The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-12-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
iNTE IRRATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS.
FOR DECEMBER IL.

Subject: Preparation For tho AKesaiahs
Nal. ill, 1-12-Golden Texr NAL ILL.,,
1--Mernory Verses, -1O-Commentary
the Days Lesson.
j. The coming of the Messiah ". II,
f. H. That is, God My messenl
GER The New Testament clealIa
shows that the messenger referred t0S
here was John the Baptist Our Lord
bore witness to John (Iuke T:20. See
also Matt, 11.10; Mark IL, 3: Luke 1:
7G 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 kings
highway had to be carried through
the open land of the wilderness, val
Says flied up and hills leveled, winding
by-paths Strengthened, for the march or
the great army Interpreted in its spir-
itual application, the wilderness was
the world lying in evil. John prepared
the way for Christ in a moral wilder
ness by preaching repentanceand show
ing the need of Saviour The Lord,
whom We SEEK The Messiah whom you
are expecting ITO His temple" Shalt
soon be presented before the Lord IN
this temple He shall cleanse it from
its deiifement and fill it with His glory
Messenger Of the covenant" He that
comes to fulfill the great design i'll 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 Heb. 9.15) the better
covenant established upon better
promises Heb. S:6-13; 1916. Eye de-
light in They looked forward TO His
coming with pleasure.
H. The mission and work Of the
Messiah US. 2-6). 2 Who may
abide Who will be able to endure
the testing of character His coming
win produce? They did not undey
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 a re-
fner's fire" John the Baptist said,
"His fan is in His hand;n 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, ana The fire (1) separates the metal
from the dross. and ~ thus purites
the metal, but does not destroy 1t; but
90 it consumes the dr0ss, or so separ-
ates it that it is cast one side as re-
fuse Like frller's soap" (R. V)
Soap such as we have was not known
to the Hebrews till long after Jere-
miah's time, but they used ash lye.
sion here to the refner 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 (R0m.
$500. Sons of Levi" The priests
Gods ministers. Purge" Cleanse
purify. May offer" etc. A sinner
cannot give acceptable service to God.
The Lord loves righteousness: He ac-
cepts only holy heart and life (Roin.
12.D. 4. "Be pleasant" The spirit
of praise, obedience and helpfuiness
are like sweet incense before the Lord
Heb 1916 16). 5, ITO judgment
To decide on your case and condemn
you if guilty. Swift witness" Com
ing suddenly and unexpectedly. The
soreerers." 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 Cypress" The gospel is a
ways in favor of the poor and against
oppression. And fear not Me" This
was the foundation of oil their wicked
ness. 6. II change not" God keeps
His covenants with His people.
III. Admonitions and promised
blessings Tvs. 7-12). Z. Prom the
days. etc All through their history
they had been given to backsliding.l
Return unto Me- There was still y
chance to repent wherein They
did not know how far from God they
were. g. Twill man rob GOdY
l.
the most guilty are those claiming to
be Gods people. eye have" This
evil is not only the guilt of priests, but
OF he whole nation. "Tithes." See
Deut. 1874 Offerings" The first
fruits-not less than one-sixtleth part
Of the corn, wine and oil.
g. I'VE are cursed" With famine
and scarcity. God had thus punished
them for neglecting to build the tenn
pie alag. LILO, III. now, for not main
tanning the temple service 10. Bring
-tithes." Make good your solemn en-
gagement with Nehemiah (Neh.. 1920.
Into the storehouse." The chambers
which surrounded the temple on three
sides. May be meat. That there
may be provision for the daily sacri-
fees. and for the maintenance of the
priests and Levites. Prove Me-
Take God at His word. Windows oe
heaven. A poetical, proverbiaI ex-
preston, signifying a great downpour-
ing (Gen I'LL; 2 Kings g:2). Pour
you OUT Empty out. as if God
meant that He would empty forth His
vast reservoir of blessings.
4 II. "Will rebulSe." Prevent from
coming. The deyourer.p The lOcu5ts,
the canker-worms, the caterpilIars and
all other destructive insects. For
your sakes. Because Of My love for
you, md for the sake of your prospei
ity. The devourer had been sent be-
cause Of their sins. but should be
stayed as a reward for their return to
duty. 10 "All nations, etc So great
will be your prosperity and happiness
that the fame thereof will extend to
all nations, as in Solomon's time. Gods
people do in truth live in delightsome
land, land Of green pastures and stu
waters, Of dear companionships and
delightful skies. Blessed are that peo-
pie who render lovingly to God the
things that are His own. "Deligbt
some land, I" Your country will again
be known as the pleasant land, as it
was formerly called
4 Mystery Solved.
Fidesta N. Haskins, merchant 81