The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-30

This year we again return to the
history OF the chosen people and fol
low them through the period of the
judges, the days Of the monarchy UNI
der Saul, David and Solomon, and the
divided kingdom IN the times of Eli
jah, Amos, Hosea and Jonah, down 70
the time of Daniel during the cap
tivity.
1. Another Generation, wv. 7.fo.
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 up
a Joshua to lead his church. we
have another Joshua"-Jesus-who
Is eyer with his people and we do
not need any earthly leader FPS. $40;
Phil. 2:12}. Still God is working
through human agents and In every
crisis raises up his spiritclothed
leaders. No doubt this another gem
Grafton honored Joshua as a hero
but they did not follow In his obedi-
ence Ito Jehovah. 1t 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 Israelites felt,
their obligations to their neighborsr
and ACKNOWLEDGMENT, but they lost
realizing sense of their obligations to
God. America today is charged with
an altruistic spirit but seems lacking
in a deep, sense of that Obligation
to God which is primary.
Sin Of idoiatry.
~. They forsook the Lord, w.
Backsliding Israel is a prov
erb. Over and again there was a re-
turn to true worship and Just as
often a %forsaking. For centuries de
hovah bore with, forgave, restored
and punished, this "stiffnecked" peo7
pie, until the final overthrow and cap
tiyity burned into their consciousness
the sin of idolatry. The reason for
this was their ~disobedience In not
putting out of the land "thesgods Of
the peoples that we're round about
them" Liberality Of this sort always
results in spiritual ruin. A nation,s
ideals about God not alone determine
its moral status but eventually its
physical and temporal welfare as we'll.
Their way was not evil in their own
sight and doubtless they were con-
sidered very progressive, and their
course an evidence of greater, wisdom
than that of their fathers, but It
was ''eyil In the sight OF the Lord.
We do not understand that these
Israelites took up the worship OF
Baal, the sun god, with all OF its
denominations at once but rather
sought a combination, a compromise
worship, which Of course led to the
inevitable forsaking Of God. Verse IL
indicates the base ingratitude OF
such, a course for he 1t was which
brought them out OF the land OF
Egypt Titus 2:14;t2 Pet I'D.
III. The Anger Of the Lord, w.
IA, IS. There is no anger like that OF
outraged love. We are apt to forget
the other attributes Of God, those OF
Justice, holiness and purity and that
God can not look upon iniquity CHab.
1:13). NThe light lei enjoy only
heightens and makes more black their
,offenses. Gods anger can wax hot
and here he delivered them into the
hands of the spoilers that spelled
them"
God Keeps His Promises.
w. And the Lord Raised Up
judges, r. v. w. 1919. These we're
men who felt the bitterness OF the
distress OF their nation, God keeps
to the letter his promises, both OF
blessing and Of punishment, but in s.
wrath he remembers mercy" These
judges had higher aspirations than
simply to judge, for they saved h
people. We who live in this present
dispensation Of grace have one who
Is now the savior but who shall yet
be the Judge. That these righteous
leaders Of the people had a difficult
task is suggested by verse II. The
hearts of the people went a whor-
Ing" lusted after the things repre-
scented by Baal and Ashtaroth, which
history tells us were too vile to be
enumerated. The judges secured for
the people of Israel their rights &C
cording to the mercy Of Jehovah. At
the same time they were rulers, and
as such secured for individuals their
rights. Professor Beecher has calcu-
lated that the period Of their admins
tration was about three hundred and
thirty-two years, from the death or
Joshua, 1434 B. c., to the amounting
OF Saul, 1890 B. C. It is probable
that at times one part of the land
was under oppression and other parts
were enjoying security under its
Judge. 1t has been suggested that.
Israel. during the time we have been
and now are studying, passed through
four grades in Gods school: () That
in Egypt; training in bondage and
contact with the highest civilization
of the day. (2) That in the desert;
training in faith, law and religious
observances in the presence of peril
and hardships. (S) That In the time
Of the judges; training in self-govern-
ment while in contact with enemies
and moral evils. az That Of the king
dom; training In the arts and In re-
ligious life as manifested by the
temple, the priesthood anS/ the
prophets. Idolatry was fascinating, 1t
had a false freedom, it, appealed to
every passion, and was the very anti