Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-11-10
The SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson Vll.--Fourth Quarter, For
Nov. IA, 1909.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Acts xviii, 1881.
Memory Verses, 80, 31--Golden Text,
Rom. |, t6-commentary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns.

tifying of the Lord Jesus. the result o
which eternity will declare. they pro
ceeded toward Rome, tarrying tire
days at Syracuse. In Sicily, one day a
Rhegium, In the extreme south o
Italy, and seven days at Puteoli. wher'
they found believers. The brethren
at Rome. having heard Of Paurs ar
rival at Puteoli. came out to meet hin
as far as Appi forum and the thre,
taverDs. thus encouraging him ant
causing thanksgiving to God. Thel
they returned with him to Rome
There is suggestion here of the way
1t will be at the coming OF the Lord
| When He comes to the air on Hi
way back to earth the saints shall al
| meet him In the air and later be man
Tested with Him In glory. when He
| shall come to the same Olivet from
which He assembled Il Tbess. ". 1918
Col. III, d; Zech. xiv. A.. Arriving at
Rome. the other prisoners were de-
livered to the captain Of the guard,
but Paul was permitted to dwell by
himself with soldier who kept him.
For two whole years he dwelt In bis
own hired house and received all that
came to him. preaching the kingdom
Of God and teaching the things which
concern the Lord Jesus Christ With
the most perfect freedom (16, 80, 81.
We shall mediate more fully on this
delightful occupation presently. After
three days In Rome Paul called the
chief Of the Jews together that he
might state his case to them. which
he briefly did In facts with which we
are already familiar. and be added.
"For the hope Of Israel am bound
with this chain" (20l.
In Joel iii, l6. we read that IN the
time Of trouble the Lord will be the
hope of His people and the strength
Of the children Of Israel. In Tim.
1, /, Paul says that he is an apostle
Of Jesus Christ by the commandment
Of God our Saviour and Lord Jesus
Christ our hope. but IN the New Tes-
lament l think we are safe In saying
that "hope" always refers to the com
ing of Christ for His saints. as In
Tit. II. 10; Heb. vi. 1920; Rom. will.
1925. The hope Of Israel would then
be the coming of Christ as lsrael's
Messiah to make Of them righteous
nation and bless all nations through
them. This implies Jesus. as the seed
OF David, risen from the dead, and
also the resurrection Of the saints ac-
cording to Dan. xii. 1. 2. When Paul
stated his case before these Jews Of
Rome they said that they had not
heard of his troubles In Jerusalem, nor
had any one spoken any harm Of him,
but they would like to hear what he
had to say about this sect. which they
knew was everywhere spoken against
t22,. 1t was foretold that It would be
so Cps. cxviii. %; lisa. viii. IA. Is; I'LL,
l-3; Luke H. 34,. and to this day 1t Is
so, for our Lord Is still rejected and
by the world disowned. but the strange
thing is that. even among those who
accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their
Saviour and expect TO spend eternity
with Him and are with more or less
zeal seeking to serve Him now, there
Is such antipathy to anything concern
ing His second coming or the future OF
Israel as a righteous nation to bring
blessing to all nations.
1t may truly be said that as the
hope Of His church or the hope OF
Israel He Is still spoken against by
those who. like these Jews. profess TO
honor His word. Well. they appointed
him a day and came to his lodging.
and from morning till evening be ex-
pounded and testified the Kingdom
Of God. persuading them concerning
Jesus both out Of the law Of Moses
and out OF the prophets (23). For two
years he continued to do this with all
who came TO him. He had but one
topic-the Lord Jesus Christ and His
kingdom. He had but one book-the
II the Scriptures are not
wholly and absolutely reliable. then
preachers are simply lecturers, talk
Ing out Of their own hearts their own
which are all vain words.
for. apart from the word Of God. which
ls forever settled 10 heaven FPS. cxix.
S9), we have no revelation Of the will
Of God and the purpose OF God: but.
thank God. there are many left who.
like Paul, believe God that all things
shall be just as He has told us and
whe. like our blessed Lord. find In all
the Scriptures. the law. the prophets
and the Psalms. the things concerning
Himself duke xiv. q. A.. The
teacher Of the Bible should be able
to begin at Moses and from all the
book point ont the predictions concern
Ing the sufferings Of Christ and the
glory that shall follow as they are set
forth in shadow and symbol and In
plain statements. Gen. Ill. IS. has
both In one verse: Gen. Ill. q. Is full !
IF the smfferings and the benefit TO us:
Gen. iii. -. talks OF the resurrection |
md the glory.
The story Of Abel tells us in type OF |
suffering and If the blood that speak |
,th better things than that of Abel
The story Of Enoch. IN the light ~
he epistle Of Jude tells " suffrrin
md OF the glory of translation. In Noah !
and Lot we learn. with our Lords
comment. of the Judgments which
must precede the kingdom. In Abra-
ham and h.s son we see the great sat
'ifce and learn to look for the city.
Joseph helps us to he patient and to
believe that every step. however great
he darkness, Is a step toward the
hroDe.