Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-12-17
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 19
FALL AND CAPTIVITY OF ISRAEL


denly be destroyed.--Prov. 291.
In the sweep of our six years cycle
of study we prefer to consider this les
son first and use the Christmas story
luke 2:1-20) to illustrate the love OF
God which Israel (the last ten tri3es)
so basely outraged ere it passed into
oblivion.
I. The Stiff-Necked People, w. e-13,
The fact ". 6, of Israel's captivity
has always appealed to the interest
and the imaginations of men. The
cause of the captivity was threefold
(1) They had sinned" ". y. 1t
was not single offense but course
of action which was performed (a)
openly, walked" ". g.. For 215 years
following Solomon's reign they had
been openly idolatrous and trespassed
upon Gods grace. (b) Secretly w.
81, Hosea's reign was the same as
that OF his Is predecessors. Doubt.
less he was good diplomat and poll
tician. though his vacillation between
Egypt and Assyria brought ruin. but
in Gods sight the secret acts and
practices of the people were open
and known (Ps. 1879: LIZ; Heb. 5:13)
Many today do in secret things that
were (are) not right" 4 clearer line
of demarcation between the church
and the world is sadly needed, (2)
They were consecrated to evil (vv.
10, 11). To cover our sins is not to
prosper prov. 2S: 13), but If we con.
fess our sins Gods Son will cover
them by the forgiveness of his atone.
ment FPS. Els: | John 1:9). Israel
cared not, however, for his forgive
ness. despite the fact it was he that
brought them up out of the land of
Egypt. 1t is passing strange that
Israel should so fully violate the ex-
press commands of God (Lev. 26:1;
Deut. 26:21; Elk. 20:3-5, etc.,. Some
claim they did not possess the law
| it being of later date, self-evident
ly foolish proposition, but even So
how can men of our time violate SC
many of the plain precepts of the
word of God? Does this prove that
the Bible does -ot exist? The an
swer to this query is suffi an
swer to the destructive critics. Israe
sets up idols" tv. 10) and burnt
sacrifice" tsee Deut. 12:31) which
things they did Ito provoke the Lore
to anger" (3) hey abandoned them
selves to evil. AS though to remove
all possibility of reformation they no
alone served idols" w. 12) but ''they
sold thancoIvoc 70 do +bat v,,h;ol, MN.
evil'' ". 10. To summarize their par
in this transaction their conduct wal
las did the heather" ". ~. Many pro
Tossing Christians cannot be distin
guished from the world and the judg
ment of God may be deferred for
season, but it will ultimately be re
vealed Il Tim. 5:24) or his word /,
not true.
u. The Sovereign God, w. 14-1e
Gods character and will had beer
fully set before the nation lex. 20
S-6). Repeated warnings ". 13) hat
been given by faithful prophets, alst
repeated forgivings. yet Israel il
ID willful, they would not hear" "
14). but deliberately followed in thei
fathers footsteps. (2) Proud and vail
wv. IA. 15) and (3) utterly abandone,
". III. and hence must receive tn,
Judgment of Gods righteous ange
(see Elk. 2O), or else God is not right
eous. He repeatedly sought to turl
them aside, but they slew his faithful
prophets Matt 21:33-39) God /
calling in mercy with long sufferinI
in this present evil age; unbelief il
God and his word is still prevalent
skepticism and loose morals every
where abound, and shall God go OF
and call forever? prov 29:1: Pei
3;9-10). Men need to realize tn
downward course of sin and bewar
lest in continuous transgression O
Gods love they suffer the anger O
Divine righteousness.
III. The Savior of Men, Luke 2:1-2C
Gods love for Israel was NANTES
(made plain) through his loving act
and the messages of warning Pre-
claimed by his prophets. But we hav
more marvellous revelation Of hi
love in the person of his Son who's
Samaria lost its crown of PRIDE" bu
we may receive a crown of righteous
ness as the sons of God" John |
IL; ii Tim. 4:S), but not so mles
we obey John 14:23) his word. TIL
coming of Jesus was the creates
event in history-he is lmmanuel"-
God with us, the living word. the III
challenged fact of all facts. Born i
the center of the Roman world q
the exact date of prophecy, at a tim
of universal world peace tabout tb
only such), and under q governments
system which made easy the propag;
tion of the Gospel by language. road
and civil authority. 1t was also
time of religious unrest and Of inte
lectual and moral awakening.
J Let ur therefore take up the al
selic praise ID GLORY to God in tn
highest" highest heavens. highest d
gree and quality of praise of him wh
is infinitely wise and loving.
5 ~ On earth peace" with Coz
D with man. in the individual heart an
] among the nations.
: Peace of conscience because of sir
. forgiven. in fact, all blessings. ha
I piness and prosperity because of peaC
due to victory over sin which is I'll
q destroyer of peace.
n (3) Good will toward men," thos
with whom God is well pleased, ar
t God has good will only toward a
J. men.
d He loved sinful lsrae! and lie lov,
s US so that he gave his only bcgotte
Son that whosoever helieveth net
n not perish but have everlasting life
:. Even as the shepherds found" Il
Q Savior w. 16) SO may all mon W:
d truly seek him (Heb. 1l:6; Luke l!
l0).
:. What better can we do on Chris
mas Sunday than openly TO give GC
our best gift. our hearts supren
o love and devotion in return for b
l. greatest gift 70 men?
Q The contrast of these two iessol
r is vivid