Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-21

Subject: The Character ot tho Messiah.
lisa. ix.. 1.7-Golden Text, Matt. l., FL
Memory Verses. Q, 7-COmmentary
ON tho Days Lesson.
I. Great darkness Tvs. 1,2). /. "Nev.
ertheless." A transition word from the
dark picture Of chapter 1922, describ.
ing the woes from Assyrian predom.
nance to the bright dawn and cOnsum-
nation of the Messianic 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
words. "Zebulun." Galilee was the
land that principally suffered in the
first Assyrian invasion.
2. 1.-THE people. :. in darkness" The
people Of Judah. They We're at this
time under a two-fold darkness. 1.
The darkness Of outward trouble. See
2 Kings 1887; 16:4-S, II; 2 Chron.
28:5-S. 2. They We're in moral dark
ness. Ahaz had led the people into the
most abominable practices in honor of
the heather divinities. Finally, toward
the close of the reign, he shut up the
great doors Of the temple e Chron.
28:24), discontinued the offering Of in
cense and the morning and evening
sacrifice, and left the whole interior to
decay, neglect and 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 remark
able. What light was this? The prom
ise Of redemption; the prospect of the
coming Of Emmanuel.
3. 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 spirit
ual Israel "And not increased" See
r. V. for correct rendering. 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 acknowledge
ment of His benefits.
4. "Thou hast broken the yoke"
The Jews We're successfully delivered
from the burdensome and CALLING yoke
Of the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Persiars
| and Maced0nans, but these deliver
ances were only a shadow Of redemp-
! tiOn from the yoke Of Satan, and that
redemption seems here especially pre-
dicted as If already accomplished. "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 'T'rince Of
Peace" and the small company under
Him shall overcome the mighty hosts
of Antichrist. See the same contrast
In Micah 5:2-5.
5. For every battle.' 1t was the
custom of antiquity to pile the arms
of PROSTATE enemies, the SpOilS OF less
value. and their spotted garments into
a 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 by His love.
III. A vision Of the Messiah ". g. 6.
"Unto u.s." The prophet spake of the
predicted blessings as if already COM
municated "A Son IS given" Gods
gratuitous gift, upon which man had
no claim (John 3:16,. A gift Of love, of
JOY, of universal fitness to our needs.
AS Son of man Jesus was "a child
DOTH, us SOl vi NlOu I1c was IL SUI
given" Government" The ensign
of government, the scpptre, the sword,
or key, was borne upon or hung from
the shoulder. All government shall 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 refuses to believe in the su-
pernatural must pause at the manger
He can 90 no farther. How Godhood
and manhood could be knit together
in the person of Christ is beyond us.
But things incompreheHsible are not
incredible. All divine works are Won
derful. There are marvels enough in
Il drop of water to bewilder the wisest.
Counselor" One who has wisdom
to guide himself and others. Jesus
was the embodiment Of the wisdom OF
God. He was a Saviour, both God
and man, personal revelation of
Gods love. perfect character and eX-
ample He is our Counselor, never
guiding us astray, but always by 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
God could accomplish it. Everlasting
Father" Expressing the divine love
and pity for men, above that can never
fail for it is everlasting. prince Of
peace" AS king He preserves, COM
mands. creates peace. His peace both
keeps the hearts of His people and
rules in them.
w. The Messianic kingdom ". =.
Z. "Of the increase" etc. The govern
ment shall increase in numbers, In
power. in the completeness Of its rule.
1t shall increase in the blessings it be-
slows. 1t is like the powers Of nature.
which are exhaustless. There is no
limit to their application to the uses of
man. With all our marvellous inven-
tiOns and discoveries Of what nature
can do, we have vet gathered but a
few rays from the world of light, a
few sprays from the ocean of blessings
God has in store for man. Throne of
David" To sit upon the throne Of Da-
vid means to reign over the true peo-
pie of God, and in this sense Christ sat
on David's throne. "TO order it." To
rule 1t. "From henceforth even for
ever" Only such kingdom can en-
dure Nothing is really settled till 1t
Is settled right The powers of evil
seem very strong, but every one Is
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