The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-10-13
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson III.-Fourth Quarter, For
Oct. is, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

pared BY Rev. 2. NJ. Stcarns.
AS we turn to 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 He worketh all things after
the counsel OF His own VIM der. Ii.
~; rs. cxxxv, 9; Eph. /, III.
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-
corning 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 it about. Just
as surely shall all predictions concern
Ing a still future restoration be full
filed, and they shall then be plucked
UP no more nor see evil any more.
Neither shall they weep any more
(Amos TX. Is; zeph III. 10; lisa. xxx,
19). The Lord shall be their everlast.
ing light, and the days of their mourn
ing shall be ended lisa TX. 20).
He Is quite able to accomplish all
that He has purposed. and 1t is our
privilege to walk with Him and see
Him do 1t. IL we are abiding in Him
He may use US. but He will work out
His eternal purpose. and He cannot
fal nor be discouraged (Eph. I'LL IL;
lisa. xiii. Al. He may use a Cyrus or
Darius, an Ezra or Nehemiah, but
He Is ever saying. 81 will work, and
who shall hinder it?' Qsa. xiii, 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 Elsa. xiv, %; XIV, I'D, just as
Josiah was mentioned by name and
some things that he would do about
300 years before he was born Il Kings
xiii. 2; II Kings xiii. 1910. How In
spring are the words, II am God, and
there Is none else; am God, and
there is none like Me, declaring the
end from the beginning, and from an
Gent times the things that are not yet
done, saying, My counsel shall stand,
and I win do all NY pleasure. :"
known unto God are all His works
from the beginning of the world" Elsa.
XVI, ell; Acts XIV, 49,.
1t was the Lord who stirred up the
spirit of Cyrus, the king, TO send Ezra
and the people back to Jerusalem to
build the house OF the Lord God of
Israel, and It was He who stirred up
the hearts Of all who went back
oversees i. 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 at
Jerusalem (verses 20, and be called
for volunteers to go up and do this,
commanding those who did not go TO
help in every way those who went.
1t Is all important to notice this for
the church seems to have forgotten it
and is giving itself up to schemes OF
every kind to draw money from peo-
pie who are not interested and who
have no part in the Lords work, not
being children Of God. Notice In Elk.
xxxv, 500; xxxvi. Z, that the ma
terial for the tabernacle had to be
willingly offered, and they brought so
abundantly that Moses had to ask
them to stop bringing, as more than
enough had come In for all the work.
Concerning the temple, David said,
II have prepared with all my might
for the house Of my God, because
have set my affection to the house Of
my God" He also said. who am /,
and what is my people that we should
be able to offer 80 willingly after this
sort, for all things come of Thee, and
OF Thine own have we given Thee"
q Chron. xxx, 2. 3-14l. A willing
mind Is everything, and God asks no
one to give or to do that which He
does not give them the ability to give
or do QI Cor. viii. IL: I Pet. Nv, III.
The love Of Christ is the one con-
straining power.
Think OF the 5.4O0 vessels Of gold
and silver which had been seventy
years In the hands Of the enemy, now
about to be restored to Jerusalem
verses 7-11)l Notice also the nearly
10000 people verses 84-65). and con-
slider the restoration that is to be from
all lands. both before and after the
coming OF the Messiah In glory. that
Israel may blossom and bud and I'll
the face OF the earth with fruit (Ezek.
xxxvi, "a, %; lisa. TX, Q; xvii, 6; Ps.
xvii, III.
In chapter II. $500. we see the ne
cessity OF being on the books and can
understand better the force Of Luke
x. 20; Rev. Xxx. IS. II not registered
on the Lambs book Of life there is no
kingdom for us. But whatsoever
viii" may axe the water OF life free
ly, and him that comethv shall not
be cast out, SO that al who have
heard may be registered II willing.
Vessels suggest people. for we are
spoken OF as earthen vessels. and yes
sells meet for the Masters use Gil Cor.
iv. 4; IT Tim. II. 21). and we must be
as content to be earthen as 10 be sill
yer or gold. to be second sort as well
as first chapter /. 10. I'D. Then IN
verse we read OF nine and twenty
knives, and cutting things abound on
all sides. all for our good. and to man
ifest iii these mortal bodies the life Of
Jesus Christ (Rom. viii. %. 29).