Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-08-19
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON YIN, THIRD QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES. AUGUST 20.

Comments by VIM. X. ftsher--Suhsects
The River of salvation. Ezekiel a.: 1-ls
Golden Text; whatsoever wiil, Let Him
Take the water OF Life Freely. Rev. aas ~
Prof. Ballantine says In this long
section Chapters 40-4Sl Ezekiel fore
tells the contamination of lsraei's
hopes under the figures Of a restored
nation, new and symmetrical division
OF the Holy Land among the twelve
tribes, a rebuilt temple and re-estab-
Iished worship. Here are the indeii-
nate glories of the Golden Age, con-
ceiyed under the precise forms OF geo
graphical surveys. architectural specifi-
cations, and realistic rubrics. The
igurative purpose is plain" This
beautiful dream tof the river) the pro-
phet never could have thought Of
realizing in the parched wadies that
cash through the desert mountains OF
Jutlea down to the dead seas
1t is the River of Life, which John
has further spiritualized and placed in
the New Jerusalem
In his vision Ezekiel had been shown
the symbol OF the temple and then was
revealed unto him the wonderful River
of Life. and go. after telling OF the
Temple, the prophet says:
l. "Afterward he brought me again
unto the door OF the house and behold
waters issued out from under the
threshold OF the house eastward for
the forefront of the house stood toward
the east, and the waters came down
from under from the right side OF the
house, at the south side of the altar.
This vision was ito inspire hope and
faith in the exiles, to lead them to pre-
pare by a right life for their return,
and to make them willing and anxious
to return, attracted by the blessings yet
to come upon the land, contrasted with
their sad condition in exile" (Pelou-
bet). The temple stream Is symbol
of the miraculous transformation
which the land OF Canaan is to UNDER
go in order to fit it for the habitation
of Jehovah's ransomed people.
2. Then brought he me out Of the
way of the gate northward, and led
me about the way without unto the
outer gate by the way that looketh
eastward, and behold, there ran out
waters on the right side.
THE natural fact on which this con-
ception tthe flowing of waters from I'M
der the temple) rests IN this. that there
was a fountain connected with the tenn
pie hill, the waters of which fell into
the valley east of the city, and made
their way toward the sea- tProf. Dav-
idson). THE truth represented is that
the presence Of God is the source from
which the influences flow forth that
renew and purify human existence.
s(Prof. Skinner).
8. And when the man that had the
line in his hand, went forth eastward,
he measured thousand cubits, and he
brought me through the waters; the
waters were to the ankles"
We are told that there is mo special
significance to this exact distance, but
only the fact that gradually the river
lbrcadened and deepened as it flowed
toward the Dead Sea.
4. Again he measured thousand,
and brought me through the waters;
the waters were to the knees. Again
he measured a thousand, and brought
me through; the waters were to the
ioins.
g. "Afterward he measured a thou
sand; and it was river that / could
not pass over; for the waters were ris-
Ell, waters TO swim in, river that could
not be passed over.
/ 1t took some time for 1t to become
a brook deep enough to cover the an
kles. Another passed. and it reached
to the knees. then TO the loins waters
to swim in"
"The word rendered river is the u.s.
ual one for brook or wady, viz:
stream with its valley or gorge"
The small beginning and the constant
growth of this stream was symbolic of
the renewal OF the kingdom OF Israel.
The scene which the prophet saw in
symbol was afterwards realized in his
tory as regards Israel and more Won
,deTfully so as regards the kingdom of
God; from 80 million professed Chris
tians in A. d. 1000. we see the figures
rise to the majestic height of AIS mill
lions in 1880, and during the past nine
teen years the army Of the Lord has
been marching on. adding strength to
strength.
6. And he said unto me, Son Of
man, hast thou seen this? Then he
brought me and caused me to return
to the brink of the river"
Instead of the brink thc revised
version reads the bank of the river
Z. Nov, when / had returned, be-
hold, at the bank of the river were
very many trees on the one side and on
the other"
Compare Rev. %: /, 2, 'And he
showed me pure river OF water Of life,
clear as crystal. etc.)
Prof. Skinner says There was al
ways vision of better things possible,
and in the last days the prophets cher
ished the expectation that that vision
would be realized. When all causes OF
offense are removed from Israel and Je-
hovah smiles on his people, the land
will blossom into fertility, the plough
man overtaking the reaper, and the
trader of grapes him that soweth seed.
the mountains dropping new vine and
the hills melting" (Amos 9;13.)
8. Then said he unto me, These
waters issue out toward the east coun-
try. and go down into the desert. and
go into the sea; which being brought
forth into the sea, the waters shall be
healed
The desert shall blossom as the
rose" by the flowing of the water of
4