The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-11-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
iNTERNA TloNAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER IT..
Worlds Temperance Lesson, rsa. xxvi,r.,
1-l3-Golden Text, Isa. xviii, -
Memory Verses, 3, 4-Commentary oD
the Days Lesson.

NOrlue Temperance Lesson, Isa. yxvlfv..
1-t3-Golden Text, Isa. xviii, -
Memory Verses, 3, 4-Commentary oD
the Days Lesson.
introduction prophecy, like nearly
all OF Isaiah S prophecies, was probably de.
ivered in Jerusalem But while spoken TO
the people of Judah it dealt largely with
the neighboring kingdom of Israel and the
calamitles about to come upon that natioa.
The people had forgotten the claims of .Ie.
hovah and had forsaken His worship. rhe
nation had plunged headlong into sin Of
every description and especially into the
sin OF intemperance, until the land was
filed with drunkards.
Commentary.-I. The crown that fad.
eth Tvs. l-4. l. "Woe." Grief, sorrow,
misery, heavy calamity, curse. "To the
crown OF PRIDE BY the crown of pride
the prophet refers to Samaria, the bearti.
ful capital of Israel. The city was situated
on the top of round hill and surrounded
by a rich valley. "The drlnkards OF
Ephraim." Ephraim, the leading tribe OF
the nation, had become debased in vice
They were a tribe of drunkards. and be-
cause of this the woe was upon them. a
fading Hover A very forcible figure
Their beauty and glory would fade as
flower. They did not have the riches and
beauty that endure. "The fat valleys"
The valleys around Samaria were very Ter.
tile and beautiful. Overcome with wine"
Wine causes men to fall an easy victim to
temptation. Alcohol destroys the will pow.
er. The drunkard has bad character and
generally enters recllossly into the vilest
sins. What is overcome! |. Reason. In.
temperance makes fools Of men. q Con.
science. The moral sense becomes dead.
ened: 3. Physical powers. The drunkard
INDUCES in that which entirely units MIN
to meet the obi cations that are resting
upon him. He incapacitates himself for
any position of trust. The penalty is lost
manhood, social degradation. an impoycr.
ished and desoate home and eternal ban.
ishment from God.
2. The Lord hath a-strong one" This
ls reference to the army of Assyrans
which was soon to come upon them like n
devastating storm. The destruction would
be complete, like terrific haistorm or
great flood. 1t is almost impossible for us
to realize the devastation that would
come as the half savage hodes swept over
the country, ravaging villages an5 mur.
dering women and children.
3. "Trodden under foot" Shalmaneser.
with the Assyrian host, invaded, over.
came and carried the people away, never
to return. 1t is an unsolved problem to
this day where the ten tribes are: whether
they continue to exist or are entirely cx.
tlnct. All Of this was because of sin, and
especially the sin of drunkenness
u, 4. "As the first ripe fig" (R. W As
the flrst ripe fruit was eagerly seized by
the fruit gatherer and hastily eaten. so
Samaria would be delicious morsel for
the Assyrians. The image expresses in the
strongest manner the great ease with
which the. invaders would 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 sorrow like an invading army
come upon and destroy those who might
have been happy and prosperous but for
II. The crown of glory Tvs 5, g.. !.
Unto tie residue" The prophet now
turns from the ten tribes to the two tribes
OF Judah and Benjamin, the remnant of
Gods people, who were to continue king.
dom for more than 100 years after Israel
was. carried into captivity. Judah was TO
be favored and blessed Under Hczekiah
there was to be a revival OF religion
6. "a spirit of judgment" 4 clear per.
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 a spiritual war
fare to wage tEph. 6I2l, and we are
pledged to conquer the world for Christ
Beware lest we render ourselves unfit for
military service by luxurious habits and
sinful inddlgences. The drunkards OF
Ephraim could do nothing to oppose the
invaders of their country.
III. Evils Of strong drink Tvs. 7, 81. I.
But these also have erred Or. W "Jc.
rusalem as well as Samaria has her inc.
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; l. Erring, wandering into
forbidden ways and places. 2. Even the
religious teachers led astray. s. Wholly
absorbed in appetite. 4. They cannot see
things as they are, or judge correctly. ..
The whole life is perverted. Gods minis.
tiers need a pure heart, clean life and a
clear vision.
s. "There is no place clean" The
liquor business is a filthy business, and
every one. who is engaged in it or has any.
thing to do with it is made filthy by it. 1t
mind and soul of the one connected with
it become polluted and corrupt.
~, Precept upon precept Tvs. 9-l3). 0,
10. "Whon shall Ie teach," etc. Many
regard these verses as the words used by
the scoffers as they Knocked the prophet.
They treat Gods method of dealing with
them and warning them by. His prophets
with conte;npt and dcrision. What, say
they, doth He treat us as mere infants
just weaned? Doth He teach us like little.
constantly going over the same
easy lessons? We must conceive verse 10
as spoken in mirlicry with mocking mo.
ton of the head, and in childish, STAN.
ling ii. ENaya Nay R. W The prophets reply
begins with this verse. Isaiah attacks
them with great force and severity, turn.
ing their own language, spoken in mocl:ery,
back upon themselves; yes, 1t shall be as
you say, ye shall be taught by strange
tongue, and in a strange land, whittier you
will be carried into captivity Then you
will be. forced to learn like children. 70.
This is the rest" etc. Cos had given
hem 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
yoing on in their fancied security to Ger.
.ain destruction. l3. "And fall back
yard," etc. They had had great light, and
his made them great sinners, and they de-
'erved terrible punishment. We cannot
,iolate Gods law with irlpunity. Those
who, persist in their wickedness and sourn
His offers of mercy will ultimately be east
rom His presence