Ellsworth American., 1917-12-19
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Lesson 12.-Fourth Quarter, for
December q, 1917.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES


Memory Verses, !, z-Gotden Text,
Luke u, ff-commentary Prepared
BY Rev. o. IA. stearns.
We choose the Christmas lesson In
stead of the one in Malachi, but both
may weil be considered together, for,
while Malachi tells of the great King
whose name shall be great among all
nations. Matthew tells of his lowly
birth according TO Isa. Z, IA; Mic. 5, 2
(A.al. /. IL, IA; Matt. II. l. p. Weth-
er II be in Malachi or Matthew their
treatment of him Is the same. They
will not lay 1t to heart to give glory
TO his name, hut they despise him and
call his service a WEAKNESS and offer
him their poorest instead Of their best
(Mal. I, g. Z, 8. 13; ii, 1, 2, 10. Yet
he begs of them to return to him that
he may bless them and make them a
delightsome land (Mal. III, 7:12). He
speaks of the great and dreadful day
Of the Lord which shall precede his
kingdom ard says that he will send
Elijah before that day (Mal. 3:1-3;
4:1-6). John the Baptist came In the
spirit and power of Elijah. but they
would not receive him. SO the real Eli
jah must yet come according to our
Lords own testimony (Matt. II Ills:
Luke / I'D.
John the Baptist was to the frst
coming of Christ what the real Elijah
will be to his second coming in glory to
reign. NAL 4:16. II. are most com
forting words for all who think or
speak Of him. The years pass, men
come and go, but he says, Il am the
Lord: I change not" tMal. 3:6). Sew
'eral hundred years intervene between
Malachi and Matthew, and then we
read Of Jesus Christ. the son Of Da-
vid, the son Of Abraham, and Of his
birth of a virgin as foretold in Isa.
TIA, and Of two Of his other names,
Jesus and Emmanuel (Matt. Il, 20+25).
As 1t is written IL Gal. a. when the
.fuilness Of the tirie was come God sent
forth his son, made Ct woman made
under the law, to redeem them that
were nnder the law" There is full
ness Of time for everything In the pur.
pose Of God, and he who was born In
Bethlehem according to Mic. 5 .. shall
yet rule Israel as King Of the Jews
according to the same prophecy (Matt.
2:1. 2. 5, e.. See also lisa. 8 81; Jer. q,
8. 8: Zeph. 3:14. Is; Ez- 81 %, "a. For
this the world and the warning nations
still wait unconsciously. for he who
was born In Bethlehem and rode into
Jerusalem on an ass colt is the only
one who can speak peace to the ma
tions and make wars to cease Czech
0:9, 10; Ps. 46 ~.
We do not know who these wise men
were, nor how many there were. nor
what part Of the east they came from,
but 1t would seem as II they knew
something Of the words Of the Lord
through Balaam, There shall come
Star out Of Jacob. and Scepter shall
rise out Of Israel" (Num. "a I'D. To
Israel and to the world he viii be the
Sun Of Righteousness, but to the
church, which must first be gathered.
he win be the .morning star (Mal- 4 2:
Rev. % icy. For further information
concerning these men we must walt pa
tienfly. but 1t Is not so important to
know them as to know him whom they
came to seek, the King Of the Jews,
the Christ. the Governor to rule Israel
(AIatt. 2:2, 4. 81. The star which they
saw was no ordinary star. but a super
natural light from God, for when they
left Jerusalem the star which they saw
ln the east went before them till Il
came and stood over where the young
child was tverse o.. 1t Is not the Gus
tom Of ordinary stars to lead anyone
directly to q certain house and remain
over It.
We cannot think that the star led
them to Jerusalem and caused the
death Of all those little children tverse
16), but It may have been that Jeru-
salem and a visit to Herod became
more real to them for time than the
wonderful heavenly light and led them
'1Tt Of the way, for whep they saw ths
lsfaf again they rejoiced with exceed.
ing great Joy (verse 10Y. Any kind Of
an earthly glare may eause 40 to loss
sight Of the heavenly light and make
trouble for ourselves and others. The
chief priests and scribes knew the
Micah prediction concerning their Mes
kiah, but. ike many today. were not
specially interested in 1t. These wise
men when they found the child and
his mother worshiped him (not the
mother) and, opening their treasures
presented unto him 1.-THE child) gold
and frankincense and myrrh-
We think Of the queen Of Sheba and
all the kings who brought gifts to the
king Of Israel (u Chron. 81. %. 24)
and Of the coming time, which may be
near, when all the wealth Of the ma
tions shall be brought to Israel because
Of the glory of their King Elsa. 90 4. 8. 5,
II, margin). At this time Of giving and
receiving gifts what Is your gift to
him. NOffce TIE ful6llingg Of Scrip