The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-01-04
THE SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JANUARY Z. 60

Gubiecti The Firth OF Jesus. Luke H.. 4.
1G-Goiden Text; Matt. D., ai-AIe,u.
ory Verses. 3-ii--Coinnentary on the
| Days Lesson.
INTRODUCTION Six months pnss awnv
| after the birth Of John, the forerunner, and
then comes the birth OF Jesus. the Mes.
| slab. the most important event in tho
worlds history. Our lesson begins with
| great majesty ns IL refers to tho Emperor
Augustus, "at whose feet lay the whole
known world, and to whose command
obedience was rendered In every country.
md city, and village" II then descends
TO tell Of the obscure birth OF an infant. in
one OF the most obscure towns In an OBJ.
scure province; but It rises again into
greater majesty as It describes the multi
lude OF heavenly visitants who announce
the glory and greatness ot tho child.
!. 'In those days" That Is about tim
time John the Baptist was born and tho
events took place MS related In the pre-
ceding chapter. "Ciesar Augustus" The
first OF the Roman emperors. "All the
world All OF the Roman world. At that
time the Roman empire extended further
than over before, or than 1t has since. and
was called "the empire OF the whole eartL."
Taxed" Enrolled. or rcgl3tored, probably
with view to tuxing.
?. First made" II seems there were
two enrolIments. "Cyrenius." Or OUR.
l'iNos iutiN ~ ~ tHionOiNkltll ulUNultN
here. Quirnius was Governor of Syrln I'm
A. ID. G, ten years later than this, and nt
that time lie took census to which st
Luke refers In Acts o: 81 Mnny explann-
lions have been suggested. Tho most satis-
factory explanation OF the matter seems to
be that Quirlnius was twice Governor OF
Syria, IN b. G.. 4. MS well rs In A. ID. G, This
seams to be a we'll established fact.
J. Into his own city," The Roman
custom was TO enrol persons at the place OF
residence, but the jewish custom required
the enrolment to take place in the native
city.
T. "Went up" From Gaiilee to the
much more elevated region OF Bethlehem.
"Citv OF David" Where David wns horn
.. with Mary" 1t ~ uncertain whether
her presence was obligatory or voluntary.
but 1t IL obvious that, niter what she had
suffered (Matt. 1;i9), she chose to cling to
the presence and protection OF her hus-
band. 'Espoused wlfe." Better, "who was
betrothed to him."
q. "whilo there" Caesar Augustus was
but nm instrument In thc hand OF Provl-
dence to fulnl the prophecy OF Micah
(char. 5O with respect to the birthplace
OF the Messiah.
T. Her first-born SON." Tint excellent
and glorious person, who was the frs born
OF every creature, and tho heir OF nil
things; whom all the first born In tho Old
Testament prengured; whom tho angels
hhblb Ailou. lsOls anu Ill WuOn tnONe TINT
believe become the iirst.born aud the first
fruits OF Gods creatures. I'm a manger.
Probably some cave or grotto used for
sheltering cattle, and perhaps belonging
to tho same shepherds to whom the "gad
tidlngs" we're first brought. God md
man; the old and now covenants; heaven
and earth, meet IN u munger" The only
person who had the privilege OF choosing
His birthplace chose to be born I'm a man
ger. tue 1nn. "A square erection
open inside, where travellers put up. and
whose rear portions we're used as stables"
\. Snme country Near, probably not
mile away. shepherds" Il was very
proper that the announcement should bo
made to shepherds. Abraham and David.
10 whom tho promise OF the Messiah, was
first made, were shepherds, and now tho
Ohief Shepherd Is about to appoar and tho
shepherds are tho ilr-t TO receive the glad
news. 'In the field" They undoubtedly
had tents or booths under which they
dwelt. Keeping watch e. by night" or.
Keeping nightwatches. They watched
BY turns, against wild beasts and robbers.
The fact TINT the shepherds wore In the
helds affords no ground for concluding
that the nativity could not have taken
ture at Jerusalem for Ave years was, it
December, nfty-four degrees.
.. Angel" Divine messenger. Game
upon thom." stood over them. Glory
OF the Lord" That extreme splendor in
which tho Deity is represented as appear
ing to men, and sometimes called tho She
chinah-an appearance frequently attend
ed, MS IN this case by com pany OF angels.
IL Is likely TINT tho angel appeared in the
air at some little distance above them. and
that from Him the rays OF the glory OF the
LORD shonc round nhout them, as the rays
OF light are projected from the sun. ''Sore
afraid Fortified with the appearance
OF so glorious being" There Is no proof
here that the shepherds were morally i'm
pure aud afraid that divine Justice was
about to be noted out to them. Even holy
men tremble when they come In contact
With the supernatural.
10. Good tldings." Tho literal mean
ing OF Gospel" j am come to declare the
loving-kindness OF the Lord. NY message
will cause grcnt Joy. 1t IL u message to YOU
(Jews) ilrst, and II also reaches to "all the
people" u. V. TO the whole human race.
46, Al; Col. l;21.2J.
ii. 'l5 born" Isn SO; John Ia.
"David's greater Son begins his earthly
career In his ancestors home. Seven hum
dred years before prophet had predicted
the Messihhs birth at bethlehem. Mic. s:
=, "A savior (D dellvcrer. (2) A
restorer (S) A preserver. Matt 1921.
mot shall be Savior, but born SAVIOR"
Christ" The Anointed One, Christ is
the Greek word corresponding to the He.
brew word Messiah. In ancient times pro-
phets, priests and kings were anointed
with oil when set apart to their sacred
WORK. Christ was nnointsL for these holy
olnceS, which We may share with Him by
HIS amounting us with tho Holy Ghost. !"
Christ Is sufficiently qualified to sustain
these unspeakably important offices
because He Is "rhe Lord" God, rs well
as man"
u "a sign" The very thing that wouid
have caused them to doubt was made the
Sign unto them. Any fear as to whether
thov may approach the newborn King and
uifer Him their homage Ia dispelled by the
intlmntlon or His lowly condition, while
thelr carnal Views OF the nature OF His king
dom nro thereby couDteracted.
IL. "A multitude" They descended to
honor tho Prince OF Pence. Heavenly
most. The army OF angels which IL repre-
sonted as surrou aiding the throne OF God.
See Kings 22;l9; Psa. 109:20, ,21; 1882.
ID. "Hlory In the highest" Christ IL
the highest glory of God. "On earth peace"
Peace to man; peace with God; peace OF
conscience. Good will" God has shown
His good will by sending the Messiah.
10. LET us now GO" There Is no TINA
to lose. Let us go now. 'Phis IL the lnn-
guage OF obedience, desiring to receive as.
Hurance and strength, by seeing Tor them.
selves this thing which Is come to pass"
10. with haste" Filled and thrilled
with holy Joy they could not linger. "And
found" at is probable that by communi.
rating their experiences TO each other thelI
faith was greatly strengthened