The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-12-13
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER ~.

l. The coming of the Messiah ". II.
j. Il" That is, God. "My messen.
ger" The New Testament clearly
shows that the messenger referred to
here was John the Baptist. Our Lord
bore witness to John duke 7:27). See
also Matt 11:10: Mark 1:2, >: Luke !
40. Prepare the way before Me-"
That is. before the Messiah. Messen.
gers sent before the Eastern kings pre-.
pared the way for the chariots and ar
mics of their monarchs. A "klng's
highway" had to be carried through
the open land of the wilderness, val
leys filled up and hills leveled, winding
by-paths Strengthened, for the march OF
the great army. Interpreted in its spir
itual application, the wilderness was
the world lying in evil John prepared
the way for Christ in moral wilder
ness by achingrepentancean show.
ing the need of Saviour THE Lord
whom ye seek" The Messiah whom you
are expecting. "To His temple" Shall
soon be presented before the Lord in
this temple. He shall cleanse 1t from
its defilement and fill it with His glory.
Messenger of the covenant" He that
comes TO fulfill the great design in ref
erence to the covenant made with
Abraham, that in his seed all the fam
lilies of the earth should be blessed
Christ was the mediator of the new
covenant CHeb. 9:15) - the better
covenant" established upon "better
promises" (Heb. S:6-13; 1910. "Ye de-
light in." They looked forward to His
coming with pleasure.
ii. The mission and work of the
Messiah Tvs. 2-6). 9. "Who may
abide" Who will be able to endure
the testing of character His coming
will produce? They did not under
stand the meaning of what they de.
sired; just as many desire and hope
for heaven without realizing what they
must do to gain heaven. Like re-
finer's fire" John the Baptist said,
"His fan is in His hand" HE shall
| baptize you with fire" In the refiner's
fire is placed the ore. mixture of
good metal with rock and other mater
ials. and the fire ~ separates the metal
from the dross, and ~ thus purities
the metal. but does not destroy it; but
| 60 1t consumes the dross, or so separ-
ates it that 1t Is cast one side as re-
fuse. Like fullers soap" Or. W
| Soap such as we have was not known
| to the Hebrews till long after Jere-
| luldu lllc, Dul thty uSNu uSh ~ '.
3. shall sit" etc. There Is an allu-
sion here to the retiner sitting. before
his fire with his eye on the metal. He
kept it in the furnace until he knew
the dross to be completely removed by
seeing his own image reflected rom.
S:29) "Sons of Levi" The priests
Gods ministers. Purge" Cleanse,
purify. MAY offer" etc. \ sinner
cannot give acceptable service to God.
The Lord loves righteousness; He ac-
cepts only a holy heart and life (Rom.
| 12:D. 4. BE pleasant" The spirit
of praise. obedience and helpfulness
| are like sweet incense before the Lord
| CHeb. 1915. 16). .. ITO judgment"
| TO decide on your case and condemn
you if guilty. swift witness" Com
ing suddenly and unexpectedly. "The
sorcerers." Users of witchcraft, all in
alliance with spirits of evil: the users
| of amulets, charms, etc, which are
really substitutes for rrellgion. Against
those that oppress." The gospel is al
ways in favor OF the poor and against
oppression. "And fear not Me-" This
was the foundation of all their wicked
ness. 6. II change not" God keeps
His covenants with His people.
III. Admonltions and promised
blessings Tvs. 7-12). :. From the
days" etc. All through their history
they had been given to backslidlng.
Return unto Me-" There was still q
chance to repent. wherein" They
did not know how far from God they
were. 8. "Will man rob GodY
Sacrilege is the highest of crimes. And
the most guilty are those claiming tC
be Gods people aye have" This
evil is not only the guilt of priests, but
of the whole nation. "Tlthes." See
Deut. 1S:4 Offerings" The first
fruits-not less than one-siXtleth part
of the corn, wine and oil.
o. ''Ye are cursed" With famine
and scarcity. God had thus punished
them for neglecting to build the tenn
pie CHag. 1:10, III; now. for not main
tanning the temple service. TO- Bring
-tithes." Make good your solemn Ell
gagement with Nehemiah (Neh 1O:29).
Into the storehouse." The chambers
which surrounded the temple on three
sides. MAY be meat" That there
may be provision for the daily sacrl-
fees. and for the maintenance of the
priests and Levites. Prove Me.
Take God at His word. windows OF
heaven" A poetical. proverbial eX
| preston, SlShlIylng Sreul uoNilpour
Ing (Gen. I'll; 2 Kings 7:2). "Pou
you out" Empty OUT as If Goo
meant that He would empty forth His
vast reservoir of blessings.
IL. "Will rebuke." Prevent from
coming. "The deyourer." The locusts
the canker- worms, the caterpillars and
all other destructive insects. "Fol
your sakes." Because of My love fol
YOU and for the sake OF your prosper
ity. The devourer had been sent be
cause of their sins. but should be
stayed as a reward for their return tc
duty. -. IAN nations" etc. SO great
will be your prosperity and happiness
that the fame thereof viii extend td
all nations. as in Solomon's time. Gods
people do in truth live in a delightsome
land. land of green pastures and still
waters, of dear companisnships and
delightful skies Blessed are that peo-
I pie who render lovingly 10 God the
things that are His own. Delight
some land" Your country will again
be known MS the pleasant land. as II
was formerly called.