The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-12-21
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER rs.

I. Grea. darkness Tvs. l.. p. J. ""Nev.
iertheless." A transition word from the
dark picture OF chapter 1892, describing
the woes from Assyrian predominance to
the bright dawn andlcopsummation of the
Messianic era. Shall not be such" The
darkness shall not be as great as it has
been. There was a ray OF encouragement
for those who were ready to receive the
prophets word. "Zebulun.' The country
of Gallee around the Sea of Galilee was
the land that principally cuffered in the
first Assyrian invasion.
2. The people-in darkness" The peo-
pie Of Judah. They were at this time I'M
der a two-fold darkness. l.. The darkness
4-8, II; 2 Chron. 28:5-S. Q. They were in
moral darkness. .Ahaz had led the people
into the most abominable practices in
honor Of the heather divinities whose
worship he had established in his kingdom.
The worship of Molech. the savage god of
Ammon, was now established, not only on
the heights Of Ohvet, but in the valley of
Hinnom, on q spot known by the name Of
Tophet, close under the walls of Jerusalem.
There the brazen statue of the god was
erected, with the furnace within or at his
feet, into which the children were thrown
e Kings l6). Superstitions appeared in
every part of the country. Gold and silver
statues glittered throughout Judah. Sooth-
sayers, spirits,i ghosts were consulted lisa.
&c. 8, 90; $40. Finally, towards the close
of the reign. he shut UP the great doors
of the temple q Chron. 2S:24), discon-
tinued the offering Of incense and the
morning and evening sacrifice and left
the whole interior to decay, neglect, ruin.
II. A great light Tvs. 2-5l: 2. "A great
light" The sudden change from dense
darkness to the shining light which the
prophet saw is quite remarkable. What
light was this? The promise of redemp-
ton; the prospect of the coming of I'M
manuel.
8. Hast multiplied the nation" Isaiah
with prophetic eye pierces the centuries
and sees the hosts that would come under
the reign of the Messiah and be numbered
with the true spiritual Israel. "And not
increased" See r. V. fol-. correct render
ing. They JOY before Thee" The prophet
notes it to be a religious joy because it is
said to be before God-that is, in His pres
ment of His benefits.
4. Thou hast broken the yoke" The
Jews were successfully delivered from the
b%urdensome and Calling yoke of the As
~syrians, Chaldeans, Persians and Mace
domains; but these deliverances were only
a shadow of redemption from the yoke
Of Satan; and that redemption seems here
especially predicted as if already accom-
plished. "As in the day of INDIAN" As
Gideon with a handful Of men conquered
the hosts of INDIAN, so Messiah, the
"child' ". g., shall prove to be the
prince of Peace" and the small COM
pany under him shall overcome the mighty
hosts of Antichrist. See the same con-
trast in Micah 5:2-5.
5. For every battle" 1t was the Gus
tom of antiquity to pile the arms of pros.
trate enemies, the spoils of less value, and
their spotted garments, into a heap ant
then burn them. All that belongs to war
shall be swept away; the war itself shall
die. The Messiah abolishes ell war, but
not until His foes are either swept away by
His judgments or melted into penitence and
won over to submission by His love.
III. A vision of the Messiah ". g.. 6.
"Unto u.s." The prophet spake of the
predicted blessings as if already communl-
Gated. Angels say, Unto you," but this
child was born for the benefit of us men,
Of us sinners, of all believers, to the end
Of the world. In the far distance the
prophet foresaw the Redeemer of the
world. A little later came the vision of
the suffering Savior lisa. 53); then the
town where He should be born ((Micah
5:2); a more complete revelation came
through Daniel" "a son was given"
Gods gratuitous gift, upon which man
had no claim John 3:l6). A gift of love,
of joy, of universal fitness to our needs,
of eternal enrichment, of forever increas-
ing value; and this gift insures all other
gifts from. S::32). As Son of man Jesus
was "a child born. as Son of God He was
sign of government, the scepter,, the
sword, or key. was borne upon or hung
be vested in Him" His name" A name
stands for all that the man is and has-his
character. his principles and his property.
Wonderful" Because his nature was
both human and divine. Whoever pauses
to believe in the supernatural must pause
at the manager. He could 60 no farther.
How Godhood and manhood could be
knit together in the person of Christ IS
are not incredible. All divine works are
wonderful. There are marvels enough in
q drop of water 70 bewilder the wisest.
Counsellor One who has wisdom to
guide himself and others. Jesus was the
Embodiment Of the wisdom of God. He
was a Savior, both God and man, q per-
sonal revelation of Gods love, a perfect
character and example. He is our Counsel
lor, never guiding us astray, out always
bv the best ways to the best ends.
mighty God" God the mighty One.
As He has wisdom, SO He has strength;
He is able to save to the uttermost; and
such is the work of the Mediator that no
less a power than that OF the mighty, Gcd
could accomplish it. Everlasting father
Expressing the divine love and pity Tor
everlasting. prince of Peace" AS a
King He preserves, commands, creates
peace. His peace both keeps the hearts
OF His people and rules IN them.
w. The. Mcssianic kingdom ". y. z.
COS The increase" etc. The government
shall cease in numbers, in power, IN the
completeness OF its rule. 1t shall increase
in the blessings it bestows. 1t is Hk $the
powers Of nature, which are eXhaustless.
There is no limit to their application to.
the Use of man. With all our marvellous
inventions and discoveries OF what nature
can do, we have yet gathered but 4 few
rays from the world Of light, 4 few sprays
from the ocean of blessings God has in
store for man. Throne of David" TO
sit upon the throne of David means to
reign over the true people OF God; and. III
this sense Christ sat or Dayld's throne.
TO order it." 10 rule It. Prone hence
forth even forever Only such a kingdom
can endure. Nothing is really settled til
IL is settled right. The powers OF evil
seem very strong, but every, one IS
doomed to fall before Christ. The forces
OF intemperance shall be destroyed, Or
canized oppression shall be broken, heath
enism shall fall, ipGdelity be c~verthown,
slavery cease.