Middletown transcript., 1915-12-18
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 10
FALL AND CAPTIVITY OF ISRAEL

LESSON TExT-II Kings 17:7. IA. S
tfSD.
GOLDEN TExT-He that after being
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 ". g. of Israel's captivity
has always appealed to the interest
and the imaginations of men. The
cause of the captivity was threefold
(1) They had sinned" ". y. 1t
was not single offense but 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. (b) Secretly" ".
81, Hosea's reign was the same as
that of his 18 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 (Ps. 139:1-12; Heb. 5:13).
Many today do in secret things that
were (are) not right" A clearer line
of demarcation between the church
and the world is sadly needed, (2)
They were consecrated to evil wv.
10, 11). To cover our sins is not to
prosper prov. 1918, but If we con-
fess our sins Gods Son will cover
them by the forgiveness Of his atone
ment Cps. 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" It is passing strange that
Israel should so fully violate the ex-
press commands of God (Lev. 1851;
Deut. 26:21; Ex. 2O:3-5, etc.). Some
claim they did not possess the law,
it being of a later date, self-evident.
ly foolish proposition, but even so,
how can men Of our time VIOLA 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:SD 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 moi
alone served idols" ". 12) but they
sold themselves to do that which was
evil" ". ID. To summarize their part
in this transaction their conduct was
"as did the heather" ". III. Many pro
Tossing Christians cannot be distin
guished from the world and the judg
ment of God may be deferred for {
season, but it will ultimately be re
, vealed Il Tim. 5:24 or his word Il
not true.
II. The Sovereign God, w. 14-1e
] Gods character and will had beel
r fully set before the nation lex. 20
3-6). Repeated warnings ". 13) hat
I been given by faithful prophets, ais
repeated forgivings, yet Israel 1
8 (1) willful, they would not hear" "
Z 14), but deliberately followed in thei
fathers footsteps. (2) Proud and vail
|, (vv. IA, 15) and (3) utterly abandone
L ". 10, and hence must receive tn
!. Judgment of Gods righteous ange
9 (see Elk. 2O), or else God is not right
:. eous. He repeatedly sought to tur
them aside, but they slew his faithfu
prophets Matt. 21:33-39). God
. calling in mercy with long sufferin
in this present evil age; unbelief
a God and his word is still prevalent
q skepticism and loose morals ever!
q where abound, and shall God go o
II and call forever? prov. 29:1: Pc
a 3:9-1O). Men need to realize tn
10 downward course of sin and bewar
Il lest in continuous transgression {
Gods love they suffer the anger {
a Divine righteousness.
Il III. The Savior of Men, Luke 2:1-2
,d Gods love for Israel was manifei
u. (made plain) through his loving act
a and the messages of warning pr
r. claimed by his prophets. But we haV
". a more marvellous revelation Of h
- love in the person of his Son who's
~ birthday we are about to observ
10 Samaria lost its crown of pride," bl
"A we may receive a crown of righteou
- ness as the sons of God" John
- IL; IL Tim. 4:S). but not so unlei
"a we obey John 1929 his word. II
coming of Jesus was the create
q, event in history-he is ''Immanuel"-
- God with us, the living word, the u
10 challenged fact of all facts. Born
the center of the Roman world,
the exact date of prophecy, at tin
~ of universal world peace (about Il
ly only such). and under government
an system which made easy the propag
ut tion of the Gospel by language, roa,
q and civil authority. 1t was also
AT time Of religious unrest and Of int
ay lectual and moral awakening.
n. Let us therefore take up the q
Nv gelic praise ID GLORY to God in t
highest" highest heavens, highest
&c. gree and quality of praise of him W
re is infinitely wise and loving.
yn (2) "On earth peace" with GC
lal with man, in the individual heart a
- among the nations.
Peace of conscience because Of 81
forgiven, in fact, all blessings. hi
piness and prosperity because of pea
~ due to victory over sin which 10 I
to destroyer of peace.
he ts) "Good will toward men," tho
,ht with whom God is well pleased, a
!" God has good will only toward
he men
~ IL 3c,,a5 .,reuI Tayaai ana he In,