New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-08-31
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER
THE SHEPHERD OF CAPTIVE IS.
RAEl,

l<oid 10 ~ ohiSR
herd, l shall not want.-Psa. 23:1.
With the complete subversiOn of
the kingdom Of Judah, the national
consciousness was largely crushed and
the people We're without heart for the
common affairs of life. Ezekiel,
though born in Jerusalem, p~rophesied
In Babylon near the River Kebar. The
object of his prOphesying was to en-
courage the captives by placing before
them Gods promise of their return to
their own land. His name signifies,
God will 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
fitting to accomplish this.
I. Israer's FaithIess Shepherds De-
nounced. wv. 1-10). These false shep-
herds included the kings, princes,
judges and priests. Ezekiel points out
that the captivity vas because of sin,
but 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
ly selfish. They ministered 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.
2. They were cruel ". -. They
were not only mere hirelings, guilty of
looking after themselves, but they act
ually behaved like robbers, preying
upon the flocks. All are guilty of this
power to the disadvantage of others.
In the theOcratic kingdom such behuv-
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.
3. They neglected the diseased,
wounded, hayward, and lost wv. 4-6).
AS a result of their selfish cruelty
the sheep were without food there
fore exposed to disease; had no bond
of unity, were exposed to the ravages
of wild beasts. Gods flocks are in
many places thus suffering and dying
because they have not been fed. Gods
judgments are against such wv. 7-1O).
u. The Faithful Shepherd. wv. H.
16). The Shepherd here Is none other
than 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
comes:
1. He will seek his lost sheep ". 1I).
Though they have gone astray through
wilfulness on their part, and neglect
on the part of faithless shepherds,
Jesus will seek them out and save
them. To save the lost vas his Pc
culiar mission duke 10 :1O).
2. He will rescue them from the
power 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
them. mo n is able to pluck them
out Of his hands" (John 10 :2S, 29).
B. He will bring them back to their
W land ". 1877. Poor, scattered Is
rael shall n day (may 1t be soon y
be brought back to their own land.
This Is the n u~nmistakable sign by
which we may know the beginning of
the end Of this dispensation. Be as
sured that 1t Is not wars, nor pes
tilences that mark the sign of the close
Of this age, but the movements of Is
rael.
4. He will feed them wv. IA, 15).
II will feed my flock, and l will cause
them to lie down, saith the Lord God.
I will seek that which was lost, and
bring again that which was driven
away uhu ~ Dliu W. thdt WulCH was
broken, and will strengthen that which
was sick but I will destroy the fat
and the strong; l will feed them with
judgment"
This means that regathered Israel
shall enjoy all that the loving kind
ness and wisdom of God has enabled
him to provide, even though they are
away through their wilfulness and neg
iect.
s. He will seek that which was lost
". 16). That which has been driven
away he will seek and bring 1t bach
again.
6. He will heal them from weak.
ness and suffering ". 16). All the
wounds which Israel has received
these many centuries shall be healed.
For the Shepherd Healer there are
no incurable ills, neither any diseases
that battle his skill. The weak and
tender shall be cared for by him.
While all these blessings are peculiar
iy for Israel, they likewise can be en-
joyed by all those who will receive
his grace now and allow him to restore
and heal them.
~. The Golden Age wv. 23-2O.
The vision of the world as it now is,
is most disheartening. 1t is midnight
darkness. In this blackness we won
der why God does not interpose. We
wonder how he can be silent. While
midnight is upon us we are hopeful,
for we see the bow of Gods promise
of better things flung across the sky.
This present order shall disappear be-