The Tupelo journal., 1915-12-17
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 10
FALL AND CAPTIVITY or ISRAEL

LESSON TEXT-II Kings 17:7, "A, is
| (23.
GOLDEN TEXT-He that after being
reproved h%ardeneth his neck shall sud-
denly be destroyed.-Prov. 1871.
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 tribes)
SO basely outraged ere it passed into
oblivion.
!. The Stiff-Necked People, W.. 6-13.
The fact ". g. of Israels captivity
has always appealed to the interest
and the ~imaginations Of men. The
cause of the captivity was threefold
"a They had sinned' ". y. It
was not a single offense but a course
of action which was performed (a)
openly, walked" ". 81. For 215 years
following Solomon's reign they had
been openly idolatrous and trespassed
upon Gods grace. OBJ Secretly (v.
-, Hosea's reign was the same as
that of his IS predecessors. Doubt
less he was a 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 Cps. 139:1-12; Heb. SID.
Many today do in secret things that
were (are) not right" A clearer line
of deEarcation between the church
and the world is sadly needed, (2)
They were consecrated to evil wv.
10, III. To cover our sins is not to
prosper prov. 28:13), but if We con-
TESS our sins Gods Son will cover
them by the forgiveness of his atone
ment FPS. 32:1-5; / 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 CLev. 26:1;
Deut. 1921; Elk. 20:3-5, etc.. Some
claim they did not possess the law,
it being of a later date, a %self-evident-
ly foolish proposition, but even So,
how can men of our time violate so
many of the plain precepts of the
word of God? Does this prove that
the Bible does not exist? The an
swer to this query is a stuff cient an
swer to the destructive critics. Israel
.sets3up idols ". 1O) and burnt
sacsifce tsee Deut. 12:3D which
things they did ito provoke the Lord
to anger" 90 They abandoned them
selves to evil. AS though to remove
all possibility Of reformation they not
alone Served idols" ". 12) but they
s0ldsthemselves to do that which was
evil"satv. III.
u. The Sovereign God, w. 14-1s.
Gods. character and will had been
fully set before the nation eek. 20:
1863. Repeated warnings (v. 49, had
been given by faithful prophets, also
repeated forgivings, yet Israel is
IA willful, they would not hear" ".
14), but deliberately followed in their
fathers footsteps. (2) Proud and vain
(vv.s14. 15) and (3) utterly abandoned
". 10, and hence must receive the
judgment Of Gods righteous anger
(see Elk. 20), or else God is not right
eous. He repeatedly sought to turn
them aside, but they slew his faithful
prophets Matt. 21:3339). God is
calling in mercy with long suffering
in this present evil age; unbelief in
God and his word is still prevalent;
skepticism and loose morals every
whore 0hDl1na onA cho1l Cnd nn ON
and call forever? prov. 29:1; l Pet.
3:9-10).
III. The Savior of Men, Luke 2:1-2o.
Gods love for Israel was manifest
{Elade plain) through his loving acts
and the messages of warning pro-
claimed by his prophets. But we have
a more marvellous revelation of his
love in the person of his Son whose
birthday we are about to observe.
Samaria lost it's crown of pride" but
we may receive a crown of righteous
ness as the sons Of God" John l.:
IL; II Tim. 4:S), but not SO unless
We obey John 1929 his word.
Let us therefore take up the an
gelic praise ~ Glory to God in the
highest" highest heavens, highest de-
gree and quality of praise of him who
is Infinitely wise and loving.
(2) "On earth peace with God,
with man, in the individual heart and
among the nations.
Peace of conscience because of sins
forgiven, in fact, all blessings, hap
piness and prosperity because of peace
due to victory over sin which is the
destroyer of peace.
CD Good will toward men," those
with whom God is we'll pleased, and
God has good will only toward all
men.
He loved sinful Israel and he loves
rs so that he gave his only begotten
Son that whatsoever believeth need
not perish but have everlasting life"
Even al the shepherds found the