The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-05-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY is.

Days Lesson.
7. Leaving home Tvs. ll-l3). II. "a Ger
tain man." The simple, unpretentlous be-
ginning of the most beautiful OF all the
God the Father. Two sons" Both are
Jews. The idea that the elder son repre-
sents the Jews and the younger the Cen
tiles is foreign to the parable, but in char.
acter the two sons may be said to be rep
sentative of mankind, for we have in them
examples of two great phases, of aliena.
tion from God; the elder is blinded by
self.righteousness, the younger degraded
by his nnrighteousness.
II. "The younger" He represents open
ly wicked persons, such as the publicans
and sinners. He also represents the
thoughtless, careless youth. He was over
confident, and could easily be deceived.
"Give me-" 1t has been a custom in the
East for sons to demand and receive their
portion of the inheritance during the
fathers lifetime.
10. Not many days" He had decided
upon his course and fastened to be gone:
This shadows forth the rapidity (D Of
national and (2) individual degeneracy.
Gathered all together" Sinners who 60
astray from God venture their all: "Took
his journey" He was, weary of his faith
er's government and desired greater lib
erty. As soon as the bride of restraining
grace is taken of. we: are soon gone. The
Journey the prodigal took represents the
sinner in his departure from God. de
went into far country" far from truth
and virtue. Wasted his substance, SO
The worldly life is always a wasteful life.
1t wastes body and soul life and health.
time, talents and all that is precious and
valuable. Sinners waste their Bibles, their
Sabbaths, their religious training. their
heavenly inheritance and get nothing IN
return with riotous living" In verse
80 we see how low he fell. His body,
mind and soul were debased. :,
H. In distress Tvs. A.l6). IA. Spent all.
He did not stop until his last dollar was
gone. His passions reigned. This repre-
sents the sinner who has thrown away the
mercy, favor and love of God, and has
wilfully rejected the salvation of Christ.
1t seems that he spent all very soon; the
enjoyment of sin is brief. "a mighty fam
ine." The soul living at distance from
God, and shut out from intercourse with
Him, will very soon feel its own utter emp
tiness. A mighty famine will follow. ~ In
want" Real want is soul want. The
prodigal now felt the effects of his dissi-
"apostasy. profigacy, penalty" See Prov;
"a: a. The soul has many cravings, and
the Measures, riches and honors Of this
world can never satisfy 1t. =,
Is. Joined himself to a citizen" The
same wicked life that before was repre-
sented by riotous living is here represent
ed by servile living, for sinners are per.
feet slaves. The devil is the citizen OF
that country; he is both in city and coun-
try Sinners join themselves to, him to
go at his bidding John 8; &), and are .SE de.
feed swine" This was doubly degrading,
and especially 80 to Jew. "The degrada-
ton at the end of course of sin ls here
represented." nhame, contempt and dis
tress are welded to sin. and can never be
divorced.
l6. with the husks." The husks were
not the pods of some other fruit, but the
fruit of the carob tree, used for teedlng
swine" He was driven to the extremity
of trying to satisfy his hunger with the
food that was fit only for swine. so SIN.
ners endeavor to satisfy the SOU sou Wlth
earthly and sensual delights. No man
gave unto him." Those whom he had
called his friends now deserted him. They
had taken his money and then cast him
aside. Satan's agents do the same to-day.
The saloonkeeper will rob a man of his
money, health and character, and then
kick him out Of the back door to die:
III. The decision to return Tvs. l7-l9].
II. "He came to himself" Sin dethroness
the reason. A state of sin is a state Of
folly and mauness, but the madness IS IN
the heart (Eecl. g.: 81:
ls. Il will arise" He had left home by
his own free will and he must return in
the same way. God compels no one to
do right. "And Co." Following the decls-
ion there must be an effort put forth. In
returning to God there is something to do
"I have sinned." The first thing to do Is
to make full confession of our sins Il
John !: 9; Job 33: q, 28). Against heay,,,
en-" Against God. "Ald before thee"
He had also sinned against his earthly
father 1t is ever token OF the sincerity
of repentance when one views even the
sins committed against others as transgres-
sions against God
~. The return and the welcome Tvs. 20,
2l1. 20. "He arose" He Immediately did
ali of these things that he had decided
upon. Great way off" He was coming
slowly. in rags, in disgrace, questioning
about his welcome. His father saw him"
The father was ever watching for his re-
turn. So God knows when we start to-
ward Him. Sin has made the distance
great, but as soon as the lost one starts TO
return the Father has Compassion. AND
ran. ETC." This represents the readiness
with WHICH NOu ISCSlFSo iStai'fhS
ncrs. The running to welcome corresponds
to the seeking in our Lords other para
bles. 81. Il have sinned." He makes his
confession personal; he aliases himself
! This is always the result of true repent
ance. NO more worthy" All true peni-
tents feel their unworthiness. They are
conscious that they deserve nothing but
death. and their only hope is IN the mercy
of Christ.
Y. forgiveness and rejoicing Tvs. 22-24).
%. But the father" The father dld not
wait until he had finished his confession.
In this we see the great affection OF the
father and his willingness to forgive. sad
to his servants" The fathers JOY is full
and he instantly issues orders to celebrate
his return. Bring forth quickly (R. "
Let US show at once by your actions that
the wanderer is fully iorgi wen, and rem
, stated. Put ring or his hand. sign
of affection and that he was Tree man.
There is no license given here TO adorn
the body. as some have vainly tried to
show. The true standard for such adorn-
ing is given by Paul and Peter Il Tim. 2:
Q. 10: Pet. 8: 3, A. %. BE merry" Be
iovful and happy. The Bible gives the
children of God license to shout for JOY.
When Christ restores the wanderer there
is general rejoicing and he is Immediately
treated as son. The best that God has IS
given him. and the past is entirely blotted
ont. "a. WAS dead Lost 10 all good,
Given up to all evil. us alive again. Here
vas special cause for rejoicing. VIZ
would not be partaker Of this JOY!
Explorinr Oceans Deptf,s.