With Illustrative Anecdotes and References.
December 18th.—The Captivity of Judah.
To read—Jer. lii. 1-11. Golden Text—Jer. xxix. 13.
This chapter describes the fate of Judah. Later kings were all wicked. Warnings of Jeremiah and other prophets all been in vain. Time has come for judgment. Captivity in Babylon, long foretold, now about to commence. Came about in reign of Zedekiah. The eleven verses of this lesson almost identical with Jer. xxxix. 1-10.
I. The King (1-3). His name. Originally Mattaniah, was son of good King Josiah and uncle of late King Jehoiachin. Jeremiah had prophesied of a future king (Jer. xxiii. 5-7) as the "Lord our righteousness." The king assumed that name, and was called Zedekiah.
His acts. "Did evil," but had not always been altogether evil. Had made covenant with nobles and priests to abolish slavery (xxxiv. 8-10). But his great wrong was breaking his solemn oath of allegiance to king of Babylon (2 Chron. xxxvi. 13). This looked upon as his crowning vice (Ezek. xvii. 8), for which God's anger was upon him (ver. 3).
Lesson. When thou vowest a vow defer not to pay it.
II. The Siege (4-7). City besieged for last time. Jews never forgot day it began. Was January—tenth day of their tenth month. Great mounds or (earth-works) outside walls to shoot burning arrows, etc.; houses outside thrown down (Jer. xxxiii. 4). Famine and pestilence soon ravaged crowded population inside.
The assault. City, after eighteen months, taken by assault at northern gate (B.C. 587). King and his family and royal guard escaped by passage between two walls (Jer. xxxix. 4), by royal gardens, down steep descent towards Jericho. There he was overtaken and made prisoner. His broken oath caused his destruction (Ezek. xvii. 20).
Lesson. Evil shall hunt the wicked to overtake him.
III. Babylon. He was taken to Babylon. His sons killed in his sight, then his eyes put out, bound with chains, kept in prison till death. Feeble in will, faithless in promise, judgment came upon him.
Lesson. 1. The word of the Lord standeth sure.
Bargains.
He who buys the truth makes a good bargain. Zedekiah dealt in falsehood and lost his throne. Esau sold his birthright for a basin of soup. Judas made a bad bargain when he sold his Lord for the price of a slave. Take heed to the thing that is right, for that alone shall bring peace at the last.
December 25th.—A Christmas Lesson.
To read—Hebrews i. 1-9. Golden Text—St. Luke ii. 11.
This letter written to the Hebrews, i.e. Christians of Jewish birth who clung to the priesthood and services of the Temple as well as to Christianity. St. Paul shows how far the Christian system was superior to and superseded the Jewish. The types and ceremonies of the Law fulfilled in Christ, whose birthday is kept at Christmas.
I. God's Revelation (1-2). Past. God revealed or unveiled Himself of old. This revelation inferior in three ways, viz. (1) It was given gradually, in portions, a part at a time. (2) Given in divers manners, under many figures and types. (3) Given by prophets, only human.
Present. Final revelation of God's truth—once for all given to the saints (Jude 3). Given by His Son—the Word of God (St. John i. 1, 2); heir of all things—God's agent in creation of the universe.
II. God's Son (3-9). Great in Himself. Has Divine glory—the outshining of the Father's glory. He is God's image, the counterpart of the Father. To see Christ is to see God (St. John xiv. 9).
Great in His work. (1) Upholder of the universe as well as its Creator. (2) Saviour. Came not only as prophet to reveal God's will, but to purge man's sin. This He did by Himself with His own blood (ix. 12, 14).
Greater than angels. In His person, His work. His exaltation to glory; testified by Scripture, e.g. Psalm ii. 3 tells of Christ's eternal Sonship—also referred to by St. Paul as fulfilled in His resurrection (Acts xiii. 33).
King over all. Christ also a King. Rules in righteousness (Psalm xlv. 6, 7); received throne as victor over His enemies—sin, death, and the devil (xii. 2). Raised high above all.
Lesson. Christ is King—honour Him; He is Saviour—love Him; He is God—fear Him. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and so ye perish. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.
Christ in the Old and New Testaments.
A weaver, who had made an elaborate piece of tapestry, hung it upon the tenterhooks in his yard. That night it was stolen. A piece of tapestry was found by the police, which seemed to answer the description; but, as the pattern was not unlike that of other pieces, they wanted more definite proof. It was brought to the weaver's yard, and there the perforations in the fabric were found to correspond exactly to the tenterhooks. This was proof positive. In like manner, if we place the life and character of Christ against all the prophecies of Him in Scripture, they will be found to correspond exactly.
1899.
New Series. The Gospel according to St. John.
January 1st.—Christ the True Light.
To read—St. John i. 1-14. Golden Text—Ver. 4.
New Year—new course of lessons. This Gospel records the deeper spiritual truths of Christ's teaching, especially about His own Nature and Person. It sets Christ forth as God. St. John tells his object in writing a fourth Gospel in chap. xx. 31, which the class should read.
