The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-07-03
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JULY 7.

Subject: God, the Creator Of All Things
Gen. l., to H., 3-Golden Text, Gen
l., 1-nIemory Verses, 26-27-Commen'
tarJ on the Days Lesson.
!. In the beginning" The discoveries
of geology prove the globe to have existed
at an indefinitely remote period before tie
creation OF man; that is, long before the
six days work 80 definitely described. 1t
has Been supposed by some that Gin 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
ence 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: IT; Heb. II: 8.
2. 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-
hict of this chapter with geology has
arisen from the mistake of supposing it 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
8. "Let there be light" Nothing can
be conceived more digni6ed than this
form of expression. It shows Gods au-
thority and power.
S. 1.-THE first day" There has always
been much discussion as to 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 yet appeared. The term "day" is
frequently used to designate periods Of in
definite time (see Pet. 8: 8; Luke l9:
42); but these days were probably the
same length as our days at the present
time.
6. "Firmament." Expanse; properly
something beaten out. The space, above
the earth.
10. "Earth-seas." By this separation
both were rendered useful. The earth was
prepared for the numerous living creatures.
IL requires this great surface of water "to
yield suficiency 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
rupted their nature and perverted their
use.
II. Bring forth grass" etc. In these
that all kinds of vegetable productions are
included. Thus, before God formed any
living creature to abide upon the earth. He
wisely provided for it's sustenance. Whose
seed is, in ITSELF" Either in the root, or
branch, or bud, or fruit; which is sufh-
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.
er unites with the. Son and Spirit. This
was the last act in the woElTcf creation.
some other animal" Man was created
about 5000 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" It 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 nr. Han
nah, Light in the understar dipg, recti-
tude in the will, sanctity in che purposes
and affections" A more detane6 ACCOUNT
of the creation of man is made in the next
chapter in which is made clear the distinc.
ton between body and soul, ;etween the
animal man and the spiritual man. 1he
body was made of the dust OF 5he earth,
and this is tree not only of the body of
Adam, but of the bodies of all his de-
scendants But an absolutely perfect body
without soul would not be man. 1t
was only WI en- God gave the body He had
formed from the dust living SOU formed
| in His OWL image, that the creation of
man took place. The soul was not evolved,
it was created Man is the son G.: God.
81. "Male and female" The story Of
woman's creation is given in chapter 2: 2l-
| "a. Woman was created by taking rib,
or a part o: 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
a happiness to live. And the divine bene.
diction is still essential to the ideal life,
which is tie only true life here below.
"Be fruitful" The first family was found
ed with one husband and one wife. 1t was
Gods purpose to fill the earth with happy
beings, enjoying the good things He had
made Children are great blessing in the
family. They tend to remove sei6shness,
to develop benevolence, patience, love,
| hope and self-government. "Subdue it. ;.
Bring it under cultivation. The labor OF
subduing tle earth has stiToulated lnven.
J ton, and is the origin and boEd of civil
| society. "Have dominion" Man nas bee:
aptly described as the creature Vac 'gas to
& III &o%5 oIf,Tt t,.nl [.y,Sh IL
thority. and who should rule ss visible
head of the world.
20. "Have given you" The world is a
divine gift to man, valuable and increasing
in value. expressing Gods love-. teaching
His truth, sustaining His life, ;ninistering
to every sense. every herb-for meat"
In this and the ensuing verse the death
of any creature does not appear m the
original design of God. Man was neither
to eat the flesh of brute animals, nor were
these to prey upon each ether: 1t was
only after the fall that such things were
at all provided for. =,
&ed g. SAY ssT ssn Seeming sassts e pause Pssss,s
tlvely good. perfect, Nothing could be
added, or diminished; no change. altera-
tion or modification could be made with
out marring Gods handiwork. The crea-
ton was good as showing Gods love to
His creatures, and good as the expression
of His nature and character"
/. ''Thus." The division of the chapter
should be at verse 4. "Were finished"
His work Of creation was completed.
9. Crested" Not because God was
wHary, but because the work planned was.
done. We are living in the seventh day Of
divine rest.
8. Blessed the seventh day" 1t has
reen impartially demSpytfated mat physi-
q lay demands tss We rest one day IN