The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-12-21
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DecEMeeR IS.


Prince of Peace, lisa. TX, 1-s-Gsiden
Text, lisa. ix., O--Meaory Verses, o, 7
documentary.
/. Great darkness Tvs. /, s). /. "Nev.
ertheless.' A transition word from the
dark picture Of chapter S:5-22, describing
the woes from Assyrian predomnance to
the bright dawn and contamination OF the
Messianc era. Shall not be such" The
darkness. shall not be as great as it has
been. There was ray Of encouragement
for those who were ready to receive the
prophets word. "Iebulun." The country
OF Galilee around the Sea of Galilee was
the land that principally tuffered in the
first Assyrian invasion.
2. The people-in darkness" The peo.
der two-fold darkness. l. The darkness
OF outward trouble See 2 Kings 1881; l6:
As, IL; 2 Chron. 2S:j-S. 2. They were in
moral darkness. Ahaz had led the people
ino the most abominable practices in
nonor 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 Olvet, but in the valley oil
Hinnom, on a 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 glitrered throughout Judah. Sooth
sayers, spirits ghosts were consulted lisa
30, s, 20; S;l9l. Finally, towards the close
of the reign. he shut up the great doors
OF the temple e Chron. 2S24), discon
tinued the offering of incense and the
morning and evening sacrifice, and left
the whole interior to decay, neglect, ruin.
III. A great light Tvs. 2-5). 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
tion; the prospect OF the coming OF Inn
manuel.
g. 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 II. V. for 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
ence and with grateful acknow.edg.
ment of His benefits.
4. Chou hast broken the yoke" The
Jews were successiveiy delivered from the
burdensome and Calling yoke OF the As.
syrians, Chaldeans. Persians and Mace.
a shadow OF redemption from the yoke
of Satan; and that redemption seems here
especially ~redicted as if already accom-
| plished. GAS in the day of INDIAN" As
Gideon with handful of men conquered
the hosts of INDIAN, so Messiah. the
child" ". -6), shall prove to be the
"Prnce of Peace and the small com.
pany under him shall overcome the mighty
| hosts of nptchrist. See the same con.
trast in Micah 5:2-5.
8. "For every batt,e" 1t was the Gus.
/ tom of antiquity to pile the, arms of pros,
trate enemies, the spois OF less value, aud
their spotted garments, into heap and
| then burn them. All that belongs TO war
shall be swept away; the war itself shall
die. The Messiah abolishes all 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 ". o.. @.
predicted blessings as ii already communi-
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 "1n the far distance the
prophet foresaw the Redeemer of the
world. A little later came the vision OF
the suffering Savior lisa. So; then the
town where He should be born ((Micaf
5;2); more complete revelation came
through Daniel" "A son was given.
Gods gratuitous gift. upon which man
had no claim (John 3;l6), a gilt OF love
OF joy, of universal fitness to our needs
of eternal enrichment. of forever increas
gifts Rom. s:32) As Son OF man Jesus
was "a child born as Son of God He was
a "Son given Government" The en-
sign OF government, the scepter,, the
sword, or key, was borne upon or hpns
from thu, shoulder; Al government @ sha.
stands for all that the man is and has-hi'
character, his principles and his property
"Wonderful." Because his nature was
both human and divine. Whoever pause'
TO believe in the supernatural must pause
at the manger. He could go no farther
How Godhood and manhood could b'
knit together in the person OF Christ, u
beyond us. But things iincomprehensibl'
are not incredible. Az divine works ar
wonderful. There are marvels enough IL
drop of water to bewilder the .wsest
Counsellor" One who has wisdom t
guide himself and others. Jesus was tn
embodiment of the wisdom OF God. Ill
was Savior, both God and man, per
sonal revelation of Gods love, a perfec
character and example. He is our Counsel
lor, never guiding us astray, but Away
by the best ways to the best ends
"Mighty Cod" God the mighty One
As He has wisdom, SO He has strength
He is able to save to the uttermost; an,
such is the work of the Mediator that n
less power than that of the mighty Co
could accomplish it, Everlasting Father.
Expressing the divine love and pity 10
men, love that can never fail. Tor 1t
everlasting. prince of Peace" As
King He preserves, commands, create
peace. His peace both keeps the heart
OF His people and rules in them.
I ". The Messianic kingdom ". y.
"Of the increase" etc. The government
shall cease in numbers, in power, in I'll
completeness OF its rule. 1t shall increas
in the blessings it bestows. 1t is like, tn
powers of nature, which are exhaussles
There is no limit to their application
the use Of man. With all our marveou
inventions and discoveries OF what natul
can do, we have yet gathered but fe'
rays from the world OF light, few spray
from the ocean of blessings God has
store for man. Throne OF David i
sit upon the throne OF David means
reign over the true people of God; and
this sense Christ sat ON David's thron
"To order it," TO RUE it, prone henc
forth even forever" Only such kingdoi
can endure. Nothing is really settled Il
it is settled right. The powers OF ey
seem very strong, but every one
doomed to fall before Christ. The torc'
of intemperance shall be destroyed, o
ganized oppression shall be broken, heat