The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-12-17
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER n.

-
Subject, Christmas and Hts TeschinEa
Luke H.. s-So-Golden Text, Luke H.,
1l-Memory Verses. 10. 1l-cornmsn.
tsry On the Day's Lesson.
9. Same country Nearby, probably
not mile from Bethlehem. shepherds.
The employment Of tending sheep had been
honored in the earlier times Of the Jewish
people. Jacob. Moses and David were
shepherds But now it was calling that
was looked upon by the Jews with con.
tempt. Why was the announcement made
to shepherds? (D The annunciation oi
His advent was not to be made to the
ru|ers Of the people. or to the priests. for
these men were under the influence OF
worldly and selfish ambitions and could
not discern spiritual things. The shep.
consolation Of Israel and were in .
Sfafe OF mind to ACCEPT the heavenly an.
nouncement. (2) God bad seen fit to ap.
pear to the weak instead of the .aighty:
Read Cor. l: 1881; Psa. 8: 2. 80 God
had always blessed the shepherds. He had
called Moses and David away from the
shepherds crook, and now the "Son Of
David" the Chief Shepherd, who styled
Himself the Good Shepherd. who gave His
life Tor the sheep, is to be born In the city
Of David, and it seemed fitting that the
shepherds should be honored d. With q rtne the
undoubtedly had tents or booths under
which they dwelt. Keeping watch-by
night" Or. keeping night watches" X.
". Mar. They watched by turns against
wild beasts and robbers The fact that the
shepherds were in the fields affords no
ground for concluding that the nativity
could not have taken place in the winter.
The average temperature at Jerusalem Tor
FIVE years was, in December. hfty-four de-
o. "Ansel." Divine messenger. Angels
have always taken a lively interest in the
things OF this world. 1t was an angel that
appeared unto Zacharias announcing the
birth Of John. and to Mary with similar
mission regarding the birth Of Christ. An
angel appeared to Jesus in the garden. ard
TO the disciples at the sepulcher and at the
ascension. Jesus on one occasion said he
could call twelve legions Of angels, and we
have the blessed assurance given that he
shall give His angels charge over thee, to
keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bare
thy foot against stone" Psa. 81: II, Il.
Game upon them" Stood over them.
~Glory Of the Lord" That extreme splen-
dor in which the deity is represented as
appearing to men, and sometimes called
the Shechinahr-an appearance frequently
attended, a. in this case. by q company OF
angels. Il 10 likely that the angel ap-
peared in the air at some little distance
above them, and that from him the rays OF
the glory Of the Lord shone round about
them. "Sore afraid" Terrified with the
appearance Of 90 glorious q being" There
10 no proof here that the shepherds were
morally impure and afraid that divine Jus
tice was about to be meted out to them.
Even holy men tremble when they come
IN contact with the supernatural.
10. Good tidings." The literal mean.
ing Of gospel" I am come to declare the
loving Kindness OF the Lord. My message
will cause great joy It is a message to
you (Jews) t,rst, and it also reaches to
Iall the Ieople." To the whole human
race. See Gen. u: 3; Matt. .: 10; Luke
2: $3.50; "a: 10, Il; Col. /: 2l-23.
II. "Is born" lsa. 0: 81. John ]: IA.
David's greater Son begins His earthly ca.
reer in His ancestors home. Seven hun:
dred years before a prophet had predicted
5: 2. This day" unbeIievers try to
make an argument against the wisdom Of
God because He waited so long before
bringing forth the Redeemer of mankind.
The reply il, !, Christ came in accordance
with long line of prophecy. This took
time. Prophets must be raised up, and
then hundreds of years must elapse in or.
der to fully verify their utterances.
Christ came when the political factors OF
the world were most favorable. The whole
world was practically under Roman con-
troll. and this fact was the means Of bring
ing Christ and His followers immediately
before the nations of earth. Notice the
nations represented at the time Of the cru.
cifxion and at Pentecost. 3, Christ did
not come until the world had done its best
without Him and had made q complete
moral failure. The wisdom and culture
Of the world were very great, and yet,
morally, il was groping in awful darkness,
Thus the coming of the Messiah became q
necessity II the world was to be saved
from moral collapse; And now, in the
fulness Of time" in God: time, at Just the
TsS. time tHs s.rosr 5ss.s Of Al Satsn, deyersP sP
j2J A restorer. (0 A preserver, Matt. l:
3l. Mot, shall be . Saviour, but born .
Saviour" Christ" The anointed One.
Christ il the Greek word corresponding to
the Hebrew word Messiah. In ancient
times prophets, priests and kings were
anointed with oil when set apart to their
sacred work. Christ was anointed for
these holy Offices, which we may share
with Him by His anoiating us with the
Holy Ghost. Christ il sufficiently qualified
TO sustain these important offices. The
Lord" God. a. well As man. .,: .,..
would have caused them to doubt was
made the sign into them.
Is. "a multitude" They descended to
honor the Prince Of Peace. Heavenly
host" The army of angels which is rep
resented as surrounding the throne OF God.
IA. .GIory-in the highest" Christ 10
the highest glory of God. "0n Garth
peace. Peace to man; peace with God;
peace Of conscience. Good will" God
has shown His good will by sending the
Messiah.
lS. "I@t us now Co." There is no time
20 lose. Let Us 60 now. This is the Ian.
xuase Of obedience desiring to receive rs.
sursnce and strength by seeing for them
selyes this thing which is come to pass.
Ia. with haste" Filled and thrilled
with holy Joy they could not linger. And
found" 1t is probable that by commani-
eating their experiences to each other their
faith was greatly strengthened.
IL. Made known abroad" As soon as
they had seen the Child they began to tell
the glad news to every one they met.
Is. Wondered" The story Of Jesus 10
the most wonderful story to which human
ears ever listened, aud it still causes those
who hear il to wonder.
10. "Pondering them" Weighing, or
carefully considering them. Every circum.
stance was treasured up in her memory.
20. "Glorifying and praising," ihesc
simple men returned to the care Of their
Hocks, giving glory to God for all they had