Notes on the Union's Lesson Scheme for 1883. [These Notes are intended to aid Teachers in their studies at home, and not to be used in the school while teaching.] Lesson 1.-January 7. THE CREATION.-Genesis i. GENESIS means generation or production. Shew why this book is so called. It contains the history of the creation of all things. It is the oldest book in the world. It does not give any theories of creation. It states in simple and sublime language the fact that God created the heaven and the earth. They were not from everlasting. There was a time when they did not exist. Our minds can with difficulty realize this. What evidence have we of it?-God's own Word. We receive it by faith. Compare Hebrews xi. 3. Notice, then, the word created; what does it mean?--It means to call something into existence which did not exist before—to make out of nothing. Hence the Apostle says, “Things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Who created all these things?-God did. But compare John i. 1-3, and you will see that the Lord Jesus Christ is said to have made all things. Compare also the last clause of verse 2 of our chapter, and you will see that the Spirit was concerned in this work. So we have at the very beginning of the Bible the great doctrine of the Trinity taught us-three Persons-one God. With what view did God create all things ?-See Psalm xix. 1, and, particularly, Romans i. 20, where this question is answered. This world, these heavens, are manifestations of God-signs of His glory-witnesses to His Godhead-to lead us to rise from nature to nature's God. Every time you look up to these heavens you see God's handiwork. The moving clouds are the trailing skirts of His garments. What was the condition of all things when thus created ?-See verse 2. The earth was without form-a chaos; it was void-no life; it was shrouded in darkness. Three things were needed-ORDER, LIFE, LIGHT. LIGHT was first created. Note the sublimity of the language employed: "God said, Let there be light," and immediately there was light. He said, and it was done. This darkness, what a picture of the darkness brought upon the soul by sin! But Jesus is the Light of men-the Light of the world; and His Word can still give light to the darkened spirit. David knew this. God's Word was a light to his feet. Has the Lord Jesus given you His light? Has He shined in your heart? ORDER follows with a view to life. We have the successive steps clearly indicated:: (a.) Adjustment of land and water, (ver. 6-10.) (b.) Preparation of the land to produce vegetable food for man, (ver. 11-12.) (c.) Arrangement of the planetary bodies so as to become the instruments of light, (ver. 14-18.) The word firmament means the expanse of the sky. As ORDER succeeds light in the natural creation, so is it in the regeneration. Remember the account given of the demoniac when cured-he was sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind. All his wild unrest dispelled, and succeeded by calm and peace. So still. Jesus is our peace-the Prince of Peace. When He comes into a human spirit He brings peace and order. brought peace to you? LIFE succeeds-the living beings for whom the earth was made. (a.) Fish of the sea and fowl of the air, (ver. 20, 21.) (b.) Land animals, (ver. 24, 25.) (c.) Man, (ver. 26-27.) In connection with man's creation, note these things: Has He (a.) There was apparently more deliberation and counsel, as we would say: "God said, LET US make man.' No such language is used before. (b.) The image and likeness in which he was created: God's own image-God's own likeness. In what did this likeness consist ?-In knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. Compare Ephesians iv. 24; Colossians iii. 10. (c.) Man's position in creation. He had universal dominion over every living thing. He was the head of creation, lord of it all. What dignity, what honour! How often does man abuse this dominion by his cruelty to the lower animals! They are all God's creatures as well as he. Lastly, notice God's verdict on His work-it was all very good. Note the word all; not man alone, but all creation. Nothing was in vain. The meanest reptile was, after its kind, very good. Remember this, and also that they remain as God made them-man alone is vile. How humble we should be! Memory Exercise-Shorter Catechism 1.-Genesis i. 27. Golden Text-"So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them."-Genesis i. 27. NOTES.-Three things, the Creator, the creature, the pattern or image. The Creator-God. Man did not make himself--he was made; and in this verse there is a truth which the world in its wisdom could not find out. The creature -man-the human family. The image-God's own image. This is said of none of the other creatures. Man stood by himself. What were the features of this image?