The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-12
Bible STUDY, DECEMBER u.
First Chapter of Joel.


The coming of the locusts and Jehovah's
judgment.
l. The Locust Devastation Summons
During the half century following the
adoption of the Law, after a series d ur-
exampled calamities brought on by
the prophet Joel was impelled to deliv n
a warming message to his people.
20 people of Judah, old and young
which Jehovah has put into my heart.
What an unprecedented series Of calamities
mas fallen to our lot in these days. For
retold as examples of unparalleled dig
aster. The land is bare. Swarm dftc-
swarm OF destructive iocusts have de-
vegetation which the gnawer spared, the
swarmer has discovered and consumed.
what the swarmer failed to find. the
overlooked alas! the finisher has de-
stroyed. Every chance of vintage or har-
vest is gone.
Let all classes join in lamenting the
awful disaster. Awake from your drunk
en- sleep, We jewellers. who love to quaff
huge measures of sweet wine, cry aloud in
for can no longer be obtained. Like a
well organized army these locusts have
invaded our beautiful land. They are
as irresistible and destructive as lions.
Not content with devouring plants and
vegetables they have attacked the fruit
stripping Off the bark, leaving them
CHASTITY and bare in the burning sun.
Like a young wife mourning for her
late. No longer can the stated services
of the temple be continued. The daily
vegetable offering and libation Of wine
comet be provided in glad acknewledg-
ment of Jehovahs presence and favor.
The priests who stand in the holy sanct-
uary and minister before aim are heart
broken. Even the land itself and its pro-
duce seem to join in the chorus of grief
Manifest freely your disappointment.
you that cultivate the soil and keep the
barley and the highly priced fruit tree
but all the trees alike are renlerel use
less to promote the joy of mankind.
20 priests of Jehovah. spend not your
strength in useless grief. but put on sack
, cloth in token of your penitence. and pro-
claim a day OF public fasting and prayer;
be far harder to bear. namely, Jehovah :
day Of retribution- That day will revea,
the might of the Almighty Beware leSt
against us.
Need point out the providential char
spread it has been. Do we not look help
lessly on while the means OF expressing
our joyful service of thanks to God are
Gusts. but by this extreme drought The
seed grain is shrivel1ed up with the heat
the sranaries are allowed to fall Into dis
repair. Cattle wander here and there IN
great distress in search of pasturage;
even thesheep are unable to find sub
sistence. Oh Jehovah. we can but appea
| to thee. Locusts droughts. and fire have
utterly swept away our resources. Even
the dumb beasts are turning toward thee
rhc:r longing eyes. pleading in agony that
this dearth of water and of pasturase
may have an end.
Next. tuesday will be the last meeting
for the old year. We will have vaca-
ton. emitting two meetings. During ths
Saturdays between now ana then I shall
Enye printed one chapter from ons Of the
minor prophets. as it IS given in 1.-The
Messages of the Prophets by Kent anc
Sanders They give US paraphrase anG
make hard places mora simple cnd ger
erally more interesting. Tuesday morn
| ing and evening, the latter part OF the
ho11r will be spent in review o. the les
sons up to the present. through tn<
lantern slides. .
MRS. c. F. MENNlNGER.