The Elbert County tribune., 1915-01-01

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 un-
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.
!. Another Generation, w. 7-fo-
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-wh
is ever with his people and we do
not need any earthly leader Cps. 6e:5.
Phil. 2:12). Still God is working
through human agents and in every
crisis raises up his spirit-clothed
leaders. No doubt .his another gem
Grafton" honored Joshua as hero
but they did not follow in his obedi-
ence to Jehovah. It 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 Acknowledgement. but they lost a
realizing sense of their obligations to
God.
Sin Of ldoIatry.
II. They forsook the Lord, w.
1918. Backsliding Israel is prov
erb. Over and again there was a re-
turn to true worship and just as
often 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
L0du LudL Oh tntlT 1dtntFbt Out IL
was "evil In the sight of the Lord"
We do not understand that these
Israeltes took up the worship of
Baal, the sun god. with all of its
abominations at once, but rather
sought combination. compromise
worship. which of course led to the
inevitable forsaking of God. Verse IL
indicates the base ingratitude OF
such course for he 1t was which
brought them out of the land of
Egypt" (Titus 2:14; Pet. 2:D.
~. Tho Anger Of the Lord, w.
IA, 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 CHab.
1:13). The light men enjoy only
heightens and makes more black their
| offenses. Gods ang.- can wax hot
and here he delivered them into the
hands OF the spoilers that spoiled
them"
God Keeps His Promises.
~. 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 in
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
H. x..I. saI0t
leaders of the people had a difficult
task is suggested by verse IT. The
hearts of the people went a whor-
ing" lusted after the things repre-
sented by Baal and Ashtaroth, which
history tells us were too vile to be
enumerated. The judges secured for
the people of Israel their tights ac-
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-
fessing and forsaklng OF evil. These
judges were God-endowed and did not
prostitute their gifts. They were God
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 life OF obedience to God.
Their equipment was in that the
Lord was with the judge" ". 49,
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
tho stories of Ruth. Hannah and
| Samuel AS Jehovah was with the