The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-12-13
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER ~.

Subject: Preparation For the Messiant
Mol. ILL.,, 1.12-Golden Text, Nal. fiit
1-Melnory We, SEES, s'10-CommentarJ
on III Days Lesson. -
1. The coming Of the Messiah ". 1I
i. 81" That Is, God. "My messehA
GER The New Testament clearly
shows that the messenger referred to
here was John the Baptist. Our LORD
bore witness to John luke 7:2O. See
also Matt. lilo; Mark 1:2, 8: Luke Z;
76. Prepare the way before Me-"
That is. before the Messiah. MesseEs
gers sent before the Eastern kings pre-
pared the way for the chariots and ar,
mics of their monarchs. A kings
highway" had to be carried through
the open land of the wilderness, YAK
legs filed UP and hills leyeled, winding
by-paths Strengthened, for the march Of.
the great army. Interpreted inits spir.E
itual application, the wilderness was
the world lying in evil. John prepared
the way for Christ lin a moral WbdeE-
ness by prea aching repentanceand shsw-
) ing the need Of q Saviour. THE Lord,
swhomSye, seek" The Messiah: whom yen
are expecting. $40 His temple" Shall
.;soOn be presented before the Lord I'M
This temple. He shall cleanse 1t from
it's deflement and fill it with His glery.
Messenger Of the covenant" He. that
comes to fulfill the great design III ref
erence to the covenant made with
Abraham, that in his seed all the fam-s
lilies of the earth should be blessed.
Christ was the mediator of the new
covenant" Heb. 9:f5) - the "better
covenant" established upon "bettef
promises" Heb. 1913; 1919. "Yede-
light in" They looked forward to Hin.
coming with pleasure.
II. The mission and work of the
Messiah Tvs. 2-6). q. 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 are
finer's fire" John the Baptist said
"His fan lis in His hand;" HE shall
b bantize yops with fire" Insthe. refiner's
fire is placed the ore, a mixture OF
good metal with rock and other mater
ials, and the fire (1) separates the metal
from the dross, and ~ thus purifieS
the metal, but does not destroy 1t; bat
81 it consumes the dross, or so separ-
ates it that it is cast n side as re-
fuse. Like fuller's soap" (R, VI
Soap, such as we have was not known
7 to the Hebrews till long after Jcre-
miab's time, but they used ash I've.
g. .fSSlall sit,"' etc: There is an aHH-
sion here to the refner sitting before
| his fire with his eye ON the metal. He
/ kept,i it in the furnace until he knew,
the dross. to be completely removed BY
seeing his, own image reflected {Roms
$500. "Sons Of Levi" The priests
| Gods ministers. purge" Cleanse
purify. May offer" etc. sinner
cannot;give acceptable service to GOO.
The Lord loves righteousness; he acs
cepts only q holy heart and life IRON.
1911. 4. BE pleasant" TheEsR}gr
of praise, obedience and ~helpfulness
are like sweet incense before the Lord
Meb. 1915, 1G). s. 80 Judgment"
To decide on your case and condemn
Won 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 religion. Against
those that oppress." The gospel is al
ways in favor of the poor and agalnst
oppression. "And fear not Me" TINS
was the foundation Of all their wicKed.
ness. 6. II change not" God Keeps
His covenants with His people.
III. Admonitionsi and prom,seG
blessings Tvs. 7-12). Z. "Frem the
DAYS" etc. All through their history
h q had been given to backshd1ngs
"Ret,rn. unto Me-" There Was;stiH--a
chance to repent. wherein" Trey
did not know how far from God they
were. 8. will. q man rob Godg.
SacrileGe is the highest of crimes. Aannq
fine most guilty are those claiming e
ho Gods people. aye have" Thls
evil is not only the guilt OF priests, but
of the whole nation. "I1tnes." ~
Deut. 1874. Offerings" The hrsl
fruits-not less than one-si2tietn parN
of the corn, wine and oil.
9, "Ye are cursed" With famine
and scarcity. God had thus punished
them for neglecting to build the tenn
nile nag. ITO, 1D; now, for not nam
tanning the temple service. 10. "Br1ng
-tithes." Make good your solemn en-
capement with Nehemiah (Neh. 1927,
ssTnfn the s%torehouse." The chambers
which surrounded the temple on thred
sides. MAY be meat" That thera
NAV be provision for the daily sacLl1
foes and for the maintenance OF 1a
PRIESTS . and Levites. Prove Mel
Take God at His word. "WindoWsso1
heaven" A%poetical, proSeroialte xt
preston, signifying a great
ing (Gen. I'll; 2 Kings ~. .fou1
von out" empty out" as il Cog
meant that He would empty forth Hpl1
vast reservoir Of blessings.
II. "Will rebuke." Prevent IRON
coming 1.-THE devOurer." The locusta
he canker-worms. the caterpillars anq
oil other destructive insects. "Fo]
vo,,r sakes." Because Of My love fo3
Won, and for the sake of your prosper
;tv The devolrer had been sent pe
co,1se of their sins. but should <Dl
STAYED as a reward for their return q
d1ty -. "All nations" etc. so greai
wili be your prosperity and happiness
that the fame thereof will extend q
all nations. as in Solomon's time. GodI
:eople do in truth live in a delightsomI
land. q land Of green pastures and SUI
waters. of dear companionships AM
delightful skies. Blessed are that peg
nile who render lovingly to God I'M
things that are His own. "DeilghI
some land" Your country will agalI
be known rs tue pleasant land. as
was formerly called