The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-01-02

1llS year we AGAIN iVNuih -
history of the chosen people and toI-
low them through the period OF the
Judges, the days of the monarchy uh-
der Saul. David and Solomon, and me
divided kingdom in the times oil Eli
iah. Amos Hosea and Jonah. down 10
the time of Daniel during the cap
tivity.
l. Another Generation, w. 1-lV.
During the days of Joshua lsrael
served Jehovah. but his influence uiu
not last long after his death. Ever
and anon God must needs raise up
a Joshua to lead his church. we
have another notwithstanding
is ever with his people and we 90
not need any earthly leader (Ps- % 80
Phil. 2:12). Still God is worKlhS
through human agents and in every
crisis raises up his spirlt-clotheu
leaders. No doubt this another gen
Grafton" honored Joshua as heIo
but they did not follow in his opeul-
ence to Jehovah. II is easy 10 uls-
miss Gods mighty deeds among men
by calling them myths and traditions
or to deny the accuracy Of the rec
ords." Doubtless the lsraeiltes lel'
their obligations to their nelghDors
and fellow-tribesmen, but they lost
realizing sense of their obligations 10
God. America today is charged WIN
an altruistic spirit but seems lacking
In a deep sense of that obligation
to God which is primary.
Sin Of IdoIatry.
n. They forsook the Lord, w.
1913. Backsliding Israel Is prov
erb. Over and again there was re-
turn to true worship and just as
often a 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 Tor
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 nation S
ideals about God not alone determine
it's 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
than that of their fathers, but II
was "evil in the sight of the Lord. y
We do not understand that these
! Israelites took up the worship OF
| Baal. the sun god, with all Of its
denominations at once, but rather
sought a combination, a compromise
worship, which of course led to the
| inevitable forsaking of God. Verse II
indicates the base ingratitude or
such a course for he 1t was which
brought them out of the land or
Egypt" (Titus 2:14; 2 Pet. 2:D.
~. The 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 (Hab.
1:13). The light men enjoy only
heightens and makes more black their
offenses. Gods ange- can wax hot
and here he delivered them into the
hands of the spoilers that spoiled
them"
God Keeps His Promises.
w. 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
be the judge. That these righteous
leaders of the people had a difficult
task is suggested by verse II. The
hearts of the people went a whor
ing" lusted after the things repre-
scented by Baal and Ashtaroth, which
history teHs us were too vile to be
enumerated. The judges secured fol
the people Of Israel their rights &C
cording to the mercy of Jehovah. Al
the same time they were rulers, anC
as such secured for individuals theil
rights. Professor Beecher has calcu
lated that the period Of their admins
tration was about three hundred ant
thirty-two years, from the death o
Joshua, 1884 B. c.. to the amounting
of Saul, 1880 B. c. 1t is probable
that at times one part Of the lanC
was under oppression and other part:
were enjoying security under its
Judge It has been suggested tina
Israel, during the time We have beer
and now are studying. passed through
four grades in Gods school: % Tha
in Egypt; training in bondage ant
contact with the highest civilization
Of the day ~ That in the desert
training in faith, law and religious
observances In the presence of peri
and hardships. (3) That in the tim,
OF the judges; training in self-govern
ment while in contact with enemie
and moral evils. (D That OF the king
dom; training in the arts and in re
ligious life as manifested by thu
: temple, the priesthood and tn
prophets. ldolatry was fascinatins, !
81