The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-07-04
Improved Uniform International
.Si111!daySchool
'. Lesson '
! (By REV. P. B. FITZWATER, DID, Dean
Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.)
(6, 1929, Western Newspaper Union.)
Lesson for July z
THE STORY OF EZEKIEL

LESSON TExT-Ezekiel SAIL;
24:15-18.
GOLDEN TEXT-As 1 live, saith the
Lord God, 1 have no pleasure in the
death Of the wicked, but that the
wicked turn from his way and live.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Ezekiel, a Mes
senger of God.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Ezekiel, a Mes
senger of God.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Frankness in Friendship.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
lIC-A Prophet-Pastor.
Ezekiel prophesied in the land of the
captivity. The purpose of his ministry
was threefold.
QD To keep before the house of Is
rael that they were in captivity be-
cause of their Sins ia :23). (2) To
show that God is righteous in His Wis.,
itatiOn of judgment upon them e IS, 81.
(3) To sustain their faith by assur-
ing them of their national restora-
ton, the punishment Of their enemies,
and their final eXaltation among the
nations when Messiah should reign
34:11-3D.
I. Ezekie's Call 2:1, p. H..
l. Command to stand up ". ~.
He was given vision of the AL
mighty God on His throne of glory
(ch. u. The purpose of this vision was
to give a synthetic grasp of the exc
cution of the divine will through the
powers and forces which God had Gre
ated. Before this vision the prophet
fell PROSTATE upon his face. When one
secs the diversity and complexity of
the agencies employed including the
animate and inanimate creation intelli-
gently moving forward, under the di-
rectiOn of the Almighty, he will be
ready to face any task regardless of
| its difficulty.
, 2. Filled with the Spirit ". p.
BY the Spirit the divine energy en-
i tered him and enabled him to execute
his commission.
, II. EzekiePs Commission wv. 3-S).
l. The moral condition of the peo-
pie wv. 3, ~.
Il. a. A rebellious nation ". 81. This
perhaps referred to their idolatrous
practices.
: (2) Impudent children ". ~. Impu-
dent means literally "hard of face"
! 1t means the grossest perversity which
caused them to stand up in the pres
ence of the prophets of God without
a sense of guilt.
2. The charge ". ~.
He was to deliver Gods message.
1t was to be, "Thus saith the Lord
God"
3. The difficulty of his task wv. 5-S).
The prophet was to deliver the mes
sage of God whether they would hear
or forbear. He was to fearlessly exc
cute his commission, though the atti-
tude of the people be as "briars, thorns
and scorpions"
faithful minister's life and testi-
mony will run counter to the world.
Oh Tim. 3:12).
III. EzekieI's Experimental Qualifi-
cations (2:9-3: 1G).
Before one can preach to others he
must have a personal experience.
1. Eating the book (2:9-3 ~.
This book contained Gods woes up
On the stiff-necked and rebelious peo-
pie In order to speak Gods threat
enings effectively to others we must
inwardly digest and appropriate them
ourselves. The result of this eating
was that Ezekiel was made hard of
face and forehead to go against the
people who were hard of face and
forehead"
2. Urged on by the Spirit Is :10-14.
In order to strengthen Ezekiel for
his task, the wonderful symbolism of
Gods prOvidential agencies which had
been before him in chapter one was
brought to his attention, assuring him
that God would accompany him to
his new destination.
8. Entering into sympathy. ". 15).
In order to minister to a people one
must show that the message is from
the depth of the heart. Ezekiel min
gled his tears with theirs.
~. Ezekiels Grave Responsibility
GIFTED.
Two things were required of him as
a Waterman over the flock.
/. To hear the Word at Gods mouth
". ~.
The source OF his message was Gods
Word. This is true today.
2. To sound the warning. ". ~.
After he had heard Gods message
he was to speak it out; then his re-
sponsibility was discharged.
v. Ezekiels Courage GA 1873.
He was to be taught by sorrowful
experience. He was to turn his face
from even natural desire. At the
death of his wife he was forbidden
to mourn. BY this means God sought
to impress upon Israel the serious
ness of the situation.