The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-08-03
THE NEW HEART,
international Sunday school Lesson
for August O, 1sOO-Text, Esekiei
88,25-30-Memoryv Verses, 2S.25.


give you.-Ezek, 3G:26.
READ Ezekiel l1:14-25; jeremiah 81 1884.
LIGHT FROM OTHER SCRIPTURES.
Sin Captivity.-John S:34; Rom. 6:16, 20;
7:23, "a; S:21; Pet. 2:19 Cleansing. .-Psa.
ISIS: 5l:7; Heb. 10: :2z; 1 Cor. GIL; Eph. 6:26;
John III The New Heart-John 3:3-s; Gal.
6:l5; Jer. 31SS; $3.50; Ezek. II 10, 20; Matt.
1888; 1873; Rom. 1872; Jas. 1:lS Place in
Bible History.-2 Kings. chaps "a, 25;
TiME~Ezekiel was carried captive B.
c. 67, perhaps at the age Of 80 Q:D; began
to prophesy 3. c. 592 and continued till
b70. This prophecy belongs to the period
after the destruction of Jerusalem, $50.
PLACE.-Ezekiel was born in Judea, but
after he was taken captive he dwelt at Tel
abb on the bank of the river Chebar, prob
ably one of the great canals near Babylon.
III. A. White, M. A.
..cSo,,1I .coM,TEMIPoRARY NJ H1sToEY.a,The de-
struction OF Jerusalem. B. G. 6se. Me-
Hophra, king Of Egypt. The Seven Wise
Prscus pued Roms seon rahsuiRss shss Riss
pOses Assop no;;d dssppf dp4 s aSes h Grsaa sad
the philosopher Pythagoras-all lived dur
explanatory.
l. Cleansing from Past Sin.-v. Is.
In the previous verses the prophet pic
lures the corruption and idolatry which
defled the people, and the punishment
which was inflicted by God on account
of it; then the promise of return, for
the sake of His kingdom. "Then:"
When the time shallcome for God to re-
store Israel to their own land ". 24).
"Will l." God is speaking. Sprinkle
clean water upon you:" The concep-
ton of cleansing by sprinkling clean
water comes from the Mosaic ceremo-
nial system. (See especially Mum.
19:17-19, and also Psa. 51:7.)-Cowles.
(Also Heb. 9:13,14.) New Testament
Light. Cleansing from sin is absolute
ly essential to the salvation of the indi-
vidual and of the nation. God saves not
in sin, but from sin (Rom. 5:12; l. Cor.
3:17, $50; Rev. 21:27). ~ We are
cleansed from the guilt of sin by for
giveness Col. 1:14; Tit. 2:14; Rom.
16:1s s:D (2) from the consequences
of sin (John a:16; Rom. 5:9); (3j from
the love OF sin, by the new heart re-
fexred to in v. 26.
u. The New Heart.-V. 26. "A new
heart also will give you:" The heart
'is the center of life to the body; it
sends the ife-blood to every part; if
1t is weak or imperfect the whole body
liz weak and sickly. "A new spirit:" A
new motive, new principle Of action,
new love. "And I will take away the
stony heart:" The heart Of sin is
called stony, like rock. New Testa-
,ment Light. This is the great doctrine
of the New Testament, taught forcibly
by our Lord Himself In His statement
respecting the new birth John 1888,
and everywhere presented as preemi-
Inently the work of the Spirit of God.
III. The New Life.--V. 27. II will
put my Spirit within you:" This is the
gift of the Holy Spirit, promised by
Joel (2:2s). Keep My judgments"
His laws, His decisions, as to what was
right.
w. Motives for Choosing the New
Life VS.. 1886. First Motive: A
Promise of Restoration v. 2s. "And
ye shall dwell in the land:" They shall
be restored to their own land.
Second Motive: Deliverance from
Sin. v. 20. II will also save you from
all your uncleannesses:" The outward
blessings promised could not continue
unless they should first be saved from
sin.
Third Motive: A Promise of Prosper
ity and Plenty Tvs. 20, 3o). II will call
for the corn" (grain): God as the
owner of the earth and controller OF
all it's forces, will summon them to sup
ply the grain needed for their support.
". 30. "And will multiply the fruit OF
the tree:" There shall be plenty of
food. mo more reproach of famine:"
The heather seem to have reproached
the Israelites with having a God who
would allow them to suffer hunger.
The heather did not understand the
reason. (See v. 49,
Fourth Motive: A Nature Refined,
Purified, Ennobled Tvs 81, 32)). V. 81.
"Then shall We remember your own evil
ways -. and shall loathe your
selves:" When they see their own
sins in contrast with Gods goodness,
then they will realize how mean and
disgraceful their sins were. v. 80. And,
lest the goodness of God in restoring
them should lessen their feeling as to
their own character, God tells them:
'Not for your sakes do this" They
did not deserve it.
Fifth Motive: A Promise for Their
Country. Patriotism Tvs. 33-35). V. 49,
''In the day that / shall have cleansed
you:" They must never forget that
this was the necessary condition OF
salvation. v. 35. This land that was
desolate is to become like the garden
of Edsn:" In these verses the tenn
poral side ESQ to speak, of these verses
stands forth prominently. This
prophecy is being fulfilled in every
Christian community, as far as it is
Christian; but it's complete fulfillment
will be in the renewed and restored
earth, when, sin being removed, and
God dwelling with men, the beauty and
glory of paradise shall be restored (see
Rev. 81 and 22).
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