Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-01-17
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson lII.-First Quarter, For
Jan. Fl, 1912.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Mcmery Verses 10. 11-GoIden Text
Luke ii, 11-commentsry Prepared
BY Rev. .. NJ. Stearns.
Those days OF verso I are spoken OF
M Gal ~. 4. as the tulluess OF
time" the time appointed before the
world was, for the great deliyerer TO
come. for known unto God are all His
works from the beginning or the
world (Acts Nv. 49,. He decIareth
the end from the beginning and doeth
according TO His will both In heaven
and on earth. turning the kings heart
whithersoever He will lisa Xvi. 10:
Dan iv. 81: Ps. cxxxv, 6: Prov.
xxi. L. So II came TO pass that the
world rulers decree was used by The
Lord OF all the earth 10 fulfill His pur.
pose and To cause the Prince OF the
kings OF the earth. the King OF kings
and the Lord or lords TO be born ut the
long before appointed time and place.
But so out OF harmony with God is
this world which He made and the
people who tnhabit Il that there was
no room for the Creator In the world
which He had made and no welcome
FOR Him There was no room for
them in the inn" verse n. Does the
thought OF it lead you to say. "Oh.
come to my heart, Lord Jesus-there
Is room In my heart for Thee?" II NO
then you may rejoice In the comfort
of John 1. II; Rev. Iii. 20.
The story OF the shepherds takes US
back TO Abel and TO Moses and David
and Amos, and the darkness makes US
think OF the darkness that now Is and
Will be till He shall come again in His
glory Qsa. TX. 10. The night is far
spent. the day IS at hand. and the time
for our new bodies and the redemp-
non Of Israel IS ever drawing nearer
Rom. Kill IL. II: Luke XXI. 2S). The
shepherds were doing just as they had
always done. watching over their
hocks. when the angel OF the Lord
came suddenly upon them, and the
glory OF the Lord shone round about
them (verse o.. Moses and David and
Amos were keeping their nocks, Elishn
was Flowing. Peter and John and 9th
ers at their nets. Matthew at the re-
ceipt OF custom. when the special call
came TO them. 1t Is required OF some
that they leave their former calling
and OF others that they continue where
they were and therein abide with
God q Cor. VII. %. 24). Note the
visits of the Lord to such lowly PEG
pie as Hagar. Mnnoah and his wife
Gideon and others and In Isa- ivii.
IL. Bis two dwelling places. To Zach
arias and Mary and the shepherds
there was given the heavenly Fear
not (verse 10: 1. Is, 30l. 1t was also
the Angels message on the resurrec-
ton morning (Matt. xviii. D.. How
can we explain our slowness TO tell to
all people the good tidings OF great
joy? Is it because the tidings have
never brought us the Joy unspeakable
OF l Pet !. 6? The lepers Of III Kings
VII. 8. 9. put us to shame. What can
we say to Christi Suddenly a multi
tude OF the heavenly host is heard by
the shepherds saying. GLORY to God
In the highest and on earth peace.
good will toward men" (yerse IA
Listen to the testimony OF more thar
hundred millions OF angels in Rev
v. IL. II. and then II you know that
you are redeemed join more heartily
In the song OF Rev. v. Q. 10
The Lord Jesus in all his life on
earth never sought His own glory nor
His own VIII. and 1t must have been
with joy that he said to His Father In |
His great prayer. II hive gloriied |
Thee on the earth" Gohn vi. 3s: viii,
30; xvii. ~. Our motto should be |
that God In all things may be |
glorihed" q Pet iv, IL; Cor. 4.
BIZ. When the Lord Jesus shall have |
become the peace Of Israel and shall |
have spoken peace TO the nations
through Israel then quickly shall the
whole earth be filed with the glo
~ OF the Lord (Mic. v. s: Zech. tx.
10: Mum xiv. 2D. His people shall !
be willing in the day Of His power
FPS. OK. 81. The angels. having ex-
ecuted their commission. went away |
INTO heaven: simply went home. Bow |
easy II sounds. how wonderful and |
glorious II Is. that we have ever with |
is these ministering ones who behold |
the face of our Father In heaven
Heb. 1. Il: Matt xviii. 1O The
shepherds did not seem to question
Tor one moment the good news they
had heard. and they considered the an
gels as the Lords messengers. for
hey said. LET us now go even unto
bethlehem and see this thing which is
:ome to pass. which the Lord hath
made known unto us" (verse Isl. They
lid not delay. but made haste and
found Mary and Joseph. and the babe
ying in a manger. as they had been
old oversees IL. 16). 1t was not any
lind OF a fgurative manger, but liter.