The Tupelo journal., 1904-12-09
Captivity Of the
Ten Tribes
Sunday School Lesson for Dec. II. 1904
Prepared by the ssHighway and
Byway's Preacher.
Copyright, 1904, by J. Nj. Edson.)

hpout SIX years after the last lesson.
Embellishments. the capital OF Israel
Introductory Note.
Following the brilliant, but corrupt, reign
If Jeroboam H., the history of Israel Is
one rapid and desperate plunge towards
firal destruction at the hands Of Assyria
In spite of Gods warnings sent by His
prophets, the nation forsook not its wicked
and licentious idolatry, and the Judgments
and prophecies of God were finally ful-
filled. The time from the reign OF Jero'
,oam II. and to-day's lesson was scarce
ly 40 years, and in that time six kings
ruled, four of whom were usurpers, gam
Ing the throne by intrigue and murder. FOL
list of Israel's kings from Jeroboam Ii. to
Hosea, see Introductory note to Lesson ioi
November 20, or, better still, use your
Bible and make out your own list.
The Lesson Outline.
THEME:-Sin and It's Punishment.
g.-Judgment fallen, VS.. 6, Is.
% The Human Agency, v. &.
(2) The Lords Overruling PROVIDENCE,
u.-God's Faithfulness, V. IL.
% Sent His Messengers.
CO The Message.
ilI.-Seven Stages of Sin, VS.. Up; l4-l7.
First Step.-Unbe.ief. Feared 9th
er Gods" VI.
Second Step.-Worldly CONFORMITY
Walked in the statutes OF the
heathen," VS.. s.
Third S~tep.-Secret Idol worship
Did secretly those things that
were not right against the LORD,
VS.. 9-12.
Fourth Step.-Stubbornness. "Ihey
would not hear, but hardened thelE
necks." They rejected His stat
utes,' VS.. IA, 10.
Fifth Step.-Open Idol worship
They left all the commandments
of the Lord, their God, and macs
them molten images 'Worshlpeu
all the host Of heaven ana serseo
BaaI," V. 10.
Sixth Step.-Spirituaiism. "They
used divinatlons and enchahl-
ments,' V. II.
Seventh Step.-Utter Corruption
Sold themselves to do evil V. IL
Comparing Scripture with scripture
Judgment Fallen.-Sin has run
its course. Sin, when it IS hnlshed'
bringeth forth DEATH" James l:lo'
THE Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and plenteous in mer-
:y." But as surely as night closes IN OF.
the longest day, SO sin unrepented OF
ard persisted in at last feels the CRUSH
ing force Of Gods judgments. Fol
HE will not always chide, neither Will
He keep His anger forever" Ps. 1899.
The sixth verse states explicitly that
"the king of Assyria took Samaria and
carried Israel away" and VS.. IL de-
clares that the Lord removed them
out of His sight" This double declar-
alton emphasizes two things: Q) the
human agency; CD the Divine provi-
dence. Ps. 1910.
II.-God's Faithfulness. VS.. 13.-In
the midst of the long enumeration OF
~Israel's sins vss. III is injected this
testimony of Gods faithfulness. The
sinner, if lost, perishes in spite OF
Gods efforts to save him. Eek. 1911.
III.-Seven Stages of Sin.-First
Step-Unbelief.-"Feared other Gods
which usurps the place of God. I'm
belief turns the heart from God.
Second Step-Worldly Conformity.
walked in the statutes Of the
heather" Tvs. 81. God calls His chill
6ren to-day to separation from the
world. 2Cor. GIL; Jas. A; l John 2:15.
Third S~tep-Secret Idol Worship
Did secretly those things that were
not right against the Lord" Tvs. 9-12)
All, how many secret sins there are
that are fostering within, ultimately
to break out in the open sore.
Fourth Step-Stubbornness.-"They
would not hear, but hardened their
They rejected His statutes"
(vss. 14-15). We had unbelief as the
first step away from God, then worldly
conformity, then secret indulgence in
the wicked practices of the world, and
now stubbornness. Notice how the
thirteenth verse, telling of Gods faith
fulness, follows the first three steps
downward il the progress of sin, and
that the fourth step marks the way in
they received Gods messengers
and His message. Stubbornness bars
the gate to repentance and plunges the
soul onward to certain destruction.
Hear Gods opinion of this sin. 1 Sam.
1923.
Fifth Step-Open Idol Worship
'They left all the commandments of
the Lord, their God, and made them
images They worshipped all
the hosts of Heaven and served Baal"
Tvs. 16). Stubborn refusal to hear
Gods warning voice cuts the soul
loose from all restraint. Rom. 1:24.
Sixth Step - Spiritualism. "They
used divinations and entertainments"
Tvs. 10. All the dark mysteries of the
DEVILS devices are included here. 1t
is the last step towards utter abadon-
ment to evil. Paul speaks of "seduc-
ing spirits and doctrines of devils"
/ Tim. Al.
Seventh Step-Utter Corruption
'Sold themselves to do evil" Tvs. 10.
Study Rom. 1:21-22 in connection with
these seven steps in sin.
1.-The face of the Lord is against them
that do evil" God is a Spirit" and yet
the Holy Spirit, in speaking of God to
men, uses terms that are comprehen-
sive and intelligent to the human mind.
THE face !. . . against" one NEAR
censure, condemnation.
Evil cannot abide in Gods presence any
more than darkness in the pure light
of the sun. The evil doer, the self-lover
of the lover of God, is a rebel
God and the Lords face is
against him from. "a, 81. But Jesus
blood cleanses from all sin, and turns