LESSON FOR THE FOURTH SABBATH IN FEBRUARY by C. C. L.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, February 17, 1885

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 7

LESSON FOR THE FOURTH SABBATH IN FEBRUARY.

By C. C. L.

(See Instructor of Feb. 18, 1885.)

THE INHERITANCE OF THE SAINTS.

CRITICAL NOTES.

NUMBERS 12:3: Many have great difficulty in this text, thinking that because Moses was meekest man in the earth he could not have spoken such language of himself. Hence they assert that it was written by some other person. The assertion might be safely admitted of the passage in question as well as of the account of Moses’ death; still it should not be forgotten that the rules which govern ordinary men in writing do not so strictly apply to those writing by inspiration. Such men spoke not according to their own will, but as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Pet. 1:21. The same Spirit which used Moses to write language so strongly condemning himself as that found in Num. 20:12 and 13, 14, could with consistency in this case, use him to write in a highly complimentary manner of himself, if it were the truth, and the occasion demanded it. Moreover, the original also implies that Moses was the most oppressed man in the world, as Gesenius gives to the word translated “meek,” the following definition: 1. Oppressed, bowed, wretched, but everywhere with the accessory idea of humility, meekness; that is, the humble meek, who prefer to suffer wrong rather than to do wrong. Hence, 2. Simply meek.

JOHN 2:6: Abideth in him.—One definition of the word from which “abideth” is translated is “To remain closely conjoined with any one, and remain united in thought, feeling, purpose, action.” The text might be paraphrased thus: He who professes to have an abiding union with Christ in thought, feeling, purpose, and action, is in duty bound to prove the reality and sincerity of his profession by leading such a life as Christ led.

MATTHEW 5:5: A quotation from Ps. 37:11. It is to be fulfilled after the evil doers have been cut off, when the place of the wicked, as well as the wicked themselves, shall not be. Verses 9, 10. Compare Isa. 60:21; 1 Cor. 3:21-23.

JAMES 2:5: The poor of this world.—Poor in respect to the things of the world,—poor in those things which the world regard as making their possessor rich. Not simply because they were poor are they chosen, but because they were also rich in faith. To such was the gospel preached, and upon them a blessing was pronounced. Luke 4:18; 6:20; 7:22. Heirs.—If we are children of God, then are we heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Rom. 8:17. If ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Gal. 3:29. Kingdom.—Matt. 5:25:34.

ACTS 14:22: Confirming.—The word literally means, “to cause to stand firmly upon.” The disciples already stood upon the truth; they needed aiding by instruction to stand firmly upon it. Continue.—Stick by, hold on to. The faith.—The system of doctrines upon which the religion of Christ was founded. “And [teaching them] that,”

Much tribulation.—Literally, many afflictions. The kingdom.—The everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, that prepared for the children of God from the foundation of the world, of which the righteous are now heirs (Jas. 2:5), which they shall inherit at the coming of Christ (Matt. 25:34), and shall literally and fully possess when the earth is made new. C. C. L.