The Elbert County tribune., 1915-12-17
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 1s
FALL AND CAPTIVITY OF ISRAEL

LNSSoN TENTH Kings 17;f H. lS
i23l.
GOLDEN TEXT-He that after being
reprovcd hardeneth his neck shall sud
ienly be destroyed. Prov. 2e: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)
80 basely outraged ere it passed into
oblivion.
!. The Stit-Neckcd People, w. 6-1a
The fact ". 81 of Israels captivity
has always appealed to the interest
and the imaginations of men. The
cause of the captivity was threefold
CD They had sinned'' ". ~. It
was not a single offense but course
of action which was performed (e)
openly. walked" ". 81. For 2l5 years
following Solomons reign they had
beon openly idolatrous and trespassed
upon Gods grace. OBJ Secretly tv.
81. 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 open
and known (Ps. 139:1-I2: Heb. 5:13).
Many today do in secret things that
were tare) not right" A clearer line
OF demarcation between the church
and the world is sadly needed, (2)
They were consecrated to evil wv.
lO, ID. To cover our sins is not to
I prosper prov. 2S:13), but If we con-
fess our. sins Gods Son will cover
them by the forgiveness of his atone
ment ops. SO: 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 1t is passing strange that
Israel should 80 fully violate the ex-
press commands of God Lev. 26:1:
Deut. 26;2l; Ex. 20:3-5. etc) Some
claim they did not possess the law,
| 1t 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 oil the
word of God? Does this prove that
the Bible does not exist? The an.
swer to this query is sufficient an.
|
sets up idols ". 10) and burnt
sacrifice" tsee Deut. 12:3l) which
things they did ito provoke the Lord
to anger t3) 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'' ". ID.
II. The Sovereign God, w. 14-ta
Gods character and will had been
fully set before the nation (Ex. 20:
3-6). Repeated warnings ". 13J had
been given by faithful prophets, also
repeated forgivings. yet Israel 10
% willful. they would not near" ".
14, but deliberately followed in their
fathers footsteps. t2) Proud and vain
(vv. IA. 15) and (3J utterly abandoned
". 10, and hence must receive the
Judgment of Gods righteous anger
tsee Ex. 20). 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.
3:9-10).
III. The Savior of Men, Luke 2:1-2o.
Gods love for Israel was manifest
tmade plain) through his loving acts
and the messages OF warning pro-
claimed by his prophets. But we have
a more marvellous revelation of his
love in the person OF his Son whose
birthday we are about to observe.
Samaria lost its crown of PRIDE" put
we may receive a crown of righteous.
ness as the sons of God" tJohn 1:
IL; II Tim. 4:S), but not so unless
we obey John 14:23) his word.
Let us therefore take up the an.
gelic praise "a GLORY to God IN the
highest" highest heavens. highest de-
gree and quality OF praise OF MIN who
is infinitely wise and loving.
(2) "On earth peace" with God,
with man. in the individual neart and
among the nations.
Peace of conscience because of sins
forgiven, in tact, all dressings, hap.
piness and prosperity because OF peace
due to victory over sin which is the
destroyer of peace.
(3) Good will toward mem" those
with whom God is well pleased. and
God has good will only toward all
meiy
lie loved sinful Israel and he loves
US SO that he gave mis- only Degotten
Son that whosoever beiieveth need
not perish but have everlasting life.
Even as The shepherds found the
Savior tv. l6) SO may ali men wno
truly seek him (Heb. ll:6; Luke 49,: