The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-01-03
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JANUARY T.

Memory Verses, 13, 14-Toptc: The
Savior Revealed to Man-Commentary
I. The birth Of Christ Tvs. 10. i.
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 it has since,
and was called 1.-The empire OF the
whole earth" Taxed. Enrolled.
2. First made" There must have
been. two enrolments. ~"Cyrenius."
This is the Greek form of Quirinus or
Quirinius. 8. 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. e..
Went up" From Galilee to the much
more elevated region Of Bethlehem.
City. Of David" Where David was
born. 5. with Mary" 1t is uncer'
tain whether her presence was obliga-
tory or voluntary, but 1t Is obvious
that, after what she had suffered
Matt. 1:19), she chose to cling to the
presence and protection Of her hus-
band. "Espoused wife" Better, who
was betrothed to him." r. v. 6.
"Whilethere." Caesar Augustus was
but an instrument in the. hand of prov
idence to fulfil the prophecy Of Micah.
Z. Her frst-born SON." That excel
lent and glorious person, who was the
first 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 thd
frst-born and the -frst-fruits of Gods
creatures. "Swaddling clothes" Strips
Of cloth; these were wound around the
infant. I'm q Manager" 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
| binary 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-14li.'
8. 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
watch-by night" Or, keeping night
| watches" r. w., margin. They
watched by turns, against wild beasts
and robbers. The fact that the shep-
herds were in the fields affords no
ground fSr concluding that the natiY-
ity could not have taken place n'the
winter. The average temperature. at
Jerusalem for five years was, in De-
cember, ffty-four degrees. 9. An
gel" Divine messenger. Game upon
them" Stood ove them. Glory OF
the Lord" That extreme splehdor In
which the deity, is represented as ap--
pearing to men, and sometimes. called
the Shechinah - an appearance IRE
auently attended, as in this case, by q
company Of angels. sore afraid"
Terrified with the appearance of so
glorious a 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. It is a 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
1882; 24:46, Al; Col. 1923. II. rs
born" lisa. 90; John LID. "Davld's
greater Son begins His earthly career
in His ancestors home. Seven hun
dred years before a prophet had pre-
dicted the Messiah's birth at Bethle-
hem" (Micah 5:2). "A Saviour" /.
A deliyerer. 2. A restorer. 3. A pre-:
server. See Matt. 1:21. Not, shall
be- q Saviour, but born a Saviour"
Christ" The Amounted One.
IL. "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 theil
homage is dispelled by the intimation
Of His lowly condition, while their car
nal views Of the nature of His king
dom are thereby co~unteracted." Ii
"A multitude" They descended to
honor the Prince Of Peace. "HeaV'
emily host" The army Of angels.
Il. "Glory to God" Christ was The
highest expression of Gods glory
In the highest" 1. In the highest
strains. 2. In the highest heavens
8. In the highest degree, ION earth
peace, Peace with God; peace tc
man.; peace of conscience. 10000
will" God has shown His good vii.
by sending the Messiah. Toward
men," We should show good will botf
to God and man. .
III. The visit Of the shepherds Tvs
1920.
Is. LET us now go" There is nc
time to lose. Let us so now. This j:
the language of obedience, desiring t.
receive assurance and strength" by
seeing for themselves this tbipt
which is to come to pass" 16. witt
haste" Filled and thrilled with holy
Joy that could not linger.' "Ant
found" 1t is probable that by com
municating their experiences to OH
another their faith was increased.
II. Made known abroad" AS soor
as they had seer the child they began
to tell the glad news to every n the!
met. They were true preachers OF til
gospel. lS. "Wondered." The stor.
of Jesus is the most wonderful stor.
to which human ears e listened. an
it still causes those who hear it Il
wonder. 10. "Pondered them.
Weighing or carefully considering
them. Every circumstances was treas
ured I'D in her memory. 90. "Glorify
ing and praising." These simple mel
rat,,rro5 tn fine care of their fockS Civ