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Ezekiel's vision of the river of healing： 〃These waters issue out toward the
east country； and go down into the desert； and go into the sea： which being
brought forth into the sea； the waters shall be healed。 And it shall come to
pass； that everything that liveth； which moveth； whithersoever the rivers
shall come； shall live： 。 。 。 and by the river upon the bank thereof； on
this side and on that side； shall grow all trees for meat； whose leaf shall
not fade； neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed： it shall bring forth
new fruit according to his months； because their waters they issued out of
the sanctuary： and the fruit thereof shall be for meat； and the leaf thereof
for medicine。〃 Ezekiel 47：8…12。
From the beginning God has wrought through His people to bring blessing to
the world。 To the ancient Egyptian nation God made Joseph a fountain of
life。 Through the integrity of Joseph the life of that whole people was
preserved。 Through Daniel God saved the life of all the wise men of Babylon。
And these deliverances are as object lessons； they illustrate the spiritual
blessings offered to the world through connection with the God whom Joseph
and Daniel worshiped。 Everyone in whose heart Christ abides； everyone who
will show forth His love to the world； is a worker together with God for the
blessing of humanity。 As he receives from the Saviour grace to impart to
others； from his whole being flows forth the tide of spiritual life。
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God chose Israel to reveal His character to men。 He desired them to be as
wells of salvation in the world。 To them were committed the oracles of
heaven； the revelation of God's will。 In the early days of Israel the
nations of the world； through corrupt practices； had lost the knowledge of
God。 They had once known Him； but because 〃they glorified Him not as God；
neither were thankful； but became vain in their imaginations； 。 。 。 their
foolish heart was darkened。〃 Romans 1：21。 Yet in His mercy God did not blot
them out of existence。 He purposed to give them an opportunity of again
becoming acquainted with Him through His chosen people。 Through the
teachings of the sacrificial service； Christ was to be uplifted before all
nations； and all who would look to Him should live。 Christ was the
foundation of the Jewish economy。 The whole system of types and symbols was
a compacted prophecy of the gospel； a presentation in which were bound up
the promises of redemption。
But the people of Israel lost sight of their high privileges as God's
representatives。 They forgot God and failed to fulfill their holy mission。
The blessings they received brought no blessing to the world。 All their
advantages they appropriated for their own glorification。 They shut
themselves away from the world in order to escape temptation。 The
restrictions that God had placed upon their association with idolaters as a
means of preventing them from conforming to the practices of the heathen；
they used to build up a wall of separation between themselves and all other
nations。 They
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robbed God of the service He required of them； and they robbed their fellow
men of religious guidance and a holy example。
Priests and rulers became fixed in a rut of ceremonialism。 They were
satisfied with a legal religion； and it was impossible for them to give to
others the living truths of heaven。 They thought their own righteousness
all…sufficient； and did not desire that a new element should be brought into
their religion。 The good will of God to men they did not accept as something
apart from themselves； but connected it with their own merit because of
their good works。 The faith that works by love and purifies the soul could
find no place for union with the religion of the Pharisees； made up of
ceremonies and the injunctions of men。
Of Israel God declared： 〃I had planted thee a noble vine； wholly a right
seed： how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine
unto Me？〃 Jeremiah 2：21。 〃Israel is an empty vine； he bringeth forth fruit
unto himself。〃 Hosea 10：1。 〃And now； O inhabitants of Jerusalem； and men of
Judah； judge； I pray you； betwixt Me and My vineyard。 What could have been
done more to My vineyard； that I have not done in it？ wherefore； when I
looked that it should bring forth grapes； brought it forth wild grapes？
〃And now go to； I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard： I will take
away the hedge thereof； and it shall be eaten up； and break down the wall
thereof； and it shall be trodden down： and I will lay it waste： it shall not
be pruned； nor digged； but there shall come up briers and
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thorns： I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it。 For
the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel； and the men of
Judah His pleasant plant： and He looked for judgment； but behold oppression；
for righteousness； but behold a cry。〃 Isaiah 5：3…7。 〃The diseased have ye
not strengthened； neither have ye healed that which was sick； neither have
ye bound up that which was broken； neither have ye brought again that which
was driven away； neither have ye sought that which was lost； but with force
and with cruelty have ye ruled them。〃 Ezekiel 34：4。
The Jewish leaders thought themselves too wise to need instruction； too
righteous to need salvation； too highly honored to need the honor that comes
from Christ。 The Saviour turned from them to entrust to others the
privileges they had abused and the work they had slighted。 God's glory must
be revealed； His word established。 Christ's kingdom must be set up in the
world。 The salvation of God must be made known in the cities of the
wilderness； and the disciples were called to do the work that the Jewish
leaders had failed to do。
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Chapter 2
The Training of the Twelve
For the carrying on of His work； Christ did not choose the learning or
eloquence of the Jewish Sanhedrin or the power of Rome。 Passing by the
self…righteous Jewish teachers； the Master Worker chose humble； unlearned
men to proclaim the truths that were to move the world。 These men He
purposed to train and educate as the leaders of His church。 They in turn
were to educate others and send them out with the gospel message。 That they
might have success in their work they were to be given the power of the Holy
Spirit。 Not by human might or human wisdom was the gospel to be proclaimed；
but by the power of God。
For three years and a half the disciples were under the instruction of the
greatest Teacher the world has ever known。 By personal contact and
association； Christ trained them for His service。 Day by day they walked and
talked with Him； hearing His words of cheer to the weary and heavy…laden；
and seeing the manifestation of His power in behalf
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of the sick and the afflicted。 Sometimes He taught them； sitting among them
on the mountainside； sometimes beside the sea or walking by the way； He
revealed the mysteries of the kingdom of God。 Wherever hearts were open to