Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-29

We drop back in history about sew
entv-flve years earlier tnan the events
oT the last lesson. Had logical or
even a chronological order been fol-
lowed (Which the Information lessons
seems to ignore utterly this shoolo
have been one of our August lessons.
Let us go back and get the historical
setting.
Judah still had a king on the throne,
hut the throne is tottering. Nebuchad-
nezzar had in sos b. c. taken away as
captives some of the royal blood, IN
Guiding Daniel and his three FRIENDS.
About or years later, in 597 b. e.,
he had taken away most OF the picked
men of the nation, amongst whom was
a Young priest about 25 years old, nam
ed Ezekiel. jeremiah was still preach
ing and with tears trying to save ms
nation, threatening the overthrow OF
the city If they aid not repent. Daniel
in Babylon had but recently completed
his course in the University of Babylon
and had entered into the service or the
government ST
About six years before the siege OF
Jerusalem the young priest Ezekiel,
a captive in a strange land, had vision
Ahd- received a call to service. A por-
ton of that call is the basis OF our
lesson today. His work was to be among
his own people and through them tp
those VINO were yet in their own
country. 1t was to be difficult work.
for his people would not hearken TO
him. 1t was to be persisted in, how
ever, since 1t was Gods message he
was to give them and his success was
not to be measured by their acceptance
of it. He accepted the commission
and performed his work we'll. He was
energetic, forceful, unyielding, and
plain spoken. He would nave been re-
garded sensational today, for every
sermon began with some act as an en-
bIem. or text He had to do something
unusual to gain the attention or the
captive and ungodly people; and when
they would have their curiosity excited
and asked what or why he acted so, he
would answer their question by giving
them Gods message.
HIS WORK A wATCHMANS
His call came one day when he was
sitting by the river Chebar In Baby
lonia. He was no doubt meditating
over the condition Of Judah, and be-
mourning his captivity. He had re-
markable vision, SO minute in its de-
tails that we are apt to be confused by
them. In it's essence 1t was picture
of all nature, animate and inanimate,
moving apparently as IL WouIu, OUT dC-
tuaIly under the armament where GOD,
rainbow -encirc,ed, sat upon the throne.
Its meaning was, 1 believe. that al
though the nations of the earth were
apparently acting as they would, God,
the covenant-keeping God, was still on
the theme, and it was under Him that
they were actually acting. One can
readily see what a comfort this would
be to the captive priest, under the cir
cunsstances, and how II would inspire
him to proclaim his message to his
fellow captives, the theme or which
was an encouragement to them to hope
for return from captivity after they
had returned to God. Apparently God
had forsaken them, and the heather ma
ton Babylon was in control; but God
would still keep His covenant with
them, when they kept theirs with Him
and returned to Him.
In the midst OF this v'~ion of animate
and inanimate nature, and the covenant
keeping God on the throne, Ezekiel
found his commission, which was three
fold-he should speak to his own people