International S. S. Lessons.
"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 XIII.—SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 1894.
NOTE 2.—The real subject of these lessons is the "Making of a Nation, and God's Providence over His People." In fact, all history is of worth to us only as we see God's hand in it; and God's hand is especially marked in the leading out of the Hebrew people. The time covered by this review is about 250 years, from Jacob's return from Padan-aram, 1740, to the Exodus from Egypt, 1491, according to Usher's Chronology. The principal places named in the lesson are Peniel, east of Jordan, Hebron and Shechem, in Palestine, Heliopolis, Zoan, and Pithom, and the Land of Goshen, in Egypt, and the northern part of the Red Sea. The persons named in these lessons are Jacob, his twelve sons (especially Joseph), Moses, several Pharaohs of Egypt, and Pharaoh's daughter. It would be well to use the map, and follow the travels of Jacob from Padan-aram to Hebron, from Hebron to Goshen, in Egypt, Joseph's journey in seeking his brothers, and thence to Egypt, the travels of Moses to Arabia and Sinai, back to Egypt, and the road of the Israelites from Goshen across the Red Sea. LESSON 1.—Jacob's Prevailing Prayer. Genesis 32: 9-12, 24-30. Golden Text, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." Verse 26. The prominent scene of this lesson is Jacob's wrestling with the angel. The great lesson is victory by faith. Jacob passed in that hour of the night from Jacob, the supplanter, to Israel, the conqueror. Note the thought that he wrestled alone with God. LESSON 2.—Discord in Jacob's Family. Genesis 37: 1-11. Golden Text, "See that ye fall not out by the way." Gen. 45: 24. The principal scene of this lesson is Joseph's dreams. One prominent lesson is the wickedness of envy. LESSON 3.—Joseph Sold into Egypt. Gen. 37: 23-36. Golden Text, "Ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good." Gen. 50: 20. One of the principal scenes of this lesson is Joseph cast into the pit, pleading with his brethren for life, while they hardened their hearts against his cries. Important lessons are the outcome of envy, plotting against God's providence, and how God overrules all for good. LESSON 4.—Joseph a Ruler in Egypt. Gen. 41: 38-48. Golden Text, "Them that honor me I will honor." 1 Sam. 2: 30. The picture scene of this lesson would be Joseph in jail, doing faithfully his duty, soon after that being taken from jail, and made ruler over all Egypt. One principal thought of the lesson is that faithfulness comes before honor, and that those who honor God in time of trial God will honor. LESSON 5.—Joseph Forgiving His Brethren. Gen. 45: 1-15. Golden Text, "If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him." Luke 17: 3. It would be well to recall, in connection with this lesson, the dreams of Joseph. His brethren, who said, "Shalt thou indeed rule over us?" bowed down before him in humble supplication. One precious lesson is the forgiving spirit which Joseph manifested, and which everyone ought to cherish. LESSON 6.—Joseph's Last Days. Gen. 50: 14-26. Golden Text, "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Prov. 4: 18. The Golden Text sufficiently indicates the thought of the lesson. The same disposition which was manifested in Joseph's youth developed strength throughout his life. LESSON 7.—Israel in Egypt. Ex. 1: 1-14. Golden Text, "Our help is in the name of the Lord." Ps. 124: 8. This lesson shows the bondage of Israel in Egypt, seemingly forgotten of God, and yet the Lord's hand especially manifested in the increase of their number and the preservation of their lives under great trial. LESSON 8.—The Childhood of Moses. Ex. 2: 1-10. Golden Text, "I will deliver him, and honor him." Ps. 91: 15. This lesson shows God's overruling care in the raising up of the one whom he had chosen to deliver his people. It also shows the importance of the training which God gives to his servants. Although Moses was trained in all the wisdom of what was then the most cultured nation in the world, God gives him a special training of forty years in the desert, alone with God and nature, before he is fitted to deliver his people. LESSON 9.—Moses Sent as a Deliverer. Ex. 3: 10-20. Golden Text, "Fear thou not, for I am with thee." Isa. 41: 10. This lesson really takes in all the wonders which God wrought in delivering his people from Egypt; and it shows that, however proudly the gods of the nations deal, the Lord is above them. He who was mighty to create is mighty also to redeem. LESSON 10.—The Passover Instituted. Ex. 12: 1-14. Golden Text, "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." 1 Cor. 5: 7. The passover was a special memorial of God's deliverance of his people from Egyptian bondage, and was typical of Christ's greater deliverance of his people from the more terrible bondage of sin. LESSON 11.—The Passage of the Red Sea. Ex. 14: 19-29. Golden Text, "By faith they passed through the Red Sea." Heb. 11: 29. In this we have God's final triumph over the foes of his people, and the pledge of his eternal triumph over all sin and wickedness. In all these lessons is manifest the leading, protecting, redeeming, and restoring providences of God. The same power which creates, redeems and restores. The Sabbath is a memorial of God's creative power (Ex. 20: 8-11), and it is also a memorial of his redeeming and sanctifying power (Eze. 20: 12). LESSON XXV.—SABBATH, JUNE 23, 1894.
