The Taney County republican., 1908-11-26

mute before the Jews at Telabib, re-
fusing both food and drink, until at
last they understood that he had
seen a vision and had been sent Of
God with a special message. And
from that day forth he had been rec
ognizcd as the prophet ot the Most
High.
Then later when he had 50 graph
ically portrayed the siege and dcstruc-
ton OF Jerusalem and broken down the
one forlorn lingering hope Of the cap
tiycs that they would soon return TO
their beloved city. they accepted his
message, but instead Of turning TO
God in ponitence, they gave them
selves mp to the allurcments Of tho
strange land in which they dwelt.
He also recalled the profound sem
sation which had been caused when
he had gone forth among the people
and had shaved the hair from his
head and from his face and had di-
yid"d it into three portions with
great ceremony. Then while the curious
eyes Of the multitudes beheld, he
burned 4 third part, a third part he
smote with his knife and cut into
many fine pieces, and the remaining
portion he had scattered into the
winds, and they had been waited
hither and thithcr. Then he had
stopped and picked up Il few Of the
hairs which had fallen near him and
had folded them in a portion Of his
garment, which he tore from him and
cast into the fire so that it was con
sumcd. And having done all this, he
declared unto the people the mean
ing Of it all saying that thus would
God do with his people who had
sinncd. And they had believed he
| had been sent from God and mar
ycled at his message and its graphic
portrayal, and had turned themselves
again to their eating and their drink
ing and their life amidst the people
among whom they had come to dwell.
. And Ezekiel had been discouraged
aud had questioned in his heart what
GOOD his words and actions had &C.
complishcG In this spirit he had
zone among the people seeking for
such as would favorably hear his
/ message, and Tefraining 10 speak
! where he felt there would only be op-
position and rejcctment OF the mes.
sage.
1t was at such time as this that
| God had sought him out and he sat
alone on the banks Of the Chcbar,
| where he was wont TO 60 for mcdlta-
! tiOr ana prayer. II was here that
| GOO had spoken to him before, and it
was here that God appeared to him
and communed with him. And with
what coudemuing force the word had
come The words echoed and re-
| echoed like an accusing voice through
his heart
son Of man." came the message,
when bring the sword upon land,
| if the people of the land take a man
of their coasts, and set him for their
watchman; if when he sceth the
sword come upon the land, he blow
the trumpet and warn the people;
| then whosoeyer hcareth the sound Of
the trumpet and taketh not warning;
| If the sword come, and take him away,
his blood shall be upon his own head.
! lie heard the sound of the trumpet.
and took not warning; his blood shall
he upon him. But he that taketh
warning shall deliver his soul. But if
the watChman see the sword come,
and blow not the trumpet, and the peo-
pie be not warned; If the sword come,
and take any person from among
them. he is taken away in his iniquity;
but his blood will | require at the
watchman's hand. So thou, o son Of
man, have set thee Waterman unto
the house of Israel; therefore thou
shalt hear the word at my mouth, and
warn them from ne"
With a great cry Of remorse and
anguish Ezekiel had fallen to the
ground. What kind Of a messenger
had he been? How faithful had he
been in warning Of the peril as God
had revealed it to him? What right
had he to question whether the peo
pie would hear and heed or would turn
from his message with Indifference:
lie was not set as a recorder making
: up the books of God. Ills was not
the task of seeking ont those who
. would receive his message kindly, ant
turning with impatient heart from
those who refused to listen. He was
watchman set to blow the trumpet
He must send forth the blast Iii:
was not to question where, or why
or how, or TO seek for an accurate ac
counting of results.
BLOW. watchman, blow" Ezekie
cried under his breath as the new
consciousness CT his responsible!
. burst upon him. Il Will" he eX
claimed, as he started forth.
1T is a hard task, indeed" he cried
as he pressed on his way. But | will
. be q faithful watchman.'
. No one knew what that resolution
cost him. Not cost him 20 make, bu
Z cost him TO live out faithfully in hi
I life. for the resolution made is onl,