The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-11-20
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
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Memory Verses, IL, 12 - Commentary
on the Days Lesson.
8. "That join house to house." CoTet'
business is one of the leading sins IN our
land at the present time. A desire to- be
rich, a desire to add house to house, and
field to field, leads men into all sorts oi
wickedness and dishonest dealings: 1t
leads TO the selling Of strong drink, to
renting buildings for saloons and gambling
dens and other unholy purposes. 1t IS the
Glove of money" that is the root OF all
evil"
8. "In mine ears" That is, the Lord
spoke what is to follow into the ears Of
the prophet. "Shall be desolate." Gods
curse will rest on the many. houses and
farms which have been acquired through
penuriousness and unlawful or unhoiy
tenants.
10. "Ten acres-one bath" Ten acres
of vineyard shall yield only about seven
gallons of wine. "An homer-an ephah:"
The homer, or kor, was about eight bush
els. An ephah was about three and one
fifth pecks. The owner would thus reap
only tenth part of the seed he had sown.
Ii. "Woe." Grief, sorrow, misery, a
morning" When it was regarded espe-
cialiy shameful to drink. Acts 2: H.
Banquets for revelry began earlier. than
usual. Eccles. 10: l6, H.. May follow
strong drink" That they begin and con.
tinue to use it from early morn till, night.
Till wine inhame them" Until there IS
excited, excessive action in the blood YES
seis, causing them to act in excitement
in anger, or any evil way which their ma
lures might be made to feel, under the un'
natural pressure upon the forces and func.
tions Of the body. In this condition no
man is able to use good judgment or to
execute his work correctly.
l2. "The harp" A stringed instrument
of triangular figure. Music was common
at ancient feasts. Amos 6: 5, 6. ''The
viol." An instrument with twelve strings
"The tabret." A small drum or ,tambou-
rine, played on as an accompaniment to
singing. "Pipe" The principal musical
wind instrument of the Hebrews, consist
ing of tube with holes, like flute or
clarionet. 1t was made of reed, copper OF
bronze, and was used en- all occasions IN
religious worship, professions, teasts ana
revels must have every sense gratifed,
for only by being stimulated by such ex..
citement could they at all be satisfied
there. 'They regard not" The most pos.
itive proof that such conduct is sinful.
When so filled with worldly pleasure there
is no taste for anything serious. Neither
is. aGone into captivity The pro-
phet sees the future as if it were before
his eyes. Those who follow after strong
drink are sure to end in sorrow as though
they were already fallen, with no further
power to act for themselves. Because
they have no knowledge" Because OF
their foolish recklessness in following
strong drink they make drunkards OF
themselves. They act contrary to wisdom.
They become,captives because their brains
are so ruined by excessive drinking that
they are not capable Of acting the part OF OF
are famished." Strong drink ruins those
in honorable positions just as quickly ss
men Of low estate. Dried up with thirst"
Both the great men and the common peo-
pie suffer alike when in captivity to the
cruel power of strong drink. Awful thirst
follows drinking. and the burning sensa-
ton which drinking men feel is like the
drying up Of themselves.
IA. "Hell hath enlarged herself" The
here; the place of torment. POLITICALLY, it
is represented as enlarging itself immense
" in order to receive the countless hosts
of Jews which should perish: Their
glory" All their honors shall be laid in
the dust. Death will put an end to all
their Joys Their multitude" Did they
glory in their numbers? Their multitude
Shall 20 down to the pit: Eek: 81: ls; %:
80. Their pomp.". The figure they
made. Gle that rejoiceth.". Death will
turn their mirth into mourning. He that
reioices and revels, and never knows what
it is to be serious. shall so where there
is weeping and wailing.
Is. Mean nan-mighty man-eyes OF
the lofty" When death over,ooks this
class OF men, those ruined by drink, even
though they come from various positions
in life. then it is that they are brought
low. There is no further room for boast
ing. Death settles the matter.
l6. "Shall be exalted in Judgment,
When mans glory is all passed away Cod
is unchanged. Though men seorn His Of
fered mercy and refuse His wise coInsels
He is not cast down. He is exalted;
"Sanctifed in righteousness. Regarded
as holy by reason Of His righteous deal
ings. >, WI
II. "Then shall the lambs" When
these are gone into captivity ana sWai-
lowed up in death others shall u! Ter
Is. Iniquity." Guilt incurring pun
ishment. CORDS Of vanity" Wicked
ness. Rabbins says, "An evil inclination
is at first like fine hair-string, but tie
finishing like a cart.rope.'
10. LET him ma le speed. etc. They
challenge the Almighty to do His wors1,
and set His justice ct defiance. :, ~.
81 "INise in their own eyes Those
who prefer their own reasonlngs 70 divine
revelations, who despisa or reject the goS..
pei. or who claim to have knowledge OF
it, but do not practice it:
%. Mighty to drink" Those who
boast that they can drink more than 0th;
ers and yet be abe to stand. They shall
not escape the curse OF drunkenness. 10
mingle strong drink" To add ,splces, to
strong drink, and the count themselves
strong because they can endure the etects.
Their glory is their shame.
90. (which justify the wicked for re-
ward" Vino, as judges, pervert justice
and for bribe acauit the guilty; God will
punish such. Take away the righteous
ness" Though a man be proven innocent,
vet because he does not give fee he Is
condemned by these unjust men. Misery
will overtake him.
24-3O. In these verses the prophet sums
up his terrible denunc!ations and shows
how complete their ruin will be and how
necessariiy v and unavoidaOiy it will follow
upon their sins. Because they had de.
spised the word OF God they should be de-
stroyed like chaf before the fire by the
foreign armies that should come: upon
them and devastate their land and carry
them away captive. Upon guilty race,
unpitied by heaven or by earth, these ar
mics execute their commission; and leave
the land desolate and dark, without oae
ray of comfort to cheer the horrid gloom"