The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-21

LESSON FOR DECEMBER 80
REyIEw--aop,s REpEEMINa

REyIEw.-aop's REpEEMlNa
H LOVE.
LESSON TExT-Read Psalms 1:2s: 1:s4.
X 0QLpEN TExT-With Jehovah there 10
tcdernpticn.- -Ps. 1907.
The lessons Of the past year are the
only ones in the SIX years course which
IRE divided between the Old and the
New Testament; therefore, ut the
close Of this year we will review only
THE Inst two quarters, emphasizing the
i Fourth which has just been completed.
4 Like Moses on Mount Nebo, let US
4 glance over the whole period OF the
monarchy and note the progress and
A development Of the Jewish people. The
I Jewish race is the marvel Of all times,
= nation without country, scattered
ma peeled, chastised md driven from
sea to sea, even slnin In large num-
lEbers; yet possessed of a vitality which
las caused them TO endure through
me centuries. Their contribution to
The civilization Of tile world has been
unreasonable. There is no walk or
rank In life, in politics, literature, art,
Science, business, religion. or any 9TH
ler realm where they have not made
their impress and rendered their con-
.tribution. Any movement which seeks
no promote their welfare and to
| strengthen the bonds of sympathy
which preserve race feelings, deserves
The aid of all patriotic, liberty loving,
/ God fearing people, for the Jews are
still Gods chosen heritage.
The united kingdom with Its three
kings, Saul. David and Solomon, last
Led from about 100 B. @. to 0S3 tMee-
|'cher), period Of 100 years. Then be-
Hfns the divided kingdom--Judah and
Israel side by side, double expert
ment In the progress of the kingdom of
God. This period extended from about
962. 3. Q. to approximately 1923, or 721
y. o. Judah had territory Of about
8;40D square miles; Israel 9400. Ju-
dah's capital was Jerusalem; In which
was the temple; 1srnel's capital was
Samarin, while It had two centers OF
talse worship. Judah was more shell
tered than Israel from close contact
With heathcnism, especially politically
and religiously. Judah had one dyn-
Ijasty OF rulers; eleven kings and one
jgdueen, all OF them from the house of
David. Israel Ind nineteen kings. be-
longing to nine different families or
|Slynasties. Judah had several very
good kings, and there were marked re-
viyals OF religion Of prosperity and Of
deterioration OF varying degrees,
/ though resisted from time to time and
halped along moral and religious lines
through the work Of Elijah.and Elisha
the prophets. The final period Of
events Of this past quarter have refer
ence to judah alone from the days of
I Hezekiah, B. @. 722, to the time Of the
destruction Of the city and the temple
being destroyed $50 B. O., and lastly
we have the period Of the exile from
the FIRST captivity in COS B. G. to the
kestratlon and the new temple being
erected SIG B.. G. This was period
Of great discipline and sitting as like
( unto wheat or of purifying fire.
81 The return from exile and the new
spiritual nation, dates from about $50
ITO the close Of Bible history. say 400
years before the coming Of Christ. A
map should be used, and the scholars
UugIit to be familiar with the contem.
poraneous secular history. There are
( several particular lessons we ought to
\ learn from this history.
First: Every failure, every moral
wrong, every fall into ldolatry, every
4diminution Of power for good Is the
result Of separation from Coda
departure from the ways of God and
4 aghteousness. II also shows us that
Gods constant solicitude that the Jews
shoyi6 be kept separate from heathen-
Ism and idolatry, had in It the best
Interests Of his own people and could
only lead to those blessings which he
had prepared for his particular people.
~ Secondly: The overthrow Of Israel
- directly attributed to its complete
abandonment to idolatry. Beginning
With false worship and a dependence
npcn men, there was the Introduction
b idolatry and development Of evil
which led to a rapid decline, the in.
PRODUCTION Of revolutions and the final
Z extinguishment Of the kingdom.
As to Judah, It finally was brought
Into captivity because that was the
bnly way that God could purge the ma
hon from the sin Of idolatry. They
must be taught that there is but one
God. that the word Of God must be
pbeyed, and that their safety 10y in
The faith which they placed In his
promises. The leaders tof this period
we're Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah,
rneroic men. men Of great conservation
Ind power; also, Esther, the heroine.
The prophets Of this period are Dan.
lel Isaiah, Haggai, zechariah, Malachi.
Notice how each and every one aided
he cause Of Righteousness.
There are two great heroes Of the
return, Ezra and Nehemiah. Take up
the actions OF each and show how he
proved his heroism. A good method
l receiving the past quarter will be
b summarize the eachings which cen.
tsr about these two great men. The
beriod pf the return is the one that
Ne Shopld emphnsize, showing how
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