T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S his pains.—Bruyere. I see nothing worth living for but the divine virtue which endures and surrenders all things for truth, duty and the good of our fel low-men.— Channing. v. 20. I lay a stumblingblock. God is said to lay a stumblingblock only in the sense that He has constituted the world in that way.— Devo. Com. • v. 21. Thou hast delivered thy soul. If you witness to anyone about Christ, it will have to be, while you are here on earthib—Aldrich. It is a solemn respon sibility to have in one’s possession a reprieve for men under condemnation and then not deliver it.— Sel. He who is pure by the blood of the Son of God should be pure from the blood of the sons of men.— Cole. It is strange how some Christians can withhold from their fellow-men without compunction the best news that ever came into the world.— Sel. PICTORIAL QUESTIONS Who was Ezekiel? Ezek. 1:3. What office did he fill? When was he taken captive to Babylon? 2 Kings 24:11-16. By what title is Ezekiel called in this lesson? To whom is this LESSON title applied in the New QUESTIONS Testament? What was W. H, Pike Ezekiel told to do? Who proposed to speak to Ezekiel? Who entered into Ezekiel? What message was given Ezekiel? What was the condition of the people at this time? Where were the ten tribes? What word of encouragement did God give Ezekiel? 2:6. How many days had elapsed before this second message came? 3:16. What office did Jehovah give Ezekiel in this interview? How was Ezekiel to receive God’s Word? What warning was Ezekiel to give Israel? What was the watchman’s work in that country in those days? What kind of a watchman was Ezekiel to be? What was God’s message to the wicked? How would Ezekiel’s message help the wicked? What would happen to Ezekiel if he warned not the wicked? PRACTICAL QUESTIONS Was Ezekiel faithful in receiving God’s message and delivering it? Should
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a "Thus saith the Lord.” No man can stand against the continual opposition of his fellows unless his strength is re newed as Ezekiel’s was (v. 8).—Meyer. v. 6. Briers and thorns be with thee. The Hebrew word for “ briers” is from a root meaning "to sting as nettles do.” The wicked are often so called (2 Sam. 23:6; Song of Sol. 2:2; Is. 9:18).— Jamieson. Duty, though set about by thorns, may still be made a staff, sup porting even while it tortures. Cast it away, and like the prophet’s wand it changes to a snake.— Jerrold. v. 7. Speak my words. Nothing less, nothing more, nothing different. CCf. Gen. 3:2, 3; 2 Tim. 4 :2 ).— Comp. Bible. 3:17. 1 have made thee a watch man. God’s prophets and ministers are His gifts (Eph. 4:11).— Bullinger. Responsibility walks hand in hand with capacity and power.-^Holland. Every human being has duties toward others to perform, influences to exert which are peculiarly his own, and which no conscience but his own can teach.— Channing. Give them warning. Heb rew, “to give a signal” by a beacon or other fire (Jer. 6 :1). Occurs fourteen times in Ezekiel in connection with the prophet’s or pastor’s care.—-Cpmp. Bible. Perish discretion when it in terferes with plain duty.—Moore. The sense of this duty of warning the wick ed pursues us ever.— Joseph Cook. When such a duty is to be done, it is fortunate for you if you feel like doing it, but if you do not feel like doing it, that is no reason for not doing it.— Gladden. v. 18. The wicked man shall die. Men are not,to flatter themselves that their ignorance owing to the negligence of their teachers, will save them (Rom. 2:12). “ As many as have sinned with out law shall also perish Without law.” —-J. F. & B. Givest him not warning. The deliberate rejection of duty pre scribed by already recognized truth can not but destroy, or at least impair, the clearness of our mental and spiritual vision.— Liddon. It is one of the worst of errors to suppose that there is any path of safety except that of discharg ing our responsibility so far as we can. —Aughey. Duty requires no impossi bilities, nor can it ever be disregarded with impunity.—Thoreau. v. 19. If thou warn the wicked. The satisfaction a man enjoys in the consciousness of having performed his duty is a reward he pays himself for all
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