The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-09-08

-, leoo-o K1ngs. 1SD-th
BIASED upoa PslouAet's sslses N1ts1t1
GOLDEN TExT.-H thou se6 Hin, He :
wiii Be found e thss; but u thou Sorsons
Him. He Win east tAss. 81 forsvsss-l
suyBB;JSacr-c.puvsty yB; a Of ths Ten TssbeA
THE SECTION Includes The last yeafs
of Israal. IN Kings IS SD: f7:l-t1; and the
prophets Amos and Hosea
TiNElrhs~ fail of eanaria took place
In December. IA or early In N All au-
PLACE.-ssmar1a, he capital Of Israel
EXPLANATORY. u
l. Decline and Fall of IsraeL-The
two prophets, Amos and Hosea, with
all their intense earnestness and love.
were unable to make the people see.
through the gorgeous clothing OF the
nation. the desdly cancer that was
eating out its life. Jeroboam the
Great died about 740. "and in less than
two decades the proud kingdom over
which he ruled ceased to exist. Four
Of the six kings who succeeded him
were struck down by assassins, and
one died in captivity."-Kent.
II. The Moral Causes Of the Fall Of
israeli. Forgetting God. They for
got God and all He had done for them
". .. Hence came sin and weakness.
They lost their confidence in Gods
wisdom and power to defend them -
He had done in the days of old. His au-
thority waned. His commandments
were forgotten and set at naught.
2. Hypocrisy. Y. 0. ibid secretly"
They covered their idolatry with pre-
lenses that It was q worship Of Je.
hovah.-Cook.
3. Idolatry. Built high
places" Affairs in groves on hill. for
worship. sometimes for worship OF
Jehovah, but often for the worship OF
idols" From the tower of the
watchman:" In lonely spots. to guard
vineyards and 1ocks.
v. 10. Images: Perhaps carved in
rome figure, but often only obelisks.
representing some idol. "Groves:"
Asherim. wooden images, carved on
pillars, Of the goddess Asherah. cor
responding to the Grecian Venus.
VII. Whom the Lord carried away"
into captivity by the Assyrians. These
nations were nearer Assyria, and first
attacked, and yet Isaael did not take
warning. but DID the very things which
brought evil upon others
4. Resistance to Good Influences.
via. "Yet the Lord testified against"
Or. ", unto). "By all the prophecies"
Those who speak forth what God
would say 70 men. "And by all the
seers:" Those who see visions which
God reveals. Prophets Of every kind
we're sent.
VIA. "But hardened their necks:" A
metaphor derived from those oxen
who, in spite of all efforts to guide
them, hold their necks set and firm
in the way they determine to 60. It
expresses unbending obstinacy and
self-will.
s. Unbelief. That did not believe in
the Lord" They of course knew His
existence, but they did not trust in
His guidance, in His wisdom and good,
ness. so as TO do what He commanded.
g. Dsobedfence. V. Is. "They rejected
His statutes:" The natural result Of
unbelfef. "And His covenants" So the
law was called, because 1t was an agree
ment between God and His people, He
to preserve and defend them, they to
obey. (see Deut. 2s:1. 0, 1917 "His testi.
timonies:" His law, which is the testi-
mony He bears for truth and against
iniquity. "And followed van
lty:" Idols who were absolutely pow
erless to help them. "Became vain:"
Weak, helpless, with no power to re-
sist attacks
:. Cruelty and Crime. VIZ. Caused
their sons to pass through
the fires" Not merely "made them
pass through the fire for publication" !"
but burnt them with fire. This was
done in the worship Of Molech. "The
Rabbinr, tell us that this idol was made
Of brass, and that the head was that
OF a calf with crown upon it. 1t was
made hollow, and o furious fire was
kindled within IL. When tho
arms were red hot, the victim was
thrown into them, and was almost i'm
mediately burned to death, while its
cries were drowned by drums" "Div-
ination and enchantments:" These
were different ways of seeking to know
future events, and Of imposing upon
the people. sand sold themselves to
do evils" The metaphor is taken from
the practice Of men selling themselves
into slavery, and so giving themselves
wholly up to work the will of their
master.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
No nation, and no individual, can at
tain the highest good from life with
out supreme conservation to God. o
lofty ideal. and n holy enthusiasm In
che service Of God and man.
Sin is ungrateful and mean as well
as wicked. Gods goodness, which has
ever blessed cur lives. which has done
moro for us than we can ask or even