The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-12-21


on the Days Lesson. .css,,
1. Great darkness Tvs. i,2). 1. 1Ney@
ertheless." A transition word from the
dark picture of chapter 8:5-22, describ-
ing the woes from Assyrian predom-
nance to the bright dawn and c0nsum
nation Of the Messianic era. "ShaH
not be SUCH" The darkness shall not
be as great as 1t has been. There WIS
a ray Of encouragement for those who
were ready to receive tf prophets
words. "Zebulun." Galilee was the
land that principally suffered In the
first Assyrian invasion.
2. "The people. q. in darkness The
people of Judah. They were at this
time under a two-fold darkness. !.
The darkness of outward trouble. See
2 Kings 1897; 16:4-S, II; 2 Chrons
2S:5-S. 2. They were in moral dark
ness. Ahaz had led the people into the
most abominable practices In honor or
the heathen divinities. Finally. toward
the close Of the reign, he shut up the
great doors Of the temple q Chron.
2S:24, discontinued the offering OF in-7
cense and the morning and evening
sacrifice, and left the whole interior to-
decay, neglect and ruin.
II. A great light Tvs. 2-5). 2. -
great light" The sudden change from
dense darkness to the shining light
which the prophet saw is quite remarks
able. What light was this? The prom
ise Of redemption; the prospect Of the
coming Of Emmanuel.
8. Hast multiplied the nation%
Isaiah with prophetic eye pierces the
centuries and sees the hosts that would
come under the reign Of tile Messiahz
and be numbered with the true So
ual Israel. "And not increased
r. V. for correct rendering. They JOY
before Thee" The prophet notes It TO
be a religious joy because 1t is said 70
be before God-that Is, In His preer
ence and with grateful acknowledS-
ment Of His benefits. 49,. y
4. Thou hast broken the 49,
The Jews were successfully delivered
from the burdensome and CALLING Joke
of the AssyrIans, Chaldeans, Persians
and Macedonians, but these delivers
ances were only shadow Of redemps!
tion from the yoke of Satan. sand that
redemption seems here especially pre-
dicted as IL already accomplished. .As
in the day Of Midian." As Gideon with
a handful of men conquered the hosts
of Midian, SO Messiah, the .child" ".
g.. shall prove to be the Prince OF
Peace" and the small company under
Him shall overcome the mighty hOst3
of Antichrist. See the same contrast
in Micah $50. e
5. For every battle" 1t sastAe
custom OF antiquity to pile the afmsA
Of PROSTATE enemies, the spsas OF less
value, and their spotted garments, into
q heap and then burn them. All that
belongs to war. shall be swept aways
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. 4 vision Of the Messiah ". 81 q
unto u.s." The prophet spake Of tkP
predicted blessings as II already COM
municated. "a Son Is given" G0d'9
gratuitous gift, upon which man had
no claim (John 3:16). A gift Of lore q
Joy, of universal fitness to our Deeds.
As Son of man Jesus was "a chiio
born" as Son Of God He was asSon
given" Government" The ensign
Of government. the sceptre, the sword.
or key, was borne upon OF ndng
the shoulder. All government shall bel
vested IN Him. His name" A named
stands for all that the man is and has
his character. his principles and BIS
property. Wonderful" Because H1s !
nature was both human and divine.
Whoever refuses to believe in the SUI
pernatural must pause at the manager.
Ese can go no farther: How GodA0odz
and manhood could be knit toSetner
in the person of Christ is beyond uz
But thugs incomprehensible are n0
incredible. All divine works are won
derful. There are rnarvels enough3
a drop Of water to bewilder the wjsss..
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 o.
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 Ees
wisdom. so he has strength: he -
able to save to the uttermost, and such
is the work of the Mediator that no
less a power tEan that of the mighty
God could accomplish it. Everlasting
Father" Expressing the divine love
and pity for men, a love that can never
fail for it Is everlasting. Prince Of
peace" AS q king He preserves, corn-
mands. creates peace. His peace both
keeps the hearts Of His people ana
rules in them.
". The Messianic kingdom ". D.
Z. "Of the increase" etc. The govern
ment shall increase in numbers, "a
power. in the completeness of its rule.
1t shall increase in the blessings It pe.
slows. It 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 fnven-
tions and discoveries Of what nature
can do. we have yet gathered but p
few rays from the worlds Of Hight, 2
few sprays from the ocean Of blessings
God has in store for man. Throne or
David" To sit upon the throne Of Da.
vid means to reign over the true'I
pie of God, and in this sense Christ
on Davlds throne. ITO order IT..
rule 1t. From henceforth even
ever" Only such kingdom can
dure. Nothing is really settled
is settled right. The powers of>
seem very strong. but every one
doomed to fall before Christ.