The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-01-25
sunday SCHOOL.
Lesson lv.-First Quarter, For
Jan. %, 1912.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.


Text of the Lesson. Luke ii, 1858.
Memory Verses, 2o, 30-Goldsn Text,
Luke ii, 80, 81, r. v.-Commentary
Prepared by Rev. D. N. Stearns.
Being made under the law to re-
deem them that were under the law,
He was duly circumcised according to
the law and called as commanded by
Gabriel when he appeared to Mary
with the great announcement gal. iv,
4, 3; Luke i, 81. He came to fulfill the
law. to fulfill all righteousness. that
He might become our righteousness
(Alatt. iii. Is; Y, II; II Cor. v, 2I. Note
the extreme poverty Of Mary, as indi-
Gated by the offering she brought.
Though her hand found not suficiency
of a lamb lev. xii, 8, margin), yet
God used her to provide His Lamb.
without blemish and without spot. to
fulfill all types and to provide eternal
redemption by His great sacrifice of
Himself Il Pet. i, 10, 20; Heb. tx, T.
IA. The great purpose of God is SO
far beyond our comprehension, His
ways and thoughts so much higher
than ours, that even though we know
the facts, or some Of them, the reach
of them. from eternity to eternity, is
too high for us Ps. &c. .. What an
unspeakable honor to belong to Him,
to be part of Him and joint heir
with Him Of His kingdom and glory.
Some of the things written of Sim
con are true of every redeemed one,
for all true believers are just or right
eous and have the Holy Spirit. All
should be devout. Spirit taught and
guided and waiting for the coming of
the Lord The words "just, devout,
waiting" describe the threefold saliva
ton of every believer as set forth in
| Thess. 1. 9, 10; Tit. ii. 1l-13, and
elsewhere. By the precious blood Of
Christ we are now saved, and by His
Spirit we should ever live devout!y and
love His appearing. His title. 1.-The
consolation of Israeli (verse 25,, re
minds US of lisa. Xvi, 10: Zeph. iii
IA, Is; Zech ii, 1912, and we think
also of another title, 1.-THE hope Of Is
rael' DER. xiv. s; xvii, 10; Acts. xviii
2Op, but this carries US beyond our
Gods plan, our return with Christ in
His glory for the redemption Of IsraeI
and the establishment Of His kingdom
In verses 25-27 of our lesson we see The
Spirit upon Simeon. the Spirit teach
ing him and guiding him to the TEN
pie at the right time to find the child
It is our privilege to be thus Spiri
taught and led. May we know the
reality.
This aged saint, holding the child il
his arms. looking fondly and reverent
| ~ upon Him. While Joseph and Mary
stood listening to his wonderful words
aud inaryeling at them, is indeed +;
| beautiful picture. Listen to him as hi
| desires now to depart, having seer
| with his own eyes and actually EN-
braced the Lords anointed. To hin
| this child was the fulfillment O
prophecy, but with prophetic vision h
saw time of trouble before the com
ing of the kingdom Think upon hi
words as he held the child. mine eye:
have seen thy salvation" Jacob said
Il have waited for Thy salvation, {
Lord" (Gen. Xix, 1S). Moses and Da
vid and Isaiah sang, THE Lord is be
come my salvation" eek. XIV. 2; Ps
cxyiii. IA: lisa. xii. p. Every true be
! iiever can say the same and rejoic
in the words of this same child whe1
grown to manhood. BLESSED are the,
that have not seen and yet have be
lieved." "Thy salvation which tho
hast prepared" (verses 80. 31) 1t
OF the Lord, wholly and only; He VIII
said, II am the Lord. that maketh al
things, that stretcheth forth the heay
ems alone. that spreadeth abroad tn
earth by Myself" He is the autho
and finisher of it lisa. xiv. a: Hell
xii, p. 1t will in due time fill tn
earth, for all flesh shall see the saliva
ton of God chapter lii. g.. Compar
lisa. Il, 5; xix, 6; lii, 10. He is in thi
present age light to tighten the ger
tiles. and when by the light His bod,
the church, shall have been gathere
from all nations then shall He retur
rs the glory of Israel, and all nation
shall be fully enlightened by Hi1
through Israel Elsa. TX, l-3). There
neither light nor glory apart froI
Him. All else is darkness, under til
ruler of the darkness of this worl
| Nph. Y. 8; vi ~. But If the light ha
shone In our hearts it is in order tha
we may turn others from darkness t
light and from the power of Sata
unto God Ql Cor ". 6: Acts XVI, Is
Individual salvation is only and who
~ by Him who came from Judah. wh
died for us and rose again. and th
salvation Of the nations will |
through the nation Of which He vi
be the King. for salvation is Of Il
Jews John iv, ~. whether indisit
ual or national. How perplexing I'll
, words, except in sne light of prophec,
concerning tie fan and rising again {
many and the sign to be spoke
against, but when we remember Fl
i death and resurrection as predicte
t in Ps xxi. lisa. lii and many of Il
) types and His coming In glory TO ),
up His kingdom all Is more clea
That which Mary hard to bear fro
/, MISUNDERSTANDING by others wi
: would not believe the supernatur
about the birth Of this child and fl
: agony of her soul at Golgotha bel,
Us to understand the sword throu2
! her own soul verses a. 81. T.
great question. What think We
Christi" Is still the text which rpye,.