Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-01-03
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson First Quarter, For
Jan. Z, 1912.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, Luke \, 5-23.
Memory Verses, IS, 16--GoIden Text,
Heb. XII, 6-commsntary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns.

Heb. XII, 6-Commsntary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns.
Notice In the opening verses that
Luke says TO his friend that he is
about TO set forth "a declaration of
things most surely believed. that he
might know the certainty Of those
things. May all who study these les
sons be most surely believers, knowing
the certainty Of all things written In
thr whole Bible.
1t seems TO me that Luke must have
had In mind the words of Prov. xii.
p. THAT 1 might make thee know
the certainty OF the words OF truth.
that thou highest answer the words
OF truth to them that send unto thee"
Thank God for book of certainties
concerning things beyond the wisdom
OF men and concerning Him OF whom
the whole book tells. the Creator. Re-
deemer, Judge. the Head of the church,
the Messiah of Israel the King Of
kings and Lord of lords. Matthew
writes of Him as King of the Jews,
Mark tells OF the perfect servant,
Luke describes Him as man, the Son
Of Man, and John sees Him rs the
Son Of God, reminding us of the four
faces OF the cherubim, the lion. the OK.
the man. the eagle. He was foretold
as the coming one from Gen. iii. II.
onward. and He often appeared IA n
main before He came as the Son OF
Mary. But He was the Creator of all
things and yet set apart as the Re-
deemer before the world was John
|, IS; Col. 1, 16, II; Pet 1, 2O). The
Holy Spirit who wrote the whole OF
this book foretold both by Isaiah and
Malachi that a certain one would pre-
cede Him and herald His coming and
prepare the way before Him Elsa. xI.
;. 4; Nal. iii. u. The angel Gabriel
confirms this in verse IL Of our lesson.
HerOd reminds us or the great ad-
versary, the devil. to whom he be
longed and whom he served so well.
but God works out His purposes in
spite OF all adversaries and makes
even the wrath OF man to praise Him
ops lxxvi, 10). Herod belonged 10 the
line Of Cain. which will be consum-
mated in the coming antichrfst. or
wicked one. or beast of Dan ri, Sc. 40:
II Thess. ii, s. 8; Rev. xix, 10. 20.
Zacharias and Elizabeth are in the
line OF Abel and belong to Him who
shall yet overcome, the Lamb, who is
also the Lord of the whole earth. How
beautiful the testimony concerning
hem in verse 6, They were both
righteous before God. walking in all
he commandments and ordinances OF
he Lord. blameless." Their standing
'efore God was correct, for they could
ay, I'm the Lord have L righteousness
md strength" and they relied upon
he blood which maketh atonement for
he soul Qsa. xiv, "a; Lev. xvii. III. |
they lived according TO Mic. vi, 8,
loing justly, loving mercy and walk.
ng hulnbly with God. Yet in their life
tory there were a loneliness and a
ing unanswered prayer Oversees :, 49,.
he prayer had been heard from its
rst utterance, but Gods time had not ,
ONE. Lex ns never doubt that He =;
ears us. but let us be gladly patient :
8 we wait for Him lPs, xXxvii. n. In =
heir case IT seemed q hopeless mat
r, somewhat like Abraham and
arab, but the latter had assurance
-om God that the child would be given.
nd so he staggered not through I'M
ellef QRom- iv. 10. 22). There must
good reason for allowing us to
'me to the end OF ourselves and TO n
alt till the last minute so to speak. y
sf0re manifestly answering our petit
Ons. Consider the case Of Peter in
cts xii. Having committed the mat
r TO the Lord. go about your work
ith the assurance that He will see TO
Zacha rias was doing as was his ,
stom. executing the priests Office {,
fore God oversees 500. 1t was the
he to burn incense. and the multi -.
de We're praying without. 1t is all
suggestive of our present privilege. n
there Is one before God on our i
naif who ever liveth to make inter
ssion for ps. 3
The appearance OF the angel troubled q
charias, as also IT did Mary some Z
'nths later, but his word to each had
fear not" oversees lib. 8
3O). There is many n fear not" IS
you, o faint hearted believer. If e
Il would but appropriate them. God =
es not give fear or Tim. {, y. There
ist be great joy and gIadness where -
angels live, for they have much 81
say about 1t Verse II; Lu. II. 1M. =
IL Is all DecauaQ Of Him 70 u-boco -