Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-12-18
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
December II.
Subject: Christmas and Its Teachings, Luke H.,
8'2O-Golden Text, Luke H., ll..Memory
Verses, 10, Commentary on the Days
Lesson,

Dot ms rs~ Rsyl.Da Ns''RX bepp FSsseS
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? Q) The annuneiation OF
His advent was not to be made to the
rulers 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 sher'
consolation of Israel" and were in
state of mind to accept the heavenly an
nouncement. (2) God had seen fit to APP
pear to the weak instead of the mighty.
Read | Cor. l: 1881; Psa. 8: 9. (3) God
had always blessed the shepherds. lie 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
of David, and it seemed fitting that the
shepherds should be honored with tbs
first announcement. "In the field" They
undoubtedly had tents or booths under
which they dwelt. Excepting watch-by
right" Or. keeping night watches" II.
Y. 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 foi
five years was, in December, tIty-four de-
grees.
8. "Angel" Divine messenger. Angels
have always taken a lively interest in the
things of this world. IT was an angel that
appeared unto Zacharias announcing the
birth of John, and to Mary with similar
mission regarding the birth of Christ. Ar
angel appeared to Jesus i'll the garden ana
TO the disciples at the sepulcher and at the
ascension. Jesus on one occasion said lie
could call twelve legions of angels, and we
have the blessed assurance given that "tie
shall give His angels charge over the J. to
keep thee in all thy Ways. They shall bare
thee up in their hands, lest thou dash
thy foot against a stone PSa. 81: il, j..
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 Shechinah AN appearance frequently
attended, as in this case, by company OF
angels l. is likely that the angel ap'
pcared in the air at some little distance
above them. and that from him the rays OF
the glory of the Lord shonc round about
them. Sore afraid" "Teniicd with the
appearance of so glorious being There
is no proof here that the shepherds were
morally impure ana afraid that divine JUS
tice was about to he meted out TO lheh'.
Even holy men tremble When they come
In contact WITH the supernatural
~. 1000 Ilolhgs' ne i''rrn' n'e'h
ing. OF gospel l am come TO 9ec.are INC
loving kindness OF the LORD NE message
will rause great ioy 1t is a message to
you (jcws) FIRST; ana 1t also reaches 10
'ali the people, 10 the Whole human
race. See Gen. II: }; Matt. y: ~; Luxe
,; s32; "a AZ, a.; So'' I'25' :,
II. is born lisa. y; o.; 'ohn J 't'
DarIds greater Son begins Ills Cafth'N ca
reer in His ancestors home Seven nun,
dred years before prophet haI Pre"'HNIt'"
the Mes.iahs nlrtn az Betnleheh' MY
.: = MS DAY choe.ieVeIs i'h tF
God because lie waited so long heioIE
bringing torth the Redcemcr OF manHiho'
The reply Is, l. 'hrIst came IN aTy2r"an o'.
with long Inc OF prGphe'N' lhlS 'ooG
time, PROPHETS must he ra'seu up, an"
then hundreds oil years inust eapst Ia o.
der to fully verify their ultGl@nces.
Christ came when the poltica' i%c'orS OF
the world were mos la'oI1p.', u ne ",'o,e
wor I'D was, practically under Roman con
troll, and this iaIt was ne means o. ortiE,
ing Christ and Ills io''oWer' iNn'to,", ~
before the nations OF G&fln. NS.i'e tms
nations represented AT the lin,e OF we e.
cltlXon and at rentec2s{' D. .nrist QUO
not come Intli me Worio nag "o"e Us Ieso
without linn and had mace 'onlP'c~
mora! failure. Inc wisdom an" ,I',u' ,
OF me WoF'n were very E,eES,i %mI NV ,
morally, 1t was gropinS IN awiHl narhhtSs,
linus the coming Vi ~ nesS's" IT, a.,,.od
necessity II the Wofin was 10 W s"t ,L'
from moral collapse; ana now VI ~. .he
fuiness oil time, IN l'oc ,lm's' az J"Sn '"e
right time, the DESIRE OF Al Nalion' aP
pears; \ saviour w. "a "s M,.t !.
90 restorer ,(") = ptese''e., . MI ~, !,
u. MOL shaii De oaElo"l, o"t 10 nao
Saviour. lhrISt, ne N'iolnteH o', ~,
CHRIST Is the n'eeS W9ro c9flesI,o" ~
the Hebrew Wofd MeSS'ai', ~, in '", ,, .ems
times prophets, priests ana h''sS W.
anonted with OIL when set apart 70 '" ..
sacred work, ChriSC Vas 'noIna'" i
these holy Offices, when W" may s" .io
with Hun by nus Amounting u" VIII ',;li"d
Holy Ghost. Christ ~ SufhclentF lu'm,TrGGn
to sustain THESE important oli'''s' Inv
Lord God, as well as mar 49,,
II. ~ sign. ne very thInE tn't
would have caused them TO doubt WAS
made the sgn, unto them; ,.,,, D..
l3. "A multitude ih'V oes!Hh''"u !"
resented as surrounding the throne OF Noo.
IA, tIOfN-ln tht HiSh'Ht' Wa '"'