Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-10-11
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson Iil.-Fourth Quarter, For
Oct. IS, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES

Text, Mic. vii, fs-Commentary Pre-
pared by Rev. D. NJ. Stearns.
AS we turn 10 the story OF the re- |
turn from Babylon some words come |
to mind such as these: Every pur- |
pose Of the Lord shall be performed"
Whatsoever the Lord pleased that |
did He" lie workcth all things after
the counsel OF Ills own will" der. Ii.
%: Ps. c1x1v. .; Eph. |. Ill.
Compare the previous chapter.
verses 81. -. and the words Of the
Lord Jesus in Luke xiv, A. "All
things must be fulfilled which were
written In the law OF Moses and in
the prophets and In the psalms con-
corning Me" All the predictions con-
ccrning the captivity OF Israel and
Judah were fulfilled. and now under
Ezra and Nehemiah the predictions
concerning the return from captivity
are TO be fulfilled. God controlling the
hearts OF kings to bring 1t about. Just
as surely shall nil predictions concern
Ing n still future restoration be full
filed. and they shall then bc plucked
M no more nor see evil any more.
Neither shall they weep any more
(Amos *, Is; Zcph. fiji. 10: lisa. xxx.
19). The Lord shall be their everlast-
ing light, and the days OF their mourn
ing shall be ended lisa. X. 20l.
lie Is quite able 10 accomplish all
that He has purposed. and IL Is our
! privilege TO walk with Him and see
Him do It. II we are abiding In Him
He may use us. but He will work out
! His eternal purpose, and lie cannot
fail nor be discouraged (Eph. i'll. IL;
lisa. Kill. A.. lie may use Cyrus or
Darius, an Ezrn or = Nehemiah. but
| He Is ever saying. Il will work. and
who shall hinder IT, lisa. kill. 49,
Cyrus is one OF the seven men men-
toned by name before they were born
Isaiah speaks OF him as Gods chosen
one over $50 years before he came on
earth Isn. Xiv. %: xiv. 10. just as
Josiah was mentioned by name and
some things that he would do about
800 years before he was born Il Kings
xiii. .: II Kings xiii. 1910. How In
spring are the words. Il am God. and
there is none else; I am God, and
there is none like Ne. declaring the
end from the beginning. and from nm
cient times the things that are not yet
done. saying. My counsel shall stand.
and l will do all My pleasure"
known unto God are all His works
from the beginning OF the world" usa.
XVI, Oil; Acts XIV. 49,.
Ii was the Lord who stirred up tho
spirit OF Cyrus. the king. to send Ezra
and the people back to Jerusalem 10
I ha Of no nrd I'd n
Israel. and It was lie who stirred UP
the hearts Of oil who went back
oversees l. 81. Cyrus acknowledged
that IT was the Lord God Of heaven
who had made him ruler over the
kingdoms OF this world and had
charged him to build the house al
Jerusalem oversees 20. and he called
for volunteers to so up and do this
commanding those who did not so L
help in every way those who went.
1t Is all important to notice this. FOL
the church seems to have forgotten 4
and is giving itself up to schemes o.
every kind to draw money from PEG
, pie who are not interested and VIII,
have no part in the Lords work, no
being children Of God. Notice in Ex
q
terial for the tabernacle had to b
willingly offered. and they brought s
abundantly that Moses had TO as
them to stop bringing, rs more tina
enough had come in for all the work.
Concerning the temple. David said
'I have prepared with all my Nigh
for the house OF my God. because
have set my affection to the house c
my God" He also said. who am
and what is my people that we shoul
be able to ofrer so willingly after tn!
sort, for all things come OF Thee. an
g. Of Thine own have we given Thee
Il Chron. xix. .. $40. A willin
mind is everything. and God asks Il
one to give or to do that which II
does not give them the ability to giy
or do Oh Cor. viii. u; l Pet. iv. II
, The love Of Christ is the one co
- straining power.
. Think Of the $500 vessels Of go
70 and silver which had been seven
years In the hands Of the enemy. no
IL about to be restored to Jerusa!e
(verses I'D! Notice also the near
10000 people verses 0&-65). and CO
. slider the restoration that is to be fro
all lands, both before and after &
coming Of the Messiah IN glory. tn
Israel may blossom and bud and
the face Of the earth with fruit (Ere
xxxvi, "a, Is; lisa. TX. 8; xvii. o: l
xvii, 10.
In chapter II. 1902. we see the I
cessity Of being on the books and C
understand better the force OF Lu
Z, 20: Rev. TX. IS. II not register
on the Lambs book of life there is
kingdom for US. But ''whososs
suNlM rnar tnIa tha xxaior OF Life Fl