International S. S. Lessons by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 22, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 12.

International S. S. Lessons.

By Editor

"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." —Neh. 8:8

LESSON V.—SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1894.

[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.]

BEGINNING OF THE HEBREW NATION.

Lesson Scripture, Gen. 12:1-10.

Now the Lord said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee;
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing;
And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
So Abram went, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him; and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the oak of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land; and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.
And he removed from thence unto the mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Ai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.
And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
And there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was sore in the land.

Golden Text.—"And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great: and be thou a blessing."

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

Who was Abram? Note 1.
How did the Lord call Abram? Verse 1.
What did he promise him?
For what purpose would God bless him? Note 2.
What further promise did the Lord make to Abram? Verse 3.
Did Abram heed this call of the Lord? Verse 4.
How old was he when he departed out of Haran? Note 3.
Who accompanied Abram as he went from Haran? Verse 5. Note 4.
Where did they go from Haran?
Did Abram know where he was going?

"And he went out, not knowing whither he went." Heb. 11:8, last clause. 11. What alone moved him to go? "By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance." Heb. 11:8, first part.

At what place did Abram first stop? Verse 6, lesson scripture.
Who was then in the land? Same verse. Note 5.
What did the Lord say when he appeared to Abram the next time?
By what act did Abram acknowledge the Lord at that time? Note 6.
Where did he remove from the plain of Moreh? Verse 8, first part. Note 7.
What did Abram do at that place? Verse 8, last part. Note 8.
Whence did Abram go from Beth-el? Verse 9. Note 9.

NOTES.

1. THE real subject of our lesson is the call of Abram, and God's promise to him. He was the son of Terah and brother of Nahor and Haran, and was descended by direct line from Noah through Shem. His birth occurred, according to Usher's Chronology, 1996 B.C., nearly 400 years after the flood. During the intervening time the earth had become peopled by the descendants of Noah. The foundations of large cities had been laid, the confusion of tongues had taken place, and the beginning of various nations clearly established. The record of this is given in Genesis 10. In the eleventh chapter we have the genealogy of the children of Shem. Abram's ancestors were idolaters, as we learn from Joshua 24:15. Abram himself was evidently searching to know the true God. Responding to the Spirit of God, which moves upon the hearts of all men, God led him now from the darkness of idolatry to the light of true worship.

2. And be thou a blessing.—God never blesses for our own selfish purposes or advancement. In the life of Abram, the father of the faithful, we have this clearly taught. "I will bless thee," says the Lord, "and be thou a blessing." And it is for that reason that God blesses everyone, that each may be a blessing to others. He blesses the man of wealth that he may use that wealth to the good of others, for the advancement of God's cause, and for the amelioration of the poor and needy. He blesses the scholar that his knowledge may be used for the purpose of blessing others. In fact, all blessings are given that we may use them as the riches of heaven are used. Says our Lord, "Freely ye have received, freely give."

3. Out of Haran.—The first call of Abram was from his own country, that is, in Ur of the Chaldees, in Mesopotamia, before he came to Haran. Abram evidently preached the truth of God before leaving his country, until they refused to hear it more, and then he left, taking those with him who believed as he did. Thus runs the traditions, and these traditions are in the line of God's dealings with the children of men. God first appeared to Abram, evidently, under some manifestation of his glory. Stephen says, "The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham." Finding a people in Haran who were willing to hear the truth, Abram proclaimed the true God there until his work was finished, and the people refused to hear more. He left them at the age of seventy-five. He may, however, have left witnesses in both places to the true God.

4. Souls he had gotten in Haran.—Abram took only from among his relatives Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his nephew; but there accompanied him also "the souls he had gotten in Haran." Young says, "the souls he had obtained in Haran." The idea is, the souls that Abram had converted to the truth of God.

5. The Canaanite was then in the land.—Canaan

was the son of Ham and grandson of Noah, the one upon whom the Lord's curse fell for his disreputable conduct; and his descendants seem to have partaken of his character. The fact of their dwelling in the land seems to have been mentioned here to show the seeming impossibility of God's fulfilling his promise to Abram. Yet Abram had faith to believe that the Lord would do it, and it was to encourage his faith from time to time, evidently, that the Lord appeared to him and enlarged and renewed his promise. Thus Abram went on from faith to faith. Faith grows by being tested.

6. There builded he an altar.—Abram evidently offered sacrifice to God, which was a witness to the people around of the fact that he worshiped a different God than did the children of the land; but he also left the altar as a witness of that worship. God would have us remember all his mercies.

7. Beth-el.—Beth-el was then called Luz. It was named Beth-el by Jacob after his vision (Gen. 28:19), meaning the house of God. It was a town, or place, about twelve miles north of Jerusalem. Ai was a town afterward noted for the first defeat of the Israelites under Joshua.

8. Called on the name of the Lord.—Again did Abram build an altar, and a necessary accompaniment of building the altar was offering the sacrifices and calling upon God's name. That would be implied in the fact that he builded an altar. Dr. Young's translation reads, "He buildeth there an altar to Jehovah, and preacheth in the name of Jehovah." Naturally there would be opportunity so to do. As he builded his altar and offered his sacrifice, prayed and praised God, the people would naturally come around him to know what it all meant, and Abram improved the opportunity to be a blessing to the Canaanites by preaching the truth which had called him out of his own country to theirs.

9. The south.—That is, the southern part of Judah. From there the succeeding part of the chapter tells us he went to Egypt, because there was a famine in the land. God wanted Abram to witness in Egypt also.

LESSON V.—SABBATH, FEBRUARY 3, 1894.

JESUS WORSHIPED BY ANGELS AND MEN.

