The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-08-29

GOLDEN TEXT-The Lord is my sheY
herd, I shall not want.-Psa., 2s:t.
With the complete subversion o
the kingdom Of Judah, the natiOna
consciousness was largely crushed an
the people were without heart for tn
Icommon affairs of life. Ezekiel
though born In Jerusalem, prophesie'
In Babylon near the River Kebar. TIL
object OF his prophesying was to en-
courage the captives by placing befor'
them Gods promise of their return tt
their own land. His name signifies
I"God will strengthen" which is verl
appropriate to the mission which II
the providence Of God he was called
upon to fill.
J.. IsraePs FaithIess Shepherds De
nounced. wv. 1-1O). These false shep
herds included the kings, princes
judges and priests. Ezekiel points out
that the captivity was because of sin,
but he shows that the greatest guilt
Iobtains with reference to these lead
ers. They were placed in the position
to care for and protect the sheep. The
following indictments are brought
against them:
1. They fed themselves instead of
the flock ". p. They were essential
" selfish. They ministered to them
selves instead of the sheep. Too many
today are filing public offices for the
sake of private gain. Sometimes even
ministers are found who are more con-
cerned about themselves, their pleas
ures and profits, than they are about
the souls of the people who support
I them.
2. They were cruel ". 81. They
were not only mere h%irelings, guilty OF
| looking after themselves, but they act
| ually behaved like robbers, preyfng
upon the focks. All are guilty of this
same sin who use their influence and
power to the disadvantage of others.
In the tbeocratic kingdom such behav-
Tor was peculiarly obnoxious. as the
rulers and ministers were representa-
tives of Jehovah himself. The minis
ter and public officer today is acting
in his capacity for God, not for him
self, therefore he should make the
cause of heaven his chief concern.
g. They neglected the diseased,
wounded, hayward. and lost wv. 4-6).
AS h result of their selfish cruelty
the sheep were without food; there
fore exposed to disease; had no bono
of unity. were exposed to the ravages
Of wild beasts. Gods fiOcks are in
many places hui suffering and dying
because they have not been fed. Gods
judgments are against such wv. 7-10).
H. The Faithful Shepherd. wv. IL
10y. The Shepherd here is none other
Jesus Christ. The wonderful
blessings here described will be real
lied by Israel in millenial times. This
blessed condition will be ushered in
by the second coming of Christ. How
sincerely all should pray, "Thy king
dom come When the true Shepherd
/. He viii seek his lost sheep ". 11).
Though they have gone astray through
on their part, and neglect
the part of ~faithleSs shepherds,
Jesus will seek them out and save
Them To save the lost was his Pc
culiar mission duke 1910.
2. He will rescue them from the
Of their enemies ". 12). Gods
sheep have real enemies and they have
fallen into the enemies hands, but the
Faithful Shepherd is able to deliver
HEM mo one is able to pluck them
,ut of his hands John 1928, 800.
3. He will bring them back to their
,wn land (v. 13). Poor, scattered Is
'ael shall one day (may it be soon! y
)e brought back to their own land.
This is the one unlnistakable sign by
which we may know the beginning OF
he end of this di~spensation. Be as
;ured hat it is not wars, nor pes
licences that mark the sign of the close
# this age, but the movements of Is
ael. !
4. He will feed them wv. IA, 15).
I will feed my flock, and I will u
hem to lie down, saith the Lord God.
will seek that which was lost, and =
ring again that which was driven
way, and Will bind up that which was
OhCu. anu Will SClCHStliCh Ina LII IL
vas sick but / will destroy the fat :
nd the strong I will feed them with
s.. He will seek that which was lost
v. 16). That which has been driven
way h will seek and bring it back |
gain.
6. He will heal them from weak
esS and suffering ". 16). All the ,
which Israel has received {
many centuries shall be healed.
III. The NGoIden Age wv. 23-27).
he vision of the world as it now is,
most disheartening. 1t is midnight
arkness. In this blackness we Won
er why God does not interpose. We :
'onder how he can be silent. While ,
is upon us we are hopeful, {
u we see the bow of Gods promise !
!, better things flung across the sky. {
his present order shall disappear be- ]
re the new. In that new order: !
1. Jesus Christ, Davfd's Son, shall :
, king wv. %, 24). This new era of :
essedness can only come into reaii-
ltfon when Gods Son shall establish =.
~