The Jackson herald., 1904-11-24


lem the Prophet Calls on the People to
Look over the Borders at what is
Taking Place in the Northern King
dom.
A Lesson from Observation VS.. l.
6. The prophet is troubled on account
OF his own people. He sees them drift'
ing as in the rapids of Niagara swiftly
toward destruction.
Palestine lay between the two great
nations of the then known world-As-
syria on the northeast and Egypt on
the southwest. Neither could reach
the other without going through Pales-
tine. Each wanted this narrow inter-
mediate country. both as a defense
against the other and as a safe place
where they could gather their forces
for attack The Assyrians from the
north were at this time in northern
Israel trying to capture Samaria and
| devastating the country. Jerusalem,
strong fortress, very Gibraltar, rare
ly captured. and outside Of the great
| highways between the two great nx-
tions, left safe. Egypt was making
| overtures to Judea. and the latter had
made an agreement with them, which
| the prophet calls covenant with
| death" and an agreement with hell or
| the grave" because 1t was, in the
words of George Adam Smith. "an un-
haluwed, underhand intrigue, accom-
| plshed by much swlndling and false
conceit of cleverness,' "a secret
| agreement with the southern power
| (Epypu. which the open treaty with
the northern tAssyria) was still in
| force" II was n covenant that came
| from moral death, and was certain to
lead to national death aud destruc-
| ton But the Jews seemed to be blind
! to the facts and unconscious Of their
! danger, as Jonah dreaming in the
| storm that was overwhelming the
ship. and Isaiah is calling Ia them
| Awake, awake, thou that sleepcst'
To open their eyes, to awaken Jeru-
salem to its true condition, the prophet
bids them look beyond their borders
and see what was going on in the king.
dom of Israel.
First. Their Moral Condition. /.
woe. but a warning that woe was com
ing. TO the crown Of pride" The
capital. so called because 1t crowned
| the hill, or because its battlcmented
walls resembled a crown. ITO (bctter
"of'D the drunkards of Ephraim.' Put
for the whole kingdom, because
Ephraim was the leading tribe. Whose
glorious beauty" The glorious beauty
of Samaria was a beauty of magnifi
cent luxury. rs fading flower" II
was a kind of beauty that was liable
TO fade. 1t had nothing OF the riches
that endure, and which no power OF
man can take away. 1t was soon &c
wither before the "Sirocco of Assyriar
invasion" (Which are Gs) on the
head (the hill in the midsD of the fat
(fertile) valleys" Samaria was thus
situated. "On them" etc. The pos
SCISSORS OF this crown of pride ant
these rich valleys were overcome will
wine. None but intoxicated poopl,
could be so blind as not to see thei
danger. Overcome with wine Tha
is wine smittcu or wine stricken.
strong description of the lntellectus
and moral effects of drunkenness,
Second. The Consequent Overwhelm
ing Scourge. =. The Lord hath.
God was using the Assyrians as ro,
for furnishing these wicked people
Had they been good he could in man.
ways have warded off this scourge. 81
tempest of hail a destroy
ing storm food of might
waters" describe in vivid speech tn
} irresistible violence, the deyastatin
force with which the Assyrians weT
about TO ovcrwhelm them.
8. THE crown of pr,de (oD tn
drunkards." Their capital. their riches
all they most reioiced in would b
"trodden under feet" Samaria bC
came heap of ruins.
4. Shall be fading flower" Gu
y from its stem and withering quickl
. away. The hasty fruit" Rather tn
early fruit, the first ripe fig. an esp,
cial luxury swiftly deyoured. At thi
time Samaria was. in its beauty, bu
within two or three years 1t was uttel
. ly destroyed.
} Third. A door of Hope. 5. "ln tina
| uuss IHc btlAtI hdN, lHc uiy OI II
demption. the day of the Messiah
kingdom. so often referred TO by tn
prophet; not so much definite tint
but the triumph ot good going on s
y multaneously all through Gods dea
. ings with men, and continually and r.
peatedly emerging from the periods {
y sin and punishment and destruction
Gods final plans are never defeated
y 6. The Lord will bring to them ''
y spirit of judgment" justice, righteous
ness. Ito him that stteth in judi
. mcnt." to the rulers. For strength
+: To defend themselves against all en-,
. mics so that they can turn (back) III
battle to the gate" of the city whenc
y the enemy came forth to attack. tn
" war in that day viii not be of COZ
quest of the enemies city, but OF d.
fense, sending the enemy nome.
= II. The Prophets Thou art I'll