Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-08-31
INTERNATIONAL,
SUNlYSQlOOL
LESSON
SBy REV r.; b. F1TZwATER. d. D..
i peacher 81 English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicagoj
Copyright, 1917, Western Newsna mar J,nio,
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER
THE SHEPHERD OF CAPTIVE IS.
RAEL.
LESSON TEXT-Ezeklel "a.

CONSCIOUSNESS was largely crushed and
the people were without heart for the
common affairs of life. Ezekiel,
though born In Jerusalem, prophesIed
IN Babylon near the River Kebnr The
OBJECT of his prophesylng was to en-
courage the captlves by placing before
them Gods promise of their return to
their own land. His name signifies,
God VIII strengthen" which Is very
appropriate to the mission which In
the providence of God he was called
upon to fill. The vision of the Good
shepherd was very striking and most
lifting to accomplish this.
!. israeps Faithless Shepherds De.
nounced. wv. 1-10). These false shep-
nerds Included the kings, princes,
judges and priests. Ezekiel points on,
that the captivity was because of sin.
hut he shows that the greatest guilt
obtains 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:
l. They fed themselves instead Of
, the flock ". p. They were essential 7
, ~ selfish. They mlnlstered to them
selves Instead OF the sheep. Too many
today are filling 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
them.
=. They were cruel ". 81. They
were not only mere hlrellngs. guilty OF
looking after themselves, but they act
ually behaved like robbers, preying
upon the tlocks. All are guilty OF this
same sin who use their influence and
power TO the disadvantage of others.
In the theocratic kingdom such behav-
Tor was peculiarly obnoxious, us the
rulers and ministers were representa-
tlves 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.
4 3. They neglected the diseased,
wounded, Maynard, and lost wv. 4-8). =
As result of their selfish cruelty !,
the sheep were without food; there. :,
fore exposed TO disease had no bond :
OF unity, we're exposed to the ravages .
Of wild beasts Gods focks are In =
many places thus suffering and dying :,
because they have not been fed. Gods =
Judgments are against such wv. 7-10). :,
u. The Faithful Shepherd. wv. II. =
l6). The Shepherd here Is none other !.
than Jesus Christ. The wonderful q
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 u
sincerely all should pray, "Thy king u
dom come" When the true Shepherd :" "
comes: ~
!. lie VIII seek his lost sheep ". 11). !.
Though they have gone astray through =
wilfulness on their part, and neglect !,
on the part Of falthleSs shepherds, a.
Jesus will seek them out and save
them. To save the lost was his Pc
culiar mission duke 1910. pr
:. He will rescue them from the ~
power Of their enemies ". l2). Gods 90
sheep have real enemies and they have ,e'
fallen into the enemies hands, but the II"
Faithful Shepherd Is able to deliver
them. "No one is able to pluck them III
out Of his hands John 1923. 29). .i'
3. He will bring them back to their NV
own land ". 49,. Poor, scattered Is -,
rael shall one day (may II be soon y
be brought back to their own land Wv
This Is the one unmistakable sign by
which we may know the beginning Of ~
the end of this dlspensatlon. Re as ~,
sures that II Is not wars, nor pes W.
licences that mark the sign of the close ~ ~.
Of this age, but the movements of Is Wv
rael. 'h'
4. He will feed them wv. a. 15).
i will feed my flock, and | will cause .'n
hem to lie down, saith the Lord God. w.
VIII seek that which was lost, and ,,,
BRING again that which was driven -.
lway, and will bind up that which was Ma
broken, and will strengthen that which yo,
vas sick; but will destroy the fat H.
md the strong; 1 will feed them with n,o
Judgment" 49,
This means that regathered Israel ha
hall enjoy all that the loving kind sn,I
less and wisdom of God has enabled
lin to provide, even though they are r
way through their wilfulness and neg
ect.
5. He will seek that which was lost
v. 16). That which has been driven "
way he will seek and bring It back for
gain. the
Q. He will heal them from weak attic
ess and suffering ". 16). All the able
'ounds which Israel has received -.
iese many centuries shall be healed.
or the Shepherd Healer there are
o incurable Ills, neither any diseases
hat battle his skill. The weak and
snder shall be cared for by him.
'hile all these blessings are peculiar ~
: for Israel, they likewise can be en-
,yed by all those who will receive
Is grace now and allow him to restore
nd heal them.
III. The Golden Age wv. 23-2O.
he vision of the world as Il now is.
most disheartening. II is midnight
arkness. In this blackness we won
er why God does not interpose. We
onder how he can be silent. While
idnight is upon US we are hopeful,
" we see the bow of Gods promise
better things flung across the sky.
his present order shall disappear be-
IRE the new. In that new order:
1. Jesus Christ. Dayid,s Son shnn ..