LESSON III.—SABBATH, JANUARY 14, 1893.
By Editor
[For any modification in these lessons, and for the notes, the editor is responsible. For other notes and suggestions the student is referred to the lesson pamphlet, and to the S. S. Worker.] Lesson Scriptures and Suggestive Questions.
I. Ps. 33:6-9: "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap; he layeth up the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast." - How were the heavens made? Note 1 (a).
- In what two ways is the idea expressed?
- Why is the earth to fear the Lord? Note 1 (b).
- How was his great power manifested?
II. Heb. 11:3: "By faith we understand that the ages have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which do appear." - How were the ages framed? Note 2.
- How do we know this?
- Out of what were the things not made which are now seen?
III. 2 Peter 3:5-7: "For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God; by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished; but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." - How were the heavens and the earth of old? Note 3.
- Is there any need of ignorance concerning this fact?
- How are the present heavens and earth kept in store?
IV. Heb. 1:3: "Who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." - To whom is reference made in this verse? Note 4.
- How is his word designated?
- What is accomplished by this word?
1 (a). By the Word of the Lord.—The Bible does not deal with theories of creation, nor does it speculate as to how the universe was created; it comes to the simple fact at once, and states it without apology. The heavens were made by the word of God, and all the host of them—the sun, moon, and stars, with all the dwellers of the universe—by the breath of his mouth. In other words, God spake them into existence. They once were not; God spake and they were. When he did this he has not definitely told us. "In the beginning" (Gen. 1:1) is indefinite and is not designed to minister to vain curiosity. How many ages ago God's creation began we know not. There were heavenly beings present when the foundation of the earth was laid, and this was before sin entered. Job 38:4-7. What we do know is that the making of the earth as recorded in Genesis 1 took place in six literal days, and was finished on the sixth day, about six thousand years ago. 1 (b). Fear the Lord.—The word translated "fear" does not mean what the word "fear" generally does, namely, a feeling of anxiety at the expectation of trouble, or pain at the prospect of evil. The word here means reverence, and reverence is fear and love united. God's infinite greatness, power, and majesty excite awe and fear. His infinite goodness awakens love. And as God is infinite in all these attributes, he who apprehends them will both fear and love him, or give him reverence. Such godly fear or reverence is the holiest and healthiest of Christian sentiments. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." It is the foundation of all genuine Christian experience. A right conception of God's creative power will lead us to stand in awe of him. A proper conception of his great mercy in redeeming men will lead us to love him. Knowing both his power and love, we will reverence him. 2. The ages have been framed.—The word translated "worlds" is literally "ages," and is so rendered by many critics and translators. It means the successive steps in the development of God's great plan, or the various dispensations, or periods, into which the plan of God has been divided, including, perhaps, within itself both creation and redemption.143By the Word of God.—Some have taken "word" here to mean the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ our Lord, and that the text means that he, by the exercise of faith, created the universe. But the faith here mentioned is exercised by the believers. It is the channel through which understanding comes. "Through [in, by] faith we understand." "Word" here does not come from logos, as in John 1:1-3, but from rhēma, meaning, "declaration, saying, command, mandate," etc. Rotherham's emphatic translation (Bagster & Sons) thus translates this passage: "By faith we understand the ages to have been adjusted by declaration of God; to-the-end that, not out of appearances, should that which is seen come into existence." 3. By the Word of God.—The same agency is brought to view here as in John 1:1-3. It was by God's word. "He spake and it was." Notice that "earth" and "world" are not synonymous terms. The same heavens and earth still exist, waiting for their purification by fire; but the world [the kosmos, the arrangement] that then was perished. Willfully Forget.—Common version, "willingly ignorant;" literally, says Vincent, "this escapes them of their own will;" in other words, they will not see. God has revealed it, and science in its ultimate conclusion must come back to the First Great Cause. It is the simplest and highest reason to simply believe the word of God, than to know so much that is not known. Science says that all of the different parts of the earth have been submerged at different times. The word of God says that it was all overflowed at one time. Why not believe God? Science declares that there have been great upheavals in various parts of the earth; the word of God declares that he who made the world unmade it, and the fountains of the great deep were broken up. Gen. 7:11. By the same word the same heavens and earth in their present arrangement exist now, and will until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 4. Who.—The Son, mentioned in verse 2. Being, etc.—The Son was the showing forth of the Father. Jesus said that whoever had seen him had seen the Father. John 14:9. God's glory is his character, and Jesus came to this world to show us what God's character was. 2 Cor. 5:19. The Father's love in him compelled him to die for man; the Father's power in him raised the dead, and stilled the sea. The word in the same blessed Being upholds, bears up the universe. Let this be the prominent thought of this lesson, the power of God's word, God's word in Christ. Before us constantly is the mightiest manifestation of the exercise of its power. Are we afraid to trust it? It is infinite in its greatness; it is infinite in its tender care. It projects suns into space; it clothes the grass and the lilies.