Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-12-22
THE SUNDAY school,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER IS.
The Christmas Lesson - Subject: The
Prince of Peace. lisa. tx, 1-T-GeldeD
Text, lisa. ix., 6-Memory Verses, 6, I
.-G0mr IN anfnrY.

Prince of Peace, lisa. tx, 1-1-GsldeD
Text. lisa. ix., 6-Menory Verses, 8. 7
documentary.
l. Great darkness Tvs. l, o.. J. "Nev.
ertheless." A transition word from the
dark picture of chapter S:5-22, describing
the woes from Assyrian predominance to
the bright dawn and contamination of the
Mcssianc 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. "Zebuun," The country
OF Galiee around the Sea of Galilee was
the land that principally suffered in the
first Assyrian invasion.
.. The peoplc-in darkness" The peO-
pie of Judah. They were at this time I'M
der two. fold darkness. J.. The darkness
of outward trouble. See Kings 1871; l6:
4S, IL; 9 Chron. 2S:5.S. 2. They were in
moral darkness. Ahaz had led the people
into the most abominable practices in
honor of the heather divinties 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 a spot known by the name OF
Tophct. close under the walls of Jerusalem
There the brazcn statue OF the god was
erected. with the furnace within or at his
feet, INTO which the children we're thrown
e Kings l6). Superstitions appeared IN
every part of the country. Gold and silver
statues glittered throughout Judah Sooth
savers, spirits, ghosts were consult cd u sa
2:6, 8, 20; SID. Finally, towards the close
of the reign, he shut up the great doors
of the temple e. Chron S:2H, discon-
tinued the offering of incense and the
morning and evening sacrifice, aud lett
the whole interior to decay, neglect, rum
II. A great light Tvs. POI. ,. "A great
light" The sudden change from dense
darkness to the shining Zig ut 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
3. Hast multiplied the nation Isaiah
with prophetic eye plerces the centuries
and sees the hosts that would come under
the reign of the Messiah and he n,lmbc'ed
with the true spiritual Israel. And not
increased" See r. Y. for correct render
ing. They JOY before Thee" The prophet
notes it to be 4 religious Joy because Il IS
said to be before God that Is, in HIS pres
ence aud with a grateful Acknowledge
ment OF His benefits. -,
4. Thou hast broken the yoke he
Jews we're successfully delivered from the
burdensomc aud CALLING yoke oil the AS
svrians, ChaIdeanS, Pcrsians and Mace.
domains; but these dcverances were only
shadow OF redemption from the yoke
Of Satan; and that redemption seems here
especially "rcdlCted As II already accom-
plished. AS in the day OF INDIAN" As
Gideon with handful OF men conquered
the hosts of INDIAN, so Messiah, the
child ". 81, shall prove to be the
"Prnc" OF Peace, and the small com
pany under him shall overcome the mighty
hosts OF nntichrist See the same con
tra,t in Micah J:2-J.
5. Tor every bate" 1t was the Gus
tom OF antiquity to pile The arm, OF pros,
hatc enemies, the SPOTS "t less value, and
their spotted garments. INTO . heap anu
then burn them. All that belongs 10 wal
shall he swept away: the war ltset snalt
die. The Messiah aboIIshes all war; but
not until His foes are either swept away by
His judgments or melted INTO pcn'tence ana
won over to submission by HIS love.
III. \ vision OF the Messiah ". 81 D.
"Unto MS. The prophet >pake OF the
predicted blessings aS ii already communl'
Gated Angels say. Il nto vou.' but thus
child was born for the benefit OF Us men.
OF US sinners OF all believers To the end
OF the world "ln the lar distance the
prophet foresaw the Ecdcemer OF the
world. 4 little later cane The VISION OF
the suffering Savior lisa. 81, then the
town where He should be- born ttMlcah
through Daniel "A son vas gwen.
Gods giatullous Gift. upon which man
had no claim lJohn 3:l6,. \ git OF love,
OF iov. oi universal fitness to our needs,
, OF eternal enrichment, of forever lncteaS'
ing value: and this glll tu>uycs all other
gifts from. $50. ~ son OF man Jesus
was "a child born rs Son OF God Tie was
a son gwen Governments The en-
sign OF government. the StcpteL the
, ,,,,,l az. La, wa larnp upp, hung
from the shoulder. Al government shall
he vested in Him" HIS name \ name
stands for ali that the man Is and has-hl'
character. his principles and his property.
I "Wondcrtul > because his uatuie was
| both human and divine. Whoever pauses
to believe in the supernatural must pause
at the mangcr. He could 90 no farther
How Godhood and manhood could be
knit together IN the person OF Christ -
beyond It's. But things ncomprehenSIb'e
are not incredible. Ain divine works are
wonderful. There are maryels enough III
. drop of water to bewilder the .wsest.
"CounselIor." One who has wisdom to
! guide himself and others. Jesus was the
embodiment OF the wisdom OF God. tie
was Savior. both God and man, PEI,
sonal revelation of Gods love. perfect
character and example. He is our Counsel
! lor, never guiding us astray, but always
:; the best ways to the best ends
mighty God" God the mighty One.
As He has wisdom, 80 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 God
could accomplish it. Everlasting Father.
Expressing the divine love and pity. tor
men, love that can never tan, tor 1t -
/ everlasting prince of Peace As
| King He preserves, commands, creates
! peace. His peace both keeps the hearts
/ of His people and rules in them.
". The Messianc kingdom ". y.
shsl cease in numbers, in power, in the
completeness oil its rule. 1T shall increase
! in the blessings it bestows 1t is like the
! uowers of nature, which are exhaustess
| 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 few
rays from the world OF light, IA few sprayi
from the ocean of blessings God has in
store for man Throne OF David re
| SIT upon the throne of David means te
reign over the true people of God; and in
| this sense Christ sat on David's throne
70 order it," To rule it, Prone hence
forth even forever" Only such kingdom
can endure Nothing is really settled til.
it Is settled right. The powers OF evil
seem very strong, but every one il
doomed to fall before Christ. The forcet
OF intemperance shall be destroyed, or
ganized oppression shall be broken, heath
enism shah fall, infdelity be overthown
slavery cease.