. They had sown in tears, but
reap in joy. "As men rejoice when they
divide the spoil:" triumphant over enc
mics and rich in goods. VA. "For thou
hast broken the yoke of his burden:"
First, of the Assyrians, who had
stretched out their wings" great
armies, and oppressed the land. Sec
ond, the yoke of sin, the oppressor
Satan. THE staff of his shoulder"
That part of the yoke which rested on
the back of the neck and shoulders.
"As in the day of Midian:" (Judg.
7:1-23). A total rout, by small body
of selected men, by unusual means,
through Gods help, as when Gideon
with 300 men, armed with lamps, pitch
ers, and trumpets, completely over
threw the immense host of the Midian-
ties. V. S. For every battle:" etc.
the full sense and mars the exquisite,
beauty of this verse.
III. A Vision of the Coming of the
Son of Cody 6. "For unto us child
is born:" Only through this child can
war cease, and Israers redemption be
made permanent '"The prophet is un-
rolling a picture of the future."-
Cheyne. "The government shall be
upon His shoulder:" That is, He should
be the ruler, the king. "And His name:"
A name stands for all that is in the
man, his character, his principles, and
his property. "Wonderful: because
His nature was wonderful, being hu-
man and divine; His coming at all was
wonderful manifestation of love; His
deeds were wonderful, miracles, full of
marvellous meaning as well as power;
His words were wonderful; His atom
ing love was wonderful; the kingdom
He set up was wonderful. Counsellor"
One who has the wisdom to guide him
self and others. Jesus was the embodi-
ment of the wisdom of God. "The
mighty God:" The word for "God"
here is not the usual Elohim. which is
sometimes used metaphorically, as for
angels. as we use "divine;" but it is Ell,
(which, whenever it denotes (as it gen.
orally does, and in Isaiah always) di-
vinity, does SO in an absolute sense; it
is never used hyperbolically or meta
phorically."-Cheyne. THE everlast-
ing Father" expressing the divine love
and pity for men, love that can never
fail. for it is everlasting. 'The Prince of
Peace:" The prince who rules in
such way that peace and pros
perity abide in his kingdom. Peace
is used to express all the bless
ings that come to kingdom where
there is peace from outward ene-
mics, peace between rulers, peace be-
tween the different members of the
Kingdom; no disorders. no idleness, no
criminals. poetical description is
given in lisa. :2-10.
Nv. A Vision of the New Kingdom of
God.-V.7 Z. "Of the increase of His gov
ernment and peace there shall be no
ends" 1t shall increase in numbers, in
power. Upon the throne of David, on
which>Jesus sits:" All these blessings
come from His rule in he hearts of men
and in the community. ITO order it,"
govern, manage. rule it. Establish it,"
make it firm and enduring. with
Judgment" just decisions, and "jus-
tice:" all manner of right between all
classes and all individuals From
henceforth even forever" Only such
kingdom can endure. 'rhe zeal of the
Lord:" His earnestness, the intensity
of His desire. THE Lord of hosts" who
has all created beings, the unseen null