Evening star., 1924-06-28
Sunday School Lesson

ners and by divers portions in those
crucial hours by the prophets to men
in both Kingdoms, and later during
the exile, that Gods chosen people
came to know Him and realize their
mission to mankind.
The messages that the ancient
prophets declared are still applicable
to men. Elijah championed the wor-
ship OF Jehovah in an hour when the
people of the northern Kingdom
were being Influenced to worship
Baal He proclaimed the justice Of
Jehovah when he denounced Ahab's
iniquitous and covetous efforts to Sc
cure Naboth's vineyard. Elisha out
lined the pathway to peace and
security for Israel by calling upsn
Amos and Hosea insisted that "Je-
hovah was God of righteousness
and justice. and could only be served
BY righteous livNg." In Judah,
Isaiah, Micah and Jeremiah taught
similar lessons. The success Of Je-
ho1aoa's plan to place Joash upon the
throne of Judah over the followers of
Baal demonstrated beyond question
the supremacy of Jehovah. Isaiah 8
faith in His power was rewarded by
when Jerusalem was endangered.
Jeremiah sought by his stand for the
right to avert the Babylonian crisis
both followed the ways of evil anG.
ucStTOyeQ, because OIL tnelE
SHINING against Jehovah. Although
the prophets sought in vain to teach
them that God did not desire their
fall, they were unwilling to hear His
prophets, did their own will and
went down forever. The reality of
ished for failure to live up to the
ideal God places before US is the
second lesson that is still true.
The Wav Or<
1t was Ezekiel who revealed to the
turing God to them as shepherd
seeking His scattered flock. The fact
that sin is not irremediable is where
me religion of the Hebrews differs
from the ethnic faiths. Our lessons
have brought to US message of
hope as they have presented the low
ing and longing desire of God to
save those who put their trust in
Him and try to do His will. Our stud
les in the Old Testament have been a
sort OF pedagogue to point US to
Christ. whose life we will commence
to consider with next weeks lesson
they have presented a gospel of re-
denption- When the Hebrew people
OF both nations proved untrue to Je-
hovah and their mission as the bear
ers of the torch of spiritual light to
all mankind. they did not thwart His
plans.
GODS program swept on with a
mighty and continuous purpose. He
touched the hearts of five foreign
kings who ruled over Judah and
whom Jehovah used as instruments 8
to carry out His plans for the saliva
tion, security and services Of His
chosen people. The message Of hope
proclaimed by Ezekiel became real
ity when Zerubhabel the prince, was
intrusted by Cyrus to return to Jeru-
salem and reconstitute the Jewish
people as distinct and thoroughly
religious community under Persian
authority. Ezra's zeal for the law and
Nehemiah's executive ability. that had
in short time made Jerusalem safe
from enemies without, succeeded in
their mission to bless the world with
their revelations of spiritual light.
AS we close our study of the Old
Testament, there comes conviction
that life at it's best is found only
through faith in God and an observ-
ance of His commands. Fellowship
with the great personalities and
characters who were the outstand-
ing champions of Jehovah has served
to enable US to long to know more of
the Lord, whose mission and min
stry we will commence to consider
with our next weeks lesson. 1t has
served to make Us desire to have fell
lowship with those outstanding per-
sonalities who are walking in His
ways and trying to do His will in the
world today in an effort to increase
the righteousness that exalteth- a ma
tion and destroy sin that is a re-
proach to any people.