The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-12-22
LESSON FOR DECEMBER "a
UNTO US A SON is GIVEN.
EssON TEXT-Isnlah e:1.7.


The Christmas lesson naturally and
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 forcsccn In tho
new heaven and the new earth. Isaah
saw the vision Of his first coming. John
saw the vision Of his second coming,
when what he began the first time
Rhnll ultimately be accomplished. The
prophecy here spoken was uttered dur.
Ing the reign of Aha2. Il. G. 1913 to
723. The king of ASSyrin was attack.
Ing Syria. The trIh"s OF northern Is.
rael were carried away as clptlves.
Judah was In danEcr Of Invasion. (Sce
II Kings 15:29) Isaiah was preach.
Ing In his home city, Jerusalem. His
vision Of the Messiah Savior was not
more than 500 years before John saw
the vision Of the glorilicd Jesus.
!. Darkness Versus Light wv. 1-5).
We need to so back into the eighth
chapter to get the full historical situa.
hon of this part OF the lesson. Ahaz,
trembling In Jerusalem. 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 dogScdIy pursued his
OWN course and sought help in every
pther quarter than the right one. This
Explains Isaiah's words, 1.-THE people
that walked In darkness" Primarily
he may have referred to those OF the
lands Of Zebulon and EaphtalI, the
Galilee of the nations (John l :48;
1852 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 duke 1:7S-79). With tho
coming Of light comes the Increase Of
Joy ". R. W. H. Israel there is to
be, through Christ. wonderful In
crease lisa. 40 :20-22; Zcch. 10:S). In
Christ there is to be great joy, the Joy
Of harvest and Of victory. The re-
lgion of Jesus Christ Is pre-eminently
the religion Of Joy (Acts SIS: Phil.
Al; Peter ! :S) but the Child that
was to be born was to be DclIverer
too, for the yoke of burden" was tax
of $1,SOO,000 that had recently been
s levied by the king of Assyrin. 1t was
night Of thick darkness for Israel.
Then, even rs now. we have the moral
darkness. (RCnd Rom. :"0.32.) But
the prophet saw the JOY Of dcIlverance.
Jerusalem had been left in peace,
Hezeklah succeeded his father, Ahaz,
and entered upon religious revival In
the kingdom. The people who had
walked In darkness had seen n new
Light. The prophet saw the dawning
rays through the midst of this dark
ness Of ignorance being removed. He
also suw The coming Of the Light of
Men 10 gears later ana the multi
plicatiom of the nations, the increase
Of their Joy.
II. Unto Us Son Is Born wv. go.
The greatest Joy for Israel in Isulahs
time was In this vision of the Messiah,
the promised Savior. Isaiah Is look
Ing ahead seven centuries. We are
looking back riHctCCn. He was to be
king over his people Name and title
Is here given. "a "Wondcrfui" be-
cause Of his nature, being both hui
man and divine. The word made flesh
and dwelt among us. (2) Counselor"
pne who has the wisdom to guide him
self and others. No one guided by him
has ever failed Of true success. (9)
1.-THE Mighty God" He was truly God
DO that we can trust him to the utter
most. He can also save to the utter
most. az Everlasting Father" ex-
pressing his divine loving kindness md
Belf-identifcation with the Father. (5)
He Is also "Prince Of Peace" the one
who rules 30 that peace and prosper
lty abide in his kingdom. lie brings
pence between man and God. and be-
tween man and man. lie Is the peace
Of the soul as we'll 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 Mt Beth
lehem, but he was from all eternity
(John :5G-5s; John :1-2).
AS a man Is not at peace with God
he cannot be at peace with himself or
his fellows; but as Jesus restores
peace between man and God. he also
restores peace to the heart Of the In.
Z hividual (Phll, 40.
Sunday school officers md teachers
should realize the difference between
tho peace with God (Rom. SID and
the peace Of God (PhiI. 40.
Let US see to 1t that in the fullest
tense our scholars may have the Prince
bf Peace In their lIvnS.