Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-07-21
/ THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
.t- FOR JULY %.

orv Verses, 6-S-Commentary on the
Days Lesson.
l. An invitation to the blessings of
the Gospel Tvs. 1-5). !. "Ho" A word
calling immediate and earnest atten.
ton to what is to follow. Every one"
The invitation is unlimited. "That
thirsteth." Every one who has keen
sense of need and an intense desire for
those things (see Matt. 5: g.. wine
and milk" These were regarded
by the Jews as the very choicest ar.
ticles of diet. Without price," The
freeness of the offer Is again repeated
that there may be no mistake and the
poorest and most needy may feel sure
of welcome.
2. wherefore" There is a remon-
STRANGE here against earthliness;
against making much of that which is
of the least Importance. Not bread"
Contrast the bread of deceit" prov.
2C10 with the "bread of life" (John
6: 80, 35). "Satisfeth not" Nothing
but God can meet the boundless desires
of the soul. Sin fairness" This expires.
sion pictures to us the choicest bless.
ings that God has. His provisions are
ample and satisfying Il Cor. 2: 8, 10:
Pisa. Sc: s; CO: 81. 3. incline your
ear" Pay attention. Soul shall live"
Life is more than mere existence. Real
life is spiritual life-a life in Christ
and given by Christ John IA: g.. CIV
erlasting covenant" The covenant
made first with Abraham and renewed
with David; the covenant promised of
Christ in His humiliation and ending
with crowned Christ, exulting in
royal victories and redeemed church.
"Sure mercies." That is, The mercies
promised to David and his house tsee
Sam. Z: SIG, 23-5).
4. "Given Him." God continues call.
ing attention to the great Messiah. He
is the central figure of these three
chapters. David was the type and
Christ the antitype; David in supreme
royalty, king over all foes and friends:
Christ in assembled majesty, but diSpen-
sing His rich blessings which He has
provided in His redemptive work to all
who will receive them. "a witness"
He bore witness even unto death for
God, to His law, to His claims and to
His plan of redeeming love. Leader"
ETC. He was the great Lawgiyer, orig.
mating laws and institutions for His
people. People" "PeOples."-R. V.
We must keep in mind that no race dis
tinctions are allowed. All the peoples
and nations of the world are included.
5. Call a nation" The Christian
church. holy nation, peculiar people.
"Knowest not" The Gentle world
whom He had hitherto not distin-
guished by covenants and blessings.
"Know We not" etc. The Gentle ma
ton was to become one with the people
of God (see Eph. 2: 11-13).
II. Conditions of accepting the invi-
tation Tvs. 6. y. 6, seek" Tie only
way to find God is'te seek Him; but
how? By repenting of and forsaking.
sin. "May be found" This implies
that there will be time when we can
not find Him. Z. wicked . :. nm
righteous" The wicked man sins more
openly in "his way" The unrighteous
refers to the more subtle workings Of
sin Gin the thoughts" All are guilty
in the latter respect, though pany
fancy themselves safe becausa-nOt
openly wicked in their ways. For
sake return" He who would find
God must first forsake his sins. Yet
this is not sufficient; he must actually
come to God. Repentance therefore
implies both the negative and the posi-
tive duty. "Will have mercy" How
ever far away the sinner may have
gone yet when he returns with his
whole heart God will not reject him.
"Abuhdantly pardon" Gods pardon
is full and free. The margin renders 1t
multiply to pardon"
III. Reasons for accepting the nvi-
tation Tvs. S-13). g. "My thoughts"
Jehovah's thoughts transcend those of
man as much as the heaven is higher
than the earth. The thoughts and
ways of Jehovah are His purposes of
redemption. Thus we have not only
a motive for repentance, but also for
eager, eXpectant hope.
g. "Nfy ways higher" etc. This Is
a natural and beautiful illustration of
the previous verse. Our fellow men
might not be willing to forgive, but
God is always ready to pardon the true
penitent.
TO- "Rain snow" etc. BY quick
association of the ideas mentioned In
verse 8, there is a comparison here
made. Rain and snow fall from heaven
to water the earth and so prepare 1t for
its annual grOwths to feed the bodies
of men and beasts. Just as Gods word
falls from heaven to produce fruit OF
righteousness among the millions OF
Israel and of outlying peoples, and 1t
shall not be void, for every word that
proceedeth out of the mouth Of God
is bread (Deut. g.: 81. II. 49," etc.
SO every word that God utters shall be
made a blessing tc man. The Gospel
promises and commandments are all
important and beneficial. "NOt return
void" 1t shall not return without
results. Gods purposes shall be real
lied. The full accomplishment of this
verse and verses IL and 10 Is to be at
the Jews final restoration, and the con-
version Of the world. r. go out
with JOY" etc. The words are used as
illustrative of the people Of God from
thef'Mosaic dispensation and brought
into Gospel privileges under the Christ.
They 60 forth bounding with Joy for
the conquest of the whole world for
Christ, and all nature-the mountains,
the hills and the trees-take on the
happy spirit of the church. The result
shall be the worlds renewal. Is. "In-
stead of the thorn" etc. Christ's work
in the world is TO remove the useless
and the injurious, and to plant the good
and the helpful. Where the Gospel
goes sin must give way to holiness.
"For name" That is, "fOr memorial
"a HE proiSav flor ~. 10