The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1916-12-21
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNDAYSC[IO((L,
LESSON
(By y: O.. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
the Sunday School Course In the MOODY
Bible Institute Of Chicago)
copyright. 1915, Western Newspaper Uuton.)
LESSON FOR DECEMBER "a
UNTO US A SON is GIVEN.


Sounseior, the Mighty God. the IIverlast-
ing rather. the Prince OF Peace-Isu 9:8
The Christmas lesson naturally ana
logically follows the three lessons we
have just had from the book of tho
Revelation where Jesus in his glory
had been portrayed, and the ultimate
success OF his work is forescen in the
new heaven and the new earth. Isninh
saw the vision Of his first coming. John
saw the vision Of his second coming.
when what lie began the first time
shall ultimately be accomplished. The
prophecy here spoken was uttered dur
ing the reign of AEaZ, Il. c. 738 to
723. The king of Assyrin was attack
ing Syria. The tribes Of northern Is
rael were carried away as cnptiyes.
Judah was III danger Of invasion. (Sea
II Kings 1929 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 gloritied Jesus.
]. Darkness Versus Light wv. 1857.
We need to go back into the eighth
chapter to get the full historical sltua-
ton Of this part Of the lesson. Ahaz.
trembling In Jerusalem. had with him
the Prophet Isaiah, the wisest and
grcatest man III his kingdom, yet Ahaz
listened not to his words Of warning
and re5uke. He doggedly pursued his
own course and sought help in every
other quarter than the right one This
explains Isaiah's words. '"rhe people
that walked In darkness" Primarily
hn r,,nx s,n ,Dc, - ~
lands Of Zcbulon ard Nuphtuli, tho
Galiiee Of the nations (John :46;
7:52) and the light which shone In
them, which was the light Of the world,
Jesus of Nazareth (John S:13). 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:T8-79). With the
coming Of light comes the increase Of
joy ". 3 r. W. In Israel there Is to
be. through Christ, n wonderful in
crease Elsa. 40 :20-22; Zech. 1O:9). In
Christ there Is to be great Joy, the Joy
Of harvest and of victory. The re-
igion Of Jesus Christ Is pre-eminentiy
the religion Of joy (Acts 8:8; Phil.
4:4; Peter / :S) but the Child that
was to be born was to be Deliverer
| too, for the "yoke Of burden" was tax
of $1,S00,O00 that had recently been
levied by the king Of Assyria. 1t was
night Of thick darkness for Israel.
Then, even as Eow, we have the moral
darkness. (Read Rom. :2O-32.) But
the prophet saw the Joy of dellverance.
Jerusalem had been left in peace.
Hezekiah succeeded his father, Ahnz,
and entered upon religious revival in
the kingdom. The people who had
! walked in darkness had seen new
light. Tie rropi It 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. G-7).
The greatest JOY for Israel in Isaiuh'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. Na,ne and title
is here given. I) Wonderful" be-
cause Of his nature. being both hu-
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. (S)
"The Mighty God" He was truly God
SO that we can trust him to the utter
mcst. He can also save to the utter
most. (G Everlasting Father" ex-
pressing his divine loving kindness and
| Standardization with the Father. (5)
RE Is also prince Of Peace" the one
who rules so that peace and prosper
lty abide In his kingdom. He brings
peace Between man and God, and be-
tweer- man and man. He Is the peace
OF the soul rs well as bringing
peace to the soul. The completeness
or this picture which Isaiah saw is
the one which st. John saw, Of which
we nave been recently studying. These
TWO verses are marvellous ones, not
only because Of the clear prediction of
Jesus CT 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
ana work OF Christ.
Our Lords earth life began at Beth
iehem, but he was from all eternity
GJokn :58-58; John :1-2).
AS man Is not at peace with God
he cannot be at peace with himself or
MS fellows; but as Jesus restores
! Deace betwpen man md God ho olsr