14. And he was casting out a devil which was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb man spake; and the multitudes marveled.
15. But some of them said, By Beelzebub the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
16. And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
17. But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
18. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils by Beelzebub.
19. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
20. But if I by the finger of God cast out devils, then is the kingdom of God come upon you.
21. When the strong man fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace;
22. But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
23. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
24. The unclean spirit when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will turn back unto my house whence I came out.
25. And when he is come, he findeth it swept and garnished.
26. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more evil than himself; and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first.
27. And it came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the breasts which thou didst suck.
28. But he said, Yea, rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
29. And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, he began to say, This generation is an evil generation; it seeketh after a sign, and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of Jonah.
30. For even as Jonah became a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of Man be to this generation.
31. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and shall condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
32. The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.
33. No man, when he hath lighted a lamp, putteth it in a cellar, neither under the bushel, but on the stand, that they which enter in may see the light.
34. The lamp of thy body is thine eye, when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when it is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
35. Look therefore whether the light that is in thee be not darkness.
36. If therefore thy whole body be full of light, having no part dark, it shall be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with the bright shining doth give thee light. In this lesson verses 14-26 relate to the casting out of a dumb demon, the blasphemous charge of the Pharisees, and Christ's rebuke to them, showing the inconsistency of their assertion that he cast out devils through the prince of devils. The remainder of the lesson pertains chiefly to signs. A rebuke is given to those who look for signs instead of depending on the word of God; and the necessity of having light in one's self, through the word, is emphasized. - Tell the result of Christ's casting out a demon that was dumb.
- What did some of the people say?
- How did Jesus show the foolishness of their charge?
- If Satan were divided against himself, what would be the result?
- What question did Jesus ask the doubters about their sons?
- What did he say had come unto them?
- Under what conditions are a man's goods safe?
- When does he lose them?
- Since Christ took Satan's captives from him, what did that prove?
- Who are against Christ? Who are scattering abroad?
- Relate what Jesus said about the unclean spirit going out of a man and returning.
- Under what circumstances can it enter again?
- If it enters the man again, what will be his condition?
- Who did Jesus say are blessed?
- For what did Jesus reprove the people?
- What sign only did he say should be given them?
- By whose course did he say the men of that generation would be condemned?
- To whose word did the queen of Sheba listen?
- Whose preaching convinced the Ninevites?
- Why would their action condemn the men to whom Jesus was speaking?
- Will the same thing apply in these days?
- When a man lights a candle, what does he do with it?
- What is the light of the body?
- How only may the whole body be full of light?
- To what are we to take heed?
- What will be the condition if the whole body be full of light?
1. "Others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven." This was the same temptation that had been met in the wilderness. The devil was still trying to get him to do something for the express purpose of silencing unbelief, without any reference to the benefit of men. All Christ's works were works of mercy. He performed them naturally, as the opportunity and necessity for them arose in his daily life. But he never did anything in answer to a challenge. If the regular work of the ministry of the gospel will not convince men, they will not be convinced by mere exhibition of knowledge or skill, in answer to a challenge. 2. Jesus had just done a wonderful work, in casting out a devil, and still they asked for a sign. What greater thing could he have done before them? They would not believe though he cast out a legion of devils. The gospel itself is a miracle. Satan works in every natural or unconverted man. Eph. 2: 1, 2. Therefore when a man is converted and exhibits the fruits of righteousness instead of the works of the flesh, that is an instance of the casting out of the evil spirit by the Spirit of God. Therefore it is that the godly lives of Christians are the best testimonies to the power of the gospel. See Isa. 43: 10; John 17: 21-23. 3. The fact that Christ cast out devils was proof enough that he was from God; for Satan would not seek to destroy his own kingdom. Christ came upon Satan and took from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divided his spoils. "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it," that is, in his cross, or in himself. Col. 2: 15. All power in heaven and in earth is given to Christ, therefore Satan has no power at all in a contest with him. These demonstrations of Christ's power over evil spirits were recorded for our encouragement in our conflict with evil. He has overcome the world; therefore our faith in him is the victory that overcometh the world. 4. "He that is not with me is against me." There is no middle ground, everyone that has not the495Spirit of Christ has the spirit of Satan. Christ must be "all in all." 5. Christ is able to cast out the unclean spirit, but only his continued presence can keep it out. "He that is not with me is against me." If, when the heart has been cleansed, it is not intrusted fully to the care of the Lord, the evil spirit will return, and then the man will be worse than before. A backslider or an apostate is worse than one who has never known the Lord.