New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-12-28
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 30
~REvIEW-GoD's REpEEMINc
LOVE.

LESSON TEXT-Read Psalms 1928; 1924.
GOLDEN TEXT-With Jehovah there Is
loving kindness, and with him Is plenteous
redemption.-Ps. 1907.
The lessons Of the past year are the
only mes 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 ver 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,
a nation, without a 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
Unreasonable. There is 10 walk or
rank in life, In politics, literature, art,
science. business, religion, or any 9TH
er 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 ace feelings, deserves
the aid of all patriotic, liberty loving.
God fearing people, for the Jews are
still Gods chosen herita pa.
The united kingdom with its three
kings, Saul, David and Solomon, last
ed from about 100 B. G. to 9S3 (Mee-
cher). a period of 100 years. Then be-
gins the divided kingdom-Judah and
Israel side by side, a double expert
ment in the progress Of the kingdom Of
God. This period extended from about
9S2 b. G. to approximately 1913, or 721
B. G. Judah had a territory Of about
3,40O square miles; Israel 9.4OO. Ju-
dah's capital was Jerusalem in which
was the temple; Israel's capital was
Samaria. while 1t had two centers Of
false worship. Judah was more shell
tered than Israel from close contact
with heathenism, especially politically
and r%eliglously. Judah had n dyn-
asty 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
Hezekiah. B. G. 100, to the time of the
destruction of the city and the temple
being destroyed $50 B. G., and lastly
we have the period Of the exile from
the first captivity in Cos B. G. to the
restoration and the new temple being
erected $40 B. G. This was a period
of great discipline and sitting as like
unto wheat or Of a purifying fire.
The return from exile and the new
spiritual nation, dates from about 500
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
particular lessons we ought to
learn from this history.
First: Every failure, every moral
wrong, every fall into idolatry, every
Of power for good Is the
result Of a separation from Coda
departure from the ways of God and
righteousness. 1t also shows us that
Gods constant solicitude that the Jews
should be kept separate from heather.
ism and idolatry, had in 1t the best
interests Of his own people and could
,nly lead to those blessings which he
had prepared for his particular people.
Secondly: The overthrow of Israel
s directly attributed to its complete
abandonment to idolatry. Beginning
With false worship and a dependence
lpon men, there was the Introduction
If idolatry and a development of evil
which led to a rapid decline, the in
Of revolutions and the final
,xtinguishment Of the kingdom.
As to Judah. 1t finally was brought
nto captivity because that was the
,nly way that God could purge the ma.
ion from the sin Of idolatry. They
must be taught that there Is but q
Sod, that the word Of God must be
and that their safety lay in
he faith which they placed In his E
Promises. The leaders Of this period
we're Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah,
leroic men, men Of great conservation
nd power; also, Esther, the heroine.
The prophets of this period are DAN
Ell, Isaiah, Haggai. Zechariah, Malachi.
Notice how each and every one aided
he cause of righteousness. stood for
,urity of thought and action. During
he time of the restoration the temple
completed. worship was restored,
eparation from heathenism became
the Sabbath was kept; the
bible was studied and impressed upon
he people; there was a clearer vision
f their mission in the world, the
and hopes toward which they
hould strive clearly stated (see the
writings); and a purer
righteousness established.
There are two great heroes of the
eturn, Ezra and Nehemiah. Take up
he actions of each and show how he
roved his heroism. A good method
Z receiving the past quarter will be
D summarize the teachings which cen-
er about these two great men. The
eriod of the return IL the one that
Te should emphasize. showing how o