Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-23

INTRODUCTION.-Bec Of the
documentary character Of this book one
may proftably study any section Of 1t
without reference to its connection. In
deed. the parts are but slightly related.
They might be taken out Of their present
setting and considered separately as readily
as the sermon Of q minister might be heard
without reference to any other OF his dis
courses Our lesson today treats q passage
which is not q continuation Of the pre-
ceding chapter. The international COM
mittee, with q desire to meet the popular
demand, has designated this temper
ance lesson, expecting that the entire
Christian world would at this time direct
it's thought to this great virtue. 1t Will 90
cur to the candid student, however, that
this theme is mentioned only incidentally
here in connection with other themes. The
sacred Scriptures treat all matters In THIS
way. They discuss every truth as II -
related to other truths. This exposluon
will proceed on this plan.
ERROR Verse O.-The promise made
to Judah might have led some to suppose
that the southern kingdom bearing Ihat
name, was altogether acceptable 10 Goo'
free from faults. That was not the case.
Though the general tone was superior to
that of Israel, the northern kingdom, Sc
curing thereby many marked 1avors, thele
were yet many vices These Isaiah ex-
posed and complained of the corruptions
found there. Chief among these vices was
the habit of using strong drink. Ihere
were drunkards at Jerusalem as there
were In Samaria. Voluptuous living IN each
capjtal constituted a serious omense against
the nation and against God. AS conse-
uuence there was general and lamentaple
departure from the path OF recutude. IN
this the priests were involved with the ialty
in guilt. They were all out OF the way.
Their vision, or spiritual insight, was OBJ
scured and their judgment enfeebled.
FII.THINESS Verse s).-The effect OF
the drink habit was not limited to lntel-
lectual and moral delinquencies, bad as they
were. It would have been enough to make
good men weep had they beheld merely the
disorder and wickedness that apounoeo.
Beyond all that was shameful prostltutlon
of social life. The feast occasions In all
oriental countries were times Of special re-
ioicing To surround them with refining
and elevating influences was the plain duty
of all who participated In them. But tne
drink habit, causing intoxication at such
times. transformed these feasts into revel-
ries, where most loathsome scenes were
enacted. Excessive drink slckeneo the
guests, and in the very place assigned 70
the feast filthiness was found and the most
disgusting conditions prevailed. The tables
even, at the beginning covered with costly
viands, were filled with vomit.
KNOWLEDGE Verse 9).-Reference IS
next made to the efforts to reclaim these
people from their evil ways and the results
of those efforts. This was by the one meth
cd Of teaching. God and faithful men mad
instructed in the law, assuming tnat those
addressed had minds to hear and hearts 10
respond. Voluntary and thoughtful follow
ers Of that which Is good were desired. NO
compulsion was employed. Religion ana
morality are always to be promoted IN THIS
way. But this method had signally failed.
The people continued in their evil doing
their hearts were not renewed, their lives
were not reformed. They even treated the
instruction with contempt replying to their
teachers that what had been done for judah
was prescribed for children. 1t was only
the adoption of the policy pursued with REL
erence to babes.
PERSISTENCE Verse 1o).-The people
went further and declared that the many
consultations received from the prophets
were comparable to the persistence used
with children. ''Precept upon precept. line
upon line, here a little, there little, was
the common practice Of seniors with those
who were immature and un e to receive
instruction. This reference was intended as
ridicule do you intend to treat US as you
treat boys and girls7 We have passed be-
nifty and rights Of adults. We spurn your
words. We toss them back to you as con-
temptible. We propose to do as we please
and not as you direct. rms was the ev,-
dent meaning and purpose OF this verse.
the reply of the people to the EFFORTS made
to reclaim them. 1t shows to what extremes
of folly and wickedness they had gone how
utterly lost they were TO all sense Oh Shame.
STRANGERS Verse IDA people
who thus resisted and repealed instruction
might anticipate what the prophet declares
would follow, the tender and wise counsels
that had been given would cease. God
would turn away from them and His words
would not be spoken to them And yet He
would not altogether forsake them and
leave them to grow worse and worse and
finally to perish. They would still be the
objects of His regard and He would employ
at ;.angers to deliver messages to the chosen
people. They who use another tongue,
whose stammering makes their words diff
ficult of understanding, will speak to this