The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-01-11
The Shepherds
Find Jesus
Sunday School Lesson Tor Jan. 7. 1906
Specially Prepared tor This Paper.

1:1-so
GOLDEN TEXT.-"For unto you is
born this day IN the city OF David a
Saviour. which is Christ the Lord. Luke
an
TIME. .-December. R. c. g. four years be.
fore our Christian era THIS apparent dis.
ctepancy is explained ~ the inaccuracy Of
the monk Dionysius ;xiguus. VINO first
published the chronological calculations In
526 A. d.. and made a miscalculation of
about four years
PLACE.-Bethlehem I'VE or six miles
south OF Jerusalem
SCRIPTURE REFERENCEs.- Prophet
ic visions OF the Messiah and Messianic
times In the old Testament: Mum 2l17.
Deut. ISIS; Sam 7.1i-i6; Chron l713. IL:
zz'lO tpromise TO the Son Of David of those
things which are predicted OF Jesus in Luke
l.Sl-SD Psa. 70, lisa. SO 7:ul. 10; bs:1-i2:
Jer. 2:5. q; Dan asa. IS: 713. "a: e:25: Mic.
o:z; Matt. 80. 3 The expectation OF the
Messiah which arose out Of those prophe.
cies. as noted in the Gospels
Comment and Suge estive Thouobt
V. l. In those days" The period in
general indicated by the events iust
described. "A decree from Caesar Au-
Sustus.' the emperor Of Rome. THAT
all the world" Nearly the whole
known world then was included i'm the
roman empire. should be taxed. g"
Rather enrolled"
V .. His own city" The city of his
ancestors, where the family records
were kept.
V. 4. And Joseph also went up
unto the city of David. which is called
Bethlehem" The mother of Jesus
lived in Nazareth of GaliIee. but the
prophet had foretold that the Messiah
should be born in Bethlehem, the city
of David tMic. 5:2) e Sam. 7:16). 1t
does not say that Joseph took Mary to
Bethlehem on account Of the prophecy
but implies the guiding providence of
God.
V. 5. with Mary" who also was of
the lineage OF David. In Roman cen
sus women were not obliged to come in
person. though they raid the poll-tax.
V. T. 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
at the time and the manger was not
being used."-Int. Crit. Com.
". 8. And there we're in the same
country" In the fields near Bethle-
hem. shepherds abiding in the
field" The open country, with their
docks.
V. 3. And 10. the angel" rather IAN
angel" came upon them" stood by
ha oil u
The angelic form is bright and lumin-
Gus, throwing all around them a sort
Of heavenly halo, in which even the
lustrous Syrian stars grow dim.
V. 10. Good tdings" The word
from which our word gospel comes
They announced the hest news thr
world had ever heard. the news Of the
Saviour who would fll the whole
world with heavenly glory. Ike tha'
then shining on the field of Hethlr.
hem. ITO all people, To all ages. all
nations. all classes. all c0lors.
" II. For unto you is born q
Saviour" One who should save then
from their sins. their worst and mes.
dangerous enemies Jesus" mears
Saviour. Christ "The Ancnfod
One, he Messiah. whom they ha3
long been hoping and praying for
" 70. And this shall be a sign IN %
you" that the words spoken were true;
and a guiding sign, like the sign to III
wise mcr g..
v With the angel a multitude
$50 whole host Of heaven was prai5.
ing col, not merely that portion Of II
WI N was visible to the shepherds -
Int Crit Com Compare . Chron
1918; Psa 103: 81; lisa 6:1-4. and the
vision of Elisha's servant e Kings
GIT
V IA. The song of the angels. the
Gloria I'm Excelsis. consists OF two
strains of three members each.
I. Glory ,, to God :. in the high
est.
2. Peace good will to men
on earth.
l6 They came with haste" Show.
ing their zeal and ardor. as well az
faith. We can never find the Saviour
too soon"
V II, They made known abroad ="
Whosoever has truly found the sa-
'viour burns to proclaim to all around
what Soviour they have found" See
Acts 4;20; 1 John l:1.2
V. 1S. "All they that heard II won
dered," II was indeed marvellous news,
so good that many find It hard to be-
lieve that 1t is true.
v. 19 But Mary" in contrast with
the others, kept all these things" in
her memory They were treasures
whose value the following years re
vealed to her. "Pondered them" Kept
rher Kept revolving them, compar.
ing the. : the promises of the Old
Testament, al. - at had been an
nounce6 to her,
v. 20, THE shepherds returned" TIC
their duty as shepherds, but with
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
In any fence corner.
There Is no beauty in this world 20
the man who will not open his eyes,
Chrlst's gospel is adapted to all
men; therefore II is intended to reach
all men
Happiness is like a birds nest In The
e-rsac 700 qt,1uo bla IN 10 urrvnrQtoIf