Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-12-20
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
December II.
Subject: Christmas and its Teachings, Luke H.,
S'.o-Goiden Text. Luke H.. ll..Memory
Verses. 10. li-Commentary on the Days
Lesson.

not a 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 Il calling that
was looked upon by the Jews with con
Tempt. Why was the announcement made
TO shepherds? % The aununciation OF
His advent was not TO be made to the
rulers OF the people. or To the priests. Tor
these men were under the influence OF
worldly and selfish ambitions and could
not discern spiritual things. The shep.
herds were humble men. waiting for the
consolation of lsrae.. and were in
state of mind TO accent the heavenly an.
nouncement. t2l God had seen tit to APP
pear to the weak instead OF the mighty.
Read Cor. j. 1891: Psa. s: ,. 80 God
had ALWAYS blessed the shepherds He h1d
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 with the
first announcement In the field They
undoubtedly had tents or booths under
which they dwelt Keeping watch-bv
tight" Or. Keeping night watches" Il.
" 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 nj Jerusalem Tor
five years was in December. fifty-iour de-
grees.
O. Angel" Divine messenger. Angels
have always taken Il lively interest in the
things of this world. 1t was an angel that
s...,
birth OF John. and TO Mary with u similar
mission regarding the birth Of Christ. An
angel appeared to Jesus in the garden. and
to the disciples at the sepulcher and ut 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. 10
keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bare
thee up i'll their hands. lest thou dash
Thy foot against stone Psa. 81: II. II.
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 APP
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" Terrified with the
appearance of SO glorious a being There
is no proof here that the shepherds were
morally impure ana afraid that divine JUS
tice was about to be meted out TO them.
Even holy men trembie when they come
in contact with the supernatural.
10. Good tidings." The literal mean
ing of gospel" | am come to declare the
loving kindness OF the Lord. My message
will cause great JOY. 1t is message TO
you (Jewsl first, and it also reaches to
..ali the raonle - IN tho 1vho,e hum1n
race. See Gen. II: >; Matt Is: 10; Luke
.: 1882 p: 46, IL; Col L. 2l-23
H. lis born" lisa. 8: g: John L. Il.
Davids greater Son begins His earthly ca
reer in His ancestors horne. Seven hun.
dred years before prophet had predicted
5: .. This day" unbe.ievcrs try to
make an argument against the wisdom OF
God because He waited 50 long before
bringing forth the Redeemer of mankind.
The rep.y is. |. Christ came in accordance
with long line OF prophecy. This took
time. Prophets must be raised up. and
then hundreds OF years must e.ap>e IN or
der to fully verify their utterances. ,.
Christ came when the political factors OF
the world were most favorable. The who.e
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
cifixion and at Pcntecost. >. Christ did
not come until the world had done its hest
without Him and had made complete
moral failure. The wisdom and culture
of the world were very great. and vet,
morally. it was cropping in awful darkhess
Thus the coming OF the Messiah became
necessity If the world WAS TO be saved
from moral collapse. And now, in the
funess of time" in Gods time. at just the
right time. the Desire OF All Nations APP
pears. "A Saviour Cd n delivercr.
% \ restorer. (3) \ preserver Matt. ]:
y. Not, shall be n Saviour, but born
Saviour Christ" The Amounted One.
Christ is the Greel, word corresponding to
the Hebrew word Messiah. In ancient
times prophets. priests and kings were
anointcd with oil when set apart 10 their
sacred work. Christ was anointed Tor
these holy offices, which we may share
with Him by His amounting US with the
Holy Ghost. Christ is sufficiently qualified
to sustain these important offices. The
Lord" God. ~ well as man.
j.: A sign. The very thing that
would have caused them To doubt was
made the sign unto them.
Is. ~ multitude They descended to
honor the Prince OF Peace. Heavenly
host The army OF anse.s which Is rep
resented rs surrounding the throne oil God.
II "G.ory-in the highest" Christ Is
peace" Peace 10 man; peace with God;
peace of conscience. Good will" God
has shown His good Will by sending the
Messiah
Is. Let us now 60" There is no time
to lose. Let us go now. This is the lam
guage OF obedience desiring to receive as
surance and strength by seeing Tor them
selves this thing which i come 10 pass.
L. With haste" Flied and thrilled
with holy JOY they could no. linger. And
found" 1t is probable that by communi-
eating their experiences to each other their
faith was greatly strengthened.
L. Made known abroad As soon as
they had seen the Child they began 10 tell
the glad news to every one they met.
Is. Wondered" The story of Jesus is
the most wonderful story to which human
ears ever listened, and it still causes those
who hear it to wonder.
10 bordering them" Weighing. or
carefully considering them. Every circum-
stance was treasured up in her memory.
90. ''Glorifyrng and praisng.' These
simple men returned to the of their
IL. 10 sn1 So all fha.. 4