The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1906-01-05
The Shepherds
Find Jesus
Sunday School Lessen Tor Jan. 7. 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

LESSON TEXT Luke 2I-O. Memory
| verses. l8. a. Read also Matt. rI-25; Luke
l.l-S0
GOLDEN TEXT-"For unto you Is
born this day in the city OF David a
saviour. which is Christ the Lord. Luke
2Il
TlME.-December, p. C 6. four years be-
fore our Christian era. This apparent dis
eielancy IS explained by the inaccuracy Of
DO monk Dl0nysius Exguus. who FIRST
published The chronological calculations IN
II a D. and made a miscalcUlation OF
about four years
FLACE.-Beth.ehem I've or six miles
south Of Jerusalem
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES Prophet
.c visions of the Messiah and Nossianic
times DO the OLD Testament. Mum. 2i.i7.
Dcut is ls sam 7li-l6. Chron 1913. a:
q 10 fpromiae 90 the Son Of David OF those
.h.uss which are predicted OF Jesus IN Luke
4.si-sll fsa "a, lsa e.6. 7,lll-l0: 5sl-lz.
Jtr Ls5. b. Dan. Pa. s.. 5.i3. L.. g.25; Mic
o.- Matt 49, The expectation OF the
Messiah which arose out on those pr0phc-
-.es as noted Do the Gospels.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
" J. I'm those days" The period in
general indicated by the events just
described "A decree from Caesar Au-
eustns, tho emperor Of Rome. That
a.. fhe world" Nearly the whole
known world then was included in the
Roman empire. Should be taxed"
Rather enrolled"
N3 His own city" The city Of his
ancestors whore the family records
were kept
v g. And Joseph also went up .
unto the city of David. which is called
Bethlehem" The mother Of Jesus
lived in Nazareth of Galilee, but the
prophet had foretold that the Messiah
should be born in Bethlehem, the city
Of David (Mic. 5:2) e Sam. 1870. II
does not say that Joseph took Mary 70
Bethlehem on account Of the prophecy.
but implies the guiding providence Of
God
v s. with Mary, who also was OF
the lineage Of David In a Roman cen
sus women were not obliged to come in
person, though they raid the poll-tax
v Z Wrapped him in swaddling
clothes Not clothes regularly made
but strips Of cloth three or four inches
wide and several feet long, wound
around the child. And laid him In a
manger" etc. "The animals were out
no the time and the manger was not
being used Int Crit Com.
" g. And there we're in the same
country" In the fields near Bethle-
hem Shepherds abiding In the
field" The open country, with their
locks - -
V. @ And 10. the angel" rather "an
angel" came upon them" stood by
them" And the glory Of the Lord"
The angelic form IS bright and lumin-
ous. throwing all around them a sort
Of heavenly halo, in which even the
lustrous Syrian stars grow dim.
" TO- Good tidings" The word
from which our word gospel" comes.
They announced the best news the
world had ever heard, the news Of the
Saviour who would on the whole
world with heavenly glory, like that
then shining on the field Of Bethle-
hem. TO all people" To all ages, all
nations. all classes, all oolors.
" H. For unto you is born .
Saviour" One who should save them
from their sins, their worst and most
dangerous enemies. Jesus" means
Saviour. Christ THE Anolnted
One.' the Messiah whom they had
long been hoping and praying for.
v 70. And this shall be a sign unto
YOU. that the words spoken were true;
and a guiding sign. like the sign 10 the
wise men.
v i3 with the angel a multitude"
"The whole host Of heaven was prais-
ing God. not merely that portion Of II
which was visible TO the Shepherds
lnt Crit Com. Compare 2 Chron
ISIS. Psa. 1O3: q; Isa 6:1-4, and the
vision Of Efsha's servant q Kings
c.l7
" A. The song Of the angels, the
Gloria in Excelgs, consists Of two
strains of three members each.
Glory to God in the high
est
2 Peace good will to men 800.
on earth.
rs They came with haste" show
ing their zeal and ardor, as well as
faith. We can never find the Saviour
too soon"
V H. They made known abroad"
Whosoever has truly found the sa-
yiour burns 10 proclaim to all around
what a Soviour they have found" See
Acts f:20: John IL, 2.
Y. rs. "All they that heard II Won
iered II was indeed marvellous news.
so good that many find It hard to be-
lieve that II is true.
V 10. But Mary" In contrast with
the others, kept all these things" IN
her memory They we're treasures
whose value the following years re-
yealed 10 her. "Pondered them" Kept
them" Kept revolving them, compar-
ing them with the promises Of the Old
Testament, and what had been an
nounceG 10 her.
V. 20. "The shepherds returned" To
their duty as shepherds, but with a
new life and blessing in all their daily
work.
Stop and Think.
Christian hope is the mother Of reli-
gious Joy.
When your country or your Saviour
calls, DO your duty.
The hungry sheep will find pasture
ln any fence corner.
There IS no beauty in this world 70
the man who will not open his eyes.
Christ's gospel Is adapted 10 all
men; therefore It is intended 20 reach
all men.
Happiness Is like a birds nest In the
grass, we stumble on Il Unexpectedly
while in the way Of duty.-United