The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-05

Golden Text--Pride goeth before de-
struction. and an naughty spirit before
a fali.--frov. 16;lS.
Our last lesson I'm the history of
the kings OF Judah was about Joash.
Joash did we'll so long as Jehoiada
lived, but when the good priest died.
tho king fell under cyll Influences and
his last days were darkenea by sim,
After "a reign Of forty years he was
murdered by his own servants and
Emaxiah also made u good beginning
but saoa fell into evil ways snd IN the
end was murdered like his father. Then
came his son L xsiah who assembled the
throne al sixteen years Of age and
s1eiKned fifty-two wears. During this
period the nation reached q height of
prosperity hitherto unsttained since
abe days OF solomon. For az long as
Trz2iah Sought the Lord, God made
him 10 prosper And Tor time he
sought the Lord faithfully Ct HBs
sa the days q Hechariah the prophet
no was doubtless a great help to him
III his efforts for Righteousness He
was 4 lr, ~ @1Trlor and won many vic
tories over his enemies. notably the
phiiistiBes, the Ara hians and the Me
hunin1. 1vhe G@et in the Aft. SER re
gIon near the Dead sea.
Tire Lesson Text in Everyday Dress.
Gzztahs fame a% 8 warrior spread
abroad even 90 the borders OF Egypt
ard his enemies were glad e. make
peace with him. He vas not only Il
great fighter but he showed great dill
gence and sklli in fortifying his king
dopl He built new tortifications iu Je-
rnsstlosn "guipping them with wouaer-
fNi engines fef shooting arrows and
great stones, and erected watchtowers
in The WILDERNESS outheast Of Judah as
protection against the marauding
Arabs A great army Of more than
three hundred thousand men was er-
gani2ed and magnificentiy equipped
Better stin. he loved husbandry" and
made things grow, raising cattle In
the lowiands and plains and filing the
mountains with vineyards. And every
thing went on gloriously until he real
tied that he had become strong.
But when he WAC strong his heart
was lifted UP to his destruction Ills
prosperity utterly spotlt him He be
game SO conceited that ono day he ac-
tually ventured into the Holy Place tn
the temple and undertook t. burn in
cense before the Lord-~iike the priests
HappiI, the priests happened to DE
men who feared God rather than the
THE king and they withstood him to
his face 1T is not your business to
burn Incense 10 the Lord" said the
high priest boldly; that belongs to the
priests who have been conaeCrated for
This purpose SO out of the sanctuary
Cor YOU have trespassed, and 1t shall
net be 10 your honor from the Lord
either" The kings eyes flashed fire and
ne raised the censor to burn incense, ,
but al that instant the ieprosy broke
out upon his forehead. and realizing
what had happened he turned and ran
out of the temple, the priests hurrying
after him. From that day 10 the dav
~ al - - h
from his fellow men, and tn" affairs al
the kingdom were administered by
lothian his SON
The Heart Of the Lesson,
Ills heart was lifted up" Here is
the Kernel Of the matter. Pride goeth
before destruction and an naughty
spirit before n fall" lrzgiah served
the Lord until the Lord made hin,
strong" and then his heart was lift
ed up" II is the old story. "Jeshurun
waxed fat and Kicked" Humble and
dociie enough SO long RI he was lean
the moment he WAS rat he turned hie
heels upon his Master What fools
prosperity makes Of some men, III
our hour Of need we g. down on our
knees before God confessing our utter
poverty and crying for help. and when
he opens his treasures and polrs
snem ont upon us, instead OF going
softly ever afterwards in hImilit,
and gratitude, We spring 10 our tee,
With ouf treasures in our arms and
slide off haughtily, SAYING to thu
world as We RasS. See what these
:, hands have Fessasssis'" Ard this, Lord
looks upon us ts "A mother looks upon
Fer proud child whose thread she has
Jnsf untangIed and who runs ~ her
piaJmates to tell them that she did
IL herself How strange that the
goodness ~ God, instead Of f7ilinq
our hearts With humility. should Sc
often stiren us with arrogance and
pride,
What then" Shall we avoid pros.