The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-01-08
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON u, FIRST QUARTER, INTERNA-
TloNAL SERIES, JAN. 10.


Gen. 4. n commentary Prepared
by Rev. d. ~. StearnA.
downright, 1905. by American Press Association
God. having again made everything
beautiful on this earth and having I'LL
ed the air, the earth and the sea with
living creatures, completes Ellis work
by creating man in His own image to
rule over all, and the Scriptures make
1t clear that it is the eternal purpose
of God that man shall rule over and
control all things on earth. Thou
madest him to have dominion over the
works Of Thy hands; Thon hast put all
things under. his feet" FPS. viii. %.
That this shall be the conclusion OF the
whole matter we learn from Cor. XIV
25-2S. The present condition. with an
assurance of the future. is seen In Heb.
Ii, 8. 0, 1--WE see not Yet all things put
under Him, but we see Jesus.
LET us make man in our image" Is
strongly suggestive ito say the least
of the council of the Trinity and car
ries lis over TO lisa. Vi. 3, Whom
shall send, and who will 60 for ns!'
where We have both the Unity and the
Trinity. There is some light upon the
likeness or image of God in which man
was created in Col. ill., 10. with Eph. iv,
%. "a. but Christ is. spoken of as the
image, Of God in Col. |. 10: Heb. l. 3: IL
Cor. iv, 4; and when the story is fin
ished His redeemed shall be like Him
phil. iii, 20, 81; John Iii. p. Now II
Is our privilege to become more like
Him every day, behOlding Him at
Gods right hand for US and accepting
all things as from Him III Cor. Ill. 49,.
The creation of the first man and
woman, described in these words, 80
God created man in His own image, In
the image OF God created He him;
male and female created He them
verse %, is more fully set forth in
chapter ii. Z, 21-25, and must be received
exactly as here stated. for Ii Is direct
revelation from God Himself concern
ing the way He did it. and 1t is beyond
the power Of man to find out other
wise. We see, therefore. In Adam and
Eve the finest man and woman that
ever walked this earth-Adam the I'm
est man. Christ excepted. and Eve the
finest woman without exception. Since
God is clothed with light as with gar
ment FPS. civ, q they. being in the
image Of God. must have been clothed
with light also. halo or glory which
was a part Of themselves as truly as
the coverings OF birds and other crea-
lures was a part OF themselves. They
had no put on" clothing such as we
wear and in that sense they were
naked I'll, 81.
One result Of the blessing OF the Lord
Is always fruitfulness (verses %, IS.
See i'm this connection John Nv. 8. 10:
", SO; Rom. vi. %; vii. 4. and notice In
Lev. XIV, q, that the blessing Of the
Lord upon an ordinary sowing some
times produced three times the usual
increase. The Rev. Yer. Of Prov. Z. -,
is beautiful in this connection. The
blessing Of the Lord II maketh rich,
and toll addeth nothing thereto" In
verse 20 we have the first 1s'ehOld" in
the Bible, and how preciousy sugges-
tive 1t is that we find II In connection
with these words. Il have given you"
/ do not think that there can be a n@re
inspiring. uplifting Bible study than
that Of the things freely given Us by
God. beginning with 'the unspeakable
Gift" Of His dear Son and going on
with Rom. viii, %: | Cor. II, II. etc.
Chapter Ii, 1.3. clearly belongs TO this
first section Of Scripture and tells the
story Of the first day which God spe'
cially blessed, but notice in verse the
word finished" and II resting in Hin
who said when He died for US, ut Il
finished" then be quite sure that He
will perfect all that concerneth Us Ps
cxxxvili, I, 6; Phil. |. o.. The sentence
His work which He had made" uset
three times in verses 2, 3. suggests be
levers as His workmanship (Eph. u
i0). IN whom aud through whom III
will finish all that He has begun. bu
unless He ia allowed TO work In Vi
both to will and 10 DO the things pleas
ing In His sight all will be only wood
hay and stubble 10 be burned. In
words created aud made" Verse 3
cover the creation record Of chapter
/. and also the whole sis days wOrl
the making III things out Of nothIn
and then fashionlna anew. the create
matter after the catastrophe. Ill
resting fropl al Ills work takes us
: Heb. ~. 4. 10, we who have believe
! do en'er into rest: for he this
81 entered into his rest. he also hat
] ceased from bis own works, az God Ill
J from Ills" There II a resting In Chri
n as our Saviour when we SEQ and accel
Ills finished work Uf redemption. Dl
there r. also rpstful service with I'll
q ~ We take His yoke and learn u iii
v 20 live in the Fathers will.
A. the seventh day was sanrtiaed
set apart for man 10 give his who
S time 10 knowIng God and learning
o reiolcc IN Him (see fsa. lvlIi, IL. j.
4 50 We. Ills workmanship. must cDnsl
~ or ourselves ~ indeed set apart (
d Himself. a people for Ills own t'oss'
/. sion ~. IS. 3: Tit II. II. g. ". The
y il mnrh % Ln learned frnm the nn