Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-01-20
IN The SUNDAY
SCHOOL CLASS
Senior Berean Lesson, First
Quarter, For Jan. 7.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretoid-
Golden Text, Without Faith 1t Is
impossible to Please Him (Heb. XII,

Golden Text, Without Faith 1t Is
Impossible to Please Him (Heb. XII,
81.
Verses 5-7.-People of piety.
The relations between Jesus and John
are more fully brought out by Luke
than by the other evangelists in these
preliminary stories which we are to
study during January. He thus gives
the life of Jesus more human set
ting. "Herod the king" was an ire
ligious and Infamous man. though his
name is associated with the rebuilding
of the temple "Zacharias'' literally
means remembered by" Jehovah. His
character is well eXemplif1ed by his
name. 1.-The course of Abba" There
were twenty-four courses or classes of
priests, each of which served for one
week in the worship of the temple q
Chron. XIV. The order of their serv
ice was determined by lots. ELISA
beth" was, like her husband. of priest
ly descent; but, unlike many in the
priesthood, they We're both devout and
honorable people. righteous before
God" In deed and in truth. They were
| walking as a habitual practice in
all the commandments and ordi-
such a way that they were regarded
as .'blameess'' by the people.
Had no child This was considered
a great misfortune where the ideal
was a large family Cps. cxxviiD and
where. as among the Jews, every fam
lily desired to have the Messiah born
within it. ''Well stricken in years"
Being of advanced age. all hope of
| child had been DESTROYED
Verses S-17.-An angelic announce
ment
There We're so many priests in at
tendance that it was not possible for
every one to have the privilege Ito
burn incense within the holy place,
and no one was permitted to do this
twice 1t was therefore a memorable
day in the life of a priest when he
drew the white stone which announc-
ed that he had been honored to enter
the sanctuary on behalf of the people.
The incense was burned twice a day,
at in the morning and in the after
noon. and lots were cast among the
priests twice every day to decide who
| should engage in this important serv
ice. We cannot say at which hour
| Zacharias was performing this honor
able duty. Praying without This
w
! outside the sanctuary, which was en-
tered only by the priests, while the
! holy of holes was entered only by the
| high priest on the day of Atonement.
| Zacharias was now alone. His two as
sistants had performed their part and
retired. AS he was offering the in
cenSe. which was a symbol of suppl
cation, there appeared an angel of
the Lord" This was a solemn hour in
his life. 1t was fitting that a climax
should be reached that would seal
with divine approval his devotion to
| God during these many years. The di-
vine messenger came with happy It'd
ings, which he delivered standing on
the right side of the altar This was
the place of honor worthy of a repre-
sentative of the Most High God.
Troubled fear" He was
seized with feelings of agitation and
of fear as sense of the unseen be-
came vivid to him. But he was soon
| set at ease by the glad news, Thy
prayer is heard This may refer to
his supplications for son, in which his
wife had Joined with him, or to his
applications for the redemption of
Israel through the coming of the Mes
| siah, which all pious ISraelites had al
ways offered.
The birth of a son was the signal for
Joy and gladness,' with exultation.
More so was it to be in the case of
John" who was to be 1.-The gift of
jehovah to many people. Great in
the sight of the Lord therefore tru-
~ great in the possession of moral and
religious excellence. He will be a man
of abstinence. which was a token of
the intense conservation of his life.
Verses 1S-23.-A sensational event.
The reality so far exceeded the ex-
pectations of Zacharias that he hest
tated on the very threshold of fulfill
ment. Whereby shall 1 know this %
His want of faith was the less ex-
cusable because he knew of illustra-
lions from the life of Abraham and
other Old Testament saints how God
had been true to his promises. 81 am
Gabriel This is the angel of Gods
presence-the imam of Cod as the
name means-who ministers to men
from God Thou shalt be dumb
The dumbness was both punishment
and a sign. The penalty was RENTED
as soon as the sign was fulfilled.
They marve1ed-" 1t was the custom
Il to remain within the sanctuary just
long enough to burn incense This
long delay. therefore. caused anxiety
They perceived" On his return his
excitement of manner and his inability
to pronounce the benediction (Num. vi
1926 led the people to infer that
he had seen a vision" What excite