The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1915-12-16
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 10
FALL AND CAPTIVITY OF IsRAE,

reproved hardeneth his neck shall Ing
denly be destroyed.-Prov. 29:1.
In the sweep of our six years cvc1o
of study we prefer to consider this loo
son first and use the Christmas story
(Luke 2:1-20) to illustrate the love ~
God which Israel dhe last ten tribasl
so basely outraged ere it passed into
oblivion.
1.-The Stif-Necked People, w. e-1s
The fact ". g. of Israeps captivity
has always appealed to the interest
and the imaginations of men. The
cause Of the captivity was threefold
CD They had sinned" ". Y. II
was not single offense but a course
of action which was performed (al
openly, walked" ". 81. For 215 wears
following Solomon's reign they had
been openly idolatrous and trespassed
upon Gods grace. (b) Secretly ".
-, Hosea's reign was the same "a
that of his Is predecessors. Doubt.
less he was a good diplomat and Doll.
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 Cps. 1879: LIZ; 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, (0
They were consecrated to evil wv.
10, ID. To cover our sins is not to
prosper prov. 1919, 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" 1t is passing strange that
Israel should so fully violate the ex-
press commands of God Uev. 26:1;
Deut. 1921; Elk. 20:3-5, etc.. Some
claim they did not possess the law,
it being of later date, a self-evident.
ly foolish proposition, but even so,
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 q. suffi cient an.
swer to the destructive critics. Israel
sets up idols" ". 1O) and burnt
sacrifice" (see Deut. 12:3D which
things they did ito provoke the Lord
to anger" 60 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
evir' ". ID.
II. The Sovereign God, w. 1913.
Gods character and will had been
fully set before the nation Eek. 20:
$50. Repeated warnings w. 49, had
been given-by faithful prophets, also
repeated forgivings, yet Israel is
CD willful, they would not hear" ".
14), but deliberately followed in their
fathers footsteps. (2) Proud and vain
wv. IA, 15) and 90 utterly abandoned
". I'D, and hence must receive the
judgment of Gods righteous anger
(see Elk. 2O), 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; unbeIief 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
3:9-1O).
III. The Savior Of Men, Luke 2:1-2o.
Gods love for Israel was manifest
(made plain) through his loving acts
and. the messages of warning pro-
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 it's Grown of pride" but
we may receive a crown of righteous
ness as the sons of God" John 1:
IL; III Tim. 4:S), but not so unless
we obey John 1929 his word.
Let us therefore take up the an
gelic praise CD GLORY to God in the
highest heavens, highest DE-
gree and quality of praise of him VINO
Is infinitely wise and loving.
(2) "On earth peace" with GOO,
with man, in the individual heart ana
among the nations.
Peace of conscience because OF SINS
forgiven, in fact, all blessings, hap
piness and prosperity because OF peace
due to victory over sin which is the
destroyer of peace.
90 "Good will toward men," those
with whom God is well pleased, anu
God has good will only toward all
men.
Z He loved sinful Israel and he loves
us so that he gave his only begottel
Son that whosoever believeth neea
not perish but have everlasting ille'
Even as the shepherds found tho
Savior ". 16) so may all men WIZ
truly seek him (Heb. 11:6; Luxe H.
100.
What better can we do on Christ
mas Sunday than openly to give GOO