Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-17
7lhe S vi day
School LESSON
By Ben Newsome

Lesson December "a. Isaiah 9:2-1.
The prophet was speaking words
of announcement to people sub
merged in fear of the great Assyrian
invasion which had wiped out SO many
small nations in its victorious sweep.
They had lived carelessly and had
forgotten their dependence upon Je-
hoVah until great danger stared them
in the face-then they were glad
enough to be told that the Lord had
provided a way of salvation and Sc
curity lie uses the occasion to inn
press upon them lesson as to the
character and mission of the Messiah.
As darkness rested upon Israel under
the shadow of Tiglath- -pileser's in
vasion, so I'm later days the darkness
of an unspritual theology had set
tied upon those who called themselves
Gods people and II was left for the
Savior to bring them the light. All
thru this lesson we find the figures
pertinent to the Assyrlan threat used
to symbolic the dire need OF sim
sick world for the light that Jesus
brought We may think we are haN-
ing a good time with the impious de-
lights of careless world, but when We
have received the light from Jesus in
to our souls we look back over our
former experience and wonder how we
could have thot We Were happy.
lie was 10 multiply the nation and
increase the joy" Happiness is not
necessary result of large numbers.
Those nations with the biggest pop
ulation are not the ones who are
most at peace and contented. on the
contrary, without divine interference,
large numbers have increased the
troubles and multiplied the respon-
sihilities. When someone was boast
ing OF the rapid increase of Amerl-
cas- population, Emerson sarcastical-
Is remarked. What Is the use of hav-
ing so many apples If SO many OF
them are rotten" Making allowance
for the gentleman's ambition TO say
something cutting. there is much
truth in his epigram. That nation Is
weakened whose numbers multiply
while the stamina of her people de-
teriorates. only can 1t rejoice If the
prcponderance OF all additions,
whether by birth or emigration, show
a steady improvement In character
and citizenship. The comforts and
hixuries of life may he multiplied and
yet the men and women be no better
unless they are inspired and guided
bv the noble resolve to make the
world the better for the coming of
the king and bend their energies to
making his ways straight for his ad-
vent. Rich people are not always
impious. no more than poor men are
always good-but whatever tends to
make man feel an independence of
Gods oversight tends to turn him
away from God, while that which
shows him the necessity of leaning
on a higher power brings him In
closer communion with his maker.
That is the sum and substance of the
reason why II Is easier for a poor
man to be q Chistian than a rich one.
Real 10y comes not from things, or
from people-altho both may contrib
ute to our enjoyment-but only from
knowing and loving God
The emphasis of the declaration
that there was coming a Prince OF
Peace rests in the declaration that he
is horn unto us" As the perfect
ruler of humanity he must be born OIL
humanity. No far-off deity or super
man could reach down into the hearts
of fallen man and win him by sympa-
thv and love, a love combined with
the mower to give deliverance to all
who put their trust in him. He was
n man endowed with the potentiality
of God, the representative In the flesh
of the Father and he was the rather.
This. is the essential thot of Christmas,
more than the gayety, the giving OF
gifts and the renewing of human ties
of love-these are only incidental, be-
cause the anniversary of the Savior's
birth would be a mockery were 1t
devoted to sorrow, contention and
greed. For unto US child Is born,
unto us son is given; and the gov
ernment shall be upon his shoulder;
and his name shall be called Wonder
full, Counsellor. Mighty God, Ererlast-
inc F,ather, Prince of Peace"