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14 THE PRESBYTERIAIv
Young People's Society
LIFE LESSONS FROM ISAIAH.
Topic for Sunday, May 2: Life Lessons for me from the
Book of Isaiah. Isaiah G: 1-9.
DAILY READINGS.
Monday: The seivice. Isaiah 42: 1-7.
Tuesday: The sacrifice of the Servant. Isaiah 53.
Wednesday: My hope. Isaiah 2: 1-5.
Thursday: My King and his reign. Isaiah 11: 1-9.
Friday: My song of salvation. Isaiah 12: 1-fi
Saturday: My desert place. Isaiah 35: 1-10.
Let us gather from this mine some of the gems which it
invites us to make our own.
"Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord:
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though ihey be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
"Wash jou, make you clean; put away the evil of your
doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do
well; seea judgment; relieve the oppressed; judge the fatherless;
plead for the widow."
' Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that
they may foilcw strong drink; that continue untii night, till
..me luuaiiie mem; ana the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and
fife, and wine are in their feasts, but they regard not the
work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands."
"The people tnat walked in darkness have seen a great
v light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death,
upon them hath the light shined. 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."
"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of
Jesse, and a ilranoh shall grow out of his roots; and the Spirit
cf the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and
uuuerbiiuiuiiig, me spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of
knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. With righteousness
shall ho judge the poor, and reprove with equity the meek
of the earth."
"Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust and not be
afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song;
he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall
ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."
"O Lord, thou art my God. I will exalt thee. I will praise
thy name.* For thou hast done wonderful things; for thou
hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the. needy
in his distress, a refuge from .the storm, a shadow from the
lieat. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord
Ciod will wipe away tears from off all faces."
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed
on thee, because he trusteth In thee. Trust ye in the Lord
forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength."
"Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes
shall rule In Inriemcnl in-i ? ? ? *
??? ?? luaii suuu De as an biding place
from the wind, and a covert lrom the tempest; as rivers of
water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary
land."
"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak
ye comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her, that her warfare
Is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she
hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins."
"We 3hall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather
the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, anl
oh.11 " *
?u?n t>cuu} i^au tnose mat are with young."
'Who i3 among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the
voice of bis servant, that walketh In darkness, and hath no
light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon
bis God."
I OF THE SOUTH. April 21, 1909.
Prayer Meeting
TOPIC?"NOT SERVANTS BUT SONS."
Gal. 4: 1-7.
For the Week Beginning April 25.
An illustration employed in the argument of the preceding
chapter is continued in this. It is that of the relation of the
heir to an inheritance. The design is to show the higher
privileges, the more spiritual life of believers under the dispensation
of the Spirit. The child, before reaching maturity,
is excluded from the possession of the estate. He is under
tutors and governors, subject to their discipline and restraint.
He is an heir tVi?nors >
6u occctuse oi childhood, he "differeth nothing
from a servant though he be lord of all." The discussion
here regards the church as a unit throughout its progress.
It is not a discussion of progress in the experience of the
individual Christian. "The church was in bondage under the
Mosaic ritual, which was the period of its minority and subjection
to tutors and governors.
The coming of Christ marks a new era, in the progress
and privileges of the church and therefore of its members.
The old external ceremonial, the elaborate temple, the
prieslly vestments and functions, the numerous sacrifices and
festivals appealed to a purely carnal conception and are here
called "elements ot the world." Thev ?j-?- ~
, ?. v>?? ui unmeet tor their
purpose, but of themselves were "beggarly elements." They
were not suited to matured spiritual conceptions and worship.
They had typical significance which was too largely unperceived
and neglected. They were preparatory institutions,
adapted to elementary religious learning, never designed to be
permanent, and were ever subject to perverse and gross misconception.
%
In the purpose of God this was to pass away. A "fullness of
time" was appointed in which redemption should" be accomplished.
Then God sent forth his Son, one with him in substance,
equal in power and glory, "to redeem them that were
under the law, that they might receive the adoption of sons."
The Son of God became the Son of Man, also, bringing his
humanity into unity with his deity. He was made under the
law that he might redeem those who were under the law,
for "in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his
brethren."
The result is that instead of a yoke of ceremonial obedience
and the bondage which it imposed, those wv?r>
. .. uuicve nave
the liberty of the gospel and the adoption of children, the
privileges of adult heirs instead of the restraints and subjection
of minors.
Inasmuch as this is the rightful estate of believers, whether
Jewish or Gentile, "God hath sent forth the spirit of his
Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father." The effect of his
coming is to impart such power of perception and appreciation,
as enables the believer to know the relation that he sus?ains
and to rejoice in it. The spirit of "his Son" is given
therefore "his Son" is revealed to the soul, entering into
vital union with that soul. He fontera ?i?-? ?*-? -
? - v?v; iiuiii upirn oi lovo
und confidence, which prompts to the defTghtful realization
that the relation is not that of a servant, "hut a son, and if
a son, then an heir of God through Christ." The heir, delighting
in this relationship, is emboldened to worship God
as his Father, to walk in blessed communion with him and
to rejoice in hope of the endless felicity of his presence. Then,
so knowing God a3 to reverence, love, trust and obey him,
what have, we to do any more with idols? Why return to
beggarly elements of human superstition and invention, as
though desiring to be still in bondage to that ivhinh rind
has disowned? "Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith
Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again J
with the yoke of bondage."