The Green Forest tribune., 1916-12-22
INTERNATIONAL. SUNlAXSOnO0L
 LESSON (By E. O. SELLERS, Acting Director of the Sunday School Course in the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago0 Copyright. 1916, Western, Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR DECEMBER "A
UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN.
ESSON TEXT-Isaiah 9:1-7.

| government shall be upon his shoulders | and his name shall be called Wonderful | Counsellor; the Mighty God; the Everlast- ing Father, the Prince of Peace.-lsa. 9:6.
 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 ing the reign of AhaZ, B. c. 73S to 723. The king of Assyria was attack ing Syria. The tribes of northern Is rael were carried away as captives. Judah was in danger of invasion. lSee II Kings 15 :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 the vision of the glorified Jesus.
 
 l. Darkness Versus Light (vv. 1-5). We need to go back into the eighth chapter to get the full historical situa- tion of this part of the lesson. Ahaz, trembling in Jerusalem, had with him the Prophet Isaiah, the wiSeSt and greatest mar in his kingdom, yet Ahaz listened not to his words of warning and rebuke. He dOggedly pursued his own course and sought help in every other quarter than the right one. This explains Isaiah's words, '"The people that walked in darkness" Primarily he may have referred to those of the lands of Zebulon and Naphtali, the Galilee of the nations (John 1 :46; 7:52) and the light which shone in them, which was the light of the world, Jesus of Nazareth (John S:12). But there is 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 Uuke 1:7S-79). With the coming of light comes the increase of joy (v. 3 R. VI. In Israel there is to be- through Christ, wonderful in- crease Qsa. 40 :2022; Zech. 10:S). In Christ there is to be great joy, the joy of harvest and of victory. The re- ligion of Jesus Christ is pre-eminently the religion of joy (Acts SIS; Phil. A; I Peter :S) but the Child that was to be born was to be a Deliverer Too, for lie ydE6 5l fDTrder was tax Of $1,800,000 that had recently been levied 5y the king of Assyria. It 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 Il 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 TOO years later, and the multi plication of the nations, the increase of their joy When Jesus comes again he will deliver Israel from her present OppresSorS that have ground her down these many centuries, and will then eX- alt Israel above the nations Czech. 12: 1-21: 9:12-1T; 8 :20-23). But Jesus is delivering men today. removing every sort of yoke of burden, and breaking the rod of oppressors (John S:36; Math. II :2S) He also is bringing peace to men, and with the consum- nation of his work, wars will cease. Shall we not all pray for the speedy consummation of that day? "Even so, come Lord Jesus"
 II. Unto Us Son Is Born (vv. CD. 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. CD "Wonderful" be- cause of his nature, being both hu- man and divine. The word made flesh and dwelt among us. CD "Counselor," one who has the wisdom to guide him. self and others. No one guided by him has ever failed of true success. (3) "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 self-identifcation with the Father. (5) He is also Prince of Peace" the one who rules so that peace and prosper ity 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 ssss, 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. This King is to be the king of a growing kingdom. Of the increase of his government there is to be no end. He is also to be king upon the throne of David. Jesus was David's descendant and lineal heir, and his kingdom is the development of that kingdom.
 He is to order 1t, govern it, manage 1t, rule it, control 1t with justice, es-