-They were knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. Go over each. Knowledge-actual knowledge, and, what was better, the love of it. ness-man, as he came from God's hand, loved the right, and did it. free from all sin. This was a noble image. We have lost it; but we it through the Lord Jesus Christ. Lesson 2.-January 14. ADAM AND EVE.-Genesis ii. RighteousHolinessmay regain I. The Institution of the Sabbath, (ver. 1-3.)-Creation was finished in six days: on the seventh God rested. Explain the word; it does not mean that God was weary. What did God do to the seventh day?-He blessed it,-i. e., put a special blessing on it-made it the best of all the seven; and He sanctified it,i. e., set it apart from the other days-consecrated it to himself only, in commemoration of His work. Learn how old the Sabbath is; it comes down from Paradise. Learn how highly God valued it. What do you think of it? Point out what our Sabbath commemorates: the completion of Christ's redemption work. II. Adam and Eve created.-Read verse 7, and verses 18-25 together, leaving the intermediate verses in the meantime. Adam made of dust; how low his origin on the one side: how little to be proud of! But notice the other side: God himself breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Man has a soul as well as a body. Both body and soul are from God; but the body is earthly, the soul is spiritual. The body is the tent; the soul is that which holds communion with God. How precious must this living soul be! What will you give in exchange for it? When God had made every living thing, He brought them to Adam to give them names, (verses 19, 20.) Among all these creatures there was no companion found for Adam. He was a living soul-was immortal-far above the beasts that perish-made in God's own image; and so God provides a special help-meet for him. Note how (verses 21, 22) woman was formed from a rib taken from man's side; she was to be man's equal, his companion, and neither his superior nor inferior. God himself brought her to man. This was the first marriage in this world; who performed it? Note how old marriage is; like the Sabbath, it, too, comes down from Eden. The Sabbath and marriage were both appointed by God; and all history shews that nations are happy in proportion as they honour these ordinances of God. III. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, (ver. 8-17.)-Note the site of the garden. It was in Eden, somewhere near the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, (ver. 10-14.) This is really all we know, or need care to know. Had it been of importance to us, God would have told us the exact spot. He has not told us, and we need not seek it. If men did know, they would likely pervert the knowledge, and make the site a "holy place," as is done with places in Palestine to this day. Note, as of more importance, that it was a garden planted by God himself, (ver. 8.) He would provide for His creatures. Read John xiv. 2, 3, and see the counterpart of this in the Paradise above. God's house has many mansions. Christ has gone to prepare a place for all His own. Is He preparing one for you? Note further, that God puts man into it, (ver. 15.) So does God still. He puts every boy and girl in the place He pleases. Try and feel this, and learn, in whatsoever state you are, to be content. And still further notice, man in Paradise was not to be idle, (ver. 15.) He was to dress the garden, and keep it. Learn that we were made to work. God, who made us, knows what is best for us. He knows that idleness is not good for us. Satan finds some mischief for all idle hands. Never seek to be idle. The hand of the diligent maketh rich. Note now the covenant made with man. He could eat of every tree save one, (ver. 16, 17.) Note who made this covenant. He had a perfect right to do so, for all was His. Note the penalty of disobedience-death. "The wages of sin is death." Learn from the whole section this great lesson: God wills the happiness of His creatures. He planted a garden for him; He found a help-meet for him; He gave Him free use of every tree save one. Surely God is good. Memory Exercise-Shorter Catechism 2.-Genesis ii. 17. Subject to be proved-God Provides for His People's Happiness. Golden Text-"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."Genesis ii. 17. NOTES.-We have in this verse the test of the covenant God made with man. A tree-called here the tree of the knowledge of good and evil-was fixed upon. Man was not allowed to eat of this tree. This was the test of his obedience. Then note the penalty attached-" Thou shalt surely die." Life would be the reward of obedience,-death the punishment of disobedience. Man was not left in ignorance of God's will. He was distinctly and clearly warned. So he was without excuse if he should transgress. Note further what death implied,-loss of God's image, loss of God's favour, loss of God's presence. Lesson 3.