Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-12-21
LESSON FOR DECEMBER "a
UNTO US A SON is GIVEN.
LESSON TExT-Isaiah ELF.


ing Father, the Prince of Peace.-Isa. $50.
The Christmas lesson naturally and
logically follows the three lessons we
have just had from the book of the
Revelation where Jesus in his glory
had been portrayed, and the ultimate
success of his work is foreseen in the
new heaven and the new earth. Isaiah
saw the vision of his first coming. John
saw the vision of his second coming,
when what he began the first time
shall ultimately be accomplished. The
prophecy here spoken was uttered dur
Slng. the reign of Ahaz, B. C. 73S to
723. The king Of Assyria was attack
ing Syria. The tribSs of northern Is
rael were carried away as captives.
Judah was in danger of invasion. (See
II Kings 10 :29) Isaiah was preach
ing in his home city, Jerusalem. His
vision of the Messiah Savior was not
more than 800 years before John saw
tie vision of the glorln,u Jesus.
l. Darkness Versus Light wv. 1-5).
We need to go back i..to the eighth
chapter to get the fu', 'istorieal situa-
ton of this part of The lesson. Ahaz,
trembling in Jerusal =. had with him
The Prophet Isaiah, The wisest and
greatest man in his kingdom, yet Ahaz
listened not to his words of warning
and rebuke. He doegedly pursued his
own course and sou -, help in every
other quarter than the right one. This
explains ISaiah's We -, "The people
that walked in daI..nee :" Primarily
he may have referre. TO those of the
lands of Zebulon ana Naphtali, the
Galilee of the nations (John :46;
:52) and the light which shone in
them, which was the light of the world,
Jesus of Nazareth John S:12). But
there is a larger application in this
verse to the whole world which lay
in darkness until Jesus came, and the
whole world has seen or shall see the
great light Duke 1.:78-79). With the
coming of light comes the increase of
joy ". 3 r. W. In Israel there is to
be, through Christ, a wonderful in
crease Elsa. 40 :20-22; Zech. 10 :S). In
Christ there is to be great joy, the joy
ligion Of Jesus Christ is pre-eminently
the religion of JOY (Acts SIS; Phil.
"A; Peter :9) but the Child that
was to be born was to be a Deliverer
too, for the yoke of burden" was, a tax
of $1,S00,000 that had recently been
levied by the king Of Assyria. 1t was
a night of thick darkness for Israel.
Then, even as now, we have the moral
darkness. (Read Rom. 1 :20-32.) But
the prophet saw the joy of deliverance,
Jerusalem had been left in peace,
Hezekiah succeeded his father, Ahaz,
and entered upon a religious revival in
the kingdom. The people who had
walked in darkness had seen a new
light. The prophet saw the dawning
rays through the midst of this dark
ness Of ignorance being removed. He
also saw the coming of the Light of
. Men 700 years later, and the multi
plication of the nations, the increase
of their joy.
II. Unto Us Son Is Born wv. 6-D.
The greatest joy for Israel in Isaiah's
time was in this vision of the Messiah,
the promised Savior. Isaiah is look
ing ahead seven centuries. We are
looking back nineteen. He was to be
king over his people. Name and title
is here given. ~ Wonderful be-
cause of his nature, being both hui
man and divine. The word made flesh
and dwelt among US. (2) counselor"
one who has the wisdom to guide him.
self and others. No one guided by him
has ever failed of true success. (3)
1.-THE Mighty God" He was truly God
so that we can trust him to the utter
most. He can also save to the utter
most. (4) Everlasting Father" ex-
pressing his divine loving kindness and
Standardization with the Father. (5)
lie is also prince of Peace" the one
who rules so that peace and prosper.
fly abide in his kingdom. He brings
peace between man and God, and be-
tween man and man. He is the peace
of the soul as well as bringing
peace to the soul. The completeness
of this picture which Isaiah saw is
the one which st. John saw, of which
we have been recently studying. These
two verses are marvellous ones, not
only because of the clear prediction OF
Jesus of Nazareth, made more than
seven. centuries before his first advent,
but marvellous also for the fullness
and richness of the revelation they con-
tain concerning the person, character
and work of Christ
Our Lords earth life began at Beth
lehem, but he was from all eternity
(John 1868; John :1-2)
AS man is not at peace with Sod
he cannot be at peace with himself or
his fellows; but as Jesus restores
peace between man and God, he ALDO
restores peace to the heart Of the in
divhual (Phil. ID.
Sunday school officers and teachers
should realize the difference between
the peace with God (Rom. 5.1) and
the peace of God (Phil. 4:7).
Let us see to it that in the fullest