The Carlisle independent., 1915-12-16
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 19
FALL AND CAPTIVITY OF ISRAEL


 reproved hardeneth his neck shall sud denly be destroyed.-Prov. 29:1.
 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 (v. 6) of Israers captivity has always appealed to the interest and the imaginations of men. The cause of the captivity was threefold CD They had sinned" (v. D. It was not single offense but a course of action which was performed (a) openly. walked" (v. 8. For 215 years following Solomon's reign they had been openly idolatrous and trespassed upon Gods grace. (b) Secretly" (v 9, Hosea's reign was the same as that of his IS predecessors. Doubt less he was good diplomat and poli- 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. 1891 1-12; Heb. 5:13). Many today do in secret things that were (are) not right" < clearer line of demarcation between the church and the world is sadly needed, (2) They were consecrated to evil (vy. 10, ID. 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 CPS. 32: :1-5; I 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. It is passing strange that Israel should so fully violate the ex- press commands of God (Lev. 26:1; Deut. 26:21; Ex 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 so 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 sufficient an. swer to the destructive critics. Israel sets up idols" (v. 10) and burnt sacrifice" (see Deut. 12:3D which things they did ito provoke the Lord to anger" (3) They abandoned them selves to evil. As though to remove all possibility of reformation they not Q10nn ''cnrund ihn1cp h,% sold themselves to do that which was evil" (v. ID. To summarize their part in this transaction their conduct was as did the heather" (v. ID. Many pro fessing Christians cannot be distin. guished from the world and the judg ment of God may be deferred for a season, but 1t will ultimately be re- vealed q Tim. 5:24) or his word is not true
 II. The Sovereign God, w. 1418 Gods character and will had been fully set before the nation (Ex. 20: 3-6). Repeated warnings (v. 13) had been given by faithful prophets, also repeated forgivings. yet Israel is CD willful, they would not hear" (v. 14), but deliberately followed in their fathers footsteps. (2) Proud and vain (vv. IA, 15) and (3) utterly abandoned (v. ID, and hence must receive the judgment of Gods righteous anger tsee Ex. POI, or else God is not right eous. He repeatedly sought to turn them aside, but they slew his faithful prophets (Matt 21:33-39). God is calling in mercy with long suffering in this present evil age; unbeief in God and his word is still prevalent; skepticism and loose morals every where abound. and shall God go on and call forever? (Prov 29:1; Pet. 3:910). Men need to realize the downward course of sin and beware lest in continuous transgression of Gods love they suffer the anger of Divine righteousness.
 III. The Savior of Men, Luke 2:f-2o. Gods love for Israel was manifest ! (made plain) through his loving acts l and the messages of warning pro- claimed by his prophets. But we have i a more marvellous revelation of his l love in the person of his Son whose i 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.: 12; II Tim. 4:S), but not so unless we obey John 14:23) his word. The coming of Jesus was the greatest event in history-he is "Immanuel"- i God with us. the living word, the un. challenged fact of all facts. Born in the center of the Roman world. at the exact date of prophecy, at a time of universal world peace (about the only such), and under a governments! system which made easy the propaga. tion of the Gospel by language. roads and civil authority It was also a time of religious unrest and of intel. lectual and moral awakening.
 Let us therefore take up the an. gelic praise CD 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