-January 21. THE FALL.-Genesis iii. I. The Fall, (ver. 1-8.)-Note the agent-the serpent. Read Rev. xii. 9, and learn what the serpent was; character of serpent-subtle, i.e., cunning. Note his mode of attack-he attacks the woman-probably alone-why? He begins by casting doubt on God's command, (ver. 1.) Can it be true that God said, ye were not to eat of that tree? What should the woman have done when this attempt was made? Read James iv. 7, and learn. See how Christ acted, (Matt. iv. 10.) But how did the woman act? She dallied with the temptation, and began to reason with the tempter, (ver. 2, 3.) See how dangerous it is to listen to any temptation to evil. Always shut your ears to it. The serpent becomes bolder, (ver. 4,) and charges God with being a deceiver, and as jealous of the position which man would reach if he did eat, (ver. 5.) God is afraid of you, he says; He wishes to keep you in slavery-to keep some good from you; that is why He has forbidden you to eat. Read John viii. 44, and learn the true character of the devil from the beginning. Note how this temptation succeeded. The woman saw that the tree was good for food, was pleasant to look at, and one which would make them wise. You have there the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. So the woman took of the fruit,-broke God's command-and induced her husband to do so also. Notice how the serpent deceived them. He said, "Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." They did know now good and evil; but it was good gone, past away, and evil, or sin, ever present. Their eyes were opened; but what did they see? (ver. 7,)-themselves naked-without any covering-exposed to God's wrath and anger. See what they did to cover themselves, sewed fig leaves-a poor covering; how much better the covering God gave them! (ver. 21.) Learn from this what we all do when first we find ourselves naked,-we try to do some good, thinking that will cover us; but nothing will cover us, save the covering-the robe-which God himself has provided. See, further, how man, from being a child, becomes a slave, (ver. 8.) God is now terrible to them-they run from Him-they hide. Sin always drives us away from God. Remember Peter: "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man," (Luke v. 8.) God and the sinner cannot agree. The sinner will always flee from God. The Lord Jesus has made peace. Have you found it? II. The Curse, (ver. 9-19.)-God will not forsake His creatures. He walks in the garden; and even when Adam and Eve hide, God goes in search. Compare parable of lost sheep. Oh! the greatness of God's seeking love. Adam still hides; but God calls him, (ver. 9.) Notice Adam's excuse, (ver. 10,) and see how God, from his own mouth, condemns him, (ver. 11.) Adam said he was afraid, because he was naked. But God answers, How did you come to know this? It could only be in one way-by transgression. Thus convicted, Adam, like all sinners, becomes a coward, (ver. 12.) He blames his wife, nay, he even blames God himself. The woman whom thou gavest, &c. Had you not given her, I would not have fallen. The woman blames the serpent, (ver. 13.) Notice the curse upon the serpent, (ver. 14, 15,) and particularly the blessed promise of ver. 15. Shew how the seed of the woman-i. e., Christ-did thus bruise the head of the serpent. Christ came to destroy the works of the devil. Notice, secondly, the curse on Eve. She is put in a position of subjection; and, thirdly, the curse on Adam, (ver. 17-19.) In this curse we have a curse on the ground, (ver. 17, 18;) we have a life of labour assigned as man's lot, (ver. 19;) and death as the end of life, (ver. 19.) See from all this how poor and short-lived is the triumph of sin! See further the exceeding grace of God, who mingled mercy with judgment; and when denouncing a curse, gave the promise of a Saviour to redeem from that curse. III. Adam is driven from Paradise, (ver. 20-24.)-Before expelling them God clothed them. What skins were these ?-not of animals killed for food, for flesh was not eaten till after the flood. Hence, in all likelihood these were the skins of animals slain in sacrifice; God thus teaching them, that without shedding of blood there can be no remission; and that no covering will suffice for man's sins, but one which rests on an atonement made. God then sent him forth from Eden, (ver. 23)-drove him out. Note the word drove. God will drive all sinners from His presence for evermore. God protected the garden. He placed a cherubim and a flaming sword, which became the symbol of the Divine presence, and towards which, it is likely, man worshipped. Hence Cain is said to have gone out from the presence of the Lord, (chap. iv. 16.) Memory Exercise-Shorter Catechism 3.