1. Who is the prophet whose chapter is read to-day? 2. Where did Ezekiel live? 3. Who took him to Babylon? 4. Who was taken there at the same time? 5. How old was king Jehoiachin? 6. What was his home? 7. Why were he and his people taken away from Jerusalem? 8. What had been their sin? 9. How had God tried to make them better? 10. Had they attended? 11. What must come of sin? 12. What is the use of being punished? 13. What will happen if we do not leave off the fault when we are punished?
THIRD READING.
"And ye shall be comforted."—Ezekiel 14:22.
THE prophet Ezekiel had many sad things to tell the Jews; but he had some comfortable ones. They had been very wicked, and God took them away from their dear home at Jerusalem, and let it be burnt with fire; and put them to live far away in a strange land at Babylon. But He told them that if they would leave off their sins, and turn back to Him, and not worship idols any more, then He would forgive them, and bring them home again.
To-day the Lesson says that they must really be sorry in earnest, not only pretend to be sorry. If they said they would worship God, and were caring for their idols in their hearts all the time, then He must go on being angry, and punishing them; but if they were really sorry, and really prayed to Him, then when they had been punished enough, they should be comforted.
They should not always stay in Babylon, in the dull flat land, with the streams of water flowing lazily through it; but they should see their own dear hills and fields again, and live in their homes once more. That would be such gladness, that it would make up for all the sorrow. All that was wanted was, that they should be really sorry, and leave off all the bad things they had done, and repent from the bottom of their hearts.
Now when we have done wrong, and are punished, it is to make us sorry, that we may do so no more. Little children are punished by their friends; grown-up people are punished by God sending troubles. Then we must be sorry, not only for the punishment, but the fault, and really try with all our hearts not to do it again. If we only say we are sorry, and then run back to our old ways, something worse will come of it. No, we must be sorry in earnest, and then God will forgive us, for His dear Son Jesus Christ's sake.
QUESTIONS.