The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-12-21
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
[ lesson XIII. Fourth Quarter,
For Dec. "a, 1911.
THE international SERIES.

Luke ii, 11-commentary Prepared
by Rev. o. M. stearns.
We choose the Christmas lesson for
today and will take up the study in
Malachi next week instead of the
quarterly review. Malachi tells of the
great King whose name is to be great
among all nations from the rising OF
the sun unto the going down of the
same. even of Him who is King of
kings and Lord of lords (A1al. 1. lila;
Rev xvii. Ii; xix. l6). The New Tes-
lament opens with His record as Son
of David. Son Of Abraham. and closes
with His title as the root and Off
spring of David (Matt. i. 1: Rev. xii,
lG, Among all the kings mentioned
in Matt. i, Ill, David is the only
one who is called king. iccause the
covenant was made with him and be-
cause of his relation to the Messiah
I'll Sam. vii; Chron. xvii; lisa. Nv, 3;
tx Z: Luke /, 80. 33: Acts xiii, $3.50.
We come to this lesson and to the les
sons OF next year with implicit conf
iueihs--tte supernatural birth, accord
ing to i. 1920; the fultillment Of Isaiah
vii. A. according to verses y, %. and
all else. believing also that not only
as Jesus does He deliver us from the
wrath to come Il Thess. /, 1O, but
that He is able to save His people
from their sins u, Oh He was fore
ordained before the foundation of the
world. and when the fuiiness of the
time was come God sent forth His
Son. made of woman, made under
the law. to redeem them that were
under the law Il Pet. i, 20; Gal. ", 4, 81.
The appearance Of Gabriel to Mary
with the wonderful announcement. the
worldwide decree which brought Jo-
seph and Mary to Bethlehem from
Nazareth at the appointed time. the
message Of the angel to the shepherds
with the accompanying incidents and
the actual birth at Bethlehem are all
fully told by Luke in his gospel. Our
lesson today touches only the visit of
the wise men from the east while the
Babe and His Mother were still at
Bethlehem. The title wise men"
takes us back to Ex. vii, II; Dan. ii,
Is; Y. 8. The word bethlehem
| takes US back to the birth of Benja-
min and the death of his mother, the
| story of Naomi and Ruth, the shep-
herd days of David.
The question, where is He that is
born King of the Jews?" takes us back
to the prediction of Mic. V, 2, as
quoted in lesson verses S, 6, and spe
cially to the saying. Out of thee
shall come governor that shall rule
my people Israel" All the children
are taught that He was born at Beth
lehem. but who ever hears anything
about His ruling Israel or sitting on
the throne Of David? Yet that is
what He came to do, but He has nev-
| er yet done it. As truly as He was
born at Bethlehem He will yet reign
over Israel. according to Jer. xiii.
5, 6; Eek. xxxyii. p; Gabriel's mes
sage in Luke j, 80, SO; His own word
to His disciples in Luke xii, 80, and
the prophets everywhere The Scrip
ture must be fulfilled. and no other
meaning can be honestly given to
these plain words. The visit of these
wise men from the east to worship
the King of the Jews and to bring
Him their gifts reminds US of the
visit of the queen of Sheba and all
the kings of the earth to Solomon and
their great gifts to him III Chron.
tx, 10; xiii, 24) and points us on.
ward to the time of the kingdom
when all nations shall bring their
wealth and their gifts to Israel lisa.
ix, 10. The words of Gabriel to
Mary, 1.-THE Lord God shall give unto
Him the throne of his father. David,
and He shall reign over the house OF
Jacob forever. and Of His kingdom
there shall be no end duke /. 80, 33)
must be literally fulfilled Then call
the ends of the world shall remember
and turn unto the Lord, and all the
kindreds Of the nations shall worship
before thee, for the kingdom is the
Lords. and He is the governor among
| the nations FPS xii. q. 28).
The star that guided these wise men
must have been a supernatural light
as no ordinary star would guide to q
house and remain over the house
verse o.. We can only wonder why
with such guidance they should turn
aside to Herod and thus be unwilling
~ the cause of the death of so many
little children verses 1918. but there
was fulfillment of prophecy In 1t
Having found the child they opened
their treasures and offered unto Him
their gifts-gold and frankincense and
myrrh. People are today giving large
" to so called good works. buildings
libraries and many schemes for tbs
betterment Of the world, not believing
God concerning this world that 1t
lieth in the wicked one and is await
Ing judgment and must pass through
the fire Of Gods wrath before there
can be any real betterment What is
needed is that His own people should
open to Him their treasures of time
| and talent and money. to make known
everywhere the glad tidings OF His
great salvation. have often beer
and Mary were sent to Egypt with
J the Child Verse 10, the money was or
hand to go with. and have long be
lieved that we have no right to begin
any work Cor the Lord or take any
journey for Him until He provides fol
1t or makes 1t very plain. for when
He putteth forth His sheep He goett
before them We need To rpnnmhal