The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-11-12
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER q.
Subject: Wss to the Dsunkards, lee
xviii. i-l3-6osdsa fext. Iss. sxvih
:.Memory Verse. :-Commentary OF
ths Days Lesson.

] Subject: wss to the Drunkards' ise.
xviii, i.l3-6oldsn Text. Iss. sxsih..
;.Msmory Verse. :-Commeatary on
ths Days Lesson.
I. Woe" Grief. sorrow. misery. =
Nv the crown of pride the prophet refers
to Samaria, the beautiful capital Of 1srael:
The city was situated on the top OF round
hill and surrounded by a rich valley. The
drunkards OF EDhraim." Ephraim. the
leading tribe Of the nation. hsd become de
based in vice. They were a tribe OF drunk
! ards. and because OF this the woe was u5on
| them. "A fading flower" A very forcib:e
| figure. Their beauty and alory won!d fade
! As a flower. The fa. valleys" The val.
leys around Samaria were very fertile and
beautiful. Overcome with wine" Wine
causes men to fall an easy victim =. temp
tation. Alcohol destroys the will power
! The drunkard has bad character and gen
orally enters recklessly into the v'iest SINS SINS
What Is overcome: !. Reason. lntem'
perance makes fools Of men. 2. Con
science. The moral sense becomes dead:
cned. J. PHYSICAL powers. The drunka-sl
indulyes in that which entirely units him
to meet the obligations. that are resting
upon him. He incapacitates himself TO:
any position Of trust. The penalty is lost
manhood. social degradation. an impover'
ishcd and desolate home and eternal ban
ishment from God.
| g. "The Lord hath a-strong one" This
is a reference to the army OF the Assyrians,
which was soon to come upon them like =
devastating storm. The destruction wouid
be complete. like terrific hail storm or i"
great food.
3. "Trodden under foot" Shaimancscr.
with the Assyrian host. invaded. overcamc
and carried the people away. never to rc-
turn. It il an unsolved problem to this
day where the ten tribes are; whether they
continue to exist o: are entirely extinct.
! All OF this was because OF sin, and espc.
cially the sin OF drunkenness.
1. "As the first ripe fis." As the first
ripe fruit was eagerly seized by the fruit
| gatherer and hastily eaten, 30 Samaria
| would be delicious inorsel for the Assy'
rians. The image expresses in the strong
est manner the great ease with which tho
invaders would take the city and the whole
kingdom OF Israel. and the eagerncss with
which they would seize and consume the
prey 1t il still true that trouble and sor:
row like m invading army come upon and
destroy those who might have been happy
and prosperors but for strong drink.
| ). "Cnt0 the residue" The prophet
now turns from the ten tribes TO the two
tribes Of Judah and Renjamin. the rem.
nant of Gods people. who were to continue
n kingdom for more than 100 years after
Israel was carried into captivity. Judah
was to be favored and blessed. Under
| Hczckiah there was to be a revival OF re-
ligion. So. to-day. Jehovah will be y
crown of glory" and "a diadem of beauty
6. "a snirit OF judament." A clear ne.
ception Of Gods truth. A clear head is
promised as well as glory and beauty.
Turn the battle to the gate" Who pur.
sue the fleeing enemy even to the very
gates OF their own city. We have spirit.
ual warfare to wage (EDh. 6: l2l, and we
are pledged toconquer the world for Christ
Beware lest we render ourselves unfit for
military service by luxurious habits and
sinful indulgences. The drunkards oil
Ephraim could do nothing to oppose the
invaders.
7. "But these also have erred" (R. w
briates and scenes OF disgusting intoxica.
ton. Though her punishment is not as
near as that of the northern kingdom,
there are seen the marks of sure decline.
Note the effects Of strong drink portrayed
in this verse: !. Erring, wandering into
forbidden wavs and places. 2. Even tho
religious teachers led astray. 3. Wholly
absorbed in appetite. 4. They cannot see
things as thev are, or judge correctly. S
The whole life is perverted. Gods minis
tiers need pure heart, clean life ard q
clear vision.
s. There is no clean place." The liquor
who is engaged in It or has anything to do
with it is made filthy by it. The body
mind and soul OF the one connected with
| IL become polluted and corr1fnt
0. 10. "Whom shall he teach" etc
Many regard these verses as the words
used by the scoffers as they Knocked the
prophet. They treat Gods method oi
dealing with them and warning them by
His prophets with contempt and derision
What. say they, doth He treat US as mere
infants just weaned? Doth He teach US
like little children, constantly goinS over
the same easy lessons. We must conceive
verse 10 as spoken in mimicry, with q
mockinS motion Of the head, and in q
childish. stammering tone.
II. Nay" fR. w. The prophets reply
begins with this verse Isaiah attacks them
with great force and severity. turning thei,
own language, spoken in mockery, bacl
upon themselves. Yes. it shall be as yol
say. ye shall be taught by strange tongue
and in q strange land, whittier you will be
carried into captivity. Then you will be
forced to learn like children.
II. This is the rest," etc. God has
given them repeated and faithful warnings
pointing out to them the true rest and the
way to obtain it, but they had closed theil
ears and would not hear" and were going
on in their fancied security to certain dc
struction.
l3. And fall backward" etc. They
had bad great light, and this made them
great sinners, and they deserved terrible
punishment.
Thoughts.-The misery Of this life comes
to resist temptation. Drunkenness is the
means by which the devil drags down tc
perdition both young and old. Christian.
who follow the Bible will be total abstain
ers. The priests were forbidden to drins
wine; We are priests Il Pet. 2: 81, therefors
ye ought to avoid it. Gods people are to
come out from the world and be separate
from sin and sinners. 2 Cor. 6: l4.H. Al
though His people are in the world, yet
they are not Of the world. John II: IS.
Our world is staggering under the awfu
curse OF alcoholism. The liquor traffic is q
cancer eating the very life out OF society
1t destroys the morals Of the country and
blights wherever it touches. Christians
cannot oppose it too strongly. The sanction
10 the wholesale and retail murder of help
less human beings, through the licensed sa
loon. is enough TO brand US as hypocr;tes
and bring upon US the judgments OF an Of
tended God. The man who sanctions the
traffic by his vote is o partaker Of all itl
evil.