Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-08-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON WI. THIRD QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES. AUGUST Is

Comments by VIM. X. Fisher-Sub5ects
Exekief's Great Vision, Ezekiel 81: liza
--ssoldsn Texts WIN Put My spiris
within You--EEekfeI IS. ~.
In Suggestions to Teachers" Pelou-
bet says: Review She three periods OF
the prophetic work of Ezekiel. The
lessons selected by the committee all
belong to the third period, that of re-
storation and hope. The actual condi-
ton of the Jews VIXEN Ezekiel wrote 10
symbolized nv the LAGOON. the famous
marble group in the Vatican, fash
toned after the description IN Virgil
He and his sons are being crushed In
the folds Of the serpents, writing in
agony, unable to escape. But Ezekiel
saw In his vision time represented by
another work of art in Rome, the pic
ture of ST. Michael and the dragon
the dragon beneath the Saint, and in
the act OF being slain by his victorious
sword.
In our last lesson we studied the con-
ditions on which alone the Jewish ma
ton could be restored. To-day we
study the power by which 1t was TO be
accomplished. and the marvellous eff
fects of that power. The vision is one
of hope and instruction. The truths
and the comfort apply to us as indi-
viduals and as churches and nations.
The hand is the instrument and SYM
boil OF active exertion of strength. Je-
hovah laid hold of the prophet, took
possession of him. In order to send the
exi1es a message through him..
(Prof Joy). Ezekiel in being carried
out in the Spirit of the Lord and the
same experience which John enjoyed
so many years after him, when he was
in the Spirit on the Lords day" The
valley he saw was not a real one, the
vision, being purely prophetic.
In his vision Ezekiel was led round
about them so that he could have
thorough view and fully realize how
many there were in ''the open valley"
which it is said, literally means ON the
face" or surface of the valley, exposed
to view. That they were very, very
dry" Prof Joy says is mentioned to
show that they were utterly dead, and
could not be made alive by any human
power"
3. And he said unto me, Son Of
man can these bones live? and ! an
swered, o Lord God, thou knowest.
ity.'' The prophet could not see how,
but he could say Lord, thou knowest."
Many times, If we but had the faith,
things that are impossible with man,
would be brought TO pass by our taking
hold of God.
4. Again, he said unto me. Prophesy
upon these bones. and say unto them,
o We dry bones, hear the word OF the
! Lord"
This was not a prediction but a direct
message from God.
5. "Thus saith the Lord God unto
these bones; Behold, will cause breath
| to enter into you, and We shall live
Although naturally they never could
| live. yet the Mighty One of Israel de-
clared he would cause them to breathe
and live, So ii is those who are dead
in trespasses and sin; to the mind Of
man it seems that they are beyond
hope, but Jesus says "He that believeth
in me, though he were dead, yet shall
he live again."
T. $50 | prophesied as | was COM
manded; and as prophesied, there was
a noise. and behold a shaking, and the
bones came together, bone to his bone.
As Ezekiel prophesied there was more
than a slight noise" the margin
says laundering" and the revised ver-
sion says IAN earthquake which has
been compared to that at the resurrec-
ton of Christ.
The prophet was true and delivered
the message which the Lord told him
to deliver, and stir" was created
so it is with the ambassadors OF Christ
| to-day, when they deliver the message
straight from the throne of God there
is movement among those who are
dwelling in the valley.
9. Then said he unto me. Prophesy
unto the wind prophesy, son OF man,
and say to the wind, Thus saith the
Lord God; Come from the four winds,
0 breath, and breathe upon these
slain, that they may live"
| By wind is meant breath or spirit.
| From the four winds" Cambridge BIZ
BILE tells us, is symbol of the universal
life-giving Spirit of God.
Prof. Skinner says Just as the de-
struction by the bodily organism inn
| plies the death Of each separate men,
Der and organ and cell, so the individ-
nal Israelites felt themselves to be as
dead men, dragging out an aimless ex-
| istence without hope in the world"
So do sinners feel when they have their
true condition revealed to them by the
Holy Spirit. TO be without Christ is
TO be without hope in deepest, truest
sense.
The declaration II will open your
graves" (verse 12) implies COMPARE
son or lsraels condition to one that
was dead and buried; out of this state
the Lord promised to raise them up.
This marks the marvelousness Of
the return from Babylon
IA. And shall put my Spirit in you.
and we shall live. and shall place you
in your own land; then shall We know
that the Lord have spoken it, and
performed it, saith the Lord.
After the grand contamination had
taken place, life had been restored and
they should be placed in their own land
then they would be able not only to
acknowledge that the Lord had spoken.
but also rejoice in the fact that he had
I