Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-11-22
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments Foi
November =.
SlSjeci: Woe 70 IN. Drunkards, lisa. xviii. !
l3-Go.den Text. lsa. xviii, Memory
Verse. T. Commentary on the
Gays Lesson.


heavy calamity. ITO the crown of pride.
BY the crown of pride the prophet refers
, to Samaria. the beautiful capital OF Israel.
The CITY was situated on the top of n round
hill and surrounded by rich valley. The
drunkards OF Ephraim" EDhraim. the
leading tribe of the nation. had become de-
based in vice. They were n tribe of drunk
ards. and because of this the woe was unon
them. "A fading flower" a very forcible
figure. Their beauty and glory would fade
as flower. The fat valleys" The val.
leys around Samaria were very fertile and
beautiful. Overcome with wine" Wine
causes men to fall an easy victim TO temp
tation. Alcohol DESTROYS the will power.
The drunkard has bad character and gen.
orally enters recklessly into the vilest sins.
What is overcome? !. Reason. Intern.
perance makes fools of men. .. Con.
science. TIE moral sense becomes dead
ened. 3. Physical powers. The drunkard
INDUCES in that which entirely units him
to meet the obligations that are resting
upon him. He incapacitates himself for
any position of trust The penalty is lost
manhood. social degradation. an impover-
ished and deso,ate home and eternal BAN
ishment from God
g. The Lord hath a-strong one" This
is reference to the army of the Assyrians,
which was soon to come upon them like
devastating storm. The destruction would
he complete, like terrific hail storm or a
great food.
s. "Trodden under foot" Sha,maneser.
with the Assvran host. invaded. overcame
and carried the people away. never to re-
turn. 1t Is an unsolved problem to this
day where the ten tribes are: whether they
continue to exist or are entirely extinct.
All of this was because of sin, and espe-
cially the sin OF drunkenness.
4. CAS- the first ripe fig" As the first
gathcrer and hastily eaten. so Samaria
would he a delicious morsel for the Assy-
rians. The image expresses in the strong
es. manner the great ease with which the
invaders wonld take the city and the whole
kingdom of Israel. and the eagerness with
which they would seize and consume the
prey 1t is still true that trouble and sor.
row like an invading army come upon and
destroy those who might have been happy
and prosperous but for strong drink
.. Unto the residue" The prophet
now turns from the ten tribes to the two
tribes OF Judah and Benjamin. the rem.
nant of Gods people. who were to continue
kingdom for more than 100 wears after
Israel was carried into cantivitv. Judah
was to be favored and Blessed. Under
Hezekab there was IN he revival Of re-
licion. So. today. Jehovah will be "a
crown OF glory" ard "a diadem OF beauty"
to those who trust His word
6. "A spirit Of judgment" 4 Gear ner.
ception OF Gods truth. 4 clear head is
promised as well as glory and beauty.
Turn the battle to the gate" Who pur-
size the fleeing enemy even to the very
gates of their own CITY. We have a spirit-
nal warfare to wage Ooh. 6: 10y. and we
are pledged to conquer the world for Christ.
Beware lest we render ourselves unfit for
military service by luxurious habits and
sinful indulcences. The drunkards OF
Ephraim could do nothing to oppose the
invaders.
=. But these also have erred" fR. w
Jerusalem as well as Samaria has her inc.
briates and scenes of disgusting intoxica.
ton. Though her punishment is not az
near as that of the northern kingdom,
there are seen the marks OF sure decline
Note the effects or strong drink portrayed
in this verse: /. Erring. wandering into
forbidden WAYS and places. . Even the
religious teachers led astrav. 3. Wholly
absorbed IN appetite. 4. They cannot see
things as they are. or Judge correctly. ;.
The whole life is perverted. Gods minis
tiers need pure heart, clean life ard
clear vision
8. There is no clean place" The liquor
business is filthy business. and every one
who Is engaged in it or has anything TO do
with 1t IS made filthy by it. The body,
mind and soul of the one connected with
1t become polluted and corrupt
3. 10. Whom shall he teach" etc.
Many. regard these verses as the words
used by the scoffers as thev Knocked the
pronhet. They treat Gods method of
dealing with them and warning them by
HIS prophets with contempt and derision.
What. say they, doth He treat lis as mere
infants just wcaned? Doth He teach us
ike little children. constantly going over
the same easy lessons. We must conceive
verse I'D rs spoken in mimicrv, with a
mocking motion of the head and in a
childish. stammering tone.
u. Nay Or. W The prophets reply
begins with this verse. Isaiah attacks them
with great force and severity. turning their
own language. spoken in mockery back
upon themselves. Yes. it shall be as YOU
say, We shall he taught by strange tongue.
and in strange land. whittier YOU will be
carried into captivity. Then YOU will be
forced to learn like children
l.. This Is the rest" etc God has
gwen them repeated and faithful warnings.
pointing out TO them the true rest and the
way to obtain it, but they had closed their
ears and would not hear and were going
on III their fancled security TO certain de-
struction.
Is. And fall backward" etc. They
had had great light, and this made them
great sinners, and they deserved terrible
punishment
"ousHtS. He IllstIt OF THIS lie comes
from Satan. The way to keep out OF sin Is
TO resist temptation. Drunkenness is the
means by which the devil drags down to
perdltion both young and old Christians
who follow the Bible will be total abstain.
eis. The priests were forbidden 10 drink
wine; we are priests q Pet. .: 81, therefore
've ought To avoid il. Gods people are To
come out from the world and be separate
from sin and sinners > Cor. 6: li-IS AL
though His people are in the world. vet
they are not Of the world John IL: Is.
Our world is staggering under the awful
curse OF alcoholism. The liquor traffic is a
cancer eating the very life out OF society.
II destroys the morals OF the country and
biights wherever it touches. Christians
cannot oppose it TOO strongly. The sanction
10 the wholesale and retail murder OF helm.
less human beings, through the licensed sa
loon. Is enough to brand lis as hypocrites,
and bring upon us the judgments OF an OF,
tended God. The man who sanctions the
traffic by his vote IS a partaker OF all It's
evil.