Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-11-30
ISRAEL UNDER JUDGES.
LESSON TX, FOURTH QUARTER,
INTERNATIONAL SERIES, DEC. 2.

Commit Verses Golden Text, Heb. iii,
12-Commentary by Rev. ID. NJ. stcarns.
Condensed fro. Lesson Helper Quarterly, by
permission of II. S. Hoffman, Philadelphia,
publiSner.l
In studying the history Of Israel 1t is neces-
sary to keep in mind that the Lord God had
chosen them to be special people unto Him
self, above all people upon the face of the
earth: an holy people unto the Lord their
God, that He might dwell among them, and
that they might magnify His name before
the nations He only asked of them n cheer
full and whole hearted obedience and submis-
sion, promising on His part chat they should
be made to enjoy the greatest possible tenn
poral prosperity and be the head Of all ma
tiOns, no one being abs to stand before them
lex xix, 8, d; Deut. vii, q; xviii l-l4)
Their history during the forty years that
Moses led them is found in the books of Ex-
odus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
We have just been studying their history
under the leadership of Joshua, as recorded
in the book of Joshua and now we come to
their history under the Judges for about 4j0
years, as recorded in this book.
II. 1.-THE children of Israel did evil In the
sight of the Lord, and served Baalim." At
least seven times DO we hnd this statement
concerning their doing evil in this book iii,
II; iii, :, -; iv, |; vi, /; x, g; xiii, y, and n
reason is given in the preceding verse; that n
generation had arisen which knew not the
Lonl, nor yet the works which He had done
Tor Israel.
r. They forsooll the Lord God of their
fathers Some OF Joshuas parting words
were: "lf We forsal5e tho Lord and serve
strange gods, then will he turn and do you
hurt and consume vow (Josh. xiv 2M, but
these word, are now forgotten or UNDECIDED;
and worse STILL the Lord who brought them
out Of the land of E-,vpt. and made them a
milton and rave them this good land. ia for
gotten and forsol,en
- They forsoolS the Lord. and sorvod
Eaal and Nsbtaro.h." These were fine ,,,olo
md female divinities of the nations bcf,ra
mentioned. an! their vorship WAS associated
with the r4os, cruel and also the most impure
practices: the very extreme opposita OF that
SECURED by the pure and holy and loving
''9l Of Israel
H. Tho anger Of the Lord WAS hot oc-oins+
Israel" utlc arcou,t of tbi, sin ,,littnn in
rs. cvi. 3l-i6, il is said the o,yrofb If tbo
Lord kindled AGAINST His peonle insonncb
that he abhorreI His own inheritance and
lie gave them INFO the bond of he boe+bo,, >,
In Jer. XII. :. concerning u later sin it is
written: 81 have given the dearly beloved of
....,1 Il. 4
my 'oui INV .1t H'''I' ol ler enemies IL
was because Oh Ills great love Tor them that
lie thus chastcned them for their sins, as it is
written: "HOu only nave known of all the
families of the earth: therefore | will punish
Won fol. MI vour iuiouitiosn Amos iii y
II u1no bo,d of tho rorI ,,,1,,
., ,..I ''' Va ''-0 ~ .I' v ""o 'A''ins'
le'.i ~ va; ,r, ~i',t 'ney were greatly
distressed The way of the transgressor is
hard PROV xiii, 10, but they were the re-
deemed of the Lord and His hand was upon
them tor evil only TO make them SEQ thc evil
of their ,yovs and firm from, IL +ha+ IT,
,it+,l, .tl - ' ~ '""' AA0
M az ~ 'lie go. soo''
~ ->cNertAC!eSS' inc Lonl raised UP
judges which delivered them" Nevertheless,
He regarded their aiI tion when lie heard
their cry; and lie remembered for them His
covenant ,ps. cvi. GAIN DO NOT our boo,.ts
CIV. ,IN faoIisn ,,o,,o Dop' . %
,,,,., ,,,-n, WY sIioEe anu
''' Il """5 from s"cH IoNc' why not ABIDE IN
such lrlehii why not constantly rejoice in
such poWerH Then a voice whispers: "Thou
art the man; lsraels sin is lust thine own. and
the same God of Israel raoords today thn cr,
oftbo off crrjnr Off renontinr, ono and do
1i,. ,,,,.oII - 0-e' ''HN We
4'N4' 'i-'9N WIZ No'I u 'O.l LIIIli Sucn us Cal!