The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-08-30
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 2
THE SHEPHERD OF CAPTIVE To-
RAEl.
LESSON THxT-Ezskiei "a.


the kingdom of Judah, the national
consciousness wns largely crushed and
the people were without heart for the
common affairs OF life. Ezekiel,
though born In Jerusalem, prophesled
In Babylon near the River Kebar. The
object Of his prophesylng was to en-
courage the captlves by placing before
them Gods promise Of their return to
their own land. Ills name signifies.
"God will strengthen" which Is very
appropriate to the mission which In
the providence Of God he was called
upon to I'LL.
.. ISae's FalthIess Shepherds De.
nouneed. wv. 1-10). 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
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:
I. They fed themselves instead Of
the flock ". -. 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 ". 81. They
were not only mere hirelings. guilty OF
looking after themselves. but they act.
ually behaved like robbers. preying
upon the fiocks. 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. 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. hot for HIM
self, therefore he should make the
cause of heaven his chief concern.
8. They neglected the diseased,
wounded. maynard. and lost wv. 4-8).
As q 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 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. IL
16). The Shepherd here II none other
than Jesus Christ. The wonderful
blessings here described will be real
ICED 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:
I. He will seek his lost sheep ". IL,
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
'he,n' 40 save inc os. ~as "' w
cuIiar mission 'Luks Ae'io''
q he VIII rescue tnem from tns
power OF tneir enemies W. 10 you
sheep nave real enemies ana tney nave
fallen into the enemies hands' Out the
faithfui shepnerd 10 aoie 70 denver
them. mo one Is able to pluck them
out Of his hands" (John 10 %, 29).
.. He Will bring them back to theii
own land ". lS). Poor, scattered ID
raei shall one day (may II De soon y
be brought back to their own land
This Is the one unmistaxable sign by
which we may know the beginning oil
the end OF this dispensation. be as
sured that II Is not wars nor pes
ulences that mark the sign or the close
or this age, but the movements OF ID
raei.
4. He VIII feed them wv. a. io)'
Il VIII reed my HOOK, ana VIII cause
them to lie down, saith the Lord Coo
Will seek that which was LOST. and
bring again that which was driven
away, ana VIII bind up that which was
broken, and VIII strengthen that which
was sick; but l VIII destroy the ia'