The Green Forest tribune., 1917-12-28

The lessons of the past year are the only ones in the six years course which are divided between the Old and the New Testament; therefore, at the close of this year we will review only the last two quarters, emphasizing the fourth which has just been completed.
 Like Moses on Mount Nebo, let us glance over the whole period of the monarchy and note the progress and development of the Jewish people. The Jewish race is the marvel of all times, nation without country, scattered and peeled, chastised and driven from sea to sea, even slain in large num- bers yet possessed of a,vitality which has caused them to endure through the centuries. Their contribution to the civilization of the world has been fmmeasurable. There is no walk or rank in life, in politics, literature, art, science, business, religion, or any oth- CT realm where they have not made their impress and rendered their con tribution. Any movement which seeks to 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 ed from about HOO B. c. to 9SS tMee- cher), period of 120 years. Then be- gins the divided kingdom-Judah and Israel side by side, a double experf- ment in the progress of the kingdom of God. This period extended from about 9S2 B. c. to approximately 723, or T21 B. c. Judah had territory of about 3,4G0 square miles; Israel 9,400.~ 5Ju- dah's capital was Jerusalem; in which was the temple; IsraePs capital was Samaria, while it had two .centers of false worship. Judah wasz1nore shel- tered than Israel fromYclose contact with heathenism, especially politically aSd religiously. Judah had one dyn- Nty of rulers; eleven kings and one queen, all of them from the house of David. Israel had nineteen kings, be- longing to nine different families or dynasties. Judah had several very good kings, and there were marked re- vivals of religion of prosperity and of deterioration of varying degrees, though resisted from time to time and helped 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 Hezelliah, B. c. 722, to the time of the destruction of the city and the temple being destroyed 596 B. C., and lastly we have the period of the exile from the first captivity in COS B. c. to the restoration and the new temple being erected 516 B. c. This was a period of great discipline and sitting as like unto wheat or of q purifying fire.
 The return from exile and the new spiritual nation, dates from about 536 to the close of Bible history, say 400 years before the coming of Christ. A map should be used, and the scholars ought 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 idolatry, every diminution of power for good is the result of a separation from Coda departure from the ways of God and righteousness. It also shows us that Gods constant solicitude that the Jews should be kept separate from heathen- ism and idolatry, had in 1t 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 is directly attributed to it's complete abandonment to idolatry Beginning with false worship and dependence upon men, there was the introduction of idolatry and a development of evil which led to a rapid decline, the in- troduction of revolutions and the final extingihshment of the kingdom.
 As to Judah, it finally was brought into captivity because that was the only way that God could purge the na- tion from the sin of idolatry They must be taught that there is but one God, that the word of God must be obeyed, and that their safety lay in the faith which they placed in his promises. The leaders of this perioC were Zerubbabei, Ezra and Nehemiah, heroic men, men of great consecration and power: also, Esther, the heroine. The prophets of this period are Dan iel, Isaiah, Haggai. Zechariah, Malachi. Notice how each and every one aided the cause of righteousness. stood for purity of thought and action. During the time of the restoration the temple was completed, worship was restored, separation from heathenism became permanent the Sabbath was kept; the Bible was studied and impressed upon the people; there was clearer vision of their mission in the world, the ideals and hopes toward which they should strive clearly stated (see the prophetical writings) and a purer righteousness established.
 There are two great heroes of the return, Ezra and Nehemiah. Take up the actions of each and show how he