I. The Nature of Christ (1-3). Eternal. In the beginning, not of the world, but before all creation, from everlasting. Divine Word. Christ is the expression of the mind of God. Came to reveal God to man (xv. 15). Living Person. The Word not a mere attribute or power of God but a distinct Person. "With God" from everlasting. Not inferior to the Father, but very God Himself. Creator. As well as Saviour and Governor of the world (read Col. i. 16, 17; Heb. i. 2).
II. The Office of Christ (4-13). Source of Life. As very God He had life in Himself, which He poured forth on His creation (vv. 25, 26; xvii. 2). Source of light. The life from Son of God is cause of man's inward spiritual light by which he is saved. Himself the light. World was in spiritual darkness at Christ's coming. Giver of light. No man has light in himself, however great his natural powers. All true light is from Christ.
Rejected. By His own. The world He made knew not its Creator (1 Cor. i. 21). The nation He chose to be His own special people (Deut. vii. 6) received Him not.
Received. By a few—both Jews and Gentiles; such as Nicodemus the ruler (iii. 1, 2), the disciples from Galilee (ii. 11), and others. How did they receive Him? By believing in Him. This faith, itself the gift of God, rewarded by further privilege of becoming God's sons—born into God's family by a new and spiritual birth (iii. 3).
III. The Glory of Christ (14). Word was made flesh by taking to Himself man's human nature. He dwelt (literally "pitched His tent") with men, full of mercy to heal bodies and souls, full of God's truth to teach.
Lessons. 1. Hold fast the Christian faith. Jesus Christ one for ever with the Father. God—eternal, glorious, Creator, Giver of light and life to the soul—yet Man, like one of us.
2. Live the Christian life. Jesus is our example, that we should follow His steps.
Christians walking in the Light.
A little girl in a London slum won a prize at a flower-show. Her flower was grown in a broken teapot in a back attic. When asked how she managed to grow the beautiful flower, she said her success came from always keeping the plant in the only corner of the room ever favoured by a sunbeam. Only by walking in the light and sight of God can Christians truly grow and bear fruit.
January 8th.—Christ's first Disciples.
To read—St. John i. 35-46. Golden Text—Ver. 36.
Christ now thirty years old; has been baptised and received special outpouring of Holy Ghost (ver. 33), and also been tempted in the wilderness (St. Matt. iv. 1). Is now ready for His public work and ministry. Now begins to win disciples.
I. The first two Disciples (35-40). Heard of Him. Picture Christ walking near the Jordan. St. John, who had baptised Him, points Him out to his followers. Describes Him: this the Lamb of God to Whom all the sacrifices pointed; the innocent lamb slain told of the death of the spotless Son of God for man's sin. His words went home.
Followed Him. Who were they? Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, and probably St. John, writer of the Gospel, brother of James. Why did they follow? To learn more of Him. Had been baptised with baptism of repentance. Sense of sin led them to seek the Saviour. Christ knew their thoughts, encouraged them to learn more of Him (St. Matt. xi. 28, 29).
II. The third Disciple (41, 42). The two friends separate the next day, each in search of his brother. Andrew soon finds his—eagerly tells the news. They have found the long-expected Messiah, the Anointed of God. Brings Simon to Christ. No greater proof possible of having really found Christ than bringing another to Him. Christ looks with eager and searching eye at Simon—reads his very heart, sees his longing after truth; gives him a new name, Cephas (Hebrew) or Peter (Greek), meaning "a rock" or "stone." What did this signify? His bold and determined character, strong in the faith (St. Matt. xvi. 16), eager in defence of Christ (xviii. 10), and, after his fall and forgiveness, strong in love (xxi. 15).
III. The fourth Disciple (43, 44). Philip of Bethsaida. Must have heard his friends talking of Christ. Probably stirred in his heart. Christ found him, as He afterwards found Zacchæus St. (Luke xix. 5). His mission to seek as well as to save. Happy they who obey Christ's call and follow Him.
IV. The fifth Disciple (45, 46). Philip soon shows marks of discipleship. He finds Nathanael. Tells him how Christ fulfilled prophecies, such as of a "prophet" like unto Moses, a "king" whose name should be "the Lord our righteousness" (Jer. xxiii. 5, 6). Nathanael asks in honest doubt if it can be possible for the Messiah to come from despised Nazareth. Philip did not argue, but bade him "Come and see"—the best cure for all doubts.
Lessons. From the Baptist: The dying Saviour the greatest magnet for drawing souls.
From Andrew: Show religion first at home.
From Simon: Taste and see how gracious the Lord is.
From Philip: Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
From Nathanael: Hearken unto me, and I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
"There's Another."
A traveller lost in the snow on the Alps was rescued by one of the famous dogs of St. Bernard. When restored to consciousness his first words were, "There's another." The monks to whom the dogs belonged continued their search, and "the other" was found and saved. "Are you saved?" Is there not another whom you can rescue from sin and bring to the life of God?
