The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1911-05-20
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson vlII.-Second Quarter,
ForeMay Il, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.


.. M. Stearns.
Our lesson title. "Song Of the Vine
yard" must be considered in the light
of the first verse, "A song Of my be-
loved touching his vineyard" In
Ezek. XIV we learn that the only use of
the vine is to bear fruit. and. failing
in that, 1t is good for nothing. In
John XIV we learn that fruitless
branches are gathered by men and
burned, like the salt which has no
SAVIOR and is good for nothing but to
be trodden underfoot of men (Matt. Y,
49,. .s.a.. a....- .... ".
house Of Israel Is the Lords vineyard
here referred to and the men Of Judah
His pleasant plant. but instead OF
producing the desired fruit they were
yielding only wild grapes, described In
the skiold woe of the chapter and In
Hos. K, l, as an empty vine bringing
forth fruit unto himself. According
to the six woes, they were mighty to
drink wine, enjoy pleasures, gather
property. call things by their wrong
names and sin.
He brought them out Of Egypt, cast
out the nations before them and plant
ed them in good land. but because OF
their sin He had to turn His face from
them. and their only hope was in the
man Of His right hand, the son Of
man strong for God Cps. Xxx. $40.
According to our lesson, He had done
everything for them that could be done
for a vineyard, but as in the parable
of Matt. xxi, 33-41, they beat and
killed His servants and even the heir
to the vineyard also..-According to our
lesson chapter. they regard not the
work of the Lord nor consider the OPP
Grafton of His hands, but cast away
the law of the Lord of hosts and de-
spised the word Of the Holy One Of
Israel oversees 1924.
His pitiful cry over them is always
the same, whether through the proph-
cts or through His Son. II am the
Lord thy God. who brought thee out
of the land of Egypt Open thy mouth
wide and l will fill it, but My people
would not harken to My voice. and
Israel would none Of Me" (Ps. lxxxi,
10, 11). 20 Jerusalem, Jerusalem. -
how often would l have gathered thy
children together, even as a hen gath
ereth her chickens under her wings,
and We would not" Matt xiii. 80.
Such unbelieving people who turn
away from God and His word are said
to be drunken. but not with wine;
they stagger, but not with strong
drink" Elsa. xxx. 81.
1t Is most interesting to note that In
the chapter following our lesson chap
ter we have a vision of the earth filed
with the glory of the Lord. Compare
verses II, IL and % with chapter vi, 3.
Better say contrast the drunkenness
with the glory. Then note the same
contrast in Hab. ii. IA, Is. and Eph.
Y, 1S, and observe that at Pentecost
spirit filed people were said to be full
Of new wine (Acts Ii, 4-13). There Ia
no remedy for self righteous, self
pleasing, unbelieving people. but such
q sight Of Jesus Christ dying for their
sins as will break their hard hearts
and lead them to cry, God. be merct-
full to me, a sinner" One cannot do
this for another, but He who said 81
am the true vine' said also concerning
the Holy Spirit, "He will convince OF
sin, and Of righteousness. and of judg-
ment' John xvi, Z, s..
ho
cious blood and been caused to see
something Of the beauty Of the Lord
1t is not for us to condemn other
sinners nor think them hopeless, but 80
manifest Jesus Christ to them by word
and deed that the Spirit may. through
US If He will, reveal Jesus Christ to
them and lead them to Him. There Ia
Just one thing that the vine is for, and
If we are real branches Of the true
vine He will bear the desired fruit
that God may be glorifed If we truly
abide. .... -
That fruit may not be any great
thing that will gain the admiration Of
people, but just a meek and quiet
spirit, patient and long suffering, Il
may be. under great provocation or
even cruelty. Think of the Lords pa
tience with Israel and with each Of
us and consider Him who endured lest
ye be weary. Think of being strength
ened with all might, according to His
glorious power. unto all patience and
long suffering. with joyfulness (Col. 1,
III. Remember that the fruit Of the
spirit is love. joy. peace, long suffering,
gentleness. goodness. faith, meekness,
self control (Gal. v. %, 23). and all
that Is opposed is from the adversary.
BY the word Of God and the spirit Of
God we must first be saved and then
by the same word and spirit abide and
bear fruit. The question of verse 4.
"What could have been done more to
My vineyard that I have not done IN
it?p suggests the question for every
sinner. drunken or sober, for all have
sinned and all are guilty Rom. Iii, 19).
What more could the Lord do that he
has not done for your salvation? Con-
slider John Iii, 16, and answer as to
what more Is necessary
If you do not yield to such love and
receive Him as your personal Saviour
and then so abide that He may bear
fruit through you and gather fruit
from you 1t must be true Of you that