The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1911-06-16

Reproved Hardeneth his Neck, Shall Sud
denly be Destroyed, and That without
Remedy. PROV. 29:1.
TIME-Hoshea became king in the
twelfth year of Ahaz q Kings 17:D, b.
C. 726 (Beecher), 1870 (Hastlngs). Samaria
fell B. c. 7lS (Beeche), 722 Qdastings,;
PLACEASamaria, the capital OF the
northern kingdom, about IS miles north
of Jerusalem.
KINGS-Hezekiah in Judah, carrying
out his reforms. In Assyria and Baby
lon, Shalmaneser ~, followed by Sargon
H.. In Assyria and Merodach-baladan In
Babylon. In Egypt. Saboka (So).
PROPHETS-Isaiah and perhaps Hosea
and Micah.
What was the character Of Hoshea?
The implication of v. 2 Is that, though
he allowed the practices OF 1dolatry
and the other evils of his predeces-
sors, yet he was better man than
they. Perhaps the teachings Of Hosea
had reached his heart. About his
personal character we know little. We
may infer that it lacked decisive en-
ergy and lofty patriotism. Beginning
his reign as mere puppet in AS
syria's hands, he shaped his career as
an opportunist He was too astute to
offend any national susceptibilities by
abandoning the worship of Jehovah,
too cautious and polite to play the
role of purist in religious practices.
The impartial historian will not judge
this last king of Ephriam too severely,
but will unhesitatingly admit that he
lived in times of direst difficulty and
peril, when nothing but miraculous
divinely guided craftsmanship, like
that of Isaiah, could have saved the
realm from overwhelming disaster"
The Northern Kingdom had had Its
chance, and had thrown it away.
There is less hope for us each year
and day we live in sin. Every hour
we are drifting out to seattle help
less, helmless bark is leaving the les
SEEMING shore farther and farther be-
hind Our disease becomes incurable.
Like those stones which, though soft
as clay on being raised from the quar-
ry, grow hard as flint through ex-
posture to the weather, our hearts are
growing harder day by day"
Hoshea's Imprisonment is fair
sample of the result of dependence
upon men rather than God. Trust in
Egypt was Israels snare from the
first. The prophets compared 1t to
trusting in a shadow or making staff
out of bruised reed. "The bankrupt
who asks a bankrupt to set him up in
business again is only losing time. The
prisoner does not beg his fellow pris-
oner to set him free. The shipwrecked
sailor does not call upon his ship
wrecked comrade to place him safe
ashore" In our troubles we are not
to scorn the aid Of men, but we are
to know that without Gods favor and
assistance all human help is vain.
What measures did Shalmaneser
take to reduce to submission his re-
bellious vassal? He sent Cor led in
person) an army against him. Profess
sor Rogers thinks that Hoshea
marched out to meet this army, and
was then captured and sent to AS
syria as a prisoner. At any rate,
"Samaria prepared for a siege. There
is something heroic in the very
thought. 1t was surrounded and
hemmed in by territory over which it
had once ruled in undisputed sway,
but which had long been controlled by
Assyrian governors and filled with AS
syrian colonists. AS Shalmaneser ad.
vanced closer he would, of course,
destroy and lay waste everything about
the city which might have furnished
any aid or comfort to it. From the
villages and towns thus destroyed the
people would flock into the capital
until 1t was crowded. The people Of
Samaria may have hoped for help from
Egypt, watching with sick hearts for
signs of an approaching army of sue
cor. They knew what surrender
meant in the loss of their city, and in
probable deportation to strange lands.
They were fighting to the bitter end
for homes and for life.
What God had done: BY a marvel
GUS deliverance, he had brought them
out of their bondage in Egypt. He
had driven out the Canaanites from
before them. He had given them the
commandments, and full and wise
laws. He had made a covenant with
them, over and over, promising them
all blessings If they would obey him.
He had sent them the prophets and
seers, the best and wisest of men, to
declare his will and lead the way.
What Israel had done: They had
fallen into worse bondage, becoming
slaves Of an abominable idolatry. They
had fallen to worshiping the very gods
of the Canaanites, thus proved power
less. They had broken the command
ments, especially the most solemn and
important, that against idolatry. They
had failed to keep their part Of the
covenant, and could not expect God
to keep his part. They would not lis.
ten to the prophets, but persisted in
all iniquity, setting up idolatrous obe-
lisks, and Asherim, and even sacrific-
ing their children to the fire god Mo
lech.