The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-09-08
THE LIFE.GIVlNG
STREAM
Sunday school Lsssoniors Sept o.lsos
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

Specially Prepared for This Paper

LESSON TExT-Ezekiel a:i-12 Mem
DRY verses, SIS N, 80,
GOLDEN TEXT.-"Whosoever VIII. let
him take the water OF life Freely -NeV'
22l7.
TIME.-The lesson Is part of the prophecy
beginning at chapter 4O and was written
in the twenty-fifth year OF EZekiel 5 cap
tivity IA years after the fall OF Jerusa-
lem. Ezekiel was exiled in Il. e. 5s7' ana
began 10 prophesy Il. G. 5s2
PLACE.-The prophecy was written at
Tel-Abib. on the river Chebar near Baby
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. - Sur
roundings of EzekiePs boyhood, Kings
o. % Circumstances OF EzekieFs exile.
Kings "a. EZekiers call TO prophecy
Eek 1-3. Compare the lesson with Gen.
2:s-17; lisa 11:9; Dan 2:S4. 10; Zech. lf;s;
Matt 13:3l-33; John. 1919; Rev. 221
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. He" The visionary being who
was conducting Ezekiel around the
temple. unto the door," He had
been examining the court Of the tenn
pie, and now turned back to the door
of the edifice Waters issued
eastward" The waters issued from
under the right side of the house,
which faced eastward, flowed around
the south side of the brazen altar or
sacrifice, which stood before the Holy
Place, then onward toward the east.
In reality a fountain upon the hill OF
Jerusalem where the temple was built
sent forth a small stream which
flowed eastward. BY this natural
stream God typifed the spiritual
. stream of blessing and of influence
about which He wished to teach His
: people.
: V. 3. Gate northward:" The east
= ern gate was closed (46:D, hence
/ they passed out of the northern gate,
, around the outer wall, until they came
: to the outer side of the eastern gate,
from which the waters flowed.
, V. 3. 1.-The line" The line with
: which be measured. Went forth east
:. ward" Followed the stream as 1t
= flowed eastward "A thousand
= cubits:" A cubit is about IS inches,
hence the distance was nearly one
:, third of a mile
, VS. 4, s. At the first trial the water
=, had been only ankle deep, next it was
high enough TO reach his knees, then
his hips, and at last became river
that one must swim in order TO cross
: over The rapid increase OF the
river without any streams flowing
: into II from either side, shows 1t was
:. not a natural river, but symbolic
=, representation of the truth that God
- bestows ever-increasing blessings upon
80 those into whose hearts He is admit
~ ted to dwell.
V. g. "Son of man" A title by
which this prophet often designates
himself Hast thou SEEM" Have you
understood what you have thus far
seen?
at V. 7. very many trees" Where a
stream of water flows through bar
in ren land vegetation quickly springs
re- M along its course. Where the river
he Of salvation flows. there springs up, in
aA the individual heart, or in the COM
OF munity or the nation, all that is
ne beautiful and fruitful. eve learn
he more of these trees in V. 12)
lie V. s. Toward the east country:
to, To the Jordan river. Into the
OF desert" The lower part of the Jor
dan valley and the country surround
ok ing the Dead sea was a very barren
Ter region known as the Arabah. Into
it'll the sea-" The Dead sea, whose wa
led ters are so salt that no fish can live
old in them. Shall be healed" Shat
il be restored to freshness like water o.
Is the flowing streams.
" g. Everything that liveth which
us noveth:" All animal and vegetable
ne life Mans physical life, as well a
ire his spiritual nature. is invigorated b.
eW Christianity. THE rivers" Literally
one the two rivers, perhaps referring t
the Juncture with the Jordan
hat V. 10 From En-gedi to En-eglaim
the From the western to the norther
$ shore of the Dead sea. The meanin
probably is that fishermens boats an
nets will be seen on all sides of tn
wo- sea. for wholesome. edible fish will
who as abundant as they are in 1.-The gres
lnts sea"-the Mediterranean.
and V. II. "Miry places, marshes, NJ
ike, healed" See Rev Yer. The rock
en- which surround the Dead sea hay
one become reservoirs of salt, and in II
pan vision they remain so. Any spot tn;
5 to the stream does not touch will renal
f. A in it's former condition. So when Il
red, river of salvation flows through
bled church or community, individu
g it hearts that will not yield to God 7
ever main as hard and barren as ever
too " II. The prophet now returns
Elk speak again of the trees growing upC
the bank He says they are fruitfl
no blight destroys their fruit, the
c. fruit is wholesome. and they be
new fruit each month. They are eve
nony green and their leaves have medicin
properties; and all this not becau
we're of any peculiar properties in the
was selves. but because the waters viii
tand flow from the temple feed their roo
phi John pictures a very similar tr
are which he styles 'the tree of lif
iolin growing upon the banks of the riy
in of life (Rrv. 22:1. p.
ictlc- Practical Points.
least T. l. In the sacrifice of Christ Jes
the we see the convincing proof that