Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-11-06
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson VI.-Fourth Quarter, For
Nov. 10, 1912.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Hos. vii-Menory
Verse, 2-Golden Text. lisa. v, II (R.
V)-commentsry Prepared by Rev.
.. M. Stearns-

.. NJ. Stesrns-
am in doubt about this chapter be.
ing the one assigned for the worlds
temperance Sunday, but it is the one
on the printed slip Of lessons for the
year, and we will find profitable study
by taking some statements from the
whole book. which we must consider
In order to understand this chapter
There being no memory verse, l have
suggested verse 2, because our great
failure as well as theirs is that we do
not consider lisa /. 3; V, IL; Xiv, 10;
Mark VI 80. As 10 our own doings,
they are the great hindrance and keep
so many from turning TO God (Hos. V,
4, and margin). AS to the king, made
glad by lies and wickedness. joining
hands with scorners and giving him
self bottles Of wine oversees 80. Abaz
would fill the bill perfectly Oh Chron.
xviii IA, 19). Pride. drunkenness, re
bellion against God. giving strength to
strangers and unconscious but mani
fest physical failure (verses 9, 10, ID.
IA are some characteristics of the
drunkard set forth in these verses.
In verses IL, 16. we see reliance upon
] hCAp lnSAtdQ VI uDOu 1OQ- anu
we are reminded Of the many cures
for drunkenness tried in homes for in
ebriates, when there Is only One that
can really deliver He is always ready
to have mercy and may be heard say
ing to the drunkard and to every sin
ner. Thou hast destroyed myself. but
in Me is thine help" wi 8; xiii. 81. Is
rael. here called Ephraim. is spoken Of
in many ways and by many figures re-
garding their turning away from the
Lord. and these words are true also of
all sinners: Destroyed for lack OF
knowledge. forgotten the law OF Cod.
left of TO take heed To the Lord. have
sown the wind and shall reap the whirl-
wind. have plowed wickedness and
shall reap iniQuity" DIV. 6, 10; viii. Z;
Z. 49,. The cry Of the Lord 10 the wan
dering ones to return to Him is heard
in such words as these: Return unto
the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen
by thine iniquity. Take with you
words and turn to the Lord. '''
will heal their backsliding; L will love
them freely" xiv, l, ., A.
Two remarkable figures describing
the professed people Of God in their
wanderings from Him are. "a cake not
turned" IAN empty vine bringing forth
fruit unto himself vii. :; Y. II. sug-
costing the life that IS right outwardly.
but wrong on the other side. and also
the life which seeks only It's own hap
piness Drunkards, opium fieuds and
such like are. Of all people. apt TO be
the most selfish and unreasonable and
rebelliouS. counting all others foolish
and mad. Joined TO their idols. and
desiring to be let alone Tx. =: iv. 16).
Yet for even such there Is deliverance
If they will only turn to the Lord.
Prophecy has become TO ME fascinat-
ing study since began TO receive 1t as
light shining in Il dark place-the
words Of the Holy Spirit by holy men.
that we might know what God is do
ing and is going TO do. written for our
learning that we through patience and
comfort Of the Scriptures might have
, hope QI Pet. I. 1921; Amos iii. 4;
Rom. XIV, A.; since l have also found
that He. Jesus Christ Himself. and
His people Israel are the center OF all
the prophecy and that everywhere His
+ and their glorious future is predicted
I as bringing blessing TO the whole world
: (Acts K, 43; Rev. xix, 10; lisa. TX, Is; xii.
3 1-3). In all prophecy he tells Israel
plainly their sins. rebukes them. pleads
l with them. chastens them. but always
tells OF glorious future, when they
: shall see evil no more. after they shall
have truly repented and received their
y Messiah
We might not have thought that Hos.
L II. l. had any reference to Christ.
when Israel was child. then l loved
= him and called my Son out Of Egypt"
: II we had not read ii in Matt Ii, -.
u But everywhere there are such plain
or hidden references to Him. See His
and their glorious resurrection in chap
ter vi, >, 3: After two days will He re-
, vive us. In the third day He will raise
us up. and we shall live in His sight.
." His going forth is prepared as
the morning"
l. In the revised version that last clause
Is sure as the morning" Rotterdam
l. translates it. Like the dawn is His
q coming forth assured And another
translates it, His coming is as certain
as the dawn" 1t Is perfectly in accord
ance with Hab. Ii. 3; Heb. X, 81
Though it tarry. wait for II. because
1t will surely come, it will not tarry
For yet n little while. and He that
! shall come will come and will not tar
yy." In the context OF these two and
= In two other places we have the -four
, times repeated saying. The just shall