The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1948-04-01

tives by the river
= Chebar. He is one
DR.. Newton Of the most attrac
tive personalities ir
the Old Testament - a man Of sur.
passing culture and charm-and yet
enabled to sit where they sat-"
A MESSENGER OF GOD
EZEKIEL could never have adapt.
- ed himself to the role OF minis.
tering to the captive slaves apar,
from the knowledge that he was the
messenger Of God - the messenger
OF Gods hope to broken, beaten
souls.
God spoke to his people through
Ezekiel. He speaks to his people
today through chosen messengers
parents, teachers, the Bible. the
Holy Spirit. GOD may be speak.
ing 70 you to-day.
HEAR re THE WORD
EZEK1EL'S approach 70 the Jews
- In captivity was by the author.
lily Of Gods direct message to them
through him. Ezekiel was faithful
70 Gods appointment and mission
He knew that what he had to say to
the Jews meant their hope Of re-
lease and return.
He studied their plight. He
studied their mood. And then he
spoke TO them. But not only did
he speak to them, telling them
what God wanted them to know,
but he moved among them. He
loved them.
He had Gods message, and he
went In Gods mood Of compassion.
We cannot help people until we UNI
derstand them and love them.
GODS WATCHMAN
EZEKIEL reminded the people
- that he had been sent from God
as a Waterman, and he told them
what terrible responsibility was
upon him in warning them to re-
pent and return unto God. Read Eze-
kiel 33:l-9.
II the Waterman faithfully
warns the people, and they refuse
to heed the warning, their blood
will not be on his hands; but II
he fail to warn the people. their
blood will be on his hands. Here
Is a lesson for every teacher and
preacher and parent today.
And in this same 33rd chapter,
Ezekiel goes on to declare Gods
attitude toward all sinners. "Say
unto them, AS live, saith the Lord
God, have no pleasure in the
death of the wicked; but that the
wicked turn from his way and live
turn We, turn we from your evil
ways; for why will we die?"
A WATCHMAN UNTO EXILES
econ of man, I have made thee
Waterman unto the house
Of Israel" Ezekiel 3:l7.
This was the explicit commission
Of God to Ezekiel. And grandly did
Ezekiel accept and execute to the
limit Of his ability that commission.
The Jews were far from their be.
loved home. They were driven by
hard masters. They could not sing
the song of the Lord in a strange
land They had hanged their harps
on the willow trees.
With sensitive soul, Ezekiel
comes to them with TIE word of
hnn N .l~
goodness and mercy of Jehovah
to their fathers, Abraham. Is,ac
and Jacob. He lifts their droop-
ing spirits with clear and ringing
words of promise. He pleads with
them to confess their sins and
claim the hardening mercy of a
loving God.
He used numerous means of GAIN
ing their attention symbols OF
their former communion with God
Patiently he traced the dealings
of God with them and their fathers
before them.
They listened, and all who heed.
ed the pleas Of the faithful watch.
man were saved and restored to
faith In the goodness and mercy
Of God.
We, too, are watchmen amons
exiles. Let us learn the high art O
Ezekiel in our ministry as watch
man.
The churches will fail il the les
sons Of Sunday are forgotten OF
Monday and are laid aside for spe
cial observance on only one day O,
the week. - Wayne Morse, u. S
senator from Oregon.
/ Copyright By the international Council q
Religious Education on behalf Of 20 Protestsn
1 denominations. Released BY WNU Features.
! Mr.. and Mrs. Ed Bass spent tn,
~ Il