Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-12-16
LESSON FOR DECEMBER ID
FALL AND CAPTIVITY OF IsRAE,


GOLDEN TExT-He that after beirl&S
reproved hardeneth his neck shall SUD-
denly be destroyed.-Prov. 29:1 M
In the sweep of our six years cycl&
OF study we prefer to consider this led
son first and use the Christmas stor#
luke 2:1-20D to illustrate the love ~
God which Israel (the last ten tribes "a
SO basely outraged ere it passed int e
oblivion.
J. The Stiff-Necked People, w. 6-13&
The fact ". 81 of Israels captivit
has always appealed to the Interest
and the imaginations of men. Til
cause of the captivity was threefolc
! Cd They had sinned'' ". y. ~
was not single offense but course
/ of action which was performed ta)M
openly, walked" ". 81. For 215 years.
| following Solomon's reign they had*
been openly idolatrous and trespassed
upon Gods grace. (b) Secretly fyy
", 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 openA
and known Cps. 1879: ZIP; Heb. 5:I3)lf
| Many today do in secret things that
were (are) not right" A clearer linet
| of demarcation between the church,
| and the world is sadly needed. (2)
Iney were consecrated to evil wv.
III, ID. To cover our sins is not to
| prosper PROV 2S:13), but il we con-
Tess our sins Gods Son will cover
them by the forgiveness of his atone-s
ment FPS. 32:1-5; l John 1:9). Israel
cared not, however, for his forgive \
ness, despite the fact it was he that I
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; 4
Deut. 1921; Elk. 20:3-5, etc.. Some
claim they did not possess the law. /
1t being of later date, self-evident.f
ly foolish proposition, but even SO, 4
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 sufficient an
swer to the destructive critics. Israel
sets up idols" ". 10) and burnt
sacrifice (see Deut. 12:3D which
things they did ito provoke the Lord 4
to anger" (3) They abandoned Them
selves to evil. AS though to remove
all possibility of reformation they not
alone served idols" ". 12) but they
sold themselves to do that which was
evil" (v. ~.
II. TIE Sovereign God, w. 1918.
GODS character and will had been
fully set before the nation eek 20:
So. Repeated warnings ". 49, Ead
been gwen by faithful prophets, also
repeated forgivings, yet israel is
Cd wiliful, they would not hear" ".
l4), bur deliberately followed in their
fathers footsteps. (2) Proud and vain
wv. Ia 49, and CD utterly abandoned
". I'D. and hence must receive the
Judgment of Gods righteous anger
tsee Ell 2O), or else God is not right
eous. He repeatedly sought to turn
them aside, but they slew his faithful
prophets Matt. 81: 33-39) 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
where ABOUND, and shall God go on
and call forever? prov. 29:1; Pet.
3:9-10).
III. The Savior of Men, Luke 2:1-20,
Gods love for Israel was manifest
(made piAin) through his loving acts
and the messages of warning pro-
claimed by his prophets But we have
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 /:
II; II Tim. 4:8), but not so unless
we obey John 1929 his word.
Let us therefore take up the an
gelic praise ID Glory to Cod IN the
highest highest heavens, highest, de-
gree and quality of praise of him who
is infinitely wise and loving
90 "On earth peace with God.
with man, in the individual heart and
among the nations.
Peace of conscience because of sins 4
forgiven, in fact, all blessings, hap
piness and prosperity because of peace n
due to victory over sin which Is the
destroyer of peace
(3) Good will toward men," those
with whom God is well pleased. and
God has good will only toward all
men.
He loved sinful Israel and he loves
US so that he gave his only begotten
Son that whosoever believeth need
not perish but have everlasting life.
Even as the shepherds found the
Savior ". 16) so may all men VINO
truly seek him Heb. 11:6; Luke 10:
100.
What better can we do on Christ
mas Sunday than openly to give God
our best gift, our hearts supreme
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