-Gen. iii. 8. Subject to be proved-We should not Dally with Temptation. Golden Text-"And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden."-Genesis iii. 8. NOTES.-A great change. What has brought it about ?-Sin. Note the first effect of sin-fear-not the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, but fear of Him as the punisher of sin. Instead of meeting God, Adam and Eve wished to be away from Him. They hid themselves-so they thought; but they could not be hid. Now this is the way with sinners still. They hate the light, because their deeds are evil. The prodigal left his father's house, and went into a far country. Peter, astonished at the power of Jesus, cried, "Depart ." But, remember that sin will be found out. from me, for I am a sinful man." Read also the notes on the lesson. Lesson 4.-January 28. CAIN AND ABEL.-Genesis iv. 1-15. I. The Children and their Occupation, (ver. 1, 2.)-Cain was the first child born into this world. See what his mother called him-Cain, which means gotten or acquired. She evidently connected him with the promise in Gen. iii. 15, and imagined him to be the promised deliverer. How she was doomed to disappointment! Abel's name means feeder, and so we find him giving himself to the keeping of sheep, while Cain becomes a tiller of the ground. II. The Two Offerings, (ver. 3-7.)-In process of time, or, as it means, at the end of days, would seem to indicate some fixed time for presenting the offering. It is altogether likely that God fixed some definite time, and appointed the kind of sacrifice. Cain brought of the fruits of the ground, but Abel of the firstlings of his flock. Note the difference between these two offerings. Both were expressive of thanksgiving, and an acknowledgment of dependence on God for the necessaries of life. But Cain forgot that he was a sinner; he came before God in his own name and in his own strength; he did not recognise the fact that his own life was really forfeited because of sin, and that God could be approached only on the footing of a sacrifice made and accepted by God. Now, Abel did recognise this. He offered a sacrifice, thereby shewing that he believed that God could only be approached by blood; that life must go for life; that if God accepted him, it must be in virtue of the substitution of another's life for his. In one word, he recognised the need of an atonement. Bring this clearly out as the grand distinction between the two offerings, and then the acceptance of the one and the rejection of the other are easily understood. And so we read that God accepted Abel's offering, and Abel's person too; but He did not, and could not accept Cain or his offering. So it is still. God is a just God, but yet the Saviour of the ungodly who believe on Jesus. No man can come to God save through Jesus. In Him, He is our reconciled God and Father; out of Him, He is a consuming fire. Notice next the effect on Cain. He was angry, and his anger shewed itself in his face-his countenance grew dark and scowling. See what a fearful thing anger is; it changes a man's very appearance, and, when unchecked, may lead to dreadful crimes. No wonder we read: "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer," (1 John iii. 15.) Notice, further, how long-suffering our God is: He reasons with Cain. He shews him that the way of acceptance was easy, and in his own power-that sin lying at the door would always keep him from God, for evil cannot dwell with Him; and if we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us. But it is evident that Cain did not listen to God, for we have The III. The Murder and its Punishment, (ver. 8-15.)-Anger indulged soon came to worse. Like all bad men, Cain would blame every one but himself. peace which Abel enjoyed would be a constant reproof to Cain, and would naturally increase his anger. He talked with Abel, probably on the reason why God had not accepted him; and from words he came to blows. Read 1 John iii. 12, and you have the reason why he killed him. Verily sin soon grows. The eating the forbidden fruit might have seemed a slight offence; but every tree is known by its fruit. Judge of Adam's first sin by this first murder, and then we may be able to form some idea of its enormity. Cain is not allowed to escape. God will take vengeance on all murderers. Man was made in God's image, and it is a fearful crime to deface that image. How the question-Where is Abel?-must have startled Cain! Be sure thy sin will find thee out. See how Cain goes from one sin to another: he insolently tells a lie. And see how utterly selfish he is: Am I my brother's keeper?-what have I to do with him ?-he can take care of himself. But God will not allow him to escape-the very earth cries for venge |