The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-12-31

GOLDEN 1EAI-i VIII neal their bach.
sliding. will love them freely.--lIos. ut
This year We again return to the
history OF the chosen people and fol.
low them through the period Of tho
judges. the days OF the monarchy I'm.
der Saul, David and Solomon, and the
divided kingdom In the times OF Ell.
jah, Amos, Hosea and Jonah, down TO
the time of Daniel during the can.
tivity.
I. Another Generation, w. 7Io
During the days of Joshua Israel
served Jehovah, but his influence did
not last long after his death. Ever
and anon God must needs raise I'D
Joshua to lead his church. We
have another "Joshua"-Jesus-yho
Is ever with his people and we do
not need any earthly leader (Ps. 62:5,
Phil. 2:12). Still God Is working
through human agents and in every
crisis raises up his spiritclOthed
leaders. No doubt this "another gen
Grafton" honored Joshua as hero
but they did not follow In his obedl. |
ence to Jehovah. II is easy to Dis
miss Gods mighty deeds among men
by calling them myths and traditions
or to deny the accuracy Of the rec
ords." Doubtless the Israeltes t1k
their obligations to their nelghbon
and fellow.tribesmen, but they lost
realizing sense OF their obligations 10
God. America today is charged with
an altruistic spirit but seems lacking
In n deep sense OF that obligation |
to God which is primary.
Sin Of Idolatry.
u. They forsook the Lord, W.
1913. Backsliding Israel is a prov
erb. Over and again there was re
turn to true worship and Just as
often n forsaking. For centuries Ie
hovah bore with, foreave, restored
and punished this "stiffnecked" pec
ple, until the final overthrow aud cap
tivity burned into their consciousness
the sin Of idolatry. The reason iOr
this was their disobedience In no.
putting out of the land "the gods d
the peoples that were round abou!
them" Liberallty of this sort always
results In spiritual ruin. A nations
ideals about God not alone determins
its moral status but eventually Ito
physical and temporal welfare as well
Their way was not evil In their oT
sight and doubtless they were COZ
sidered very progressive, and Their
course an evidence of greater wisdom
than that OF their fathers but u
was "evil in the sight of the Lord
We do not understand that these
Israelites took up the worship ol
Baal. the sun god, with all Of 10
denominations at once, but nlhs
sought q combination, q comppna
worship, which Of course led to 10
inevitable forsaking Of God. Verse !
indicates the base ingratitude o.
such a course for he 1t was 'Vheh
brought them out OF the Land o.
Egypt" Titus 2:14; Pet 2;D
10. The Anger Of the Lord, W.
ID, is. There is no anger like that o.
outraged love. We are apt to iOTga
the other attributes of God, those o.
Justice, holiness and purity and 'lN
God can not look upon iniqulty lHaa
1:13). The light men enjoy 0np
heightens and makes more black 'nel
offenses. Gods anger can wax nu
and here he delivered them Into ln'
hands OF the spoilers that spoOH'
them"
God Keeps His Promlsss
~. And the Lord Raised W
judges, r. v. w. 1919. These Vs'
men who felt the bitterness OIL Wv
distress of their nation. God kew
to the letter his promises, oOm
blessing and OF punishment, ouI
wrath he remembers mercy" Iaa'
judges had higher aspirations 'n
simply TO Judge, for they saved "
people. We who ike in this prs''.a'
dispensation OF grace have one '.
Is now the savior but who shal y
be the Judge. That these righle'sa
leaders of the people had a dIne,.
task is suggested by verse IL "
hearts OF the people "went N~
ing" lusted after the things Er
sented by Baal and Ashtaroth' VD.
history tells us were too Yiie w.,
enumerated. The judges secure
the people OF Israel their ''slS
cording to the mercy of JehoVaa
the same time they were rule'S
as such secured for indlyiduaS
rights. Professor Beecher has 'S
lated that the period Of their aOa.
tratlon was about three hundTeu
thirty.two years, from the deau
Joshua, 1434 B. c., to the ahoayg
OF Saul, 1880 h. C. 1t Is pV's,l
that at times one part OF tnV =,
was under oppression and othe' "a 4,
we're enjoying security uhue, M,
Judge. II has been suggested ~,
Israel. during the time we nave sA
and now are studying, passed II'Sg MI,
four, grades in Gods school u, y II ii
In Egypt; training in bondase .,'a M
contact with the highest oivlui'SA
OF the day. (2) That In the s,'S ,,,,,s
training in faith, law and re,s ',t
observances In the presence o. n,
and hardships. (3) That In tno an
OF the judges; training In sellsuIa
ment while In contact with eu' rrt
and moral evils (4) That OF Tue
dom; training in the arts anu M
ligious life as manifested y, N
temple, the priesthood anu
prophets. Idolatry was fascinaI'sis
had q false freedom, It appea's IA
! every passion. and was the ve'' 10
thesis of the Jehovah worship w