The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1914-12-25


sliding. will love them freely.-Hos. l4:4.
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 Eli
jah, Amos, Hosea and Jonah, down to
the time of Daniel during the cap
tivity.
I. Another Generation, w. 7-1o.
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
Joshua to lead his church. We
have another "Joshua"-Jesus-who
is ever with his people and we do
not need any earthly leader FPS. 62:5;
Phil. 2:12). Still God is working
through human agents and in every
crisis raises up his spirit-clothed
leaders. No doubt this another gem
Grafton" honored Joshua as a hero
but they did not follow in his obedi-
ence to 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 neighbors
and acknowledgment but they lost a
realizing sense of their obligations to
God.
\ Sin of IdoIatry.
II. They forsook the Lord, w.
11:13. 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 Je-
hovah bore with, forgave, restored
and punished this "stiffnecked" peo-
pie, until the final overthrow and cap
tivity burned into their consciousness
the sin of idolatry. The reason for
this was their disobedience in not
putting out of the land 'the gods of
the peoples that were round about
them" Liberality of this sort always
results in spiritual ruin. A nations
ideals about God not alone determine
its moral status but eventually its
physical and temporal welfare as well.
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 "evil 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, 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; 2 Pet. 2:D.
III. The Anger of the Lord, w.
ID, 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 (Hab.
1:13). The light men 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 spoiled
them"
God Keeps His Promises.
w. And the Lord Raised UP
Judges, r. v. w. 1919. These were
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 lin
wrath he remembers mercy" These
judges had higher aspirations than
simply to Judge, for they saved the
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 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.
The worship Of Jehovah always
taught and impressed moral and
spiritual truth and required the con-
Tossing and forsaking Of evil. These
judges we're God-endowed and did not
prostitute their gifts. They were Cod
led, saw Israels need and had cour-
age, faith and zeal enough to show
Israel that the first thing they needed
to do was to forsake the evil and re-
turn to a life of obedience to God.
Their equipment was in that the
Lord was with the judge" ". 1S).
Notice that God was with those whom
he raised up" OF course not all
Of the time, nor all of the land at
all times was thus torn and being
punished as is clearly suggested by
the stories of Ruth, Hannah and
I'll. -