Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-01-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JANUARY 7.

Subject: The Shepherds Find Jesus. Luke
H., 1.a0-Golden Text. Luke II" IL
Memory VERSES, IS, 14-Topic: The
Savior Revealed to Man-COnmentary
I. The birth of Christ Tvs. 10. ].
I'm those days" After the birth OF
John and before the birth of Jesus.
"Caesar Augustus" The first of the
Roman emperors. "All the world"
All of the Roman world. At that time
the Roman empire extended further
than ever before, or than 1t has since.
and was called "the empire Of the
whole earth" Taxed" Enrolled.
.. "First made" There must have
been two enrolments. "Cyrenius."
This is the Greek form of Quirinus or
Quirinius. g. Into his own CITY,"
The Roman custom was to enrol per-
sons at the place of residence, but the
Jewish custom required the enrolment
to take place in the native city. 4.
event up" From Galilee to the much
more elevated region Of Bethlehem.
"City of David" Where David was
born. 8. with Mary" 1t is uncer.
tain whether her presence was obliga.
tory or voluntary, but it is obvious
that. after what she had suffered
Matt. 1:10), she chose to cling to the
presence and protection Of her hus-
band "Espoused wife" Better. "who
was betrothed to him." II. V. 6.
"While-there." Caesar Augustus was
but an instrument in the hand Of prov.
idence to fulfil the prophecy of Micah.
Z. Her flrst-born son." That excel
lent and glorious person, who was the
frst-born Of every creature, and the
heir of all. things; whom all the first
born in the Old Testament prefgured;
whom the angels adore (Heb. 1:6); and
in whom those that believe become the
flrst-bOrn and the tlrstfruits Of Gods
creatures. "Swaddling clothes" Strips
Of cloth; these We're wound around the
infant. In a manger." 1t seems clear
from the text that the manger was not
In the inn, hence there Is good reason
to believe, with DR.. Thompson, that
the birth actually took place in an or.
dinary house Of some common peas
ant, and that the babe was laid in
one of the managers, such as are still
found in the dwellings Of the farmers.
ii. The angelic message Tvs. S-14).
g. Same country" Near to Bethle.
hem. shepherds" The announce
ment was not made to rulers or priests
but to humble men who were ready to
receive the glad news. 'In the field"
They undoubtedly had tents or booths
under which they dwelt. keeping
watcI-by night" Or, keeping night
watches" r. ", margin. They
watched by turns, against wild beasts
M hn Pa hof "a chnn.
herds were in the fields affords no
ground for concluding that the natlv-
ity could not have taken place in the
winter. The average temperature at
Jerusalem for five years was. in De-
cember, fifty-four degrees 0. "An-
gel" Divine messenger. Game upon
them" Stood over them. GLORY Of
the Lord" That extreme splendOr in
which the deity is represented as ap-
pearing to men, and sometimes called
the Shechi nah - an appearance fire.
quently attended. as in this case. by
company of angels. Sore afraid"
Terrified with the appearance Of so
glorious being.
10. "Good tidings' The literal
meaning of gospel" I am come to
declare the loving kindness of the
Lord. My message will cause great
Joy. 1t Is q message to you (JeWs)
first, and it also reaches to "all the
people" (R. W, to the whole human
race, See Gen. 1913; Matt. 2S:19; Luke
2:2S-32; 24:46 Al; Col. 1928. IL. rs
born" Isa. 9:6; John TIA. "David's
greater Son begins His earthly. career
in His ancestors home. Seven hun
hot n npnnhnt hQh
dicted the Messiah's birth at Bethle-
hem" (Aicah 5:2). "A Saviour" 1.
A dellverer. g A restorer. 3. A pre-.
server. See Matt. 1:21. "Not, shall
be- Saviour. but born Saviour"
Christ" The Amounted One.
-. "a sign" The very thing that
would have caused them to doubt was
made the sign unto them. ANY fear
as to whether they may approach the
newborn King and offer Him their
homage is dispelled by the intimation
Of His lowly condition, while their car
nal views of the nature Of His king
dom are thereby counteracted." 13.
"a multitude" They descended to
honor the Prince of Peace. "Heav-
enly host" The army of angels.
IA. "Glory to God" Christ was the
highest expression Of Gods glory.
In the highest" 1. In the highest
strains. 9. In the highest heavens.
3. In the highest degree. "On earth
peace" Peace with God; peace to
man: peace Of conscience. Good
will" God has shown His good will
by sending the Messiah. Toward
men" We should show good will both
tn God and man
III. The visit of the shepherds Tvs.
1920.
Is. "Lct us now 60" There is no
time tc lose. Let us go now. "This is
the language of obedience, desiring to
receive assurance and strength" by
seeing for themselves "this thing
which is to come to pass" 16. with
haste" Filled and thrilled with holy
joy that could not linger. "And
found" 1t is probable that by COM
municating their experiences to one
another their faith was increased.
II. "Made known abcoad." AS soon
rs they had seen the child they began
to tell the glad news to every one they
met. They were true preachers Of the
gospel. 1S. Wondered" The story
of Jesus Is the most wonderful story
to which human ears ever listened, and
it still causes those who hear 1t. to
wonder. 49, "Pondered them"
Weighing or carefully considering
them. Every circumstance was treas.
ured up in her memory. 20. "Glorify.
ing and praising." These simple men
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