The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-01-30
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR JANUARY 27..BY
THE REV. I. w. HENDERSON.
Subject: The Story of Cain and Abel.
Gen.. 4:3-15 - Golden Text, 1
John 1915 - Memory Verses,

Gen. 4:3-15 - Golden Text, 1
John 1915 - Memory Verses,
$40.
The story Of Cain and Abel is the
story of a great variety of human
sins. Centrally 1t may be said to be
the story of human faithfullness on
the INT hand, and on the other of hu-
man jealousy. This jealousy is the
direct result of a deep rooted desire
upon the part of Cain to have every
thing his W way. And to desire
ones own way is to be self willed.
From this point of view we may be
justified perhaps to push the appli-
cation of the story back one step far
they and say that we have here a
picture of the opposing elements of
faithfulness and w%ilfulness in hu-
man life. Cain and Abel make offer
ings to God. Abel evidently per-
forms his sacrifice as God has COM
manded and evidently Cain does not.
| God honors the sacrifice Of Abel,
which is according to His command,
Of Cain. He respects the faithful
llSSS VI IuC OlS hdA duu, nd VIC uOl
say it, rebukes the wilfulness of the
other. Being rejected, hot sin
surges, resentfully, in the heart Of
Cain. He puts his hand out in evil
against his own kin. Witness now
the train of wickedness that results
from the first irregular act. Cain,
with the calculation of a man who
has decided to commit a g%rievous Of
tense, waits until he is far from hui
man sight and hearing and then he
commits murder. To cover 1t up he
lies about it. And he not only lies
to God, but he adds insult to injury
by unworthy remarks, to wit, "Am I
my brothers keeper" This is a
| fair sample of. the consequences of
an inquitous self will. And to give
the rein to, self will is to invite the
same consequences in u own lives.
| Gains life is an illustration of the
need for several ~prchibitory COM
mands such as we have in Exodus
| 20, i. e., Thou shalt have no other
Gods before Me-" 't"Thou shalt not
kill" Thou shalt not bear false wit
ness" not only against thy neighbor
but concerning thine own acts. When
Cain elevated sin and self will above
| God in his life he laid the foundation
for the first command. And in like
fashion he laid the ground for the
| others.
The other greatolesson from these
verses Is to be found in the patience
of God with the man who becomes
o~verborne with the sense of his own
,.-ryorfh Guilt on1 munich m ont
weigh heavy on the heart and mind
of Cain. He cries out in anguish
unto God. The Lord hears his petit
ton. He lightens the penalty and
provides a way Of escape for Cain by
placing a brand on him to warn the
peoples that Cain is under the di-
rect protection of the Almighty
wherever he may wander: Cain can
not escape the consequences of his
sin, in a large degree, however. The
mark that notifies humanity Of the
uagnanimity of God at the same
time recalls to their attention the
sin of Cain, ... -. ....
AS with Cain so with us. We may
be forgiven, we may feel Gods par
don, but we never can lose. the mem
DRY of our unworthiness.
VS.. 8. Process" many years
pass between the events Of VS.. 1 and
VS.. 9. How many years Is not re-
corded. Evidently it was a long
enough time for quite a number Of
people to gain maturity, for we read
In VS.. IA the words every one" i'm
plying that there were many others.
"Offering." This assumes an altar
and sacriicial offerings No account
of their institution is previously CIV
en-, however.
VS.. S. Respect" for what reason
we cannot learn. There may have
been some laxity in Gains Offering.
He may have not complied with a
a ceremonial law as completely as
did Abel. But we must hazard the
reason.
VS.. Z. Commentators seem to be
unable to explain adequately this
verse. It is likely incomplete. Parts
of it perhaps are lost. At any rate,
it is not Ineligible. .
VS.. 8. "Told," better 'said unto"
"Field," the free countryside. Per-
haps a distant place far removed
from near acquaintance.
VS.. 9. "Where," God gives him a
chance to make a breast of his crime.
81 know not" Cain doesn't try to
excuse himself, to dodge, to beat
about the bush. He simply brazens
it out and lies directly and shame
lessly. Keeper" Abel kept sheep.
We may not u~nreasonably read a bit
of INSCRIPTIONS irony in these re-
marks. 49,.
VS.. IA. "Hid." "In the primitive
tradition Jehovah is specially the
ruler Of the cultivated district OF Ca
naan, and to leave Canaan for the
surrounding wilderness was to lose
the divine protection in its ordinary
manifestation"
VS.. is. vengeance" The muir
derer and six of his kindred as a
rule were put to death together. See
2 Sam. 21:S. "Sign," for protection.
This was to indicate that he was I'M
der divine protection and not to de-
| clare his sin to the world. However,
it is likely that the brand did both.
Note that death is Dot absolutely
prescribed as a penalty for murder.
The right of revenge was a family
n rs much as any. But its eXer-
else was not compulsory. This Sec