The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-06-15
DOWNFALL OF
SAMARIA
Sunday School Lesson for June 10 1911
Specially Arranged for This Paper
LESSON TEXT Kings n:i-lS

MEMORY VERSE-l4
GOLDEN TEXT-"He That Being often
Reproved Hardeneth his Neck, Shall sud
denly be Destroyed. and That without
Remedy" prov. 29:i.
TIME-Hoshea became king In tho
twelfth year Of Ahaz q Kings l7;D, b.
c. 726 (Beecher). 73O (Hastirgs). Samaria
fell b. C. us (Beecher), 722 uHastings):
PLACE-Samaria, the capital OF the
northern kirSdom. about So miles north
OF Jerusalem.
KINGS-Hezekiah In Judah, carrying
out his reforms. In Assyria and Baby
lon. Shalmaneser ", followed by Sargon
II. in Assyria and Merodach-baladan In
Babylon. In Egypt. Saboka (So).
PRoPHETS-Isalah and perhaps Hosea
and Micah.
What was the character OF HosheaY
The implication of v. is that, though
he allowed the practices OF idolatry
and the other evils OF his predeces-
sors, yet he was a better man than
they. Perhaps the teachings of Hosea
had reached his heart. About his
personal character we know little. We
may infer that 1t lacked decisive en-
ergy and lofty patriotism. Beginning
his reign as mere puppet IN AS
syria's hands. he shaped his career as
an opportunlst. He was too astute to
offend any national susceptibilities by
abandoning the worship Of Jehovah,
too cautious and polite to play the
role Of purlst 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
dlvlnely guided craftsmanship, like
that of Isaiah, could have saved the
realm from overwhelming disaster
The Northern Kingdom had had its
chance, and had thrown II away.
There is less hope for US each year
and day we live in sin. Every hour
we are drifting out to sea--the help
less, helmless bark is leaving the les
sening 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'
posure to the weather our hearts are
growing harder day by day"
Hosheas Imprisonment Is fair
sample of the result of dependence
upon men rather than God. Trust in
Egypt was Israers snare from the
first. The prophets compared 1t to
trusting in shadow or making stan
out of a 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 (or led In
person. an army against him. Profes'
sor Rogers thinks that Hoshea
marched out to meet this army, and
was then captured and sent to AS
syria as q prisoner At any rate,
"Samaria prepared for siege. There
is something heroic in the very
thought. It was surrounded and
hemmed in by territory over which II
had once ruled in undisputed sway
but which had long been controlled By
Assyrian governors and filled with Az
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 II was crowded. The people oi
Samsrla may have hoped for help from
Egypt, watching with sick hearts fol
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 we're fighting to the bitter enc
for homes and for life.
What God had done: BY a marvel
GUS deliverance, he had brought them
out of their bondage in Egypt. H'
had driven out the Canaanltes from
before them. He had given them the
commandments, and full and wis'
laws. He had made a covenant will
them over and over, promising then
all blessings II they would obey him
He had sent them the prophets anc
seers, the best and wisest OF men, Il
declare his will and lead the way.
What Israel had done They ha'
fallen into a worse bondage, becoming
slaves OF an abominable idolatry. Thel
! had fallen to worshlping the very god
Of the Canaanites, thus proved power
less. They had broken the command
: ments, especially the most solemn an,
important, that against idolatry. The.
, had failed TO keep their part OF thu
covenant, and could not expect Go,
, to keep his part. They would not lis
ten to the prophets, but persisted II
all iniquity, setting up idolatrous ODE
, llsks, and Asherim, and even sacrifiC
, ing their children to the fire god Nc
? lech.
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