The Coolidge examiner., 1935-12-27

Improved 0 SUNDAY
Uniform o~ro~1
-:-LESSON - =
BY REV. P. B. FITZWATER. D. D..
Member of Faculty. Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago.
g Western Newspaper Union.
Lesson for December 20
REVIEW: SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
EXILE AND THE RESTORA-
TION

GOLDEN TEXT-The mercy of the
Lord is from everlasting to ever
lasting upon them that fear him.
and his righteousness unto chill
| dren's children.-Psalm 1O3:17.
PRIMARY TOPIC-How God Re-
stored His People.
JUNIOR TOPIC-How God Re-
stored His People.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
TOPIC-Learning From Great Men.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC-God's Providence in History.
The method of review must be de-
termined by the teacher. The grade
of the class, the aptitude of the
scholars, and the genius Of the
teacher are features to be consid-
cred. For senior and adult classes,
the following suggestions are made:
|. Study the Lessons of the Quar-
ter as illustrating the Philosophy of
History in Gods Dealings With His
People in Their Captivity and Res
toration.
Assignment of topics should be
made at least one week in advance.
Only adult classes could be expect
ed to use this method. The follow
ing subjects might be assigned:
Why God permitted Israel to go
into exile.
What cure the exile effected for
Israel.
What changed views of life result
ed from the exile.
The bearing of the exile upon
prophecy.
The relationship of divine chas-
tening to divine love.
II. Character Study.
Assign the outstanding heroes of
the quarters lessons to members of
the class to have them report. This
assignment should be made at least
one week in advance, Some of the
outstanding characters for consid-
Grafton are Isaiah, jeremiah. Eze-
kiel, Daniel, Nehemiah, Ezra, Zerub
babel and Malachi.
Ill., Summary of Contents.
This is a method readily usable
at all times, and it can be adopted
to most of the grades. The follow
ing suggestions are made for the
carrying out of this method:
Lesson l. The prophecy of Isaiah
is the grand center of the Old Tes-
lament. 1t pictures the Servant of
Jehovah, with great wisdom, glori-
ously executing the divine purpose
of redemption, at the cost of great
suffering.
Lesson 2. Before he was born,
jeremiah was ordained by God as
prophet to the nations. He so
really took to heart the doom
which awaited his people that he
wept sorely.
Lesson 3. jeremiah stood in the
gate of the temple in order that the
multitudeS might hear him. He told
the people that God required them
to amend their ways, sOlemnly
warning them of impending judg
mentS.
Lesson 4. While BelshaZZar and
his lords were engaged in drunken
revelry, the mysterious hand record
ed the divine judgment. There is a
coming day of judgment.
Lesson 5. Because of Judah's
apostasy, God permitted the Baby
lOnians to destroy Jerusalem and
take the Jews into captivity.
Lesson 6. Ezekiel sets forth per-
sOnal responsibility. On his part,
it was to hear Gods word and to
sound forth the warning. The peO-
pies responsibility was to hear and
obey.
Lesson 7. Though Israel went
into captivity as a chastisement, in
due time the Lord restored them. In
due time God will make good his
covenant agreement with the Jews.
Lesson S. God used these prOph-
cts to stir up the people to build
Gods house.
Lesson 9. Ezra was commissioned
to lead the people to fOrsake their
sins and return to God.
Lesson 10. On hearing of the dis
tress of his brethren in Jerusalem,
Nehemiah took the matter to the
Lord in prayer. The Lord gave him
favor with the king, permitting him
to go back to build the walls of
Jerusalem, bearing credentials of
authority from the king.
Lesson II. The method used in
bringing the people back to God was
the reading of the Word of God to
them. Because the Word was made
plain to the people, they repented
of their sins.
Lesson u. Malachi, as an aid to
Nehemiah in effecting reforms,
pointed out the sins of the people.
He set forth a day of judgment
when righteous retribution would
be meted ont to the wicked, and re-
wards given to the faithful.