The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-11-16
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER 20.



T.. 10; 16-s0-Goiden Text, lisa. L., 10,
1.-Memory Verses, 1s-20--Comincn-
tary on the Days Lesson.
]. The superscription ". ~. I. "The
vision" A title applying to this entire
book of prophecies, spoken or written dur
ing the reigns herein mentioned. The
word denotes a supernatural perception.
inspiration. revelation, prophecy; here
taken collectively for a body of prophecies.
Isaiah" Of his origin nothing is posi-
lively known beyond what is stated in this
verse. His name means THE salvation of
Jehovah His home was in Jerusalem.
He exercised the prophetical Office about
sixty years. Tradition tells us that he SUI
fered martyrdom, being sawn asunder at
the hands of Manasseh, King of Judah.
The story is that he was placed within
rifted cedar tree, and then tree and pro.
phet were sawn in two lengthwise. Heb.
1887 may be an allusion to it. Concern.
ing Judah" etc. Other nations are also
the subjects of his prophecies, but only as
they had a bearing on the Jews. "Uz-
ziah." Called also Azariah Isaiah began
to prophesy near the close of Uzziahs
reign (chap. GID.
II. A rebellious people Tvs. 2, 81. ..
Hear" etc. Heaven and earth are APP
pealed to and are asked to listen as wit
nesses. The Lord" The Hebrew is Je-
a
it was never uttered by the Jews. the word
Lord being used in its stead Have nour-
ished," etc. God had cared for Israel from
their infancy. Notice, /. The Fatherhood
of God. 2. The wickedness of man. 8.
The purpose Of divine chastisement. Have
rebelled." This would include three things:
/. The sin OF idoatry. 2, Breaking the
message. g. COX knoweth," etc. The in
gratitude of Gods people is rebuked by the
fidelity shown by the dumb animals to
their keepers. Ok and ass are mentioned,
not as the most stupid animals, but as the
only thoroughly domesticated animals Of
the, Hebrews. They were lodged probably
under the same roof as their owner and
his family. Doth not know" Ny people
have lost their knowledge of Me and do
not recognize Me as their rghtful owner.
III: a corrupt people Tvs. 40. 4.
"Ah.' The same as alas! The exclama.
ton denotes sorrow. Seed of evldoers" !"
Offspring or race of evildoers. Compare
V. The word denotes violence. Have
provoked" etc. The real meaning is
brought out in the Revised Version.
Backward" They had despised and for
saken God. This conduct is (l) criminal
and (2( inexcusable, but .(3( common.
3. Why II is doubtful whether the
question in Hebrew is, For what reason" !"
The sense is, Why permit yourselves to be
smitten more? Your whole person is al
ready, bruised in every part, as the proper
punishment OF your evil doings. "Ye will
revolt" See r. V. "Sick-faint" In this
figure the nation is meant. The moral con-
dtion of the people is represented by a
body sorely wounded and sick unto death.
perate moral state of Gods chosen people.
Priests and prophets, subjects and rulers
were all involved. Not spot in the church
or body polite was left unsmitten. The
moral is that priests and false prophets did
not turn the people to God, who a,one
could heal their ma.adies, but instead
adopted a worldly policy.
T. Your country" The fgurative Ian
guage is now dropped. "Desolate." Notice
how nearly every word corresponds to the
curses threatened in Lev. 26 and Deut. 2S.
Strangers devour." In this verse we see
the terrible devastation and oppression
that was to come or had already come upon
ter of Zion" The church-God's people.
Zion was the strong hill Of Jerusalem, on
which the kings palace was built. The
term Zion is frequently used fguratively,
sometimes meaning all Jerusalem and
sometimes Gods Israel-the church. The
church was called Daughter of Zion," de-
noting virgin innocence and youthful prom.
L
be faithful few in Jerusalem even when
ravages of war would be upon her. These
Isaiah sees are to be left as a desolated,
tumble-down lodge is left after the harvest
Of the country gardens. "Cottage-lodge. i"
These were erected as temporary shelter
for those who guarded the vines and GU
cumbers from robbers and wild animals.
After the harvest these would be left. o.
Small remnant" By remnant Isaiah
means the righteous, in distinction from
the multitude of the -ungodly. Had it not
been for the few godly ones the nation
would have been wiped out as were Sodom
and Gomorrah.
w. Reformation demanded Tvs. l0.l7).
In verses l0-l5 the prophet shows how ut
terly valueless are their prayers and relig-
ious ceremonies while they still continue
in their ungodly practices. Their sacrifices
would not be accepted and their prayers
would not be heard. l6. Wash ye.''
What God desires is thorough moral
reformation. The allusion here is doubt
pain of death (Exod. 3O:l9-2l), were re.
quired to wash their hands and feet before
they, ministered at the altar. The symbo.,
no doubt, was at once understood by the
wicked men before the, prophet.
II. "Cease-learn." Note the order
here; before we can "do we'll" we must
'cease-evil." Seek judgment" Or jus.
verting justice, as was the common prac-
tice, they were to seek to do justly. Re
ieve the oppressed" This verb should be
translated "set right" The condition of
the oppressed, the one rnjustly dealt with,
must be set right. But the Revised Yer
sion, margin, renders this, "Sct right the
oppressor;" that is, ''restrains him within
the bounds of justice" "FatherlesJ-
widow" Defend and help the weali-thoce
who have no natural protectors. See fsa.
1913; 72;4; Exod 22:22-24; James l:27.
v. Gods offer of mercy Tvs. 1920. IS.
"Come now" Cod is here pleaCing with
backslidden Israel. treason together"
Let us discuss the case together. To se-
cure their consent to examine the Issue is
to secure their own self-convicton. How
wonderful that God should condescerd to
reason with sinful men! "Scarlet--crim-
SON." Scarlet and crimson are really syno-
nyms for one color, properly crimson.
There is perhaps no other instance OF red
used as general symbol for sin, though
white is the natural emblem of innocence
IA 20. On condition of obedience, land
and city shall be preserved; on continued
disobedience the ruthless invader win bring
destruction, as sure as Cod lIvet'i.
Why Cows Dislike Dogs.
Why should a COW so hate dog?