Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-12-27
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson XIV. Fourth Quarter,
For Dec. 81, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

(instesd Of Rcvisv~)-Msmory Verses,
Commentary Prepared by Rev. D. N.
Stsarps.
Although 4 portion OF this prophecy
has been assigned as our lesson. the
lesson suggests study Of the whole
prophecy. The words my messenger"
of Iii, /, are just a translation Of the
word '.AIalachI'' OF 1. /, and through the
messenger we learn the burden of the
word Of the Lord" which is. Il have
loved YOU Il. - We are reminded OF
Deut VII. 6-S. where the only reason
given why the Lord chose them for a
special people unto Himself Is because
the Lord loved you Compare Jer.
XXI, Q; John Iii. 16; Kill. 1; XIV. .; |
John Ill. l6. Who is this that so loves
unlovely people? Even He who says:
Il am a great King. My name shall be
great among the nations. I am the
Lord. l change not" Il. IL, IA; Ill. o..
What does He ask In return for such
love? Simply that they hear His mes
sage, lay It to heart and give glory to
His name, walking with Him in peace
and equity. even as Levi did Qi. .. 3. 81.
bringing in all the titheS and proving
Him az ready to pour upon them more
blessing than they could receive iii.
10), for He Is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all we ask or think
(Eph III, 20). How did they reQuite
such lover They despised His name
by Offering polluted bread upon His a.
tar, by Offering the blind. the lame and
the sick for sacrifice; by Offering To the
Lord what they would not offer their
earthly ruler and by calling all their
30 called service q WEAKNESS q, 90. l..
13). They wearied the Lord with their
words, saying. Every one that doeth
evil i good in the sigAt OF the Lori.
and he dehghteth In them" III, la.
They robbed the Lord OF hosts in
tithes and offerings and yet said.
wherein have we robbed theeY" They
said. 1T Is vain to serve God. and
what profit is it that we have kept His
ordinance and walked mOurnfuly be-
fore Hmm" They called the proud
happy and set up those who wrought
w1ckedneSs I'LL. =, 1919.
Yet he said: Return unto Me. and
I will return unto you. l will rebuke
the devourer and all nations shall call
you blessed. for We shall be n delight
some land, saith the Lord OF hosts" an,
Z, ~. He Is the same as when He
pleaded with them before the captiv-
fly, saying. 20 Israel. thou hast de-
stroyed myself. but In Ne is thine
help" 20 Israel. return unto the Lord
thy God. for thou hast fallen by thine
inlQuity" Hos. xiii. o; xiv. II. Return
thor bscksliding Israel. saith the Lord.
only acknowledge thine in
! iquity. Turn. o backslidlng
children. FOR am married
unto you" DER. iii, 12-1A. In the
midst OF all the unbelief there was.
as there always has been and will be.
q faithful remnant referred to in iii. 16,
Then they that feared the Lord spake
often one 10 another. and the Lord
! hearkened and heard 1t. and n book OF
remembrance was written before Him
for them that feared the Lord, and
that thought upon His name" have
quoted the whole verse. for II seems
80 marvellous that God should keep Il
| special record OF those who even think
upon Him. Many have been comfort
ed by this blessed assurance. Then
see how He speaks OF them In verse
II. my jewels" or. as in the margin.
and the following passages. Special
treasure" TEX. xix. 3; Ps. cxxxv. {;
Deut. VII. o; xiv. -. XVI, 49,. Compare
Pet II. 8: John xvii. %; Tit. II. II. re-
Vised version. The return OF verse IS
Is that which Is more fully described
In chapter iv and referred to In Matt
XIV. 81: Col. lii. 4; II Thess. 1. 40;
Rev. XIX. II: rs. !. Is 1t Is the com
Ing Of Christ with His saints OF Zech
xiv. 8: Thess. III. 10. and the former
passages just quoted when with His
redeemed ones He Will execute His
judgments on the ungodly and show
mercy 10 His land and His people. 1,
will be the day OF vengeance upon His
enemies and the time OF redemption
for Israel lisa. Ixxiv. 3; XIV. 4; lxiii
q. When He shall come as the Sur
OF Righteousness xiv. y then shall tho
righteous shine forth as the sun CMatt
xiii. ~ and as the brightness Of the
hrmame (Oan. xii. b. There will be
however. an event to precede tina
which is not mentioned In the Ole
Testament. the first stage Of His re
turn, His welcome to HIS elect churcl
out Of all nations In the air when III,
shall be to them as the morning star
which is always seen before the SUI
rising (Rev. xii. 10; IL 26-28). 1t Il
after the removal OF the church {
Thess. fv. 1913: Cor. Nv. 81. 81; Rev
~ and " that the great and dreadful