The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-07-04
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JULY 7.
Subject: God. the Creator of All Things
Gen. l., to I'll. 3-Golden Text, Gen.
l., 1-Memory Verses. 26-2s-Comnen-
tary on the Day's Lesson.


creation OF man. that is. long before the
SIX days work so definitely described. 1t
has been supposed by some that in the
| beginning was the commencement OF the
first day. and OF course only about 5000
years ago. But no phrase could be more
duration" of old" God" The Bible
does not undertake to prove the existence
OF God. but at the very outset His exist
| cnce IS assumed as fact. Created The
primary sense of the word is that OF the
divine act of absolute creation out OF moth
ing. Rom. 4: II; Heb II: 3. ..
. The earth was waste and void (R.
W There was confusion and disorder
The history OF creation is confined simply
| to the first two verses. The apparent con-
fict OF this chapter with geology has
arisen from the mistake OF supposlng 1t to
be narrative OF creation. when all but the
| first two verses Is an account of the adap-
! tation OF the created material OF the earth
as an abode for man. Moved God pro-
ceeded to bring order out OF the matter
that was existing in a chaotic state.
3. Let there be light Nothing can
be conceived more disnifed than this
| form of expression. 1t shows Gods au-
thority and power.
5. The first day There has ALWAYS
been much discussion as 20 whether the
days referred to in this chapter were
twenty-four-hour days or indefinite pc
riods. Certainly the first three days could
not have been natural days, for the sun
had not vet appeared. The term day is
| frequently used to designate periods of in
definite time (see Pei. 3: S; Luke l9:
42), but these days were probably the
same length as our days at the present
time.
G. "Firmament." Expanse; properly
something beaten out. The space above
the earth.
TO- "Earth-seas." BY this separation
both were rendered useful. The earth was
prepared for the numerous living creatures.
II requires this great surface of water Ito
Weld a suffciency OF vapors for the pur-
pose OF cooling the atmosphere and water
| ING the earth" God saw that it was
good" This was the judgment which God
pronounced upon His own works. This
! clause is often added to show that all the
disorders. evil and hurtful qualities that
are now in creation. are not to be charged
! to God. but to mans sin, which hath cor
runted their nature and perverted their
/ use.
Il. Bring forth grass" etc. In these
! general expressions we are to understand
| that all kinds of vegetable productions are
!
| living creature to abide upon the earth. He
wisely provided for its SuStenance. Whose
seed is in itself" Either IN the root, or
branch. or bud. or fruit: which is sufii-
cient in Itself for the propagation OF its
kind.
l6. "God made two great lights The
moon is referred to as great light merely
! because it appears great to those on the
earth.
26. LET us make man. God the Faith
er unites with the Son and Spirit. This
was the last act in the work OF creation.
! Man was created" not evolved from
some other animal" Man was created
| about 6000 years ago. and In this there IS
perfect harmony with science. which shows
! that the appearance OF man upon the
/ earth is comparatively recent, Image
! likeness" 1t was mans soul that was
made in the image OF God. This image
| consisted OF knowledge, righteousness and
true holiness. or. in the words OF Dr.. Han
nah. Light in the understanding, rectl-
! tude in the will, sanctity in the purposes
and affections 4 more detailed account
OF the creation of man is made IN the next
! cnaDter in which is made Clear the dlStInc-
tion between body and soul. between the
animal man and the spiritual man. The
| BODY was made of the dust OF the eartn.
and this is true not only OF the body OF
| Adam. but of the bodies OF all his &c
| scendarts. But an absolutely perfect body
without a soul would not be man. 1t
was only when God gave the body lie had
| formed from the dust living so1l, formed
in His own image, that the creation OF
man took place The soul was not evolved,
it was created. Man is the son OF God. .
| 81. Male and female" The story OF
| -, &c IN Il
q. Woman was created by taking rib,
or part of the mans side, for the orig
inal word may mean either, and forming
it into the woman.
%. God blessed them" He gave them
| His favor. His care for their posterity and
| their good. so that it would be blessing,
a happiness to live. And the divine bene.
| diction is still essential to the ideal ME,
which is the only true life here below.
"Be fruitful" The first family was found
| ed with one husband and one wife. II was
Gods purpose to FL the earth WITH q, happy py
| beings, enjoying the good things He had
made. Children are a great blessing IN the
| family. They tend to remove selhshncss,
| to develop henevolence, patience. love:
| hope and self-government. Su5due It.
| Bring it under cultivation. The labor or
subduing the earth has stimulated inven-
tion. and is the origin and oond OF civil
society. Have dominion Man has been
aptlv described as the creature who was to
be Gods representative; clothed with au-
thority. and who should rule as visible
head OF the world.
%. .Hcvc given you The world is
divine gift to man. valuable and increasing
! in value. expressing Gods love, teaching
His truth, sustaining His life, ministering
to every sense. Every herb-for meat,
| In this and the ensuing verse the death
OF any creature does not appear in the
original design of God. Man was neither
to eat the flesh OF brute animals, nor were
| these to prey upon each other. 1t was
only after the fall that such things were
at all provided for.
"a. God saw" Seeming to pause to
| inspect His work. Every good" Superla-
tlyely good. perfect Nothing could be
added, or diminished; no change, altera-
4 Io h.