Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-21
for SUNDAY Scbools.
STAR LESSON FOR DECEMBER a.,
By Rev. J. E. Gilbert DID,.
SECRETARY AMERICAN SOCIETY OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
CHRISTMAS LESSON. Matthew. fl LIZ

and caused His ignominious death on the
cross Mark xv:32).
JouRNEY.-The wise men departed
from the presence of Herod. having
learned what they sought the CITY OF the
Redeemer's birth. Bethlehem. a little.
quiet community. perched like a birds
nest among the rocky hills of Judah. Law
five miles south of Jerusalem. The homo
of Jesse and of his great son. David q
Sam. xvi:I, 1t was famed. not in Israel
only. but in other lands as we'll AS the
travellers moved forward. that same star
which thew had seen in their own country.
whose guidance thew had followed went
before them. BY II they directed their
footsteps as the children of Israel found
their way through the wilderness 10
Canaan by the cloud Of the Divine pres
ence Numb. ix:2a-2D. This super
natural phenomenon. whatever Il may
have hnen. shows that God has not linn
tied His gracious manifestations to
chosen portion of mankind. not even IN
the olden time to the posterty of Ahra-
ham. He has ever had n race-wide pur-
pose indicated in this instance by
special escort Of honest seekers for the
infant Emmanuel. At length the star
stood over the Bethlehem home. and when
1t became stationary. the magi. knowing
that their search was successful. were
filled with great joy.
WORSHIP.-Jesus was horn IN a
stable and laid in a manager duke i:1s,.
Our lesson says he was in a house when
the wise men came (verse ID It has
been supposed that Joseph was able to
secure for mother and child more COM
Portable quarters than these at first OBJ
tanned and tradition represents that the
women of the town, on hearing of the
advent offered their houses to the little
stranger. 1t must have been an exciting,
occasion when these visitors from a for
eign country gained admission to the
dwelling-honorable men seeking a child
The intelligence must have been ranidly
carried into all parts of the village,
drawing the people together doubtless in
great numbers. Failing down PROSTATE.
their faces to the floor. in oriental fash
ion. the wise men worship the boy. the
future King. Then. opening their treas
ures. brought probably on the backs OF
camels. they presented their gifts. Gus
tom in eastern countries from time i'm
memorial Gen. xxxiii:s). when interiors
would humble themselves in the presence
of the great. Gold. frankincense and
myrrh" were offered. the things usually
bestowed upon kings q Kings. x:1W.
WARNING.-Wicked men are not al.
ways suffered to act their pleasure. Some.
times the spirit of God restraints them by
moving directly upon their minds and
hearts (Ex., xviii:1D. Az other times
that spirit prompts other men so to act
as to thwart their designs Psalms.
lxxvi:1O. Herod will not be permitted
to DESTROY this boy Jesus. whose time
for sacrificial death is subsequent to a.,
long and noble service for truth Matt.
xvi2D. The wise men whom he would
employ. God will employ against him.
BY a dream or vision. a method long es-
tablished Numb. xii:6) and frequently
h. H-&
Matt. xxvii:19). they We're made aware
Of the kings purpose. The communica-
ton of this intelligence to their minds
caused their return TO their own country
without visiting Jerusalem again. leav-
ing Herod to devise another scheme OF
more extensive slaughter, by which he.
went into history as the most cruel and
heartless OF men. Oversees 1919. This
act OF the magi, under DIVING instruc-
ton. is further mark Of their goodness;
REFLECTIONS-The events Of this
lesson foreshadow the entire life of Christ
and the history of the centuries that
followed His birth. By their attitudei
toward Him. men have classified them-l
selves as enemies or friends. The wicked
have opposed Him, sometimes with rel
lentless fury, resorting to the basestI
measures for preventing the spread of
His kingdom. There can be nothing but
an irrepressible conflict. between Jesus
and all the powers of darkness Il John.
iii:S), and in that conflict there can be
no result other than the confusion of
the latter. But the good and the wise
of all ages and lands have sought Jesus
and honored Him. They have come
from near and from far. They have
brought their treasures and laid them at
His feet They have bowed down with
reverence before Him and owned Him
as Lord. They have gone out from Him
into distant parts. loyal and devoted to.
His cause. In the midst Of the-rejoicing
in this festive week 1t is important for
every student of these lessons to adj
Just his relations to Christ