BEFORE taking up this lesson, go over the topical outline of the first chapter, as given in the first lesson, and see that you have a clear idea of it.

In last week's lesson we had the simple fact of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. Beginning in this lesson with verse 8, we have, in the next seven verses, the appearance of the angels to the shepherds, and their ascription of praise to God. Verses 15-20 relate the visit of the shepherds, and the fact that they published abroad the news of the birth of Jesus. Verses 21-33 tell of the circumcision and naming of Jesus, his presentation in the temple, and Simeon's thanksgiving. In short, the lesson may be summarized thus: The announcement to the shepherds, and the presentation in the temple.

Lesson Scripture, Luke 2:8-33.

And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people;
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.
And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.
And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.

And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called Jesus, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord.
(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord),
And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law.
Then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Now lettest thou thy servant depart, O Lord, according to thy word, in peace;
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;
A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
And his father and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him.

Give an outline of the contents of the first chapter of Luke.
Tell how Jesus came to be born in Bethlehem.
To whom was the news of his birth first announced?
By whom was the announcement made?
What did the angel tell the shepherds that he brought them?
What did he say the good tidings was?
By what sign were they to know it?
As soon as these words were spoken, who appeared with the angel?
What was their song of praise?
When the angels went away, what did the shepherds do?
What did they do after they had found the Babe?
How did they feel about what they had heard and seen?
Why was the Child called Jesus? Luke 1:31; Matt. 1:21.
When Jesus was presented before the Lord in the temple, what offering was brought?
What was signified by the fact that Mary brought only two pigeons? Lev. 12:8.
What pious man was dwelling in Jerusalem at that time?
For what was he waiting?
What had the Holy Spirit revealed to him?
How did he come to be in the temple when Joseph and Mary brought in Jesus?
When Jesus was brought in, what did Simeon do?
What did he say?
What did he say of the light that Christ would be?

NOTES.

1. "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." This is the gospel; for "gospel" means good news, or good tidings. "Jesus" means "Saviour," and he was so called because he saves his people from their sins. Matt. 1:21. "Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. Therefore the gospel is the good news that men can be saved from sin, and brought into perfect harmony with God. It does not simply save men from the consequences of sins committed, but from sin itself—from the transgression of the law. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. Rom. 1:16. Peter addresses those "who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:5. Kept from what by the power of God?—Kept from falling. Jude 24. Kept from falling into sin and condemnation, as the next verse indicates, by saying that the Saviour will present us faultless before the presence of his glory. Manifestly, he keeps us in the condition in which he presents us. Since God is able to keep men faultless, it must be that he is able to make them faultless; and he is as able to do this now as he will be two or three days before the time for translation to heaven. It is not now, nor will it ever be, in the power of man to do this; but let no one limit the power of God by saying that he cannot do it. Then to him "be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever." God only can have the glory, for he does the work. Therefore, as he is to have the glory now, he must do the work now. Our part is to let him do it. "Submit yourselves therefore to God." James 4:7. Submit to his righteousness (Rom. 10:3), which he desires to put within and upon us (Rom. 3:22).

2. "The shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." There was prompt belief. They did not go to Bethlehem to see if what the angel had told them was true, but to see the thing which they knew was true, because the Lord had told them. Such faith when the Lord speaks is not very common. Most people imagine that it is a sign of a weak, credulous mind to believe at once, without any questioning. Many think to excuse their unbelief by citing the case of Thomas, saying that, like him, they have to see before they can believe. But they forget the words of Jesus to him: "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." John 20:29. Thomas lost the blessing that he might have had but for his unbelief.

3. Note the poverty in which Jesus was born. Why was this? "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." 2 Cor. 8:9. He had everything in the universe; for "all things were created by him, and for him." Col. 1:16. He could have retained these riches, and his equality with the Father, if he had wished. But he did not count that a thing to be grasped, but "emptied himself," and took upon him the form of a servant. Phil. 2:6-8, Revised Version. So we through his poverty are made rich. The "unspeakable riches of Christ" are ours, if we accept him. We are "joint heirs with Jesus Christ." In him we have a "right to the tree of life." "Behold, what manner of love the Father bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." 1 John 3:1.

4. Simeon was "waiting for the consolation of Israel." He therefore recognized Jesus as soon as he saw him. The poor shepherds also must have been looking for him, for they gladly accepted him. This shows that there was no excuse for those who did not receive him. All of the Jews might have known him as well as these few. To as many as received him, to them he gave the right to be called the sons of God. John 1:12. It is evident, also, that there was no excuse for the blindness that characterized the Jewish nation as a whole, concerning the true mission of the Messiah. They looked for a powerful conqueror who should make them masters of the world. But Simeon was looking for a consoler—one who should be the Light of the world. What he knew, all might have known. Moreover, it is clear that there was no reason for the narrow views that so many even of Christ's followers had. They thought that none could be saved but the Jews. But God had never given them any reason to think so, and Simeon knew better. Said he: "Mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." The prophets were read "every Sabbath day" (Acts 13:27), and so the Jews were continually hearing that the Messiah was to be a "light of the Gentiles" (Isa. 42:1-7). The angels told the shepherds that the good news was for all people. For ages God had been trying to get the Jew to understand that their work was to evangelize the world. The cases of Naaman, of the queen of Sheba, of the Ninevites, and of others, were intended as lessons to them. But their pride and bigotry were too great. Are we not too often, like them, congratulating ourselves on the great light that God has given "us as a people," forgetting that God is no respecter of persons, and that he has no light for one that he has not for all? No one can retain more than he uses; and if we do not accept the light that comes to us, as a sacred trust, that we may bestow it upon others, we shall soon lose it. Let us be wise.