The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-10-11
THE SU,:DAY SCHOOL.
LESSON III, FOURTH QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES, OCT. IS.

NATIONAL SERIES, OCi. 10.
Text of the Lesson, Ez. /, 1-11-Mem-
ory Verses, S, 6-Golden Text, Ps.
cxxvi, documentary Prepared by
Rev. D. N. Stearns.
lCopys;ght, 1905, by American Press Association
The Kingdoms Of this world had pass
ed from the head Of gold. Babylon' to
the breast and arms Of silver, the
Medes and Persians Dan. ii, 50, 3I-39).
The lion had given place to the bear
dan. vii, 4, 81, which bear, although
so described in reference to other ma
tions, is spoken Of as ram, harmless
domestic ani1esl, in reference to Israel
because of the kindness Of Cyrus and
Darius to Daniels peots Dan. viii,
2O). The seventy years Of Judah's cap
tiyity were ended, and the. time had
come for her restoration. according to
Ter, xxx, 10. Not only had the resto-
ration been foretold, but the very king
who should accomplish it had been
mentioned by name some 200 years be-
fore Gsa. xiv, q; xiv, y.
Josiah, one Of the good kings Of Ju-
dab, was mentioned by name about 3oo
wears before be was born q Kings Kill,
2: II Kings xiii, 15-10. Besides these
FIVE others are named in Scripture be-
fore their birth. Let the scholars tell
their names. Every thought and pur-
pose of God will surely be fulfilled; His
counsel will stand, and BE will DO all
His pleasure Qsa. xiv, "a; XVI, 10; rs.
xxxili 1T. When His time has come
He stirs the hearts Of whom He pleas
eth to accomplish His pleasure. be
may have used Daniel, His servant at
the court Of Cyrus, to enlighten Cyrus
concerning His purpose, but He alone
could make Cyrus willing. Throughout
the whole Bible 1t is most fascinating
and inspiring and leads to heartfelt
alteration of Jehovah TO watch Him
working, whether as Creator or Re
deemer, Israels Messiah, the Great
Head Of the. church or the King OF
kings and Lord Of lords. cSctice in the
first two verses Of cur lesson such
statements as ''the word Of the Lord"
..the Lord stirred up" "the Lord bath
given me" and 'He hath charged me-"
then see the hearty obedience of Cyrus
to the word Of the Lord.
The central topic Of the book of Ezra
is the rebuilding Of the house OF the
Lord at Jerusalem. as will be seen
more fully in our next lesson, and this
house is mentioned at least fifty times
In the book. We cannot think Of Israel
as nation apart from the temple or
tabernacle, for no sooner had COO
brought them out Of Egypt than He
gave commands to Moses to have them
build Him sanctuary that He might
dwell among them (Ex. XIV. 8. While
Israel is for the present blinded, the
fullness of the gentiles is being gath
cred, end another house is being build
ed, living temple made Of living
stones, with which we have to do
(Rom. ii, 25. 26; Eph. il, 1922; Pet.
II, 81.
To gather the material for this build
ing, the church, the gospel must be
preached everywhere, and, as in the
days Of Cyrus, so now the word IS,
Let him so who is willing, and God
will be with him, and whosoever re-
maineth let him help with gold and sill
yer and goods those who so forth
oversees 3. Il. Whether we abide at
home or 60 to the ends Of the earth, un-
less we are living to complete the
church, the body Of Christ, we are not
of much use. If we can neither go nor
give we can by earnest, believing pray
er work through those who have gone
and bring blessing from heaven to any
part Of the earth.
IN verses and 6 we see the willing
ones whom God made willing going
forth and the others helping with will
ing offerings, for God was working
Phil. ii, 49,. II there be first a will
ing mind it is accepted according to
that man hath and not according to
that he hath not, and God only expects
US to do as Of the ability which He Civ
eth Oh Cor. viii, u; Pet. ~, 1D. If we
are only yielded to God He will not
leave us untalented, but we must be
sure to use the one talent If only one
we have.
Although the Lord gave the vessels
Of his house at Jerusalem as we'll as
His people into the hands Of other na-
tons for q time Dan. i. l, 2; Jer. xii,
y, He never ceased to care for them,
and the man who dared to Ill treat them
was slain that same night Dan. V, 2,
30). He cares for eacn one Of His re-
deemed, even though they may be in
mans estimation vessels Of second
sort n even lowlier, and whoever
touches one Of them touches Himself.
See verse 10 and Zech. ii, 8; Acts X,
4 a gentle banding over these treas
ures to a Jew makes US think Of the
queen Of Sheba bringing presents to
IA1uS cOlOluoA CahQ loS " LOO AISA VI SAS
east bringing gifts to the Child Jesus
as the King Of the Jews and points on
ward to the time when the wealth Of
the gentiles shall come to Israel and
the nation ard kingdom that will not
serve Israel shall perish Qsa. IL. 5-12;
Ps. lOii, 10. 1D.
We are not surprised to read Of gold
and silver basins and chargers and
other vessels, but what.about the nine
and twenty knives? Well, they were all
the Lords property and belonged to
His house, and He had need Of them.
We 40 not enjoy the cutting things"
as much as those which bring US what
we call something good,' but BE
knoweth best, and we ought to believe
Rom. viii, %, with its 'tall things"