Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-13
Sunday School Lesson
BY
DR.. Hugh T. Stevenson.

to teach the exiles that Israers ruin
rested upon themselves, not the con-
querors, or their Hebrew fathers. Eze-
kiel recognized the influence of Egypt
and other nations in leading the nation
after false gods and idol worship. He
saw the close connection between idola-
try and the groSSeSt sins of the flesh,
society and ones neighbors. They had
a personal responsibility for the ma
tons doom that they could not evade
or deny. God would hold them per-
sonally accountable for their part in
the nations failure.
When a runner who had escaped
from Jerusalem brought the message to
Ezekiel that it had fallen the prophet
threw himself into his ministry with a
new message Of cheer and comfort, call
ing upon the exiles. to repent. In the
nour OF despair, disbursement and
darkness they received a new revelation
OF Jehovah'S character. 1t taught them
that Gods attitude toward them was
not marked by inconsistency and in
justice, for it was based upon the
eternal principles of justice and love
They had thought that their hopes for
Jehovah'S protection and blessing de-
manded that they be in Palestine, where
they could worship Him In His. temple,
where the ark of the covenant had been
deposited. In the dark hour of their
greatest need of His help they learned
That Jehovah was not territorial diety
but a universal God, whose love for
them offered to all a way of salvation
II they would repent, change their
method of living and glorify Him.
Judgment had been pronounced against
the nation, but the way was open for
every individual to turn to God and be
saved.
The Way Of Salvation.
The exiles had come to recognize
that the strict balance of Justice in
the hands of God meant death for
them, for the soul that sinneth, it
shall die" In other words, death
comes as a result of mems deliberate
acts that are contrary to Gods word
and will. Ezekiel kept pointing out in
his preaching that followed the de-
struction of Judah that If any one
would turn from their evil ways they
could be saved, for God had no pleasure
in the death of the wicked, for He
desired them to turn from their evil
ways and live.
Grace precedes repentance; God re-
Vealed His love to us, in that, while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for the
ungodly. In His death upon Calvary's
cross provision was made for our re-
demption. Jesus came to seek and to
save that which was lost. Ezekiel's
gospel message proclaimed to the exiles
that whosoever of their number would
repent and turn from their evil ways
could be saved. God has no pleasure
IN the sinners death, for He offers
escape from it through His mercy and
favor to all who repent. Ezekiel as
sured them that God would put a new
spirit into all those who would accept
His offer of salvation. The prophet
sounded this note In his preaching
during the exile. It placed the in
dividual responsibility upon the indi-
viduals to whom the offer was made IL
they rejected Gods grace and refused
His offer of salvation.
EzekieIs emphasis upon personal re-
Sponsibility was confined to the posi-
ton that men will occupy before the
Judgment bar of God. Although he
emphasized the individuals personal
responsibility to the Lord in an hour
when the exile was away from Jerll-
salem and Judah, the prophet never
lost the view that Israel was Gods IA
vorite nation. He was seeking to build
up spiritual Israel, made up of those
who were the Hebrews of the Hebrews,
through their acceptance of Gods gift
OF salvation and their living In ac-
cortiance with His laws. He demanded
that they should be doors of the word
OF God as well as hearers of the
prophets message. We need to heed
this lesson today. Experience and
science teaches US that every act of
obedience has its own reward and every
disobedience has its own penalty to
pay. God still rules the universe by
the law that the prophet proclaimed,
''the soul that sinneth, 1t shall die" He
still offers to all the gift of His love,
way of escape from the penalty of
their sins. if they win repent. turn
away from their life of sin and shame,
seeking to do Gods will through the
new life that He will give them through
their repentance and faith In Christ
Jesus, ~