McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1917-08-31
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER
THE SHEPHERD OF CAPTIVE is
RAEL.
LESSON TExT-Ezekiel "a

herd, l shall not want.-Psa 23:l.
With the complete subversion OF
the kingdom of Judah, the national
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 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
to the mission which In
the providence of God he was called
upon to fill. The vision Of the Good
was very striking and most
fitting to accomplish this.
!. israei's Faithless Shepherds De-
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:
/. They fed themselves instead OF
the flock ". y. They were essential
ly 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
them.
.. 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 fi0cks. 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, not for him
self, therefore he should make the
cause of heaven his chief concern.
3. They neglected the diseased,
hayward and lost wv. 4-6).
AS 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
are against such (vv. 7-1O).
II. The Faithful Shepherd. wv. IL
l6). 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
all should pray, "Thy king
dom come When the true Shepherd
l. He will seek his lost sheep ". 1D.
Though they have gone s5tray 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 was his Pc
culiar mission duke 9:10).
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. "No one is able to pluck them
out of his hands" (John 1928, 29).
3. He will bring them back to their
own land ". 49,. Poor, scattered Is
rael shall one day (may it be y
be brought back to their own land.
This Is the one unmistakable 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 will cause
them to lie down, saith the Lord God.
l will seek that which was lost, and
bring again that which was driven
away, and will bind up that which 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
lect.
5. He will seek that which was lost
". 16). That which has been driven
away he win seek and bring it back
again.
6. He will heal them from weak
ness and suffering ". 49,. All the
wounds which Israel has received
these many centuries shall be healed.
For the Shepherd Heale. there are
no incurable ills, neither any diseases
that battle his skin. The weak and
tender shall be cared for by him.
While all these blessings are peculiar
ly 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. 23-27).
The vision of the world as 1t now is,
Is most dlsheartening. 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.