Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-10-25
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson v.-Fourth Quarter, For
Oct. 20, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Pc. ixxxv-Msmory
vsrsss. 10, 1f-ooidsn Text. Ps.
exxvi 3-commentary Prepared by
Rev. o. M. Stearrs


Row. o. IA. Stearrs.
The Holy Spirit used several people
TO write the Psalms. such us David
and Asaph and Moses tscc titles Of
Psalms lxxxii. lxxxiii. lxxxvi. xxx
and Neh. XII. 46,. but no doubt each
one would say as David did. THE
Spirit OF the Lord spake by me, and
His word was in my tongue" Oh Sam.
xiii. -. Both prophets and poets
were the Lords messengers with lie
Lords message" speaking or writing
AZ moved by The liOly Spirit ,Ha;;. 1.
Is; III Pet 1. 2D. The occasion OF this
psalm was some deiverance from
some captivity which had come upon
them because OF their sins. possibly
Some OF the expressions In the days OF
the Judges. put IT looked onward to
the deliverance from the captivity in
Babylon and also beyond the times In
which we live TO the final restoration
Of Israel TO their own land, after
which they shall be plucSed up no
more forever Qsu. xl. IL. II; Jer. xxi.
10: Amos TX. II. 15l.
We cannot co better than take the
division OF the psalm suggested by
Mr.. Sturgeon In his Treasury OF
David" in which he says that IN
verses Ii the poet sings OF the Lords
former mcrcieS and beSs Him to re
member His people: In verses 81 be
pleads the cause OF afflicted Israel. aud
then. having listened to the sacred
oracle in verse \. be published IN
verses 9-13 the joyful tidings Of fu-
ture good.
We must always remember that
there are a lind aud a people distinct
from every other land and people
chosen by God rs IA center OF blessing
TO all the world-Thy land. o Imman.
uel. and the children of Israel. a peO-
pie near unto Him lisa. viii. s: rs
cxlviii. IA. But. inasmuch as the
Lord God OF Israel is none other than
the God and Father OF our Lord Jesus
Christ. He who says Il am the Lord.
j change not NAL. iii, ~, every true
child OF God may claim His love and
mercy as his own and rejoice In His
salvation.
The six times Thou hast" OF the
first three verses declare Him as the
dOer OF It all. and so we must see
Him I'm every phase OF salvation. do
ing all for His own names sake. with
out any cause or reason why on our
part except our guilt and need. Not
for your sakes. but for mine holy
names sake" CEzek. xxxvi. 22l.
The word favorable" in verse
Is I'm the margin well pleased with
and reminds us OF lisa. xiii. II, The
Lord is well pleased for His righteous
ness sake" There IS only one with
whom He is always well pleased. and
His is the only righteousness that can
stand. but It Is given freely TO all
penitent ones Il Cor. 1. so; III Cor. v.
Fl; lisa. lxi.sl 10: xiv. "a. and all such
can rejoice in iniquity forgiven. sin
covered. wrath gone ps. xxi. |. .:
Rom. iv. 6-s: Thess. 1. 10: John
II, ~.
The word salvation in verses 4.
1. 0. opens 10 Us the whole Bible and
fixes our eyes and our hearts upon
Him OF whom. rs His redeemed ones.
we are able TO say. Behold. God IL
my salvation" and of whom old
Simeon spake when. holding the Ba be
in his arms he said. Mine eyes have
seen thy salvation" lisa. xii. .: Luke
II. 30). l am helped by thinking OF
Him and His salvation under six AS
poets. threefold as individual and
threefold IN larger sense. Our indi-
vidual salvation includes first all that
becomes ours when we receive Jesus
Christ as our Saviour-eternal life.
forgiveness or sins. acceptance in
Him. etc. then the working this out
OF manifesting IT in the daily life and
then the perfection OF 1t all In our gio-
rifled body at His coming The larger
aspect includes first the whole church,
His body, then all Israel and then all
Lations. What word II Is and what
a glorious privilege to proclaim IL and
to announce that the grace OF God
bringeth salvation to all men" Tit.
II. IL. The question will not down.
Whom shall l send. and who will go
for usY' to tell the wondrOus story.
but so very few are saying. Here am
- Senu HS SiSa. vi. 81. verse
should take hold OF every believers
henri, and there should be firm de
termination TO hear only what God
the Lord has said. Opinions OF men
concerning the things Of God are
worth nothing and are often worse
than nothing and had better never
have been uttered. In Christ Jesus.
by virtue OF His great sacrifice by
which He made peace COl. 1. 20).
there is peace with God for every true
penitent and perfect peace which pass
eth all understanding for any and
every one whose mind IL stayed on