Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-06-05
Lesson for June 8
EZEKIEL ENCOURAGES
ExlLES

LESSON TEX --EZek. 34:l-3V.
GOLDEN TEXT--"I win seek that
| which was driYen away.'-Ezek 34:l6.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Ezekiel Preaching
to the Exiies.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
| IC-The Lord Seeking His Scattered
People.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Ezekiel's Mission to the Exiles
/. Ezekiel prophesied in the land OF
captivity. The latter part of Jere-
] miahs ministry was contemporaneous
with that of Ezekiel. The purpose Of
| his ministry was:
L. To Keep Before the Minds of the
!. Captives That They Were in Captivity
Because of the Sins of the Nation
Geek. IA .23).
2. TO Show That God Was Righteous
in His Visitation of Judgment Upon
] Them Geek. 7 IS, %.
/ s. TO Sustain Their Faith by AS
surfing Them of Their National Restor-
alton, the Punishment of Their Enc
mics and the Final Exalted Place of
Israel Among the Nations When Mes
siah Should Reign (Ezek "a ;2e-3D.
l.. Indictment Of ti.e False Shep-
herds wv. 1-19).
Israels ruined condition resulted
from the failure Of the rulers to prop
erly care for the people of Israel, Gods
sheep. Their sin was that
1. They Exploited the People In
stead Of Shepherding Them wv. 1-3).
The shepherds were appointed to feed
the flock but instead of that they fed
themselves, even devouring the sheep
and clothing themselves with the wool
thereof.
/ 2. They Failed to Minister to the
Sick. the Diseased and Wounded ~.
] A. 1t is not enough that the shep-
herds refrain from doing evil to the
sheep. They are expected to strengthen
the weak and bind up. the wounds of
those that have been injured.
8. They Did Not Search Out the
Lost Sheep wv. 5-9). Sheep left to
themselves wander away. The sheep
are not expected to look after them
selves but to be cared for by the shep-
herd. In their scattered condition they
became the prey Of wild beasts. None
sought after them though they had
wandered through the mountains and
over the hills.
A. The Lord Held the Priests and
Rulers Of Israel Responsible for This
Condition (v 10Y. The Lord always
holds those responsible who have been
set over his children.
! II. Israel to Be Restored wv. 11-22).
4 Though the rulers have SO wretched-
4 ly failed, the almighty God will come to
the rescue of His people.
1. He VIII Search and Seek Them
i Out wv. IL, 12) Though Israel be
scattered throughout the nations, the
divine shepherd will deliver them from
every place where they have been scat
tered.
2. VIII Bring Them into Their Own
4 Land W 49,. This was PARTLY full
filled in the return of the remnant un-
der Ezra and Nehemiah, but the real
/ fulfillment awaits the future.
3. Will Feed Them (vv 10, 14). HIS
will not only satisfy them with food.
i Heswill cause them to lie down in per
\ feet contentment and security (vv.
/ IA, 15).
A. Shall No More Be Prey ". 22e.
Though Gods chosen people have been
4 scattered through the mountains and
! over the hills Of the nations and have
4 4 been prey to the repacious greed OF
4 tile many nations, God Will one day
deliver his sheep and will judge the
faise shepherds. W
@n.l
WV. 23-3I.
The instrument through which this
great deliyerance is to be wrought is
the Messiah Himself
L. He Will Make a Covenant OF
Peace ". 25l. This condition of peace
will be brought about by the presence
Of the Lord among them. The world
and Israel Will only know actual peace
when the Prince of Peace shall come
and rule the whole earth.
1 2. Evil Beasts Removed ". 80. The
| redemption which awaits Israel and
the world will not only affect Gods
| children and their rulers but will bring
about peace even among the animals
| so that His children can sleep in peace
| and quiet even in the woods.
8. Showers of Blessing Come Down
| ". 26).
Gods chosen people shall be a bless.
! fng to the world, according to His
| original purpose for them. When
these blessings are poured out, it shall
be known that they flow from Jesus
Christ, the good Shepherd. The pur.
pose of Israels choice was that the
world might be blessed through them
Gen IL :1-3).