Evening star., 1915-01-02

Canaan as ordered by Jehovah neglected
to train their children In the way of the
Lord. The lower race dragged the higher
down to its own debasing ditch. for 'the
children of Israel did that which was evil
in the sight Of jehovah
1srael's Apostasy.
The nation. like their fathers in the
wilderness, Tailed when tested by the
experience of living In association with
the Canaanites. To be tempted ought
to strengthen our spiritual life. 1t
will II we take the way of escape that
the Lord has provided for all who
trust In Him. We demonstrate our
Righteousness by overcoming our temp
tations through divine strength. Israel
failed because of unbelief, ingratitude
and neglect of Gods service.
Let us not forget that Israers apos-
tasy is type of Americas forsaking
ever acting on us, and. unless God
holds us up. we, too, shall slide down
ward. Idolatry and worldliness are
persistent. for they are natural" Their
were carried away by the natural re-
volt of the human mind against the
supernatural to worship the gods of
corrupt human nature. The nation as
well as the Individual that does evil
In the sight of the Lord must expect
to receive as a result Of their apostasy
the punishment that Is due them.
Punishment.
Persistency In sin brings its punish
ment. God in His mercy and grace to
humanity has clearly made It known
to US that He Will not allow US to con-
tinue in evil without our receiving
punishment fitted to our iniquity. Is
raers defiance Of His warning and
ignoring Of His commands brought
out, OUT" a poet poetic C punishment. uni They bent
their necks to low ideals OF religion.
and were compelled to bend the neck
to the rule Of the people to whose Inn
morality they had stopped God VS.
scourge Of an idolatrous people. be-
cause they had stopped to idolatry."
He had warned them by the words OF
Joshua. but they neglected to hear
the divine word we too will be pun
ished- Whenever God withdraws His
strength from men our hope IL gone
When Israel recognized their peril and
were filled with distress the patience
of the compassionate God raised up
judges to deliver them.
Deliveranee Danger.
There 10 NO 'vAriableness or shadow
Of turning" in Jehovah. Whom We read
that ''it repented the Lord Of tho evil
because Of their distresa, We have pre-
sented to US in language that men can
Gods mercy and redemp-
tion. II tells US the story Of His grace
that does not take away any of His
justice as is seen in the atoning work
Of Christ whom HE hath made sin for
u.s. and by whose stripes we are
healed"
God selected men to free them and de-
liver them by bringing tho people to
and then breaking the power
Of their enemies over them. The
judges power was due to the presence
of Jehovah with them. The passing OF
Of the people who were dependent upon
some human leadership to keep them
In tho way Of the Lord.
Tho temptation to heed tho desire for
wealth. position and power is still the
source of war. idolatry and iniquity
among US. II we are not brought in
subsection to the modern forces of sin
1t will be because as a nation we have
not forgotten the God OF our Fathers.
We need, and in fact every nation in
the world needs, to know today not
only the patience OF God, but the dan
ger that It faces when 1t forgets Him.
Kipling has given US the warning in a
single stanza:
II. drunk with lust Of power. loose
villa tongues that have not Thee in awe
Such Boosting as the Gentiles use
Or lesser breeds without the Law
Lord, God OF Hosts. be with yet.
Lest We forset-lest We forget -.