Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-05-21
CAPTIVITY OE ISRAEL.
International sunday-SchooI Lesson for
NAV "a 1901.


GOLDEN TExr-Because ye have forsaken the
Lord, he hath also forssken you-2 Chron- "a:
90
CENTRAL TRUTH-Sin and ruin are insepara-
bic.
TnE-The captivity took place BIC. 7a or
721.
PIAcE-samaria, the capital of Israel, and
various places in the Assyrian empire.
RULEKs-Hoshca, king Of Israel. Ninth year.
| Hezekiah was in his sixth year as king Of Ju-
| dab. The invasion OF Israel was begun by
Shalmanezcr ", who died during the siege Of
Samaria, which was captured by his successor,
Ssrgon-
PARALLEL HISTORY in Judah is found in 9
! Chron. chs 90, so.
PRoPHErs-Isaiaha and Micah were prophecy
ing in Judah. Hoshea died in Israel q short
time before the captivity.
HELPS OVER HARD PLACEs.-G. In the ninth
year Of Hoshca:' the last king Of Israel tScc
! VS.. Isl Tho king OF Assyria:' Sargon. Tho
war was begun by Shalmanezcr ", but he
died during the siege Of Samaria. "Halah:" a
district up the river ESbor. The river Of
| Gozan:' a district between the Euphratcs and
| Tigris The Habor IS q branch OF the Euphra-
tes , 'Medes:" east Of Nincveh. Z. Had
| brought them up:' showing their ingratituiC
IN disobeying God, who had done such wcndcr-
| full things for them. Q. Did secretly" hypO-
critically, under pretcnsc Of serving Jehovah.
Tower OF the watchnen:" in the field for
protection Of sheep and vineyards. The lone
lest places. 10. Groves Ashcrah wooden
| pillars for the worship OF Asheeh. 4 goddess
who correspondent TO the Grccian Venus. 10.
"Seers;" see-crs OF visions. One kind Of proph-
cts. a. Hardened their neells:' like oxen
| who are set and determined, and will not be
guided Is Testimonies: Gods witness
against sin by His laws and commandments.
| IL. ITO pass through the fire." by placing them
| In the red-hot arms Of the brazen idol Moloch.
| "Divination and cnchantments;' seeking to
know what to do, or what the future will be, by
signs and omens, instead OF by the word of God
| and conscience.
LESSON COMMENTS.
Cause and effect are brought out
clearly in this lesson, so that every one
may see how God works with his peo-
pie. We have been studying for some
time single portions of the history of
Israel, and have seen how they went
contrary to the law of their God. In
this lesson to-day, we see the end of the
courses of conduct that Israel pursued.
The historian tells of how they went in
the face of light that should have led
them to prosperity, and did according
to all the denominations of the idolatrous
nations around them. Against all this
they had been warned, and the -conse-
| quences of such conduct had been most
clearly set before them. Yet all was
vain. They did everything that others
did, and went to extremes of wicked
ness. They actually practieed human
sacrifices, and burnt their sons and
daughters at the shrines of Moloch.
Nothing was too vile for them to adopt.
Notwithstanding all this, the Lord
had patience with them, and waited for
years before lie brought the full
penalty of their sins on their
back to their former allegiance, and for
that purpose sent them prophet after
prophet; but they only hardened their
hearts, and stiffened their necks, and
| pushed ahead. So the end came at
last, and when it came, it was just as
terrible as God had said it would be.
We cannot look anywhere in the
physical world without perceiving that
cause and effect are indissolubly bound
together. Nothing happens without n
cause, and one of the most steadfast
efforts of scientific men is to find out
what causes produce certain effects.
What is true in the physical world is
true in the intellectual world as well.
Is that boy a good arithmeticiau? You
may be sure that there is cause for his
excellence in that line of work. Is the
other scholar well posted in history?
AS surely as in the first case, you will
| a. e. l., GnfA -, hot
line. But yonder there is scholar who
never knows his lessons, and fails of
promotion. Well, there is a cause for
that as well. Nothing happens by mere
chance. In the one case there has been
effort, and in the other laziness. The
results that are appropriate to these
causes will always follow. No man be-
comes a scholar by doing nothing, and
no man works hard without receiving
the due reward of his work. These are
Gods laws, andthey work always and
with every one in the same way.
There are at the present moment
causes at work in your class that will
inevitably produce certain results. This
is true in the case of each scholar. This
boy, if he keeps on in his present
course, will at last fill drunkard's
grave. That boy, if he persists in
pushing ahead, will end in the peniten-
tiary. That girl, unless she changes,
will end in life of sin and ruin. What
a solemn thought that is! Now is the
time to change, if ever, for soon the
reaping will begin, and whatsoever
they are now sowing, Of that they shall
have harvest before long.-Rev. A. f.
Schauffier, d. d.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
1. There comes time in the progress
of sin when it is too late: when the sin
can be destroyed only by the destruction
of the sinner.
2. God does all that wisdom and love
can do to prevent men from going on in
sin.
5. The real source of national decay
is irrelgion.
4. There is but one alternative: re-
pentance or ruin.
5. God has given us special helps to
repent, through Jesus Christ.
6. Men misuse Gods mercy to their
own ruin (Ecclcs- SID.
Z. Sin is ungrateful, as well as mean.
| S. Salvation of men and of nations is
through supreme devotion to God, a
lofty motive, holy enthusiasm.
THE Geographical Society of st. Pc
tersburg has resolved to establish forty
stations in various parts of Turkestan.