Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1898-09-14
TEN TRIBES TAKEN CAPTIVE.
sunday school Lesson I'm the Inter-
national series for September
~, Isos-2 Kings, 17so-1S.
BIASED upon Peloubet's Select Notes.l

BASED upon Poloubets Select Notesl
GOLDEN TENTH thou seek Him. He
viii be found OF thee: hut n thou forsako
Him. He viii cast thee on forever.-L
Chron. $50
sUBJECT.-Captivity OF the Ten Tribes.
THE SECTION includes the last years
OF Israel. in Kings l5.s-Si. 15I-ii. and the
prophets Amos and Hosea.
TiME.-Thc fall OF Samorfa took place
I'M December. 80. or early In IN All au-
thoritios agree here.
PLACE-samaria. tho capital OF Israel.
EXPLANATORY.
1. Decline and Fall OF lSrael.-The
two prophets, Amos and Hosea, with
oil their intense earnestness and love.
were unable TO make the people see,
through the gorgeous clothing of the
nation. the deadly cancer that was
eating out its life. Jeroboam the
Great died about I40, land in less than
two decades the proud kingdom over
which he ruled ceased 20 exist. Four
of the six kings who succeeded him
were struck down by assassins, and
one died in captivity."-hent.
II. The Moral Causes of the Fall of
israeli. Forgetting God. They for
". -. Hence came sin and weakness.
They lost their confidence in Gods
wisdom and power TO defend them as
He had done in the days of old. His au-
thority waned. His commandments
were forgotten and set at naught.
.. Hypocrisy. V. 9. Ibid secretly:"
They covered their idolatry with pre-
lenses that 81 was q worship of Je-
hovah.-Cook.
;. Idolatry. Built high
places" Affairs in groves on n hill, for
worship, sometimes for worship of
Jehovah, but often for the worship OF
idols" Prom the tower of the
Waterman" In lonely spots, TO guard
vineyards and flocks.
V. 10. Images" Perhaps carved in
some figure, but often only obelisks.
representing some idol. Groves"
Ashcrim, wooden images, carved on
pillars, OF the goddess Ashcrah. 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 lsaacl did not take
warning, but did the very things which
brought evil upon others.
1. Resistance to Good Influences.
via. Yet the Lord testified against"
Or. V. unto). by all the prophets"
Those who speak forth what God
would say TO men. And by all the
seers:" Those who see visions which
God reveals. Prophets of every lind
were sent.
Wa. But hardened their necks:" \
metaphor derived from those oxen
who, in spite Of all efforts to guide
them, hold their nccks set and firm
in the way they determine to go. 1t
expresses unbending obstinacy and
self-wiu.
5. 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. Disobedience. V. Is. "They rejected
His statutes" The natural result of
unbelief. And His covenant" So the
iawwas called, because ii was an agree
ment between God and His people, He
TO preserve and defend them they to
obey. (See Deu.. 2o;1. @, I'D Ills testi-
timonies:" His law. which is the testi-
mony He bears for truth and against
iniquity. "And followed van
ity:" Idols who were absolutely pow
erless TO help them. Became vain:'
Weak, helpless, with no power to re-
sist attacks
4 Cruelty and Crime. VIZ. Caused
their sons to pass through
the fire." Not merely made them
pass through the fire for publication. A"
| but burnt them with fire. This wns
done in the worship of Molcch. The
( Rabbins tell us that this idol was made
OF brass, and that the head was that
of calf with a crown upon it. II was
made hollow. and "a furious fire was
lCiudled within il. When the
arms were red hot. the victim was
thrown into them. and was almost inn
mediately burned 20 death, while its
cries were drowned by drums" Div
nation and entertainments" These
were different ways of seeking 10 know
future events, and of imposing upon
the people. And sold themselves 10
do evils" The metaphor Is taken from
the practice of men selling themselves
INTO slavery. and so giving themselves
wholly mp TO work the will Of their
master.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
No nation, and no individual. cana
tain the highest good from life with.
out supreme conservation TO God. n
lofty ideal. and holy enthusiasm in
the service Of God and man.
Sin is ungrateful and mean as wen
as wicked. Gods goodness. which has
ever blessed our lives. which has done
more for MS than we can ask or even
think, should lead us 10 love and serve
Him with our whole heart.
When religion displays itselfin bust.
Jess, IS well as in belief. at tho caucus
as well as at the church. az the polls
as wei as at the prayer-meetinr. in
society, as well as In synods. then The
unsavcd will acknowledge its cen.
uineness.-Chicago Standard.