The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-07-19
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JULY 20.

SuDJeCt: 1ne GRACIOUS lnV1tatlons 1sa. 1Vss
1~.13-Golden Text, lisa. w., G-Mem-
orv Verses, 6-s-Com1nentary On the
Days Lesson.
I. 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 q keen
serse of need and m 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 a welcome.
2. wherefore" There is a remon-
STRANGE here against e%arthliness;
against making much Of that which is
of the least Importance. Not bread"
Contrast the bread of deceit" prov.
20: 10 with the dread of life John
6: 80, 35). "Satisfeth not" Nothing
but God can meet the boundless desires
Of the soul. In fatness." This express
sion pictures to us the choicest bless
ings that God has. His provisions are
ample and satisfying Il Cor. 2: 8, 10;
Psa. SO: 8; So: 81. 8. 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 ID: g.. "Ev-
! erlasting covenant" The covenant
""de first with Abraham and renewed
, lth David; the covenant promised OF
Christ in His humiliation and ending
with a crowned Christ, eXulting in
royal victories and a redeemed church.
Sure mercies." That Is, the mercies
promised to David and his house (see
2 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 diSpeE-
sing His rich blessings which He has
provided in His redemptive work to all
who will receive them. "A witness"
He bore witness eve unto death for
God, to His law, to His claims and tn
His plan of redeeming love. Leader"
etc. He was the great Lawgiver, orig
mating laws and institutions for His
people. People" "Pecpies."-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, a holy nation. a peculiar people.
"knowest not" The Gentle world
whom He had hitherto not ,distin-
guished by covenants and blessings.
Know We not" etc. The Gentle na-
ton was to become one with tie people
of God (see Eph. 2: 11-13).
II. Conditions Of accepting the invi-
tation Tvs. 6, y. G.. Seek" The only
way to find God is to seek Him; but
how? By repenting of and forsaking
sin. MAY be found" This implies
that there will be a time when we can
not find Him. Z. wicked . . IN
righteous" The wicked man sins more
openly in "his way" The unrighteous
refers to the more subtle workings Of
sin "in the thoughts" All are guilty
in the latter respect, though many
fancy themselves safe because not
openly wicked in their ways. HFor-
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.
"Abundantly pardon" Gods pardon
is full and free. The margin renders'it
multiply to pardon"
III. Reasons for accepting the invi-
tation Tvs. S-13). s. my thoughts"
Jehovah's thoughts transcend those of
man as much rs the heaven is higher
than the earth. The thoughts and
ways of Jehovah are His purposes of
redemption. Thus we have not only
Q motive for repentance, but also for
eager, %eXpectant hope.
9. MY ways higher etc. This is
q natural and beautiful illustration of
the previous verse. Our fellow men
might not be willing to forgive, hut
God is always realty to pardon the true
penitent.
10. Rain -. SNOW" etc. BY quick
association of the ideas mentioned in
verse 0, there is a comparison here
made. Rain and snow fall from heaven
to water the earth and so prepare it for
it's annual. Srowths to feed the bodies
of men and beasts. Just as Gods wCrd
fails from heaven TO produce fruit of
righteousness among the millions of
Israel and of outlying peoples, and it
shall not be void, for every word that
proceedeth out OF the mouth of God
is bread (Deut. S: s.. II. 80" etc.
So every word that God utters shall be
made a blessing to 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 y and Is is to be at
The Jews final restoration, and the con-
version of the world. -. 60 out
with Joy" etc. The words are used rs
illustrative of the people Of God from
.! the Mosaic dispensation and brought
into Gospel privileges under the Christ.
They go forth bounding with JOY for
the conquest of the whole world for
Christ, and all n~ature-the mountains,
the hills and the trees-take on the
happy spirit of the church. The result
shall be the worlds renewal. 13. In
stead of the thorn" etc. Christ's work
in the world is to emo the useless
and the injurious, and to plant the good
ana the helpful. Where the Gospel
goes sin must give way to holiness.
For a name" That is, "for q memorial
to His praise" (Jer. IS: III.
Delayed thirteen Years.