The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-08-09
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST l3.

Subject: Ezekiel's Great Vision, Eek
xxxvii., 1.14-Golden Text: II Will Put
MY Spirit Within You," Ezek. I11vi'.
27-Commentary on the Lesson.
/. "Ths hand Of the Lord" Indicating
that he felt sensible impressions OF coos
power resting upon him. The prophetic
influence was communicated. I'm the
spirit" In O spiritual vision. "Valley.'
Probably that by the Chebar; the valley
represents Mesopotamio, the scene OF
tsrael's sojourn In her state OF natural dead.
pess. "Full OF bonss." The bones were
lying like bones OF men slain In battle.
parched and bleached by the sun In low
plain; and the prophet was led round the
higher ridge Of the plain, as round~the
order to survey them as they lay below him
In Its dark bosom.
2. "They were very dry" Representing
The 1sraelites dispersed abroad, destitute
of national and spiritual lie. The first and
great object OF this prophesy seems evil
IDENTIFY to be the restoration OF the Jews
from the Babylonish captivity. 4 nation
carried into captivity ceases to be nation,
and therefore may be fitly compared to
Of bones was signihed the BabyloDish
dominions filled with captive Jews. Be-
sides this, the vision Is lively representa-.
ton of threefold resurrection: !. or tho
resurrection Of souls from the death Of sin
TO the life Of righteousness. 2. The resur.
rection Of the Gospel-church or OF any part
Of 1t from an afflicted state to liberty and
peace. 8. The resurrection OF the body OF
the great day.
8. "Can these bones liver" The question
Is fitted to bring the prophet, and through
him his hearers and readers, to the con-
sciousness Of the inpossibility presented
TO human eyes; and considering the words
uttered by Israel w., 1D, its intention
doubtless is to bring out the despair Of the
people, In order to make room In their
hearts for the prophecy of salvation. V.
IL. Ezeklel's answer refers the matter to
God, for with Him there Is no impossibility
unless BE Wills it, and that God alone can
know.
4. "Prophesy upon these bones" De.
clare to your miserable countrymen the
gracious designs Of the Lord; show them
that their state, however deplorable, Is not
hopeless. "Hear ye the word OF the Lord"
sense and understanding are here attribu.
ted to the dry bones; and as these bones
signiaed the captive Jews they are with
strict propriety called upon to hear the
word OF the Lord.
S. II will cause breath to enter" The
|
The parts which corruption speedily and
completely destroys. The ligaments are
to BIZ added In order to unite the bones,
that the skeleton might be complete.
Bring flesh." The whole muscular sys-
sem, including the arterial and venous sys.
TENS, clothes this skeleton, and the skin
envelopes the whole Of these muscles or
flesh; and now these bodies are in the state
that the body Of Adam was before 1t re:
L kl.a IL {nta oI t,rfn
:iple from God.
7. "There was a noise." OF movement;
,ymbol of the gathering Of Israelltes from
different parts. Perhaps referring to the
decree Of Cyrus, or the noise Of the Jews
exultation ut their delIverance and return.
"A shaking" Maniiesting divine pres.
snce working among them. Until Israel
should give attention to the word OF the
Lord, He could not undertake for them.
"Bone to bis bone" Each fitting into the
proper place and relation. Before Israel
they must llrst be brought into unity among
themselves. ..~ -
8. "There was no breath" No souls
animated the bodies. A man may assume
all tine emblances OF spiritual life yet have
none, and so be dead before God. They
wanted spirit and courage for such diff
cult enterprise as the return to their own
land.
9. "Prophesy unto the wind" Or, rather,
unto the Spirit. namely the quickenir,S
Spirit OF God, or principle OF life, Issuing
from Him nnd imparting life to every
creature that possesses 1t. -Four winds" !"
Implying that Israel had been scattered
to oil quarters.
10. Lived and stood up" The dis.
pirited, despairing captives were wonder
fully animated with resolution to break
through all the disbursements that lay
In the way OF their return. "An exceeding
effective men, fit for service IN war and
formidable to nil that should give them
any opposition. These words, applied to
the Jews released and returning from
captivity, signify that they should be
! gathered from their several dispersions
and should be united In one body.
II. "Our bones are dried" We are un.
done-reduced to ourselves. 1t Is over
with Us. "Our hope Is lost" Our affairs
are in the most desperate condition. There
is not any hope OF their being recovered:
out from Gods help. We shall never be
a nation again, indicating condition Of
! extreme despair.
70. II will open your graves" Meaning
thereby the a6odes Of the exiles, since the
Jews who were In exile considered them.
selves like dead men. Though your cap
tivity be as death, your prisons and places
! OF confinement close as graves, yet will J
open those graves. You need not despair
| Of being beyond Gods power. He car
even raise the dead. The Jews regarded
the lands of their captivity und dispersion
rs their graves; their restoration was tc
be as life from the dead. Before the bones
we're IN the open valley, now in the graves,
| That is, some OF tho Jews were In the
graves OF actual captivity, others at large
| but scattered. Both alKe-were nationally
dead. "Bring you into the land OF Israeli
| Not only should they have new hope be
gotten, but they we're also to realize al
the promise fulfilled. They were to pos
sess thoir own land. God has place fo
! His people. The land which God gave
unto Isauel was still known as the land o.
Israel. To it the Jews were to be gathered
19. "Ye shall know that am the Lord
When have done for you what was be-
yond your hope. and by you deemed i'm
possible, then shall ye know that am Je
hovab.
IA. "And shall put My Spirit IN you" NJ:
enlight cning, rcGcnerating and sanctify
Ing Spirit. "And ye shall live" To th'
glory OF God, separated from the heathen
false gods, false wnEsbjD. falss ap'"i'p
and false hope