The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1911-10-14
SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson Ill.-Fourth Quarter, For
Oct. IS, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

O-Msmory Verses, l. 8, 4GoIdsn
Text, Mic. vii, 1s-commentary Pre-.
pared by Rev. D. M. stearns.
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 will' Ger. u.
90; Ps. cxxxv, 6; Eph. 1, III.
Compare the previous chapter,
verses 81, %, and the words Of the
Lord Jesus in Luke xiv, A, "An
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 moro
Amos TX, IS; Zeph. iii, Is; lisa. Xxx,
49,. The Lord shall be their everlast-
ing light, and the days Of their mourn
ing shall be ended Elsa. TX, 20).
He Is quite able to accomplish all
that He has purposed, and it is our
privilege to walk with Him and see
Him do it. If we are abiding in Him
He may use US, but He will work out
His eternal purpose, and He cannot
fail nor be discouraged Eph. Ill, IL:
lisa. xiii, A.. He may use a Cyrus or
Darius, an Ezra or Nehemiah, but
He is ever saying, II will work, and
who shall hinder itY' lisa. 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 Qsa. Xiv, %; xiv, 10, just as
Josiah was mentioned by name and
some things that he would do about
800 years before he was born q Kings
xiii, 2; II Kings xiii, 1910. How in
spring are the words, II am God, and
there is none else; I am God, and
there Is none like Me, declaring the
end from the beginning, ana from an
cient times the things that are not yet
done, saying, My counsel shall stand,
and will do all My pleasure"
"Known unto God are all His works
from the beginning Of the world" Qsa.
XVI, Oil; 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 1t was He who stirred up
the hearts Of all who went back
oversees 1, b.. 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 oversees 2-4, and he called
for volunteers to go up and do this,
commanding those who did not go to
utlp III cFcIy way IuOo0 WIN "Cht.
It is all important to notice this, for
the church seems to have forgotten 1t
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 l,
and what Is my people that we should
be able to offer so willingly after this
sort, for all things come Of Thee, and
Of Thine own have we given Thee
q Chron. xxx, 2, 3-14). A willing
mind is e-erything, and God asks no
one to give or to do that which He
does not give them the ability to give
or do Oh Cor viii, II; Pet. ~, III.
The love of Christ Is the one con-
straining power.
Think of the 5,4OO vessels Of gold
and silver which had been seventy
years In the hands Of the enemy, now
about to be restored to Jerusalem
oversees IT'D! Notice also the nearly
$4,000 people oversees 64-65), 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 fill
the face Of the earth with fruit Geek.
xxxvi, "A, 20; lisa. X, 8; xvii. 9; Ps.
xvii, 10.
In chapter II, 5000, we see the ne
cessity Of being on the books and can
understand better the force Of Luke
K, 20; Rev. Xxx, Is. If not registered
on the Lambs book Of life there Is no
kingdom for us. But whatsoever
win" may take the water Of life free
", and "him that cometh" shall not
be cast out, so that all who have
heard may be registered If willing.
Vessels suggest people, for we are
onokap ~ "a earthen vessels and veS-