Catoctin clarion., 1902-11-13
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
FOr November 10.
subject: The Time of the Judges, Judges
H., 7.D D-Golden Text, Psa. iO7 10
Memory Verses, IS, l9-Commentary
On the Days Lesson.


On the Days Lesson.
Exploratory. judges were the rulers
or leaders of Israel during the time from
Joshua to Saul, about 800 years. There
we're intervals during which Israel was
without rulers, and there were long inter
walls of foreign servitudc aud oppression
under which the Hebrews groaned without
deliverancc. There was no central govern,
ment, aud too generally "evcry man Gi!d
that which was right in his own eyes
That is, every man was largely his, own
master, lawgiver and executive. There
was no magistrate that welded power IN
all the land and whom all the tribes
obeyed. Fifteen judges are named IN the
Bible, beginning with Othniel some twen..
ty'years after Joshua, and continuing until
the coronation of Saul. The rcbuke the
angel gave at Bochim Tvs. l.5) was not un
til some time after the death Of Joshua
which shows that the first verses OF the
lesson are not in chronological order
7. "Served the Lord During the life
time Of Joshua. and all who lived while he
ruled, Israel had n good reputation for
faith and picty They regarded all the Won
dcrful blessings of God, and honored Him
by godly lives. From this VIC see how
deep was the imprint left upon the nation
by this great and good man. That out
ty or twenty-five years after the death OF
Joshua. They are here referred to as orig
inal witnesses of the miracles attendant
upon the conquest of Canaan. Their pres'
cncc aud testimony kept the Hebrew na.
ton from desnneracy and backsliding. az
the presence Of the apostles. eve witnesses
OF Chrst's majesty. preserved the Chris
tian church from corruption and hcresy.
8. "Joshua---dcd.' His character was
almost f,u1iIoss wnS man az
strong faith. Q He was very courageous!
s. He was unselfsh 4. He was faithful
5. He was an illustrious type of Christ.
He led the people into Canaan, led them
to victory over their enemies and gave
them rest His death was a stroke to the
religious interests of Israel.
0. "Timnath-hcres," The situation OF
tlis place Is uncertain, Jewish tradition
fixes the place about nine miles south OF
Shechcn
10. another generation--which knew
not" Regardless Of all the teaching and
training which the new generation had re.
ceved from their departed fathers they
showed very little reverence for the reli.
gion they so much enjoyed. Thus it Is said
they knew not the Lord The history of
the wonderful deliverance which God had
wrought for Israel from Egypt to Canaan
had very little hold upon this goddess gen.
Grafton who lived after Joshua, They
were too ready to yield to the corrupting
influences OF the idolatrous people around
them.
H. did evil" This was the general
complaint against them. All evil is before
God and tie could SEQ where it began. I'm
the sight of the Lord" In the presence Of
His commandments. and in view OF His
works of goodness and His past punish.
ment of sin. their acts were treason toward
God. 1t was rebellion to His face Practi.
cal infidelty follows quickly upon the heels
of speculative inidellty Decay ot morals
inevitably shows decay Of faith, \ curious
proof OF this fact is embedded in almost
every language in those words whose pri.
mary signifcation implies unbrlef. and
whose secondary meaning is impressive OF
practical wickedness. For example, mis-.
creant" iirst signitied 'mi,helicvcr. then
"a vile wretch" the word "unprnciplcd"
first had reference to Speculative religious
OPINIONS then passed over INTO its more
common slgmhCation of 'prohigatc" and
vicious Served Baalm.' Baaim IL
the plural OF Baal and signifies lords"
Nothing could have been worse than this
The worship OF Baal was a grossly liceu.
tlous worship, fatal to the morals OF all
who took part in it. and therefore rightly
an abomnation in the eyes OF the Jews"
Never was there such folly and mgrati.
tude. The people deliberately ignored God
and broke His law
j.. "Forsook the Lord" They did not
say there was no God but when they took
up the worship of false gods they f0rsook
jehovah They could not iorsake His wor.
ship without iorsaliing Him. Though they
had been joined to the Lord IN covenant,
they iorsook Him. and multiplied unto
themselves many gods. Brought them
out" God had been gracious to them, and
with mighty hand had delivered them
from Egypt and given them the land of
Canaan, and yet they do not hesitate to
torsake Him and His worship. And pro
yoked the Lord" This was not passion or
rlndictlveness. but a feeling OF intense in.
dignation against sin. The very nature ot
God is opposed to sin. lle Is drspIcA,rd
with sin and must punish it. and thus
l3. "Ashtaroth.' This is the piurll
form OF Ashtoreth, the female divinity of
the IldonlanS, and consort ot Banl, Her
worship was very ancient and ahOmlnable. .
IA, Is. "Greatly distressed" All of
these things came upon them ~ a punish. !
ment for their evil deeds They were
sold, that Is, absolutely given UP into .
the hands OF their enemies.
l6. Raised up judges" Though Israel .
brought their own distress upon them.
God showed pity and compas,ion He did .
not send angels or any foreign power, but
raised up men among themselves and quail ,
ltcd them for the place. The Judges had |
no power to make laws. God gave them
They were not given to explain law. for
that was the duty OF the priests But they
were called to uphold the law. TO defend |
their religion, and to fix all punishment on
crimes.
II. Would not harkcn" So perverse
and stubborn were they. They were bent
on their own ruin and woul1 NOT lSfen 70