Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-05-08
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson Vl.-Second Quarter, For
May II, 1907.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Gen. XIV, 1-1o;
|, 15.21-Memory Verses, q, s-Golden
Text, Eph. iv, 32-Commentary rre'
pared by Rev. D. M. Stearns.


pared by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
Nopyrieht 1907, by American Press Association
We have before us the task of sum-
marizing and getting the heart of the
last nine chapters Of this wonderful
book of beginnings, the topic OF the
portions assigned as the lesson being
"Joseph's Forgiveness of His Brethren,
which will have an analogy in Jesus
forgiveness of Israel when they shall
receive Him at His coming in glory
and. turning to Him with the whole
heart, shall, say, 10, this our God; we
have waited for Him, and He Will
save us" lisa. XIV, 81. The gospel
which does not proclaim forgiveness OF
sins as the first thing freely given Is
not the gospel of God, but another
gospel" of mans device (Gal. /, 6-12;
Acts xiii, SO, 80; Luke xiv, 46-4S)
If Jesus has been truly revealed to
us. then we have heard Him say,
"Come near and life and conscious
forgiveness are ours in Him xiv, 4,
10. IL, with which compare Eph. IL,
10: 1. 6, y. To question the reality
and sincerity of this forgiveness, as
Joseph's brethren did q, 10, is only to
display the contemplate meanness OF
our sinful nature and to accuse the
Lord of forgiving as we do. No Won
der Joseph wept when after all his
kindness to his brethren he found them
so misjudging him. Our similar treat
ment of our blessed Lord is enough to
make Him weep too.
What an abundant revelation OF the
heart of Christ Is to be found In His
three weepings-at the grave OF Lag
srus. over Jerusalem and in Getn-
| semane! We would do well to consid-
er in this lesson study the seven weep
ings of Joseph xiii, "a; xiii, 30; XIV,
Q IA. IS; XVI, 20; |, 1, 10, FIVE times
over his brethren and Benjamin and
twice over his father.
Last weeks lesson left Joseph ruler
over all the land Of Egypt at the be-
ginning of the seven years OF deartn
and in full and absolute control of all
the corn to be had. If life was to be
prolonged, it could only be by applica-
| ton to Joseph, and the corn had to be
| paid for. In our case there Is no lie
hut in Christ, yet it cannot be bought,
but must be accepted, as JOseph's 5reth-
rem obtained theirs, freely Il John v,
| -: Rom. vi, 80. The testing OF Jo-
seph's brethren in chapter Kill and the
remembrance Of their guilt suggest
the true penitence of the nation in days
to come Czech xii, 10, when they shall
look upon Him whom they pierced.
In chapter xiii Judah cOnsenting to
become surety for Benjamin and his
plea in chapter Xiv, 1884, are among
the most eloquent parts of the whole
story. and particularly so as we re-
member that our Lord came from Jul
dab and is spoken Of as the surety tor
Israel in Jer. XXX, q, revised version
margin. The words peace" wei
fare" well" good health" of Kill
o.. 81. 2S, are all the same word and
remind us of MOrdecai in Est x q
but especially of Him who is our peace
our health, our salvation.
Tn xiv. 1. Joseph made himself known
m his brethren Jesus must make Him
self known to us, and this He longs tC
do by His spirit through His word. we
should beware of reading the Scrip
tures without seeing Jesus, for other
wise it may be time lost. 1t Is beau
fiful to see Joseph recognizing the hanC
of God in all the events OF the pas
xiv. 5, I, 8, 8; |, 20 and sending thf
messages of love and good cheer to his
father from the long lost son.
Two of Joseph's words to his breth
rem as he sent them to bring his fathel
should become watchwords with DE
lieyers-"R not your stuff, for TIT
good of all the land of Egypt is yours,
and "See that We fall not out by thu
wav" oversees 20 and 2A. God would
have us as strangers here, regarding
not this worlds goods except in so Ia
rs we can use them for Him, but, ricl
toward God in Christ Jesus, have gu
, affections set upon things above ant
avoid all strife as we journey on.
In proportion as things unseen be
come real all things seen and tempora
become unreal. Jacob in his old ag
ia careful to walk with God, and as b
is about to pass out of the land o
, promise to 90 down to Egypt he seem
, TO have some misgivings and to deslr
a message from God He is therefor
granted a comforting and assuring mes
sage from his faithful God (xlyl, IA
and SO goes on his way to greet III
: long lost son. He could not belieV
that Joseph was still alive till he say
the wagons which Joseph had sent 10
him. 1t is we'll when there is visiDi
evidence in our lives that Jesus live
and has sent us to bring people to Hi
J Eph. Ii, 10; Tit. Iii, 8
DO not fail to note the meeting Q
J Jacob and Pharaoh and Jacobs test
mony (xlvli, 81; also Jacobs blessin
upon the two sons Of Joseph NlYil
1920 and the wondrous fullness of tn
: blessings upon Joseph himself Xli1
22-20. Compare the last words of il
l cob and Joseph in Xviii, q, and ], 2
and note the assurance of deliveranC
from Egypt as foretold to Abraham
chapter XIV, 1916. See Joseph's twiC
repeated "God will surely visit you
a, "a. 90 and think of the testimon
j. of that coffin in Egypt to many Oh
" couraged soul those long years OF o.
n preston ere Moses led them out. W
! look not to dead person, but to
Il risen. living, returning Christ, who WI
&c fulfill every promise of God to ever
| Iii