Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-31
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON SEPT. ,
For SEPTEMBER I'd. Eek. "a.
BY. DIR. MARION II. mcHULL.

Ezekiel was one of those who was
carried away in the eighth year of Neb-
uchadnezzar. with Jehoiachin. the last
king of Judah In exile he had many
visions and was Gods spokesman. par
ticularly to the captives OF Babylon
He prophesied the destruction of that
city; he foretold that ZedeKiah would
be brought to Babylon, but would never
see it, and then in the latter years he
spoke many messages of comfort to the
captive Jews, condemning the wicked
ness of their rulers and promising them
as most of the other prophets had done.
all the glories of the age TO be when
God should visit His people.
The thirty-fourth chapter. which is
the basis of our study today. is one
of his Messianic prophecies In an al
legory of the shepherd and the sheep
he condemns the high and mighty, prom
Uses showers of blessing and permanent
peace when God shall have accomplished
his purpose for them.
There are four distinct sections in
this chapter, the consideration of which
will enable us to understand the mes
sage better: verses lilo, 1l-16, 1922
and 22-3O. These four sections give us
four phases of Gods attitude toward
His people, and these might be stated
as follows: | am against the shep-
herds; l will sherhed them; will judge
them; l will set up over them a shep-
herd one, my servant ODavid the prince.
GOD THE ADVERSARY.
1t is a fundamental principle that
government must be in the interests
of the governed. This was the attitude
of the Jews. and yet their leaders seem
to have forgotten this entirely in their
selfishness. In that first section God
makes a terrible charge against the
leaders of the Jews; positively they had
devoured the fat. taken the wool and
killed those that were fed; negatively.
they had not strengthened the weak
one, not healed the sick ones, not band
aged the bruised ones, not brought back
those that were driven away, not sought
for the lost ones. On the contrary, they
had ruled them with force and with
cruelty. AS as the result of this the
sheep were scattered, had become a
prey to their enemies and were hlpless
in the face of attacks. Win God made
this charge, which was a terrific one
He said. for this / am against the shep-
herds. In other words. because these
leaders of the Jews had not recognized
the principle that government should be
for the benefit of the governed, but, on
the contrary. had used the government
for their own advancement and aggran-
dizement. God had become the adversary
of those in authority.
This is true not only of the Jews. but
also of America and every other ia
ton. If leaders of a nation or officials
of a city use their political position for
their own good rather than for the good
of the people. God becomes their adver-
sary
This is true of the family; the par
ents must govern the children in the
interests of the children. If the parents
fail to shepherd the sheep; that is, have
not governed the children in the inter
ests of the children. God wiz become
their adversary.
And this is true OF the Sunday school class.
The leader Of the Sunday sthoOl class must
bCrs. II the teacher fails to bring back thOsoe
that have been driven away; does not seek for
the lost ones; God will be against that teacher.
will become that teachers adversary, because
government must be in the interest of the gov
erned. There is a definite responsibility upon
the leaders of the state, heads of families, |
Sunday school teachers anil officers to do ev-
erything possible to SECURE the interests of de-
Pendents. II they do not do so the inevitable
wish IL or not, God must he taken into account. |
GOD THE SHEPHERD.
God Will not allow his purpose 10 be van
quished Just because you failed Him. And
speaking through Ezekiel he told the shepherds
of Israel that If any of them failed o shepherd
the flock, His flock should be shepherded; for
He would do II for them all that they had
failed to do. Lest there should be some mis- |
take He repeats in detail just what he will
do in shepherdng them, and find upon ex-
animation that this is just what the shepherds !
failed TO do.
If father or mother fails to accomplish /
Gods purpose. in discharging the responsibility
which he has placed upon them, he will step
into the breah. He will not let His purpose
he will step into the breach does not relieve /
you of the responsibility at all. If you, as
Sunday school teacher fail TO bind up the
bruised seek for that which lost, and TO
will step in and take your place; but il will
not relieve you Of what he requires at your
hands.
Now as to how He will do this, He does not
He will take your place il yOu fail, but be
sure that He will do so and also be sure that
he will require report at your hands.
GOD THE JUDGE.
Not only were the leaders guilty, but also /
certain of the people in the Jewish nation
the strong, as represented by the and /
he-goats. guilty in taking thought for
weak, the rich cared nothing for the porr. The |
tat the best Of the pasture. taking all hat
they wanted, and then trample down the rest
OF the grass that the weaklings of the /
flock could not get anything. Or they would
desired. and then 20 in and muddy II up so the /,
others could not drink, unless they drank the |
fouled water.
That hnman nature has not changed is a |
servston. 1t almost sounds like present day |
BE ADRUGCIS7