The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-09-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER 10

l. The source and progress Of the
gospel Tvs. 1-5). l. Again" Now
follows another vision to inspire hope
and faith in the exiles, to lead them to
prepare by a right life for their return,
attracted by the blessings yet to come
upon the land. contrasted with their
sad condition in exile. 1.-THE house" "
The temple. "The waters" etc. The
natural fact OH which this conception
rests is this, that there was fountain
connected with the temple hill, the
waters of which fell into the valley
east of the city, and made their way
toward the sea. This was the only
natural fountain stream flowing from
Jerusalem. 1t was small stream,
whose soft-fowing waters were al
! ready, regarded as q symbol of. the si-
| lent and unobtrusive influence Of the
| divine presence in Israel lisa. S:6).
The waters of this stream flowed east
ward, but they were too scanty to have
any appreciable effect on the fertility
| Of the region through which they
passed. "South side Of the altar" The
stream flowed not only from the. tenn
pie, but apparently from the holy Of
holes, and flowed close by the altar
of sacrifice. " ~
2. Ran out" etc. This stream is
symbol Of the miraculous transforma-
ton which the land Of Canaan is to
undergo in order to fit it for the habita-
ton of Jehovah's ransomed people.
The waters did not come to the tenn
ole. as if intended for the purpose Of
washing the sacrifices, but they issued
from It, and proceeded to- refresh and
fertilize other places.
8. 4. 'The man." The angel de
scribed In. chapter 40:3. aMeasured," :"
etc. There is no special Significance
to the exact distance, but only to the
fact that gradually the river broadeped
and deepened. as it flowed toward, the
sea. "Ancles-knees," etc. This may
be applied to the gradual discoveries
Of the plan of salvation 4. In the pa
triarehal ages. 2. In the giving OF the
law. 8. In the ministry Of John the
Baptist. 4. In the full manifestation
Of Christ by the Holy Ghost. Or this
vision may be applied to the growth OF
q believer in the grace and knowledge
Of God; or to the discoveries penitent
believer receives of the mercy Of God
In his salvation; 1t Isl also type Of the
progress of Christianity. 8. Waters
to swim in" The small rill, starting
from the temple, is q type Of the gOs-
bel as It spreads and deepens among
all the. nations of the EARTH transform
ing the desert into Garden OF Eden
II. The power and efficacy or the
gospel (vs. 6-12. z. Many trees"
So long as the beholder, the prophet
followed the measurer, the angel, he,
saw nothing of the trees on the bank.
The looking forward gave Ezekiel the
knowledge of the progressive fulness
and depth Of the waters; not until ne
looks back does he come to know the
fertilizing, enlivening eject OF these
waters. ~
8. Into the desert" The Arabah,
the valley of the Jordan and the Dead
Sea extending south to the Red Sea-,
The country between Jerusalem and
the Dead Sea is the most desolate and
inhospitable tract in the whole coun-
try. '"Into the sea-: The Dead Sea,
the waters Of which are SO 1mpreg-
mated with various salts that no fish
or animal can live In them. Waters
shall be healed" Restored to the pro-
per condition, made healthful. This is
typical of the work Of the Holy Spirit.
8. "Everything-shall live" Life
and salvation shall continually accom-
pany the preaching Of the gospel; the
death of sin being removed, the life or
Righteousness shall be brought In.
Multitude of fish" The Dead Sea has
become a sea Of life. Out OF death
there arises by the grace OF God, q
rich life. The sea is symbol OF tine
world; accordingly men appear as the
living creatures in the sea. as tue
fishes. Hitherto they were only dead
fishes, unspiritual, unsaved men.
10. In this verse we are told that the
fishers shall stand from one end OF the
sea to the other and catch many fish.
II. The miry places and marshes shall
not be healed, but shall be aiyen TO
salt Those not reached by the healing
waters of the gospel through their
sloth and earthly -mindedness are given
over to their own bitterness and bar
renness. The gospel is the only heal
ing medicine for the disorders OF our
fallen nature, and they who will not
receive it in the love Of it remain In
curable and are abandoned to final
ruin. The salt comes into considera-
ton here, not as seasoning, but as tne
foe of fertility, life and prosperity.
The thought is this: Only those VINO
bar themselves against the gracious
stream of divine love and are unWill.
ing to regain health are henceforth to
be given over to the curse, continuing
to exist as monuments Thereon.
Around the sea of death there fingers
on a death unto death.
IL. "Trees for meat" Salvation
must present itself for the terribly sick
heather world. above all, in the form
Of saving grace. Besides the nourlsh-
ing fruits, therefore, are named also
the healing leaves. The figure OF the
fishes refers to the extent, the great
ness Of the community; this figure of
the trees to its nature, in so far as the
divine grace transforms it into truly
living members, who themselves bear
rich fruit and thereby become means
of life and recovery to others also.
Fruit according to his months" This
signifies a constant disposition, desire,
resolution and endeavor to bear fruit,
not in their own wisdom, power or
goodness, or any goodness in them
selves but by the continual supplies
Of divine grace. Whoever may be the
instrument Of planting them, it is di.
vine grace which gives the increase.
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