THE KING’S BUSINESS
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Unto Us a Son Is Given DECEMBER 24, 1916. LESSON X III. Isaiah 9:1-7. (Commit vs. 6 , 7). G olden T ext : "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”—Isaiah 9:6.
DA ILY BIBLE READINGS Mon., Dec. 18—Isa. 9:2-7. (The Lesson).
Tues., Dec. 19—Matt. 2:1-6. Wed., Dec. 20—Matt. 2:7-15. Thurs., Dec. 21—Matt. 2.T6-23. Fri., Dec. 22—Luke 1 :46-55. Sat., Dec. 23—Luke 2:8-19. Sun., Dec. 24—John 1 :1-14.
EXPOSIT ION AND PRACT ICAL APPL ICAT IONS
vs. 1, 2 . “Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, (But there shall be no gloom to her that was in anguish) when at the first He lightly afflicted (In the former time He brought into contempt) the land of Zebulu,n and the land of Naphtali, and afterward (but in the latter time) did more grievously afflict her (hath he made it glorious,) by the way o f the sea, beyond (add , the) Jordan, in (omit, in) Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell (dwelt) in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” .“ The people that walked in darkness,” as the context clearly shows, refers primarily to the land o f Zebulun and Naphtali,, Galilee o f the nations (Gentiles), (cf. John 1:46; 7:52). This was also the land that “was in anguish,” but there was to “be no gloom” to her now. Rather there was to be the greatest brightness, since there the Light o f the World was to spend the greater part o f His earthly life and to perform most o f His miracles. In former times God had brought this land into great “contempt,” but now He was to “make it glorious” beyond all lands as the home o f His only- begotten Son. The “ great light” that the
people who had previously “ walked in darkness” now “have seen” is “ the Light o f the World,” Jesus o f Nazareth (John 8:12), Who first and chiefly manifested forth the glory o f God during His earthly life in Galilee (Matt. 4:12-16; John 2 : 11 ). Up to the time o f this shining o f the light in the person o f Jesus, they' had “ dwelt in the land o f the shadow o f death.” But there is a larger application o f verse 2 to the whole world; for the whole world “ walked in darkness” and “ dwelt in the land o f the shadow o f death” until Jesus came, and the whole world has seen, or shall see, this great light which Jesus is (Luke 1 :78, 79). The darkness that rests upon the whole earth out o f Christ, is the very deepest, it is “the land o f the shadow o f death.” But upon them that dwell therein the light has already shined. I f any one has not that light, it is their own fault. v. 3. “ Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not (Thou hast) increased the (their) joy : they joy before Thee according to the joy in harvest, and (omit, and) as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.” With the coming o f the light, there comes also an increase o f the people and an increase o f joy (R . V .). For Israel as a people
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